Is this feasible? Corporate career to medical school

[andii]

A biology graduate in consulting who is consistently feeling the pull to pursue medical school. I have about 200-300 research hours from college (no pubs). I graduated in 2022 and took a year to find my footing at work. The following year started volunteering in a hospice to give back and felt the urge to explore a career in medicine. I did shadow three specialities in college, and now am slowly feeling like that’s where I want to be. I do wanna start in 2026, and have not racked up enough hours. Is it feasible to try to tackle the MCAT and get volunteer hours this year and apply next year? I would really like to attend when I am 25 because I feel like it’s already too late for me. I will be volunteering at a hospice and am trying to get my foot in a hospital for volunteering as well and a free clinic. Hopefully that will suffice (hoping to cross 100-150 hours). I unfortunately will not be able to quit my corporate career for financial reasons and I don’t want to do non clinical things just to hit a check box. I am a published short story author and would rathar have non clinical experiences that mean a lot to me. I have my prerequisites done (gpa is average I will retake gen chem 2 which I had a D in). Other than that I have mostly A and ABs in science and non science classes.

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[Faha]

What are your cGPA and sGPA ? Where is your state of residence ?

 

[andii]

What are your cGPA and sGPA ? Where is your state of residence ?

I was raised abroad. Currently in Florida. cGPA- 3.52 sGPA- 3.4 (one D in chem and a B in physics)

 

[Faha]

As long as your MCAT score is 500+ you will be competitive for some DO schools. 508 or higher and you will be competitive for all DO schools and could receive interviews at some MD schools. You do need 50 hours of in person physician shadowing and 150+ hours of clinical volunteering/employment with patient contact and 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering (homeless shelter, food bank, etc.). Many schools screen at 150 hours.

 

[andii]

As long as your MCAT score is 500+ you will be competitive for some DO schools. 508 or higher and you will be competitive for all DO schools and could receive interviews at some MD schools. You do need 50 hours of in person physician shadowing and 150+ hours of clinical volunteering/employment with patient contact and 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering (homeless shelter, food bank, etc.). Many schools screen at 150 hours.

What do I have to do to be competitive for MD schools? And do I need 150+ for both?

 

[Faha]

What do I have to do to be competitive for MD schools? And do I need 150+ for both?

Yes, 150 for both. Especially for clinical hours, the more the better. The GPA-MCAT grid shows you would have ~50% chance for a MD acceptance with a MCAT of 510.

 

[andii]

Yes, 150 for both. Especially for clinical hours, the more the better. The GPA-MCAT grid shows you would have ~50% chance for a MD acceptance with a MCAT of 510.

Are there screens for both? As a non traditional with a full time corporate career I am trying to see how to make it all fit

 

[Faha]

Are there screens for both? As a non traditional with a full time corporate career I am trying to see how to make it all fit

Yes, screens for both but clinical hours are more important.