I'm officially a college student...Again

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esob

esob

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Well, the first actual step in this journey, which was getting accepted back into an undergraduate program is now over. I wasn't entirely worried, as the school I applied to accepts ~ 60% of applicants and my transfer GPA was pretty good, but it's still a bit of relief to know that process is over. So, I'm a 40 year old undergrad... with 174 hours and no degree yet, lol. Thanks to the academic fresh start initiative in Texas though, I actually have a shot at med school since I'll be able to throw out 84 of those hours, leaving me with a 3.93 GPA. The downside is 3 years of classes, but I guess you have to start somewhere. The next step is to CLEP college algebra so I don't have to delay the start of my chemistry classes, so wish me luck!
 
Hats off to ya!:clap:

I have am about to make the same journey myself back to school. I have found one of the best resources to get up to speed is this site called: khanacademy.org and MIT Open Courseware. I am probably going to start a post-bacc myself in the Spring. I am covering as much bio, chem, physics and math as possible right now to make the transition smooth.
 
Congratulations!! It feels like yesterday that I started in just about the same place, and I am already gearing up to take the MCAT soon. Time will fly. Don't give up.
 
1 year update:

As this semester draws to a close, I'm pretty much in glide mode for another 4.0. Assuming I don't make some really bad mistakes, the 1 year update looks like this:

Bio I & II plus labs
Chem I & II plus labs
Micro + lab
Phys lab (took it w/o the lecture to get it out of the way)
Hist I & II
Sociology
Govt II

Straight A's in all classes (I've actually not finished a course with less than 100%, but it looks like I might end up with a Micro lab grade in the high 90's this semester b/c there is no extra credit offered)
GPA now is 3.95.

Inducted into a couple of honor societies, including the national veteran's honor society (SALUTE alpha tier)

24 hrs volunteering with habitat for humanity
~ 20 hrs hospice (just started this a few months ago)

Pretty much just checking boxes at this point and continuing to learn about the process. It seems like it was only yesterday I was first accepted back into school and now I feel like an old pro again 😀
 
haha, once I went to permanent party my meprs hrs averaged just under ~ 80 hrs per week and that didn't include the time I spent working for CID's narcotic suppression task force since there was a coke problem at the base during that time. The only school I could go to on AD was the school of wth did I sign up for 😀
 
esob said:
haha, once I went to permanent party my meprs hrs averaged just under ~ 80 hrs per week and that didn't include the time I spent working for CID's narcotic suppression task force since there was a coke problem at the base during that time. The only school I could go to on AD was the school of wth did I sign up for 😀
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When I started school again, I was averaging 70 hours a week. When I started getting into my upper level math courses, it ramped up to around 80. Then we went on deployment, lol. Still took a couple classes despite working 100 hour weeks averaging about 3 hours of sleep per night. I remember taking a couple finals in a laundromat in Singapore with such crappy wifi it took 5 minutes to load each problem. Fun stuff.
 
EODguy said:
Just curious, why did you decide to join the honor societies?
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Well, I figured it was just a couple more things to add to my application list; basically just fluff, though I think SALUTE will actually look good on the app and make it stand apart from the torrent of other applications filled with honor societies.
 
esob said:
Well, I figured it was just a couple more things to add to my application list; basically just fluff, though I think SALUTE will actually look good on the app and make it stand apart from the torrent of other applications filled with honor societies.
Click to expand...

I chose (read: didn't qualify except in Freshman year) to go the other way and not join any honor societies. In a sea of honor societies, my distinct lack of them will look like a volcano. Or possibly like Niagra Falls.

Edit: I had never heard of SALUTE, and apparently do qualify, or at least I did while in school. Would have been nice to know.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
I had to. I used TA and went to school. Had to take a couple terms off while I was PCSing around a bit, but I was able to finish my degree.
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I'm doing it right now, granted, only part-time, but GHAODFJSIOFDJOSFIAS

I have to beg my leadership to let me stay on nights, so I can go to class in the morning before I sleep. Hahaha.
 
astrostellar said:
I'm doing it right now, granted, only part-time, but GHAODFJSIOFDJOSFIAS

I have to beg my leadership to let me stay on nights, so I can go to class in the morning before I sleep. Hahaha.
Click to expand...

