Is this even possible? Next steps?

[TheLaughingCow]

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PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THIS MESSAGE

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this and offer your informed opinions.

I am currently a pilot for the Air Force and looking at separating from military service around late 2028; I will be 33 years old then.

Undergrad: 3.0 B.S. Mathematics
Graduate (7/10 classes complete): 4.0 M.S. Family Financial Planning
MCAT Score: Not taken
State: Southeastern USA
Ethnicity: White
Undergrad Institution: Air Force Academy
Clinical Experience: None
Research Experience: None (a small amount of research in mathematics from my undergrad)
Shadowing Experience: None
Non-clinical volunteering: None
Other Extracurricular Activities: Air Force pilot and combat veteran.
Relevant Honor or Awards: Eagle Scout, Air Medals.

My plan is to:
- Take medical school prerequisite classes and get A's to repair my mediocre undergrad GPA
- Biology
- Anatomy
- Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Statistics

- Spend weekends volunteering and shadowing at a local hospital
- I estimate I can complete around 400 hours volunteering/shadowing before I apply

- Take the MCAT and score well
- I'm a good test taker so I think I can score in the top 20%

ASSUMING I can keep above a 3.8 GPA in those courses, keep above a 3.8 in my M.S. program, knock out some volunteering hours, score in the top 20% on the MCAT, and keep my nose clean in my regular career, do I have a snowball's chance of getting into a med school?

Additional questions:

- What would it take to get into a school like Emory? Or is that basically impossible for an older guy like me with a pretty mediocre undergrad GPA?

- Will I be severely disadvantaged (due to age and bad undergrad GPA) when the time comes to match into residency?

- Is my plan a good one? Is there anything else I can do to make myself a lot more competitve?
Please give it to me straight. I don't want to spend 2 years grinding on this plan only to find out I never had a chance or that I can get into school but certain doors will be closed to me forever due to age/GPA.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums and thank you for your service to our country.

First question: Have you contacted the EMDP2 team yet? Are you eligible?

Medschool, Academics, EMDP2

medschool.usuhs.edu

 

[wysdoc]

Visit this thread by @Goro who gives great advice for nontrads and reinventors

Thread 'Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)'

Aug 25, 2021

EDIT: Post in WAMC forum for recommended school lists. This thread isn't for that.

So you want to be a doctor, but your GPA is terrible. Is that the end? Rule #1: Take a deep breath, and stop fussing. The sky is not falling.

But you are going to need to reinvent yourself. This will take both time and money. And always remember that you’re in a marathon now, not a sprint. The following advice holds true for people considering MD and DO. I strongly recommend that you keep both in mind, and the latter is more tolerant of reinvention.

An even better summary to the next paragraph...

• Goro
• Replies: 541
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

• 
• 

 

[TheLaughingCow]

Welcome to the forums and thank you for your service to our country.

First question: Have you contacted the EMDP2 team yet? Are you eligible?

Medschool, Academics, EMDP2

medschool.usuhs.edu

Thanks for the reply. I've never heard of EMDP2 though I have talked to flight surgeons about their experiences.
I'm unfortunately not a good fit for this program as I prefer to stay in the southeastern US and separate from the military when I can.

Visit this thread by @Goro who gives great advice for nontrads and reinventors

Thread 'Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)'

Aug 25, 2021

EDIT: Post in WAMC forum for recommended school lists. This thread isn't for that.

So you want to be a doctor, but your GPA is terrible. Is that the end? Rule #1: Take a deep breath, and stop fussing. The sky is not falling.

But you are going to need to reinvent yourself. This will take both time and money. And always remember that you’re in a marathon now, not a sprint. The following advice holds true for people considering MD and DO. I strongly recommend that you keep both in mind, and the latter is more tolerant of reinvention.

An even better summary to the next paragraph...

• Goro
• Replies: 541
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

• 
• 

Thank you. It looks like his recommendations are largely in line with what I'm planning to do, except instead of the post-bacc I'll have to create my own curriculum to maintain flexibility in the face of deployments and other demands on my time.

 

[TwoDogMed]

Why not fly for the airlines? The road to becoming a doctor is such a long and arduous one. GL

 

[wysdoc]

Thanks for the reply. I've never heard of EMDP2 though I have talked to flight surgeons about their experiences.
I'm unfortunately not a good fit for this program as I prefer to stay in the southeastern US and separate from the military when I can.



Thank you. It looks like his recommendations are largely in line with what I'm planning to do, except instead of the post-bacc I'll have to create my own curriculum to maintain flexibility in the face of deployments and other demands on my time.

Yes you have a different timeline but fitting in the coursework when you can should work