Intro/Questions from non-trad in Upstate NY

[jbert]

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[DrMidlife]

Background: I’m non-traditional (mid-20’s), went to an Ivy, solid GPA in a science (cum ~3.7, sci ~3.8), published. Some EC’s, now working for a health related NPO. Good rec’s. ~1400 SAT (on old 1600 scale). No shadowing. Took a year of major’s bio (with lab), year of major’s gen chem. (with lab), year of calc, year of English, one semester of non-major’s physics (with lab), one semester of stats, no genetics (wish I had). I have a crap-ton of neuro and evo bio courses. Don’t want to pad my GPA, just don’t want to lose it. Looking to get into a top-20 med school.

Credible ambition. Do well in your remaining prereqs, kill the MCAT, go for it.

Questions: (1) Physics was “easy” physics w/o calc. Is this a prob.?

Maybe. Find the premed advising web page for the school where you took that class. See if it's listed. If it's part of a year-long course, it's probably fine.

Generally you don't have to do calc-based physics. The content you need to learn is on the MCAT, which defines the dividing line between premed and non-premed physics class variants.

Any classes I should take like genetics or whatever?

I think it's great to take lots of upper div life science. But you already took a crap ton. So unless you're nervous about your exam-taking chops, or letters of recommendation, I see no compelling reason to take more classes beyond the prereqs you need.

Biochem and genetics are prereqs at some schools. Study the admissions websites for the MD schools you'll target.

(2) As far as I know, all I really need is a year of O chem. and semester of physics.

Probably true - as above, research requirements by school. You can buy an MSAR (new one comes out in April) to get a reasonably current list for all schools.

The local post-bacc. program (University of Rochester) seems geared toward people who have to take a lot of classes; I only want three, I think. For 16ish grand it seems really effin steep. Despite the cost of my UG I graduated with minimal debt from schollies and I’d have preferred to keep it that way until med school.

A structured formal premed postbac won't likely let you in, with your science background.

You can take your remaining coursework effectively anywhere you like. The typical problems you'll run into:
1. can you get a seat in a premed prereq, or is registration competitive?
2. can you get manageable tuition without being an admitted, degree-seeking student? Extension/nonmatriculated status sometimes comes with a premium.

(3) UofR isn’t prestigious. It’s not awful, just not top tier. Is this a prob?

No. Some of the top 20 med schools have a listing of where their students come from. You'll see a whole lot of public/off-the-rack schools on those lists.

I’m reluctant to move since I have a rooted partner. If we do move, what’re my odds of getting into a better post-bacc. prog?

Save the move for med school, or you're just going to move twice. Rochester is fine. Apply to Rochester for med school too - not having to move is seriously a good thing for lots of reasons.

4) I’d like to work part-time while completing these classes if I'm at the UofR. Is this realistic?

If it doesn't hurt your grades, then no problem.

Note that you'll need to take the MCAT well ahead of the opening of the MD app season. MD apps (AMCAS) open June 1. You need to kill the MCAT in April to have your score in hand by June 1. It's normal to pay for a prep course (like Kaplan) and spend months on prep. Prep is not learning, it's review and test-taking skills. Point being, if you want to apply in June 2013, I suggest you'll want to not work that spring semester, do MCAT prep instead.

(5) How does my application to med school as a post-bacc. look compared to people who completed these classes during undergrad? What about to people at higher tier post-baccs?

It looks compelling. You've done more than just take classes, you've had a job and paid rent and done stuff: these are advantages over younger candidates. Traditional students (those who start med school directly out of college) are now the minority. Average first year med student age is 24.

Start volunteering in a clinic or hospital. Now. 4 hrs/week. Required. Use your volunteer gig to get shadowing opportunities, and otherwise get yourself educated about the reality of medical practice. Highly recommended: find an old, pissed off male ob/gyn who's about to retire, and collect an earful of what's wrong with medicine these days.

I recommend that you start following health news - economics & politics. If you take a daily swipe at NYT & WSJ health pages, you'll quickly come up to speed. Healthcare ethics and policy are standard interview questions, and you will do well to build a foundation for carrying on adult conversation.

It's never too early to start writing your admissions essay or start collecting letters of recommendation.

Best of luck to you.

 

[jbert]

Credible ambition. Do well in your remaining prereqs, kill the MCAT, go for it.

This is coming late, but this reply (which I'm not quoting in whole because it was pretty long) was one of the most helpful I've ever received, anywhere. And it's advice I've followed. Thank you.