I'm lucky that I had a fairly supportive command. It sometimes conflicted with work, but I was able to make it happen. I know some people have a harder time, particularly green side. The Navy seems to be more accommodating. I'd say around 30% of the enlisted at my command finished a degree active duty, and another chunk are at least taking some classes.
 
**Update**

Another semester in the books!
5 more A's, though it's not moving my GPA at this point (BCPM 4.0, cGPA 3.96)

I was a little concerned with Ochem since everyone made it out to be a graveyard of broken dreams but I finished the course with 100% (and the prof's distribution of A's is <10%)
Immunology was fun, Medical Terminology was fun, but Genetics was rather boring tbh (think that was the prof though). T-minus 1 year til MCAT/application.

Anyway, 3 weeks til summer classes start. Other than a few days we are spending at a beach house I'm dedicating the rest of that time to working at the food bank/habitat/hospice b/c there is no such thing as rest if you want to get into medical school 😀
 
Can I just say your journey so far has been inspirational! Good luck , and keep up the good work.
 
Just a quick update:
- 60 semester hours into this and still holding onto my 4.0.
- continuing to rack up hrs at the food bank, habitat and hospice.
- I began student teaching Ochem this past semester and will continue in the fall, as well as doing 1 on 1 ochem tutoring at the learning center.
- Also picked up quite a few more shadowing hours and got involved in a research project.
- Finished a rough draft (2300 words) of my personal statement and had it peer reviewed with our pre-health professions group.

MCAT prep starts in January and I've scheduled in ~ 700 hrs of study time before my June 1 test date.

It hasn't always been easy, but it is doable if you are willing to put in the effort 😉
 
esob said:
Just a quick update:
- 60 semester hours into this and still holding onto my 4.0.
- continuing to rack up hrs at the food bank, habitat and hospice.
- I began student teaching Ochem this past semester and will continue in the fall, as well as doing 1 on 1 ochem tutoring at the learning center.
- Also picked up quite a few more shadowing hours and got involved in a research project.
- Finished a rough draft (2300 words) of my personal statement and had it peer reviewed with our pre-health professions group.

MCAT prep starts in January and I've scheduled in ~ 700 hrs of study time before my June 1 test date.

It hasn't always been easy, but it is doable if you are willing to put in the effort 😉
Click to expand...

NTF said:
You, sir, are killing it!
Click to expand...
:highfive:
 
esob said:
Just a quick update:
- 60 semester hours into this and still holding onto my 4.0.
- continuing to rack up hrs at the food bank, habitat and hospice.
- I began student teaching Ochem this past semester and will continue in the fall, as well as doing 1 on 1 ochem tutoring at the learning center.
- Also picked up quite a few more shadowing hours and got involved in a research project.
- Finished a rough draft (2300 words) of my personal statement and had it peer reviewed with our pre-health professions group.

MCAT prep starts in January and I've scheduled in ~ 700 hrs of study time before my June 1 test date.

It hasn't always been easy, but it is doable if you are willing to put in the effort 😉
Click to expand...

Keep up the good work, boss.
 
I was 33 sitting in freshman college courses...the PhD teaching my Chem I class was younger than I was, lol. There was a guy in his 40s that always sat by me in organic chem, and it was great to have someone to vent with. At least one person got my 1990s references.

Medical school feels even weirder, so consider it practice! Good luck!
 
Eccesignum said:
I was 33 sitting in freshman college courses...the PhD teaching my Chem I class was younger than I was, lol. There was a guy in his 40s that always sat by me in organic chem, and it was great to have someone to vent with. At least one person got my 1990s references.

