Intro with several questions

[QuasiMD]

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Hello there,
I have been lurking quite a while but just decided to join recently. Anyhow I am 25 yrs old, just completed my 2yr degree after a rough past few years. I planned on being a veterinarian since I was a little kid but after years of working with animals (and owners), I am over it. I love medicine and I love animals, but I have gotten to the point that I can no longer handle owners who either are insanely obsessive about their animals or who care so little that spending the $100 a year on heartworm prevention is too much for them. Anyhow off my soap box....
The point is that I have changed to pre-med and will be applying '10. I have a few questions for you guys.

I have worked in veterinary hospitals for almost 10 yrs, have several years of volunteering in nature centers in wildlife rehab, several years of volunteer coordinator of a horse rescue and own my own pet sitting business (started from ground up and now making $50K pet sitting). Should I mention any of this? I mean my volunteer work was helping the community in a way, and I actually did help with programs for wayward teens at the rescue. I am starting volunteering in the ER at a level 1 trauma center (biggest in the state) and will have built up approx 200+ hours at the least by the time I apply. I will also have shadowed a pediatrcian and possibly an ob/gyn for 40-50 hrs each (a full work week). Anything else you can suggest?

My GPA will be very lacking (2.49 when I graduated with my 2yr, mostly A's-B's, but I took chem and precal 3 times going from an f to a d to an a in chem and c in precal after I continued going to school during a divorce, custody battle, pregnancy and the subsequent SIDS death of my son -long story), but am confident that I can pull a 35+ on the MCAT and will be trying to make straight A's while I finish the last yr and half of my B.S which should be able to get my ogpa over 3.0. The other question is do I talk about the issues I suffered during these semesters in my P.S?

Thanks in advance.
-QuasiMD

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I love medicine and I love animals, but I have gotten to the point that I can no longer handle owners who either are insanely obsessive about their animals or who care so little that spending the $100 a year on heartworm prevention is too much for them. Anyhow off my soap box....

You know, you're going to see the same thing in medicine. Some will drive you crazy because every little sniffle and Johnny's mom is going to call you. Others will drive you crazy because they just don't like taking their diabetes meds and somehow it's your fault they're loosing a foot. Still others will let their parent's rot while selling their meds on the street.

Just be warned before you invest a lot of time and money into a career that is similar to something you've burned out of already.

My advice is to get closer to your application cycle before worrying about your PS. A lot of water will pass under the bridge between now and then -- and probably something more worthy of talking about will happen. Until now and then get all A's in class. Volunteering and clinical experiences are good. Develop relationships with professors so you can get great LORs. When the MCAT comes I hope you can get a 35+, but until you have a score in hand there's not much use in talking about it.

 

[Law2Doc]

but am confident that I can pull a 35+ on the MCAT

Saying you plan to rock the MCAT is pretty meaningless and one of the "cardinal sins" of SDN. Until you take it you have a zero. Everybody thinks they are going to get some phenomenal number until they actually start taking practice tests. But most med school matriculants won't get a 35, and most of them had higher GPAs than you are starting/finishing with. If you can do it more power to you, but no point for folks assuming this when giving you advice. Get your string of A's first and see where you are.

It may be premature to assume you will be ready to apply for 2010 until you actually get your GPA up and take the MCAT (which you shouldn't take until multiple practice tests suggest you are ready). Lots of people wouldn't pull the trigger and apply with a 3.0ish GPA, and would look into SMP type options first.

 

[QuasiMD]

It's not that I am burned out persay. Honestly the big difference is that humans have a choice. They choose to drink themselves into renal failure. An animal does not. They don't have the choice to take/not take medications that could help them. I don't care if a person chooses to help themselves or not (I mean I do but it's not a deal breaker for me), they have a choice.

As for practice tests, I have been taking tests and studying for the MCAT for a few months and am consistantly getting 30-33. I still have to take orgo for a grade but have taught it to myself already and am very comfortable with it.