Looking for advice!

[supermom]

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Looking for some guidance in pursuing medical school! I have been an ED/Trauma RN for more than 8yrs and on numerous occasions had intentions of returning to seek a medical degree but the timing was never quite right. I am finally in a position that I could start preparing, but have concerns about financial aid (I am a divorced mother of 3) and prerequisites--I have an ADN but see no need to get a bachelor's--just want to take the courses that are necessary and most beneficial in preparing for the MCAT. I would also need living expenses for myself and children...
Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[njbmd]

Looking for some guidance in pursuing medical school! I have been an ED/Trauma RN for more than 8yrs and on numerous occasions had intentions of returning to seek a medical degree but the timing was never quite right. I am finally in a position that I could start preparing, but have concerns about financial aid (I am a divorced mother of 3) and prerequisites--I have an ADN but see no need to get a bachelor's--just want to take the courses that are necessary and most beneficial in preparing for the MCAT. I would also need living expenses for myself and children...
Any suggestions or recommendations?

Not sure what an ADN (Associates Degree in Nursing?) is but your chances of getting into medical school without a bachelor's degree are pretty slim unless you are looking into going overseas. There are BS/MD programs here in the United States but they generally accept high school students with high SATs and excellent grades in advanced placement cources. Few medical schools accept applicants without a bachelor's degree in today's world. If you have a prior bachelor's degree in something else that would fulfull this requirement.

Pre-recs for MCAT are one year of General Chemistry with lab, one year of General Biology with lab, one year of Organic Chemistry with lab and one year of General Physics with lab. You may also want to look into taking courses in Genetics/Molecular Biology if your General Biology course did not go into sufficient depth on these subjects (many do). Minimally, it takes about two years of full-time prep to get these courses done.


As for Financial Aid, check out the Financial Aid Forum (futher down the page) for more information but all Federal Financial Aid starts with the FAFSA form. (Do a Google search). You can also apply for private loans that a based on credit rating too. Check with private lenders in your area and find out what might be available. Good luck!

 

[awk]

If you look at the MSAR (Medical School admissions requirments) you will see that almost 100 percent of accepted students have a B.A. or B.S. (although the "official req. is 3 years or college work). However, not all degrees are in a science field. Your absolute best bet is to get a 4-year degree while taking your pre-reqs. You can get a degree in anything you find interesting (or easy to complete) as long as you get your pre-reqs done for your particular school to which you are applying. Get an MSAR and look over these pre-reqs as they vary from school to school.

With a good MCAT and your experience you should get in to a med school somewhere but being a mother of three you will def need to know someone who can help with the kids while you are in school (i.e. clinicals) unless they are teenagers..you never said. It is def do-able but you will need a degree and pre-reqs done first..Don't even worry about money until after you get accepted...a way to pay always shows up.

 

[supermom]

You are correct - ADN is associate degree in nursing--I don't think it would actually take too long to get a B.S., but just wanted to validate a rumour I heard. I am just now exploring options and all of the insight I am getting from reading threads in this website is helpful and gives me a great base to start with! My children are only 7, 5, and 3 now, but if it takes 1-2 years to obtain a B.S. they would at least all be in school full day. Although I am divorced, their father is actively involved and we have a schedule in place, but frequently switch days to accomadate each others' schedules.
My biggest concerns at this point are how to finance my endeavor, so I guess that is where I need to start!
I appreciate the input!🙂

 

[DrMidlife]

Just for kicks, apply to a decent school and file a FAFSA, next month. You never know what can happen. And it can't hurt.

 

[DoctorMom78]

Looking for some guidance in pursuing medical school! I have been an ED/Trauma RN for more than 8yrs and on numerous occasions had intentions of returning to seek a medical degree but the timing was never quite right. I am finally in a position that I could start preparing, but have concerns about financial aid (I am a divorced mother of 3) and prerequisites--I have an ADN but see no need to get a bachelor's--just want to take the courses that are necessary and most beneficial in preparing for the MCAT. I would also need living expenses for myself and children...
Any suggestions or recommendations?

First of all, I would look into DO schools. They tend to be more accepting of non-traditional students. (I am also biased because I love osteopathic medicine.) I think you will have to get your bachelors degree to get accepted to medical school. May I suggest doing your bachelors in nursing? That way if medical school didn't work out you could always go on and become an NP or midwife or something similar. It would probably be easy for you with your life experience. You can take your prereqs while completing your degree. I agree that you should apply to some schools and file a FAFSA. Even if you get money for living expenses, you will probably still have to work part-time. Lucky for you, you are a nurse! That is probably the best profession to find a high-paying, flexible, part-time job. I have four children, but I am married and have a very supportive husband and family. I can't imagine doing it on my own. I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope that you are able to achieve your dream!😀

 

[anoukblue]

You definitely have to have a bachelors degree to apply to medical school. Unlike what another poster said I would not get a BSN degree. The cool thing about nursing is that although a BSN is preferred you don't have to have a BSN to advance. If I were you I would go back to school and get a BA...but I would obtain a degree in something other than nursing i.e. psychology or sociology. That way you can fullfill the premed requirements and have a degree in a GPA friendly subject.