- Joined
- Dec 22, 2004
- Messages
- 130
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Hi everyone. I used to post / read frequently in the Pre-allo board back when I was applying to medical schools. It has been a long time since I have visited these boards. I thought I would introduce myself and share my story to see if anyone could relate or get some encouragement from anoher nontraditional student.
I am 33 years old (almost 34). I graduated with a BS in psychology many years ago. When I was in college I did not take any premed courses. After college I took a job with Pfizer Pharmaceuticles as a sales rep. I did that for a while and I realized that many doctors were struggling because lack of business skills / business experience. So I started a medical business consulting business and had several clients. After a year of this and more clients than I could handle. I partnered with a couple of my clients and started a multispecialty clinic. I ran the business aspects of the business and over 5 years we grew the clinic to 4 locations and 25 doctors (many different specialties) and about 100 employees.
At about 3 years into the clinic I started to realize that I had a growing passion for the medical side of things and did not enjoy the business side as much. I started scrubbing into many surgeries and getting as involved as I could without a medical education. I was mostly shadowing. I started to wonder if there was anyway I could make the jump and go back to school, I thought I was too old at the ripe age of 29
to begin the journey. I had a great mentor who encouraged me to go for it.
Originally I thought that I would take my premeds and medical school at a carribean school. I applied and was accepted to MUA's premed / medical school. When my mentor / friend heard of my plan, he put his foot down and told me that I needed to keep working and take my premeds locally and take the MCAT and apply to US medical schools. So at 29 I started taking premeds at a community college part time and continued to work at my business.
I took the MCAT after only completing Physics 1, Chem 1 and Bio 1. I rushed it thinking I was too old and I needed to get my new career going. It was not the smartest move, but I got through it. I sold my partnership in the clinic and applied to tons of MD programs while I was finishing my premeds. I did not get any interviews so in a last ditch effort I applied to DO schools but very late in the cycle. I applied to 4 DO schools and got 3 interviews. I was waitlisted at all of the programs I interviewed at.
As a back up I had appled to Chicago Medical School's (Rosalind Fanklin) AP program. I was accepted to the AP program and was very happy. As it turned out it was the last year of the AP program. So I started the program last fall and put my whole effort into it and it paid off. I was accepted to Chicago Medical School with advanced standing for the 2006/2007 school year.
So now I am done with midterms and 3 weeks from finals for the first term and I am loving it, I hoestly have never been happier and I understand what I am getting into, as I lived it for several years on the business side. I saw all the law suits and lack of reimbursement, hospital politics, long hours etc.
I am 33 and a father of 2 daughters, 7 and 4 years old. My wife and daughters are amazingly supportive and there is no way I could do this without their help / encouragement.
Sorry to be so longwinded but I needed a break from studying and I figured that if my story could encourage anyone in similiar situations it was worth posting. Thanks for listening.
I am 33 years old (almost 34). I graduated with a BS in psychology many years ago. When I was in college I did not take any premed courses. After college I took a job with Pfizer Pharmaceuticles as a sales rep. I did that for a while and I realized that many doctors were struggling because lack of business skills / business experience. So I started a medical business consulting business and had several clients. After a year of this and more clients than I could handle. I partnered with a couple of my clients and started a multispecialty clinic. I ran the business aspects of the business and over 5 years we grew the clinic to 4 locations and 25 doctors (many different specialties) and about 100 employees.
At about 3 years into the clinic I started to realize that I had a growing passion for the medical side of things and did not enjoy the business side as much. I started scrubbing into many surgeries and getting as involved as I could without a medical education. I was mostly shadowing. I started to wonder if there was anyway I could make the jump and go back to school, I thought I was too old at the ripe age of 29
to begin the journey. I had a great mentor who encouraged me to go for it.Originally I thought that I would take my premeds and medical school at a carribean school. I applied and was accepted to MUA's premed / medical school. When my mentor / friend heard of my plan, he put his foot down and told me that I needed to keep working and take my premeds locally and take the MCAT and apply to US medical schools. So at 29 I started taking premeds at a community college part time and continued to work at my business.
I took the MCAT after only completing Physics 1, Chem 1 and Bio 1. I rushed it thinking I was too old and I needed to get my new career going. It was not the smartest move, but I got through it. I sold my partnership in the clinic and applied to tons of MD programs while I was finishing my premeds. I did not get any interviews so in a last ditch effort I applied to DO schools but very late in the cycle. I applied to 4 DO schools and got 3 interviews. I was waitlisted at all of the programs I interviewed at.
As a back up I had appled to Chicago Medical School's (Rosalind Fanklin) AP program. I was accepted to the AP program and was very happy. As it turned out it was the last year of the AP program. So I started the program last fall and put my whole effort into it and it paid off. I was accepted to Chicago Medical School with advanced standing for the 2006/2007 school year.
So now I am done with midterms and 3 weeks from finals for the first term and I am loving it, I hoestly have never been happier and I understand what I am getting into, as I lived it for several years on the business side. I saw all the law suits and lack of reimbursement, hospital politics, long hours etc.
I am 33 and a father of 2 daughters, 7 and 4 years old. My wife and daughters are amazingly supportive and there is no way I could do this without their help / encouragement.
Sorry to be so longwinded but I needed a break from studying and I figured that if my story could encourage anyone in similiar situations it was worth posting. Thanks for listening.
