Input welcome!

[jwleverington]

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If you have time to look over my situation, I'd greatly appreciate any input or advice!

My husband and I had our first child when I was a sophomore in college.
My major changed several times, but I always knew I wanted to go to medical school. Due to the advice of several doctors who mentored me during this period of my life, I settled on a BA in English with a premedical concentration. I shadowed a very supportive plastic surgeon (who also took over his wife's dermatology practice) for about two years and was involved in several premed/medical ethics organizations. I also have a close mentor-relationship with a man who is now the Chief of Cardiology at a hospital in my home town.
When I began studying for my MCAT, my husband joined the Army. Juggling "single mom during a 15 month deployment" while studying just wasn't happening. I cut my premed studies short and graduated with my BA and taught for one year - boy! teaching high school students just isn't for me! The words of one of my mentors haunt me, "wasted potential!" as does the longing to pursue medicine.

Fast forward a *few* years, we now have two children (8 and 3 years old) and my husband is willing to go into the National Guard so that I can apply to medical school. However *and this is a biggie* he wants me to apply for the next school year. If we wait he may be locked into another commitment to the Army, and I cannot in good conscience have someone else raise our children so that I can pursue my career while he is still active duty. I am asking for your input on what a realistic timeline for completion of prereqs and MCAT prep to acceptance (assuming I ace the classes and nail the MCAT!).

Outstanding prereqs:
o-chem II (I completed I and the lab), physics II (same deal), stats, biochem, and A&P a lot, i know!

If I can find a school that offers these courses, I feel confident that I can apply next year for the 2015 school year. Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

I am assuming that I cannot apply with one or two of these courses outstanding. Am I correct?

It may be that this generous gesture by my husband came too late in relation to the immediacy of the deadline that came with it! I will have to accept that if that's the case. Maybe when the kids are in college? haha. I never thought I would have this opportunity, and the thought of it slipping out of my grasp is heart-wrenching!

Sorry that this post drips with sentiment ... haha ... what do you expect from a housewife?

Thank you in advance. Best wishes to all of you who have what it takes to answer the healer's calling!

 

[stolen_biscuit]

You have plenty of time.

There are only 5 classes, but you've got summer, fall, and spring semesters left. If you took the Organic and Physics classes a while ago, you can take the summer to brush up.

It's suggested that you take the MCAT in the Spring of the year you apply (so next year). I took mine the fall before that, just in case I wanted to schedule a retake, but it's up to you.

Besides academics, what you need to evaluate are your other experiences. If all your clinical experiences are from undergrad, you probably need to start volunteering. Leadership is also big for non-trads, it seems. You definitely need to show that you've kept yourself busy, with more than kids, although I know that's a lot of work in itself.

Good luck!

 

[hizziaips]

If you have time to look over my situation, I'd greatly appreciate any input or advice!

My husband and I had our first child when I was a sophomore in college.
My major changed several times, but I always knew I wanted to go to medical school. Due to the advice of several doctors who mentored me during this period of my life, I settled on a BA in English with a premedical concentration. I shadowed a very supportive plastic surgeon (who also took over his wife's dermatology practice) for about two years and was involved in several premed/medical ethics organizations. I also have a close mentor-relationship with a man who is now the Chief of Cardiology at a hospital in my home town.
When I began studying for my MCAT, my husband joined the Army. Juggling "single mom during a 15 month deployment" while studying just wasn't happening. I cut my premed studies short and graduated with my BA and taught for one year - boy! teaching high school students just isn't for me! The words of one of my mentors haunt me, "wasted potential!" as does the longing to pursue medicine.

Fast forward a *few* years, we now have two children (8 and 3 years old) and my husband is willing to go into the National Guard so that I can apply to medical school. However *and this is a biggie* he wants me to apply for the next school year. If we wait he may be locked into another commitment to the Army, and I cannot in good conscience have someone else raise our children so that I can pursue my career while he is still active duty. I am asking for your input on what a realistic timeline for completion of prereqs and MCAT prep to acceptance (assuming I ace the classes and nail the MCAT!).

Outstanding prereqs:
o-chem II (I completed I and the lab), physics II (same deal), stats, biochem, and A&P a lot, i know!

If I can find a school that offers these courses, I feel confident that I can apply next year for the 2015 school year. Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

I am assuming that I cannot apply with one or two of these courses outstanding. Am I correct?

It may be that this generous gesture by my husband came too late in relation to the immediacy of the deadline that came with it! I will have to accept that if that's the case. Maybe when the kids are in college? haha. I never thought I would have this opportunity, and the thought of it slipping out of my grasp is heart-wrenching!

Sorry that this post drips with sentiment ... haha ... what do you expect from a housewife?

Thank you in advance. Best wishes to all of you who have what it takes to answer the healer's calling!

Hi, jwleverington. I'll take a stab at your questions.

First, medical schools generally do not require A&P. (Ohio State is one exception, as they require a semester of anatomy.) However, since physiology is often tested in the bio section of the MCAT, a course in physiology might be a good idea if you have time for it. Second, with only a handful of exceptions (AFAIK), prerequisite requirements must be completed prior to matriculation, not prior to application. So, you don't need to be in a rush to do everything by the summer of 2014. Third, most schools that I've looked at do not require stats, though it definitely is another "nice to have".

To schedule your prereqs strategically, you might think about doing those courses that are directly relevant to the MCAT (i.e., orgo II, physics II, maybe physiology) over the next year, and complete the others during your application year (biochem, stats).

By the way, I admire your determination and drive. I can only imagine how difficult it is to balance school, family, and other commitments, especially given that your husband has been deployed for an extended period of time. Best of luck as you pursue your dream / calling over the next couple of years.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Since when is a&p a prerequisite for any medical school?

 

[HesyRa]

I would say that not only do you have plenty of time to fit in the pre-reqs that you still need to take, but that you also have time to get more clinical and volunteer opportunities in too. Depending on how long it has been since you last took an upper-division course at a university, I would consider whether or not you think you can handle the intensity of summer classes. As it is most likely too late to register for this semester, it seems you will have the summer and next fall to take the majority of the classes that you need to take. You could easily complete all of these before Spring '14. Then that spring, depending on your workload from studying for the MCAT, volunteering/shadowing and Momming (yes, Momming), you could consider taking maybe one additional class that you think might be helpful for the MCAT, like A&P. Then take the MCAT in early April'ish.

If it were me, that's how I would plan out the next 16 months. Best of luck to you. Don't give up on your own dreams, they are completely within reach.

 

[jwleverington]

thank you all for your input and encouragement!
a couple of the med schools I contacted recently changed their requirements to include stats - it wasn't a requirement six years ago lol Thank you also for the bit about a&p - I will look into that and will try to audit a class since I have not taken a&p in *ahem* a decade.
after speaking with several offices of admission I am feeling optimistic!
... I pulled out my text books and all my old mcat prep material ... it's funny to think that when I began studying for the mcat in early 2006 everyone state-side took a paper exam lol

 

[toyenola]

Continue to be focus and be optimist , the lord will meet all ur needs ijn

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