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The work in your teenage years with Alzheimer's doesn't mean much in this application due to it's inconsistency being that it was long ago and only in a few summers - it would matter a great deal if you started in your teenage years and continued ever since and was still current or at least recent (i.e. this past summer if it was a summer thing).
Participating and being a judge in a competition isn't exactly "volunteering" as it's not something thats actually helping anyone or truly needed. This may just be my opinion on that. This is more in the area of being a hobby. Now if it were volunteering in a different aspect of DECA, then sure. I'm assuming a competition here since you mention "judge."
Questions:
1. With no clinical experience, I'm looking to gain some to see if this is really something I want to do. I have read articles recommending scribing, but I'm finding it difficult to land something after 5pm or on weekends that is part-time.
Q: Is volunteering the next best option?
A: Being that this is a career change and that you have no exposure, your best bet to start is to shadow. I'd seek out both MD and DO. There isn't really a difference and you're experience will likely be the same, but DO does emphasize shadowing a DO for their apps, and I'd suggest you consider DO as well if you go this route as theyre more forgiving of non-traditional students. Just keep options open.
Q: Are there other methods to clinical experience that would fit in a full-time work and school schedule?
A: Shadowing and volunteering to start.
2. While I'm currently attending university on campus, I'm having trouble finding many of the pre-professional classes before or after work.
Q: How important is it to medical schools to have a biological, chemical, or social degree?
A: It's not particularly important. I have numerous friends who are physicians/residents/med students with degrees in business, finance, engineering, psychology, music, literature, etc. What's important is that you have a strong GPA across the board, including your med school pre-reqs. Taking a few additional sciences as electives in a non-science degree may help, but it's not the most important factor if your GPA (c and s) are both strong otherwise.
Q: I'm sure the more relevant the better, but I also hear a lot about schools seeking "diverse" candidates with rich backgrounds. What about health information systems or other computer related sciences majors?
A: Diverse backgrounds isn't as much geared toward the degree they receive as much as it is cultural and social diversity - people who may have had another career - military veterans, peace corps volunteers, study and/or travel abroad. Varying degrees may certainly be included somewhere, but it's usually a reference to life background as opposed to school.
3.With being limited in taking classes before or after work, I know I would be able to take more classes if they were online.
Q: What is the general perception from med schools of regionally accredited online programs?
A: It's generally frowned upon, especially pre-reqs. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PRE-REQS ONLINE. There are few exceptions to that, and usually school-specific, as it's a limiting-factor. As for general courses/any other course - it's less important, but still not looked at as highly. Some courses, sure, but try not to get a degree online. Unless you're in the military or something where you will be in the field, deployed, stationed abroad, moving, etc, then get it in person if this is the route you wish to go.
Q: Specifically, what about the following programs:
Biological Sciences (BS) - Arizona State University
Biochemistry (BS) - Arizona State University
Health Information Management (BS) - Western Governors Univeristy
Business Management (BS) - Western Governors Univeristy
Health Informatics (BS) - Oregon Institute of Technology
Health Care Management (BS) - Oregon Institute of Technology
Health Administration (BS) - George Mason University
Information Technology (BS) - George Mason University
A: Get the degree you want where you want. The only factors that should truly be at play are 1) do you want to live there, 2) will you have support there to succeed, and 3) cost of attendance. Again, be weary of online degrees with med school apps - it is better to just get it in person. ESP THE PRE-REQS. Caps for emphasis.
4. I understand there are certain courses desired by medical schools. 1 year organic chemistry, 1 year biology, 1 year physics, psychology, sociology, etc.
Q: Are these generally ideal or required?
A: These are absolutely REQUIRED 99% of the time. Only a few schools "recommend" certain courses, but not taking them will limit what schools you can apply to as there are many where they are required. These are the pre-reqs. Add in 1 year general chemistry, which is required anyway to take organic chem.
The only edit here is that not too many schools require psychology or sociology, but they are tested on the MCAT along with the others lists + gen chem as I added here.
Q: What if I were to complete an online program + complete these ideal/required classes at the on campus university as a time-save?
A: Even if you complete a degree online, you MUST take these in-person. Many medical schools DO NOT allow pre-reqs online. Of those that do, there is often a cap (i.e. no more than 8 credits of pre-reqs online, which is 2 courses with their respective lab). Others may allow it only it based on circumstance (i.e. stationed abroad in the military, or took the classes online while in the peace corps or something).
Q: For some of the first chem and bio classes, I'm considering taking a CLEP exam for credit. What's the general perception of this?
A: CLEP does not cover you for the pre-reqs. It does not matter if you get the college credit for CLEP and thus do not need it for your program. For medical school applications, you must take the course in person even if you took a CLEP for it.
There are no short cuts for medical school, and prepping and applying are both incredibly inconvenient and expensive. Do not expect that a program will take pity on you because you worked a "normal" job stateside and you didnt want to leave it to finish your degree. They want to see dedication and consistent good performance.
1st you need to shadow and maybe some clinical volunteering to see if it's a good fit for you as your only exposure seems to be reading online and an adverse reaction to an OTC med. After this, if you decide to proceed, you need to go back to school - even if it's not full time to complete a degree and the pre-reqs (in person) - again no short cuts.
Might I ask what specifically you meant by "It's primarily the industry (finance) that I think has turned me off?" I know you mention something, but the reason I ask is because medicine often turns people off as they go through the process due to the length of time, debt, stress, battling with insurance companies down the line, hours works especially during residency, etc. I just want to ensure you have a fair enough warning before heading down this path since the path you currently are not liking was also once one with which you proceeded.
