Marine Corps Student Pilot

[eldudero04]

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I'm 23, and I'm currently an SNA (student naval aviator--pilot in training) in the Marine Corps.

Although becoming a pilot is my number one priority now, I've always been interested in becoming a doctor. I will owe the Marine Corps about 6-7 more years, and I would most likely be able to arrange some kind of duty at the end of my obligation that might allow me to take night or online classes concurrently (can premed classes be done this way?).

I majored in Philosophy at Cornell in 2005. I played a varsity sport and partied way to much for the first half of college (and had a pretty bad GPA) I was able to finish with several semesters around a 3.8-3.9 (with a few grad level classes). However, my cumulative is stil really low--3.0.

I usually do pretty well on standardized tests, and I think if I put the time in studying I could do well on the MCATs.

I was just curious if anyone might be able to shed light on what my chances would be of getting into a good medical school with my situation (in like 6 years). How much do schools look at GPAs if they are old, not in the sciences, and if someone has a competitive MCAT score? Has anyone ever heard of an applicant like me getting in anywhere reputable? Anyway, I could go on and on with questions...but if anyone has any advice/answers please throw it my way.

Thanks a lot for the knowledge...

 

[pathognomonic]

I've done something similar, actually scary similar. I graduated from Cornell in 1996 and winged in 2001 (Navy, not Marine Corps). My undergrad GPA was just under a 3.2, but I did fairly well on the MCAT and have about 25 hours post-bac with a 4.0. I don't have any acceptances yet, but have five interviews including JHU. So yes, I know that it's at least possible to get to the interview stage with your background. Let me know if I can tell you anything else that'll help. Have you selected a pipeline yet?

 

[Pemberley]

I was just curious if anyone might be able to shed light on what my chances would be of getting into a good medical school with my situation (in like 6 years). How much do schools look at GPAs if they are old, not in the sciences, and if someone has a competitive MCAT score? Has anyone ever heard of an applicant like me getting in anywhere reputable? Anyway, I could go on and on with questions...but if anyone has any advice/answers please throw it my way.

Thanks a lot for the knowledge...

The good news: All US medical schools are good.

The bad news: Not all are big-name, and during this application cycle so far I (with 7 years in the military, 3.0 undergrad -- in physics -- pulled up to 3.3 with part-time undergrad-level coursework) have been given the finger by the big-name schools.

More good news: I took o-chem and biology at a community college while still on active duty. It was entirely doable. Does the fact I took them at a cc hurt? Your guess is as good as mine, but it doesn't matter; I was working full time, and our Local University didn't offer night classes; taking them at a cc is better than not taking them.

I don't think you'll have the brainpower or energy for anything of the sort while in pilot training or in any of the subsequent upgrading periods that follow. Night flight schedules, etc, might also make it more difficult.

Starting 6 years in advance will be a big advantage. You can take classes slowly enough to do well in them, but still take a lot of them to maintain your GPA, and not take any when you'll be studying for the MCAT. Plus the adcomms will eat up the whole fighter-pilot thing.

Final piece of good news: state residency can save your butt. If you aren't already a TX or FL state resident, and you get stationed in one of those states (or any other state more favorable than wherever you've got residency now) changing over may seriously increase your chances.

 

[eldudero04]

I haven't selected a pipeline yet. I did TBS throughout the winter, and I have a week left of API. The anthropometric doc told me that my sitting height is .4 inches too tall for jets (I have yet to find out if this can ever be "re-measured"). Worst case, I'd definitely be happy with almost any of helos that the Marine Corps now flies...

My buddy and I are headed to Vance AFB for Primary and we class up at the end of November...

What flight platform did you select? How did you manage your pre-med/MCAT studying with your career? Thanks a lot for the advice.

 

[pathognomonic]

Anthros are a royal pain and they've tightened them up quite a bit. It used to be they'd measure your seated height, buttock to knee, and functional reach rather than your standing height, but now if you're shorter than 5'4" or taller than 6'2" you're pretty much hosed. If you want jets and have the NSS for it near the end of primary go talk to an aerospace physiologist (there's one at TRAWING 5 at Whiting Field) and request a "fit check". If you're too tall you might just want to let it go though. If you're too tall and punch out of a Prowler you'll leave your lower legs in the jet and there just isn't much room in a Hornet. I'm really short (5'3") and I'm hating life in a Hornet after about two hours. Besides, helos are a blast (except for dunker training).

