International Pharmacist to US Medical school Prospective

[MsAmiodarone]

Hi all, I hope this is the right place to post. I'm looking for insight before I invest in working with a med school admissions consultant (seeking feedback on this type of service as well).

BACKGROUND
I spent nearly 10 years in the pharmaceutical field in my home country. Relocating to the U.S. was never part of my original plan. In fact, it was 4 years ago that I decided I wanted to be more clinically involved in patient care and made the decision to pursue medical school. I intended to apply in my home country, but life had other plans, and now I’m here in the U.S., still committed to that goal but facing greater hurdles.

Right now, I’m considering the following and hoping for feedback on which would be best for me:
A DIY post-baccalaureate, 2 years at a community college followed by a transfer to a four-year institution or see if any (state) institutions will accept credit transfers from my intn'l pharma degree.
I’d really appreciate any advice from those who’ve been through similar situations or understand how these routes are viewed by admissions committees.

Here’s what I currently have just for the record:

• GPA: 3.0 (affected by extenuating circumstances during pharmacy school. Something I plan to address in my application. I'm hopeful that a strong performance in pre-req courses will help raise this, even slightly.)
• Clinical experience: 2,000 hours (paid) should be higher by the time I apply for med sch
• Volunteer experience:
  • ~300 hours non-clinical
  • ~200 hours clinical
• Research: None so far. I’m unsure how to get my foot in the door without prior experience, so any tips or direction would be deeply appreciated. If you think it’s not essential, I’m open to hearing that perspective too.
• MCAT: Haven’t taken it yet.
• Shadowing: 0 (I work in Cardiology. Should I explore shadowing opportunities elsewhere?)

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[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Any coursework taken outside of an accredited US/Canadian school will not count towards the application GPA. You may need equivalency transcripts from ECE or WES, especially when you have to matriculate, but read the instructions for AMCAS/AACOMAS. I don't think you need to enter those grades.

Do you have permanent residency?

You can pursue "career changer" postbac programs that support non-traditional applicants. Do your homework with schools near you. If you decide to transition to a four-year institution, check if they have a career-changer postbac or their prehealth office has experience working with candidates like you. Do not rush taking your MCAT until you have completed your prerequisites.

You should pursue shadowing experiences where you are around physicians. If you are working in hospital pharmacy now, I hope it's not difficult to find physicians to talk and shadow with. I would include opportunities for primary care (less emergent) to complement your cardiology/IM experience.

What is your non-clinical volunteering experience?