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- Jun 18, 2006
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- Pre-Medical
hey all,
I was a biology student (for the sole purpose of being a med student down the road) but during that course i got side tracked, fell in love (with chemistry) and finished my degree in that subject.
i was planning on doing my phd in organic synthesis, but after doing some research (hemoglobin derivatives), internships (HIV drug buildingblocks) etc, i discovered that the lab is NOT the place for me. instead i got a job tutoring chemistry and running a university tutoring program. did that for a year then moved to edinburgh, scotland.
i've lived here for two years. the first year i worked temp jobs to pay for travel expenses around europe and over the last year i built a community access darkroom from donated equipment and now i run that, teaching workshops, keeping it running etc. (part-time - the rest of my time i manage a cafe)
my idea of going to med school has never left and i'm headed back to the grind. i'm (hopefully) going to be returning to my old job as a tutor as it will allow me to prepare for the mcat while working and since it is at the university it will be easy for me to take a few courses...
i've got the grades and with a decent MCAT i should be okay, but i've got no patient contact/hospital volunteer/medical interest stuff (save my chemistry research, it was entirely based in medical arenas). will my 2 years abroad screw me over, or is it just based on how i sell it? what can i do to cement my position? with my chemistry degree i did take some biology courses (genetics/ecology) and chemical biology + lab. i'm guessing i'll still have to take biochem/molbio if only for the MCAT help, or can i audit the classes and just use the info for the MCAT.
i'd like to do this in 2 years, but i've got a feeling it will take me 3 in total...
i don't really know what i'm asking, but i suppose does this all sound reasonable? sorry for rambling, it has been so long since chatting about this and there isn't anyone around here who understands the US system...
cheers!
N/a
I was a biology student (for the sole purpose of being a med student down the road) but during that course i got side tracked, fell in love (with chemistry) and finished my degree in that subject.
i was planning on doing my phd in organic synthesis, but after doing some research (hemoglobin derivatives), internships (HIV drug buildingblocks) etc, i discovered that the lab is NOT the place for me. instead i got a job tutoring chemistry and running a university tutoring program. did that for a year then moved to edinburgh, scotland.
i've lived here for two years. the first year i worked temp jobs to pay for travel expenses around europe and over the last year i built a community access darkroom from donated equipment and now i run that, teaching workshops, keeping it running etc. (part-time - the rest of my time i manage a cafe)
my idea of going to med school has never left and i'm headed back to the grind. i'm (hopefully) going to be returning to my old job as a tutor as it will allow me to prepare for the mcat while working and since it is at the university it will be easy for me to take a few courses...
i've got the grades and with a decent MCAT i should be okay, but i've got no patient contact/hospital volunteer/medical interest stuff (save my chemistry research, it was entirely based in medical arenas). will my 2 years abroad screw me over, or is it just based on how i sell it? what can i do to cement my position? with my chemistry degree i did take some biology courses (genetics/ecology) and chemical biology + lab. i'm guessing i'll still have to take biochem/molbio if only for the MCAT help, or can i audit the classes and just use the info for the MCAT.
i'd like to do this in 2 years, but i've got a feeling it will take me 3 in total...
i don't really know what i'm asking, but i suppose does this all sound reasonable? sorry for rambling, it has been so long since chatting about this and there isn't anyone around here who understands the US system...
cheers!
N/a
