I need some advice...

[Auggieville]

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I am 25 and a non-trad student with a 3.62 gpa in the sciences from the community college because I have been working as an accountant for about 3 1/2 years. (my degree is in accounting) I am currently taking OCHEM I with an A average and plan on getting an A in I and II. Took the MCAT in August which was a mistake because I didn't have OCHEM yet - 19M-PS 8, BS 5, VR 6. I am going to take the Kaplan course next semester along with OCHEM II, working full time, and continuing to volunteer one day a week. My goal is to score a 30+ on the April test.

Should I consider quiting my job after the April test and getting the EMT certification and working in that field before I apply? I plan on taking a full load of the upper level science courses at the University in the Fall of 06 and working part time in the healthcare field. Is it worth the money and the time to get that EMT cert? I don't want to try a Post-Bac program because I would have to move and then probably move again once I got into school, if I do get in. I need some advice as to what to do becuase the admissions officers are telling me nothing. Please help!

 

[atrovariousg]

I am 25 and a non-trad student with a 3.62 gpa in the sciences from the community college because I have been working as an accountant for about 3 1/2 years. (my degree is in accounting) I am currently taking OCHEM I with an A average and plan on getting an A in I and II. Took the MCAT in August which was a mistake because I didn't have OCHEM yet - 19M-PS 8, BS 5, VR 6. I am going to take the Kaplan course next semester along with OCHEM II, working full time, and continuing to volunteer one day a week. My goal is to score a 30+ on the April test.

Should I consider quiting my job after the April test and getting the EMT certification and working in that field before I apply? I plan on taking a full load of the upper level science courses at the University in the Fall of 06 and working part time in the healthcare field. Is it worth the money and the time to get that EMT cert? I don't want to try a Post-Bac program because I would have to move and then probably move again once I got into school, if I do get in. I need some advice as to what to do becuase the admissions officers are telling me nothing. Please help!

First of all organic is only covered in the bio portion of the test and I would say that it makes up less than 20% of it. I would prepare and retake the test and plan on getting all 8's or better. I don't think most cc's properly prepare students for the MCAT, so you have your work cut out for you.
I don't believe that quitting your job to become an EMT is what I would do. I think you should spend 5-10 hours per week shaddowing however. This will get you some exposure, possibly some letters and also help you in your interviews.
I think that most people who retest improve or go down in score by less than one point per section on average, so you have a long way to go, and this would be my main focus. 👍

 

[Sainttpk]

First of all organic is only covered in the bio portion of the test and I would say that it makes up less than 20% of it. I would prepare and retake the test and plan on getting all 8's or better. I don't think most cc's properly prepare students for the MCAT, so you have your work cut out for you.
I don't believe that quitting your job to become an EMT is what I would do. I think you should spend 5-10 hours per week shaddowing however. This will get you some exposure, possibly some letters and also help you in your interviews.
I think that most people who retest improve or go down in score by less than one point per section on average, so you have a long way to go, and this would be my main focus. 👍

I'm gonna have to disagree with you......Depends on what state you are in. Most west coast states have great CC programs. So to say that most CC's do not prepare you for MCAT is bull. Especially if your junior colleges are feeders for 4 year universities.

In regards to becoming an EMT. Well only do it if your really interested in it. I am a non trad as well, and decided to become an EMT and I have just gotten a job as an EMT, and I am also applying as a volunteer firefighter 10 hours a week. Its up to you, but the great thing about being an EMT is that you get alot of patient exposure and you get a feel for what it is like to be under pressure with a patient.

 

[Beau Geste]

It's too bad the search function is disabled. The cc topic has been beaten around lately and the consensus is that some think it's fine while others don't. There are people who post here that took cc courses and did well on the mcat and those who didn't.

The bottom line is that you didn't have Ochem before taking the MCAT. While only 20% of the questions may be from ochem, it's still 20% of the questions you didn't know on the bio part, plus any others you got wrong. PLus, your verbal score looks like it needs improvement.

If you already have a degree, then I would concentrate on your shadowing and volunteer work. If you've been an accountant, and managed to pull A's in your sciences, you've demonstrated that you can handle a job + school, which is like a full load at school, or at least the Illinois schools I've contacted agree with that.

Most of all, I would work on getting your MCAT score up! Sorry if I sound harsh, but I am giving you my opinion without the sugar 😛 Good luck!

 

[albaniandoc]

I am non traditional too. I am an RN going back to finish pre-reqs and take the MCAT. Like you I wanted to take the MCAT in August, but I was missing ORgo I and II and Physics II. I thought it would be suicide to just take the test with that many classes missing. I tried to sign up at the local state university but it was impossible since non-degree students do not get priority when signing up for classes. So, every possible class was closed when my turn came.
I ended up taking it at a local college that used to be a junior college and recently in the fast 5 years has been certified by the state to award BS degrees. The college is St. Petersburg College in Florida, used to be called St. Pete Junior college. Our Orgo professor teaches with MCAT and PCAT in mind. There are some topics that are not explained in details for class purposes but our professor will go into great depth if it is covered in the MCAT. I study with the EK at the same time as we cover the topics in class and the professor has not missed a topic yet. So, making a statement that junior colleges do not teach enough for the MCAT is total bull. It mind be a matter of the different professors and their styles of teaching, but so far I have been so impressed that I think I will take the rest of the pre reqs at the same college. The class size is small and the teachers are great.
Just study hard for the MCAT and bring up your score.

 

[N1DERL&]

Will you be able to make enough money as an EMT? In my state (CA) EMTs barely make above minimum wage. If money isn't an issue then the EMT will give you lots of clinical exposure.

 

[Auggieville]

Thanks for all the advice. Another option besides doing the EMT thing, is to work in a Veterinarian clinic. I would assist in surgeries by monitoring vitals, drawing blood, administering anesthesia, etc. The advantage to this option is that I wouldn't need any more schooling. I could start right now. I wonder how this would look to adcom? As far as shadowing goes, is it better to shadow somewhere like a walk-in-clinic or to shadow like a family physician? Thanks for the advice

 

[Beau Geste]

Thanks for all the advice. Another option besides doing the EMT thing, is to work in a Veterinarian clinic. I would assist in surgeries by monitoring vitals, drawing blood, administering anesthesia, etc. The advantage to this option is that I wouldn't need any more schooling. I could start right now. I wonder how this would look to adcom? As far as shadowing goes, is it better to shadow somewhere like a walk-in-clinic or to shadow like a family physician? Thanks for the advice

This job sounds excellent to me! It's a great way to get more involved with the medical aspect than your average volunteer job (and sounds like you'd get paid). For shadowing, doing both could be beneficial, although I'd pick the family physician. But you have to decide that one!