My First Post

[Chiongo]

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I am an RN, with four years of experience. Went back to take Pre med science classes. So far, Gen Chem 1 &2 A's, Organic chem 1 & 2, A's. Physics 1 & 2 B's. Genetics A, Biology 1 & 2 A's, Immunology B, Statistics A. Plan to Take Cell and molec and Biochem this coming semester and a Resaerch course. My Plan for MCAT is to take it in April after Jan to March intensive study. I do all this while continously working as an RN and I also have a family with three kids 7,5,3. I havent shadowed yet, and havent volunteered yet. I seem to struggle with time now that kids are on a break. When its school time I just feel like between work and school and family there is barely no time. Any advice on how many Hours to shadow and how many hours to volunteer? What do you think of my grades though with no MCAT result, The B's in Physics are stressing me. If you are in Med school or done what were your gpa's and Mcat scores? Thanks for Reading. Any advice is welcome. What about my plan on time for taking MCAT? reasonable?

 

[deleted480308]

Cgpa and sgpa?

 

[Chiongo]

My BSN I had a GPA of 3.7 and the statistics above that's for all premed classes I have taken. I havent seperated them yet to come up with cGpa and sgpa but as of now because of those 2 B's my Gpa is 3.7 something. Thanks.

 

[deleted480308]

I was also a dad with kids when I went back to school. You're right, there is no time. I did about 20/30 hrs shadowing each with two kinds of doctors and volunteers one night per week with a free clinic for about a year and a half. Your mcat is more important at this point than billions of hours

 

[mk04447]

Your grades are fine. The main problem you'll face is whether or not moving is an option. If you aren't willing to move and you're targeting one school, two if you're lucky, you need to understand how enormous this undertaking is. It took me three cycles when one might have done it if I'd applied broadly.

The other issue is... know that your family will take the brunt of this decision, undergrad courses and working full time are nothing compared to the time commitment you are contemplating. I don't say this to scare you, but I'd be lying if I said I made it to every basketball game or responded kindly to every interruption. Your family will be your second priority much of each quarter. There will be lulls, but not many.

These things are more important than stats IMO. Know what you want first, if you're like me and its medicine or bust the decision will be easy, but once the loans start pouring in the decision will be made for you.

 

[Chiongo]

I was also a dad with kids when I went back to school. You're right, there is no time. I did about 20/30 hrs shadowing each with two kinds of doctors and volunteers one night per week with a free clinic for about a year and a half. Your mcat is more important at this point than billions of hours

Thanks for the information. Wasn't very sure how many doctors I should shadow. Knowing someone shadowed 2 kinds of doctors and made it, its a relief. Will make sure this summer I put in my shadowing hours. Thanks for your input.

 

[Chiongo]

Your grades are fine. The main problem you'll face is whether or not moving is an option. If you aren't willing to move and you're targeting one school, two if you're lucky, you need to understand how enormous this undertaking is. It took me three cycles when one might have done it if I'd applied broadly.

The other issue is... know that your family will take the brunt of this decision, undergrad courses and working full time are nothing compared to the time commitment you are contemplating. I don't say this to scare you, but I'd be lying if I said I made it to every basketball game or responded kindly to every interruption. Your family will be your second priority much of each quarter. There will be lulls, but not many.

These things are more important than stats IMO. Know what you want first, if you're like me and its medicine or bust the decision will be easy, but once the loans start pouring in the decision will be made for you.

Wow! Thanks for your input. I am willing to move, offcourse I am a little particular on which schools to apply to. I intend to Apply to all texas and Oklahoma schools when time comes.

 

[Goro]

Grades are good!

The avg med school applicant has 20-50 hrs of shadowing, and > 100 hr each for non-clinical and clinical volunteering. Being a nurse removes the need for clinical volunteering; you already know what it's like to be around patients. Just remember that this process is a marathon, not a sprint, and you might need the kids to be a bit older for you to be able to juggle so many things.

