Looking at all of my options again

[gp2]

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Hi all,

I have come to a point where I have become more open minded at career options in the healthcare field. Originally, I was fully determined on an MD, then moved to MD/DO. Now, I am looking into possibilities of including NP, PA, and even Dentistry. The main reason for looking into these new options has been mostly that I had excluded them from being possible options before and I am starting to look at cost and length of the programs. I am now wanting to make sure that I hear from experienced members here, as I do not have that much information on many of these career paths other than MD/DO.

I completed my undergrad in 2014 at UC Berkeley with an Art degree. I had a science GPA around 3.5 (Only chem, ochem 1/2 no lab, calc, bio 1 was taken, but is higher now after taking phys 1/2) and my total GPA is 3.8. If anyone is familiar with SCUHS, this school seems to be the best school for me to complete my prereq as it is closeby and allows for prereqs to be completed quickly. (FAQs » Southern California University Health Sciences) For this reason, I have been limiting myself to only schools that will accept these credits.

Please let me know any advice that you may have- including if I should not limit myself by going through accelerated prereqs. I am also willing to clarify as I'm suring I'm missing information. Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[Blanky]

Clinical/volunteer/research, get at least two out of the three while you do your classes. Also when you MCAT prep take plenty of practice full lengths. GL

 

[IcedAmericano]

If I were you I would start chipping away at my prereqs at a DIY or formal post bac while volunteering and shadowing different healthcare providers. See what area you're drawn to and take your time so you don't have any regrets. Also just a warning, talk to different providers becasue some of them can be jaded. You don't want to get biased advice.

 

[gyngyn]

You would be better off at a CC or even UCLA extension than the place you mention.

 

[gp2]

1. Thank you so much for your advice. I did about a year of research while in undergrad - would you say that is enough or should I always be looking for more? And I am currently applying to many different volunteering opportunities - mainly hospice, tutoring, and food bank opportunities. I did begin studying for MCAT while not completing all my prereqs and I think I will be better off now doing all of this to feel more confident taking it now.


2. Thanks for that advice. For some reason I have been holding back on cold-calling people because I feel like I am not even at a point to ask questions, but maybe that's exactly why I should be doing it. As far as a formal post-bac, would you have any suggestions for which one? I have been looking at programs nearby (UCI) and my GPA requirements are above their accepted GPA. I am not sure if that forces me into a DIY situation or if there's a program out there that will accept with a higher GPA just unfinished prereqs. I like the idea of a formal program because I personally wouldn't mind taking all my prereqs again in so it's all fresh in my memory. Please let me know or I'll continue looking for myself.


3. Thank you for being clear about that. I have been wary about the school. Originally, I was going to go just for the physics requirement because I was taking the MCAT. I got the credits for it but did not end up taking the MCAT. Now, I am trying to take a step back. I am registered at my local CC and will have to look again at a schedule that will work.

 

[IcedAmericano]

1. Thank you so much for your advice. I did about a year of research while in undergrad - would you say that is enough or should I always be looking for more? And I am currently applying to many different volunteering opportunities - mainly hospice, tutoring, and food bank opportunities. I did begin studying for MCAT while not completing all my prereqs and I think I will be better off now doing all of this to feel more confident taking it now.


2. Thanks for that advice. For some reason I have been holding back on cold-calling people because I feel like I am not even at a point to ask questions, but maybe that's exactly why I should be doing it. As far as a formal post-bac, would you have any suggestions for which one? I have been looking at programs nearby (UCI) and my GPA requirements are above their accepted GPA. I am not sure if that forces me into a DIY situation or if there's a program out there that will accept with a higher GPA just unfinished prereqs. I like the idea of a formal program because I personally wouldn't mind taking all my prereqs again in so it's all fresh in my memory. Please let me know or I'll continue looking for myself.


3. Thank you for being clear about that. I have been wary about the school. Originally, I was going to go just for the physics requirement because I was taking the MCAT. I got the credits for it but did not end up taking the MCAT. Now, I am trying to take a step back. I am registered at my local CC and will have to look again at a schedule that will work.

I did a formal post bac for career changers SF State. You can google post bac programs in the nation and filter by state and min gpa. The higher your gpa the higher your odds of getting into a program. Tutoring and food bank is cool but you should stick to shadowing health care professionals for the sake of narrowing down your career path. Mcat shouldn't be on your radar until all of your prereqa and electives are completed. You can PM me if you have any more questions.

 

[gp2]

I did a formal post bac for career changers SF State. You can google post bac programs in the nation and filter by state and min gpa. The higher your gpa the higher your odds of getting into a program. Tutoring and food bank is cool but you should stick to shadowing health care professionals for the sake of narrowing down your career path. Mcat shouldn't be on your radar until all of your prereqa and electives are completed. You can PM me if you have any more questions.

Thank you. I did start researching into programs like Mills and Scripps. I didn't realize there was an added bonus of the schools having linkages. I am pretty much set on WesternU DO which has told me they will accept my credits so I'm not sure I want to go ahead with the formal post bac. However, I will continue to look into shadowing as the best way of narrowing down.