I took my classes at night except orgo which was only offered during the day. I had a great Skipper and he let me do it. Also, if you can get an ROTC tour for your shore duty you can usually take classes at that school. I wouldn't even bother to take classes or study for the MCAT until you are winged and done with the RAG/NATOPS qualled. In all honesty, I wouldn't touch it at all until you're either on shore duty or else on cruise. (You can get a lot of studying in on cruise if you're not trying to win Baldur's Gate or whatever computer game you're fixated on).

 

[eldudero04]

That definitely sounds like a good plan. How did you like your time in F-18s?

Just out of curiousity, how long did it take you to take your classes and did you take them all at a community college or at various places?

 

[powerbooki]

I think if you can take 6+g, all medical schools will take you 🙂

OK, there is a non-traditional member MoosePilot (he got in the 2006-entering class if I remember it right) who used to be a C-17 pilot in the Air Force. Maybe you can search for his posts.

If you don't mind, what is the +/- G limits for Hornet/Super Hornet? Is reheat always used for carrier take off? In a dog fight with visual contact, how would you compare a Super Hornet to a F16C?

 

[FstEgl]

I think if you can take 6+g, all medical schools will take you 🙂

That would be awesome if that were the case. Everybody start smoking and eating bacon. Eldude, not trying to be your dad but...I would put this waaay in the back of your mind while you are at Vance and don't talk about it with the bros. Some IPs would misconstrue your motivations and cause you grief. I think it's great you're thinking ahead, but not everyone is so wounderfully rounded as me. And for God's sake, stay away from Scooters.

 

[relentless11]

I have a friend who's now a Cpt based somewhere in NC flying F/A-18Ds. He's having the time of his life, but I must admit, based on my talks with him while he was training away, he was quite busy. I'm willing to bet he had time to take night classes, but there were nights when he was on duty too..so that would make for a challenging academic life.

But this leads me into the issue with most night classes. Since you all are officers, then you must have completed a bachelors degree somewhere. Therefore it really behooves you to do your pre-reqs at a 4-year university, and more importantly do any additional coursework to boost GPA at a 4-year.

The reason being is most schools prefer coursework from a university. True or not, there is a stigma associated with community coursework. About 2-4 schools don't even take community college credit. Some advise that they "prefer" pre-reqs from a university. While most don't say anything at all, at least officially. For some, cost is the issue that drives them to community college for post-bacc. IMO, thats not really a good reason, since med school is going to make that cost trivial. But for those that have lives, then community college may be the only reason. Given my friends busy daily...and nightly schedule, I would infer that med schools would not have much problems with taking some classes (including pre-reqs) from a community college. BUT, you really have to push to show RECENT academic performance in upper division courses from a 4-year university. This will allow you to (1) show that you can currently handle harder science courses, (2) some med schools require an upper division science classes such as biochemistry, and genetics.

I applaud your service to the nation, and have no doubt that your service will be viewed as a positive thing come time for med school applications. But you all must remember that grades, and ones ability to handle rigorous academic courses is a huge player, at least during the early stages of the application process. You can at least prepare for an ACM profile on the centrifuge by training and training more, but the thing you will find out with med school application is, its all a crap shoot, and more often than not, its also depending on quantitative stats. Good luck!

 

[8744]

I haven't selected a pipeline yet. I did TBS throughout the winter, and I have a week left of API. The anthropometric doc told me that my sitting height is .4 inches too tall for jets (I have yet to find out if this can ever be "re-measured"). Worst case, I'd definitely be happy with almost any of helos that the Marine Corps now flies...

My buddy and I are headed to Vance AFB for Primary and we class up at the end of November...

What flight platform did you select? How did you manage your pre-med/MCAT studying with your career? Thanks a lot for the advice.

You'd give up a career flying a Helicopter gunship or a fighter-bomber in the Marines for a shot at doing a pelvic exam on some nasty crack ***** or sitting around talking about the character and quality of a patient's bowel movements?

Amazing.

(With all due respect, of course, Mr. Eldudero04.)

 

[eldudero04]

A valid point, and definitely appreciated.

I think I may have given the wrong impression in my initial post--I've been interested in becoming a doctor, and just wanted to see if will still be a possibility given the career choices that I already have made.

I definitely don't plan to start studying or pursuing anything until I have at least completed my first tour (well after flight school)...but I definitely appreciate all the input thus far and would like to hear if anyone else has anything more to say.

