Just Introducing Myself

[SDGuy]

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Hello,

I thought I would start off by giving some background and maybe asking a few questions. I wanted to be an Optometrist since I was young and living with my grandparents,but then I went to live with my mother when I turned 13, bad idea, not the greatest role mode.(sold/did Meth) I of course realized I could do what I wanted and started hanging with the wrong people and just stopped caring about school. In high school my GPA was so bad I couldn't get into college unless I did good on the ACT, but I did not plan on going to school so what did it matter. I graduated, just barely, in 06.

After HS my G/F of 2 years ended up getting pregnant and my son was born in 07, greatest moment of my life, besides getting married last June. At that point my wife decided to go to school for nursing, she completed her first year and switched her major to Psychology. After she finished her second year of school she asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I told her I wasn't sure, so she asked what did you want to do when you were younger. When I told her she asked why and I said to help people, she asked why I don't pursue that, that is when I decided I wanted to be a Doctor so that I had more options to help people.

I took my ACT test last summer as a spur of the moment thing, so I literally had no time to study for it, but figured I would give it a shot. I ended up in the 85th percentile with a 26 I was surprised since it had been 5 years since I had a real class besides gym class and automotive my senior year of HS. I applied to the local State University and started school this last fall. First few weeks in I was having a hell of a time paying attention to my teachers no matter how hard I tried. Ended up getting a C on my first Bio test. I went to my Dr. and she diagnosed me with Adult ADD and gave me a prescription. The next couple of days I noticed it was easy to pay attention. And have been getting A's since.

First semester I had a 3.667 GPA because I got a B in Spanish, this semester I should have a 3.8 just because of Eng. 201 which is the second composition class I have taken (thankfully the last required one). I have been maintaining 17 to 18 credit hours and plan on keeping it at that load, plus I work full time, my wife goes to school full time, and I have a very active 3 year old that needs as much attention as possible. I plan on doing as much volunteer work as I can this summer and I am joining the Science club in the fall to add to my extra curricular activities.

Now on to my questions if anyone is still reading. 🙂 When I apply to schools in a few years is it going to hurt me if I don't have a lot of volunteer work when compared to someone that has more, but does not have a kid or full time job? What do you guys suggest for volunteer work? Is the MCAT testing like the ACT testing?

That is all for now, to those of you that took the time to read all of this I thank you.😀

 

[Pons Asinorum]

1.When I apply to schools in a few years is it going to hurt me if I don't have a lot of volunteer work when compared to someone that has more, but does not have a kid or full time job?

2. What do you guys suggest for volunteer work?

3. Is the MCAT testing like the ACT testing?

1. If you haven't done sufficient volunteer work to demonstrate your commitment to helping your fellow man, and haven't shadowed sufficiently to demonstrate to admissions committees that you actually know what you are getting yourself into, then yes, it will kill your application regardless of you "situation." And yes, the way that I worded that is purposefully different than the way that you framed your original question. There are just too many applicants who can get those things done with similar "situations" to consider everyone who doesn't.

2. What do you like to do or what are you good at? There are volunteer opportunities to be had in those areas, you just have to try. Or, you could do like most pre-meds and get a volunteer gig at a hospital wheeling around GOMERS and delivering flowers. There are a plethora of opportunities to volunteer, for every schedule.

3. The ACT and the MCAT could not be more different. There is a dedicated MCAT forum here that has all the info that you could possibly want or need on how to prepare.

Welcome, and best of luck.

 

[EdLongshanks]

When I apply to schools in a few years is it going to hurt me if I don't have a lot of volunteer work when compared to someone that has more, but does not have a kid or full time job? What do you guys suggest for volunteer work? Is the MCAT testing like the ACT testing?

I'm going to interpret this statement charitably and hope that you have a restrictive view of what constitutes volunteer work. Surely in your life you have been involved in projects that weren't about yourself and your child. If you go to church do you help with the puppets or teach Sunday School. Did you write for the school paper? Have you not worked with the Lions or the Kiwanis clubs to raise money for civics? Do you not drop by the political offices in town to help with a campaign? Does you workplace or your labor union not do anything that you have been involved with? Did you volunteer to help with the blood drive? Did you not help put the roof on during the church building project or man the desk at the community center? Do you know no shut-in seniors who needed meal-on-wheels delivered or have you visited the nursing home and sung, played, or read to the residents?

I've heard of people who haven't seen any of these needs, but I don't understand them, nor would I understand why they would want to be physicians.