Medical school feels even weirder, so consider it practice! Good luck!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm less concerned about being around peers in med school than I am about trying to explain to a patient during the clinical years why I'm in my 40's and wearing a jacket that says "student doctor" 😱
 
esob said:
Just a quick update:
- 60 semester hours into this and still holding onto my 4.0.
- continuing to rack up hrs at the food bank, habitat and hospice.
- I began student teaching Ochem this past semester and will continue in the fall, as well as doing 1 on 1 ochem tutoring at the learning center.
- Also picked up quite a few more shadowing hours and got involved in a research project.
- Finished a rough draft (2300 words) of my personal statement and had it peer reviewed with our pre-health professions group.

MCAT prep starts in January and I've scheduled in ~ 700 hrs of study time before my June 1 test date.

It hasn't always been easy, but it is doable if you are willing to put in the effort 😉
Click to expand...

Consider this “stickied.” Currently active duty myself stationed in TX with a B.S. obtained. However with past unfortunate events with my own family ( all great now though ) I as well am thankful for the fresh start program! Considering an mos switch to respiratory therapist ( 68V ) that equates to an associate of science with basic RT licensure. Once that time is up with family taken care of, no debt, nice savings, and hit the yr threshold, I see myself possibly doing this route in hopes to save my GI bill for when it counts. Been awhile since I’ve been amazed from a post but I’m thankful to have stumbled into this one. Keep pushing my friend and hit that goal! I look forward to reading on your academic updates. Keep driving on my friend...
 
esob said:
Yeah, I'm less concerned about being around peers in med school than I am about trying to explain to a patient during the clinical years why I'm in my 40's and wearing a jacket that says "student doctor" 😱
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Hah. Only some places still do "short coat" or have embroidery that says something as blatant as student doctor. At my school it just has your name with no credentials.

I met an intern the other day who had been a surgical oncologist in his home country and was now having to redo everything here. He looked very obviously much older than most interns, so I bluntly asked him -- he was 46. I told him I'll be 40 in intern year and that I had a ton of respect for him, and he grinned and told me that when you want something you find anything is worth it. I should note the trauma surgeon attending we were following turned around and chimed in that he was an intern when he was 34, but hey, now he was an attending and nobody ever asked questions anymore. And we all laughed about our old fart selves. So you won't be alone, just...keep your eyes and mind open 🙂

Honestly, the hardest thing for me is having my potential friend pool cut so harshly. My peers are almost all 10-15 years younger, and people around my age (in the school setting) are authority figures. I'm quite strict about not blurring authority lines, but it does make things a bit lonely, at least here during the book learnin' phase. We'll see how that pans out in future years.
 
The distinctions blur over time, especially once you have your MD/DO, and even more so after residency. As a fellow, I'm both a trainee and a faculty member. Since I worked FT for three years after residency, I've even been out practicing medicine longer than a couple of my fellowship attendings who just graduated within the last 1-2 years. Here's how it works: when I'm moonlighting as faculty for the department, then I do things my way. When I'm doing fellowship work, we go with what the attending du jour wants. Even if they're 10+ years younger than me and haven't been out of residency as long as I have. 🙂
 
I am back to school as well. I have mixed feelings. I am excited but its like oh crap. Here is the real work.
 
*** Another Update ***

Well, it's been 2 1/2 years now since I started this thread and I'm finally applying this cycle. The grade books have been closed on yet another semester and I've maintained my 4.0 under the academic fresh start provision, churning out 66 hours of straight A's as a Bio major (the last 150 hrs of coursework in total have all been A's) 😀

My Texas stats are: sGPA: 4.0, cGPA: 3.96

My OOS stats (in the absence of AFS) are: sGPA: 3.87, cGPA: 3.55

Hopefully in a few months I'll be able to update this thread with my first II as long as I can manage not to choke on the MCAT next month😱.