 

[Mort]

Quick background, I am a Navy O-5, Aviator in the reserves, flew hawkeyes on active duty,and VR in the reserves, I completed my prereqs at local community college; accepted at several osteopathic schools and I have an inteview at USUHS. Bottomline on my way to school!

Community colleges are fine! I have a friend/ former Naval aviator at Dartmouth, prereqs at community college.

Enjoy flying and knock out your preqs on shore duty! Good Luck! 👍

 

[relentless11]

Quick background, I am a Navy O-5, Aviator in the reserves, flew hawkeyes on active duty,and VR in the reserves, I completed my prereqs at local community college; accepted at several osteopathic schools and I have an inteview at USUHS. Bottomline on my way to school!

Community colleges are fine! I have a friend/ former Naval aviator at Dartmouth, prereqs at community college.

Enjoy flying and knock out your preqs on shore duty! Good Luck! 👍

Its not the entire picture here. We must refrain from assuming that a single aspect was fine given that every applicant is different. As stated in these forums from time and time again, the more rigorous route is preferred while it is understandable that some of us are unable to go this route due to some reason or another.

In the end, if med schools are satisified that you can handle rigorous classes, then they will never question community college coursework, but that usually entails some kind of academic proof as well. On a side note, I did most of my pre-reqs at a community college, and per talking to various med schools: (1) they don't care because I did fine on the MCAT, and (2) I did fine in my upper division science classes at a university. If you get A's at a community college and A's at a university...thats great. If you get A's at a community college, and B's and C's in upper division science classes at a university, then that raises some red flags regardless of where you apply to. Correlation doesn't neccessarily mean causation.

 

[8744]

Its not the entire picture here. We must refrain from assuming that a single aspect was fine given that every applicant is different. As stated in these forums from time and time again, the more rigorous route is preferred while it is understandable that some of us are unable to go this route due to some reason or another.

In the end, if med schools are satisified that you can handle rigorous classes, then they will never question community college coursework, but that usually entails some kind of academic proof as well. On a side note, I did most of my pre-reqs at a community college, and per talking to various med schools: (1) they don't care because I did fine on the MCAT, and (2) I did fine in my upper division science classes at a university. If you get A's at a community college and A's at a university...thats great. If you get A's at a community college, and B's and C's in upper division science classes at a university, then that raises some red flags regardless of where you apply to. Correlation doesn't neccessarily mean causation.

Too right.

I bet it won't matter where Mr. Eldudero04 gets his pre-requisites. He has a college degree, he's a Marine Corps officer, and he'll fly 30 million dollar aircraft off of the deck of aircraft carriers.

"I shadowed a pediatrician and passed out condoms to the underserved" doesn't even come close. Medical schools will compare his resume to their typical applicant's and laugh, wishing they had more guys like him in their applicant pool.


Sergeant P. Bear, USMC (former)
K Company 3rd Battalion 8th Marines
1984-1991

 

[1Path]

Too right.

I bet it won't matter where Mr. Eldudero04 gets his pre-requisites. He has a college degree, he's a Marine Corps officer, and he'll fly 30 million dollar aircraft off of the deck of aircraft carriers.

"I shadowed a pediatrician and passed out condoms to the underserved" doesn't even come close. Medical schools will compare his resume to their typical applicant's and laugh, wishing they had more guys like him in their applicant pool.


Sergeant P. Bear, USMC (former)
K Company 3rd Battalion 8th Marines
1984-1991

Word.👍
From the Daughter of a Marine, Wife of a former Naval Officer.😉

 

[eldudero04]

Its not the entire picture here. We must refrain from assuming that a single aspect was fine given that every applicant is different. As stated in these forums from time and time again, the more rigorous route is preferred while it is understandable that some of us are unable to go this route due to some reason or another.

In the end, if med schools are satisified that you can handle rigorous classes, then they will never question community college coursework, but that usually entails some kind of academic proof as well. On a side note, I did most of my pre-reqs at a community college, and per talking to various med schools: (1) they don't care because I did fine on the MCAT, and (2) I did fine in my upper division science classes at a university. If you get A's at a community college and A's at a university...thats great. If you get A's at a community college, and B's and C's in upper division science classes at a university, then that raises some red flags regardless of where you apply to. Correlation doesn't neccessarily mean causation.

Yeah, thanks for the clarification. That definitely makes sense. For me it sounds like it would make the most sense to try to take (at least upper level sciences) as much as possible at a university. Thanks for the continued input...