I need advice

[jkg5f1]

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I just switched from pre-vet to pre-med a couple of months ago and am unsure of what I need to be competitive. A lot of these threads have been helpful, but I would appreciate any advice you would have. I got a 31Q on the MCAT, but my numbers are pretty skewed...10BS 8PS and 13VR. I have a 3.81gpa and a science gpa 3.63. The bad thing is this was the second time I took the MCAT, I took it in August when I thought I was going to vet school and didn't study because I only needed a 24 to get into the program I was in (got a 28 that time) and then when I registered for the April exam I only studied for about a month after I figured out I wanted to go the med school route. Do I need to take off a year and get some research under my belt and retake the MCAT? I have done a lot of volunteering and have decent extra-curriculars. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!!

 

[bewitched1081]

you might be able to get into some schools. just know what youre going to tell them when they ask you why you switched from pre vet to pre med or have some good reasons for wanting to pursue medicine. in the meantime, you could talk to your pre-med counselor and see what you can do to improve your app. it costs a lot of money to apply, but if you can spare it, you can try for this year and the next in case you dont get in.

 

[jkg5f1]

bump

 

[Spitting Camel]

I just switched from pre-vet to pre-med a couple of months ago and am unsure of what I need to be competitive. A lot of these threads have been helpful, but I would appreciate any advice you would have. I got a 31Q on the MCAT, but my numbers are pretty skewed...10BS 8PS and 13VR. I have a 3.81gpa and a science gpa 3.63. The bad thing is this was the second time I took the MCAT, I took it in August when I thought I was going to vet school and didn't study because I only needed a 24 to get into the program I was in (got a 28 that time) and then when I registered for the April exam I only studied for about a month after I figured out I wanted to go the med school route. Do I need to take off a year and get some research under my belt and retake the MCAT? I have done a lot of volunteering and have decent extra-curriculars. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!!

How is the rest of your application in terms of clinical experience? If you only have vet volunteering experience, you are in trouble.

Your MCAT is great, as is your GPA. What state are you from?

 

[jkg5f1]

Thanks for the reply! I am from Missouri. I only have vet shadowing experience. Every doctor I have asked about shadowing has told me there is a law forbidding it. How did you get experience?

 

[skypilot]

Shuffle down to your local nursing home and start volunteering today as a patient aide. Submit your AMCAS in July. Talk a lot about your experience as a vet volunteer and how it led you to want to pursue medicine. You should be fine.

 

[jkg5f1]

I have volunteered for the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the MU Children's Hospital. Is this the kind of experience they are looking for or do I need more hands-on things? I am volunteering at another hospital over the summer. Would anyone like to share what kind of things they do when they shadow? Do you actually get to go in rooms with the doctors? Is it necessary I get that kind of clinical experience before applying? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't have any answers! 🙂

 

[velouria]

hey!

i am also from missouri and my mcat scores were almost identical to yours. i applied for the 2004 class and got in at a few places. i was also pretty light on "clinical" experience, although my job was somewhat relevant and i had some unusual Ec's...
anyway, i just wanted to write because i was in a similar boat. pm me if you have any specific questions i can help with...

good luck!

 

[arikansas]

i think that your volunteer experience should be fine in terms of clinical experience...basically they just want to know that you have been in an environment with patients and that you have the capability to talk about that...with your mcat scores and gpa, i would definitely apply now...i think the comment on making your ps about why you changed from prevet to premed is definitely a smart one

 

[skypilot]

I have volunteered for the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the MU Children's Hospital. Is this the kind of experience they are looking for or do I need more hands-on things? I am volunteering at another hospital over the summer. Would anyone like to share what kind of things they do when they shadow? Do you actually get to go in rooms with the doctors? Is it necessary I get that kind of clinical experience before applying? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't have any answers! 🙂

Stop worrying, you are in. Believe it or not hands on experience with animals in medical situations counts too. Just write a good personal statement and you will be fine, keep volunteering too just so you will have something to talk about at your interview.

 

[jkg5f1]

thanks for the responses! 🙂