Med School possible for Non-Science background?

[postbacca]

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Hi all,

I've frequented these forums for a couple years now and have read some great advice and comments from all of you and so thank you in advance for any advice or suggestions you can offer.

I've been wanting to take the med school path for some time now and I feel I am ready to dedicate time to pre-med. I've always had an interest in medicine and science as well as the desire to help people. I found this passion late in my academic career so I continued with my original route and now wish to go back to school. I'd appreciate any comments on my chances or advice on which path I should take to med school. I don't have any of the prereqs under my belt so I'll be taking all of those soon.

Here's a bit of my background: I took 4 years off after HS to travel and be and photojournalist. My interest was in documenting human disparities and suffering to bring light to these events. During this time I also volunteered in Thailand as a relief worker post-tsunami. When I returned I started taking classes because I felt an education would enable me to help people in ways my photography couldn't. I eventually graduated from UC Berkeley with a communications degree after completing some of this undergrad coursework at Harvard. In 2006, I began volunteering in Stanford's ER. I immediately fell in love with medicine. When I graduated last year at 27, I no longer had the desire to become a journalist as I had originally planned. I want to become a physician because I would love to be hands-on and have an immediate effect on helping people, as well as I am very interested in the science behind it (during my 4 year break, my fiancee had to write a paper on phantom limb pain and I was so interested in the topic that I wrote the paper for her after conducting research...and not having read any of her textbooks or hearing her lectures!) I eventually got a job in marketing with a large tech company with my communications degree to be able to pay back a lot of the debt I had accrued while a photog and traveling. But now I believe I am ready to pursue my real dream.

If I do fairly well in my courses and on the MCATs, what are your thoughts on my chances as well as how would I come across to the admissions officers? Would they look at me as being indecisive? Will they look at my experience as a good thing?

Thanks so much in advance for all your comments as well as advice on my best route to med school (like after how many classes should I take the MCATs and how quickly should I pace myself in my pre-reqs?)

Thank you!

 

[DrMidlife]

There's nothing wrong with your story; quite the opposite. You'll be interesting to review as a paper candidate. Interesting is good.

What's your cumulative GPA at this point?

 

[Krisss17]

I agree with Dr. Midlife. You have an interesting history that may stand out during the application period. Have a competitive sGPA and cGPA, and a good MCAT, you'll have no problem with the non-science major.

I think for those applicants that have a science major and really enjoy it, that is great...but if they are just taking the science major to get into med school, it just seems robotic.

 

[sindadel]

You wrote a paper for your fiancee? Did she turn it in?

 

[postbacca]

DrMidlife and Krisss17, thank you for your comments. These were very motivating to read.

Unfortunately, I didn't do too stellar during my undergrad, ending up with around a 3.3-3.4 when I factor in all my college courses. This just means I have to do better when I take my pre-med courses.

Sindadel, yes I wrote her 10 pg paper and yes she turned it in - which I know was wrong of us but it had no real bearing on her grade as her grade was a solid B at the time and the outcome of the paper couldn't get her an A or a C. The class wasn't even required for her major but she needed a filler. A part of me also wanted to test my writing after being out of HS for 3 years at the time. I, er...she received an A- on the paper. 🙂

 

[postbacca]

I'll be enrolling in the Fall for Bio I and Chem I, evening classes. I don't wish to waste any more time than I have to so any recommendations on the order I take the required courses in? I also work full time during the day, hence the two course workload. I will be volunteering on the weekends.

I know for traditional applicants, they usually prep/take MCATs their 3rd year and apply soon after. As a nontraditional applicant, would it be best that I wait until I complete all my prereqs to take MCATs or should I start early?

Thank you!

 

[DrMidlife]

I know for traditional applicants, they usually prep/take MCATs their 3rd year and apply soon after. As a nontraditional applicant, would it be best that I wait until I complete all my prereqs to take MCATs or should I start early?

The big fat end goal is to have a complete application ready on June 1 of whatever year you'll be ready. Applying early has numerous benefits.

Which means you want to have your MCAT score in hand on June 1. Which means you need to take the test by mid-April. So work backwards from that.

You would be foolish to plan to take the MCAT before you've completed prereqs. You would be wise to take a prep course, preferably after you've completed the prereqs.

Do people take the MCAT before they've completed prereqs? Yep. Do people apply way after June 1, even after summer? Yep. Are these best practices? Nope.

At this point, put all your eggs in the basket of getting A's in the classes you're taking. And try to arrange to be in school full time for at least a term or two at some point, to show you can handle a full load of science or mostly science.

Best of luck to you.

 

[bryce]

I'll be enrolling in the Fall for Bio I and Chem I, evening classes. I don't wish to waste any more time than I have to so any recommendations on the order I take the required courses in? I also work full time during the day, hence the two course workload. I will be volunteering on the weekends.

I know for traditional applicants, they usually prep/take MCATs their 3rd year and apply soon after. As a nontraditional applicant, would it be best that I wait until I complete all my prereqs to take MCATs or should I start early?

Thank you!

Good Luck! You'll be fine.

 

[postbacca]

Thanks Bryce! Best of luck to you too.

 

[Krisss17]

The big fat end goal is to have a complete application ready on June 1 of whatever year you'll be ready. Applying early has numerous benefits.

Which means you want to have your MCAT score in hand on June 1. Which means you need to take the test by mid-April. So work backwards from that.

You would be foolish to plan to take the MCAT before you've completed prereqs. You would be wise to take a prep course, preferably after you've completed the prereqs.

Do people take the MCAT before they've completed prereqs? Yep. Do people apply way after June 1, even after summer? Yep. Are these best practices? Nope.

At this point, put all your eggs in the basket of getting A's in the classes you're taking. And try to arrange to be in school full time for at least a term or two at some point, to show you can handle a full load of science or mostly science.

Best of luck to you.

👍 postbacca, you definitely want to make sure that you have completed or as close to completing your prereqs before taking the MCAT. I, too, will be graduating with a nonscience degree although I have taken and will still take more upper level science classes. A good MCAT will go a long way. I'll be finishing up the prereqs this upcoming year, and planning on taking the MCAT in April 2010 so I'll have a score by opening of application season.

Best of luck

 

[postbacca]

Krisss17, thanks, I will definitely take that route! I believe it was possible for science undergrads to take the MCATs their Junior year because they had built a strong foundation their first 3 years. As we're non-science majors it'd be smarter for us to have completed the basics.

Best of luck to you as well on your MCATs and upcoming apps!

 

[211519]

I agree with all of the above.

Also, I was a Studio Art major and worked at a non-profit before med school. So, I'm biased, but I love your story!

 

[postbacca]

Thanks maldabrroc777, it's great to see another arts person on here - I was a graphic designer in a former life.

Congrats and best of luck with VCOM!!