If you are someone who is just starting this journey, know that it is not impossible, but it certainly won't always be a walk in the park either 😉
 
esob said:
*** Another Update ***

Well, it's been 2 1/2 years now since I started this thread and I'm finally applying this cycle. The grade books have been closed on yet another semester and I've maintained my 4.0 under the academic fresh start provision, churning out 66 hours of straight A's as a Bio major (the last 150 hrs of coursework in total have all been A's) 😀

My Texas stats are: sGPA: 4.0, cGPA: 3.96

My OOS stats (in the absence of AFS) are: sGPA: 3.87, cGPA: 3.55

Hopefully in a few months I'll be able to update this thread with my first II as long as I can manage not to choke on the MCAT next month😱.

If you are someone who is just starting this journey, know that it is not impossible, but it certainly won't always be a walk in the park either 😉
Click to expand...

You should come join us in the Class of 2023 thread!

*~*~* Official Class of 2023 Thread *~*~*
 
Great come back story. Good luck on the MCAT.
 
You are amazing! I just found this thread today but I’m so glad I did. I’m a non trad, but still in my 20s. This is really inspiring. You are killing it! I’m so excited to see more updates.
 
This is definitely an awesome thread!
I'm trying to transfer to a Tx university. The one I want is too far away but super helpful. The one closest is a pain in the backside to get info out of. But they have pre-professional programs so I'll suck it up.

Good luck on the MCAT!!
 
BombsAway said:
Get that southwest card ready for interview season
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haha, I usually fly spirit b/c I can get their "big seat" (which is actually just a regular sized seat if most airlines had any humanity) for about the same price as a ticket on any other airline and not have to have my body contorted into some airline-fetal position. It is a nice trade-off in lieu of a bag of stale peanuts and the 1/4 can of sprite you get with the "full service" airlines 😀
 
I’ll need to remind myself to pm you on how you got the AFS started it seems like a bigger mess if you didn’t initially start your undergrad in TX 10+ years ago. Congrats though thus far! Cant wait to hear how you do on the MCAT
 
BC_89 said:
I’ll need to remind myself to pm you on how you got the AFS started it seems like a bigger mess if you didn’t initially start your undergrad in TX 10+ years ago. Congrats though thus far! Cant wait to hear how you do on the MCAT
Click to expand...

I didn't start my undergrad in TX. All of the grades that AFS is wiping out actually come from institutions outside of TX.
 
esob said:
Hopefully in a few months I'll be able to update this thread with my first II as long as I can manage not to choke on the MCAT next month😱.
Click to expand...

Almost forgot to update this thread. It has definitely been a journey but here we are! I didn't quite choke on the MCAT but didn't do as well as I wanted due to an unforeseen illness in the family. Still, that is part of the story; weathering the storms that you encounter as a nontrad. I've learned to expect the unexpected.

It is still early in the cycle but I am happy to note that I currently have 5 interview invitations and feel pretty confident that at some point before the end of the year, my next thread update will be regarding an acceptance. Fingers crossed, but if you are a nontrad just beginning the journey, know that the times flies. It's hard to believe I started this in 2015 with pretty much no idea what I was doing, lol. Perhaps I still don't know what I'm doing, but I'm getting better at pretending that I do 😉
 
esob said:
Almost forgot to update this thread. It has definitely been a journey but here we are! I didn't quite choke on the MCAT but didn't do as well as I wanted due to an unforeseen illness in the family. Still, that is part of the story; weathering the storms that you encounter as a nontrad. I've learned to expect the unexpected.

It is still early in the cycle but I am happy to note that I currently have 5 interview invitations and feel pretty confident that at some point before the end of the year, my next thread update will be regarding an acceptance. Fingers crossed, but if you are a nontrad just beginning the journey, know that the times flies. It's hard to believe I started this in 2015 with pretty much no idea what I was doing, lol. Perhaps I still don't know what I'm doing, but I'm getting better at pretending that I do 😉
Click to expand...

Keep it up!!!
 
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