The median GPA for MD matriculants is 3.7, and for DOs is around 3.4.
The median MCAT score, on the old test, is 31, with 30 considered the minimum needed. For DO schools, it's 25-27.
Take the MCAT only when you are fully ready.

I am an RN, with four years of experience. Went back to take Pre med science classes. So far, Gen Chem 1 &2 A's, Organic chem 1 & 2, A's. Physics 1 & 2 B's. Genetics A, Biology 1 & 2 A's, Immunology B, Statistics A. Plan to Take Cell and molec and Biochem this coming semester and a Resaerch course. My Plan for MCAT is to take it in April after Jan to March intensive study. I do all this while continously working as an RN and I also have a family with three kids 7,5,3. I havent shadowed yet, and havent volunteered yet. I seem to struggle with time now that kids are on a break. When its school time I just feel like between work and school and family there is barely no time. Any advice on how many Hours to shadow and how many hours to volunteer? What do you think of my grades though with no MCAT result, The B's in Physics are stressing me. If you are in Med school or done what were your gpa's and Mcat scores? Thanks for Reading. Any advice is welcome. What about my plan on time for taking MCAT? reasonable?

 

[Dral]

Iirc, my GPA was a 3.89 and 37 MCAT.

The craziest thing is I had volunteer work but 0 hours of shadowing. This was back in 2006.

There is like no chance I would get accepted like that today.

Anyway, the three months is good, but it needs to be fairly concentrated. Not just an hour or two here and there.

 

[Chiongo]

Iirc, my GPA was a 3.89 and 37 MCAT.

The craziest thing is I had volunteer work but 0 hours of shadowing. This was back in 2006.

There is like no chance I would get accepted like that today.

Anyway, the three months is good, but it needs to be fairly concentrated. Not just an hour or two here and there.

Wow thats impressive, A 37? What was your game plan for studying MCAT? do you still remember? Or you were just one of the those nerds in undergrad?

 

[Chiongo]

Grades are good!

The avg med school applicant has 20-50 hrs of shadowing, and > 100 hr each for non-clinical and clinical volunteering. Being a nurse removes the need for clinical volunteering; you already know what it's like to be around patients. Just remember that this process is a marathon, not a sprint, and you might need the kids to be a bit older for you to be able to juggle so many things.

The median GPA for MD matriculants is 3.7, and for DOs is around 3.4.
The median MCAT score, on the old test, is 31, with 30 considered the minimum needed. For DO schools, it's 25-27.
Take the MCAT only when you are fully ready.

Thank you for reminding me that Take the MCAT only when you are fully ready. Sometimes its tempting to want to jump in. I was tempted to take it this summer before Biochem and cell and molec. Finally I decided to wait till I am done with these classes probably after December, should be a good time.
On waiting for the kids to grow alittle, sounds like a great idea. Though Sometimes I wonder when then, will be the right time.

 

[Dral]

Wow thats impressive, A 37? What was your game plan for studying MCAT? do you still remember? Or you were just one of the those nerds in undergrad?

I took it during undergrad just studying on my own and got a 29. Repeated a year later doing the same and got a 30. Then grad school happened. 6 years out was time to take again since scores expired for most schools. I took a Kaplan course and did almost everything we were supposed to do for the course. Got my 37 after that.

I think the number of full length exams they had us take leading up to the real one helped the most.

And I definitely wasn't a nerd in undergrad. I studied, but I had a full social life to put it bluntly.

 

[Chiongo]

I took it during undergrad just studying on my own and got a 29. Repeated a year later doing the same and got a 30. Then grad school happened. 6 years out was time to take again since scores expired for most schools. I took a Kaplan course and did almost everything we were supposed to do for the course. Got my 37 after that.

I think the number of full length exams they had us take leading up to the real one helped the most.

And I definitely wasn't a nerd in undergrad. I studied, but I had a full social life to put it bluntly.

That Makes me feel better! Thanks for your response.