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- Mar 11, 2011
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I have been on this road for the past couple years, and I need a gut check to explore if this is the road I should continue to go down. When I switched to pre-med, I knew it would be an uphill battle, but I wonder if its a losing battle. But, given my unique situation and my state of residency, I figure I need to bounce it off others. If I applied, it would obviously be for the next cycle.
SD Resident, most interested in USD. Generally USD takes only SD residents, so they tend be more forgiving with the GPA requirements.
Private school
5th year senior with 144 credit hours.
GPA: 3.25
sGPA: 2.62, unfortunately, that is down from the 2.7 I had when I started down the pre-med path, a downward trend.
aoGPA: 3.6
MCAT: Undetermined.
Major: Sociology with honors
Pubs
-Recently published in the journal of the state medical association with a manuscript about my research looking into health insurance and access to care among farmers. (A big deal in this state) There were two editorials written based on this work, including one written by the dean of the medical school.
ECs
- Became a paramedic during my freshman/sophomore year of college. (Paramedic GPA: 4.0) Currently working part time for a rural, hospital based ambulance service where I work extensively in the emergency department. This gives me a direct working relationship with physicians of multiple specialities, along with the independent decision making that goes along with working as a paramedic.
- Worked in other rural hospitals as a unit coordinator/nurse assistant.
- Currently co-manage a house with 14 other students including 9 international students, this has me working with many volunteering opportunities and organizing longitudinal volunteering projects. It averages out to about 2 hours a week of volunteering.
- Other volunteer experience include working with refugee families, working with a local Ronald McDonald House to fundraise for purchasing a grill for the house.
- Worked as a compensated volunteer for a local ambulance service during high school.
I am looking for an honest opinion on my ability to get into medical school given my circumstances. I would appreciate the input of someone that has been down a similar road, or has worked with others in this situation. Those that are simply going to say you dont have the numbers dont apply need not reply.
I guess at this point my road could go a few directions. I still have to take 1 more physics and math class for pre-reqs but, I was hoping to take the MCAT in January to get an idea of where I am at (obviously after preparing well). I could simply move my efforts towards working on a Masters in Public Health, although that doesn't intrigue me nearly as much as working in clinical medicine.
SD Resident, most interested in USD. Generally USD takes only SD residents, so they tend be more forgiving with the GPA requirements.
Private school
5th year senior with 144 credit hours.
GPA: 3.25
sGPA: 2.62, unfortunately, that is down from the 2.7 I had when I started down the pre-med path, a downward trend.
aoGPA: 3.6
MCAT: Undetermined.
Major: Sociology with honors
Pubs
-Recently published in the journal of the state medical association with a manuscript about my research looking into health insurance and access to care among farmers. (A big deal in this state) There were two editorials written based on this work, including one written by the dean of the medical school.
ECs
- Became a paramedic during my freshman/sophomore year of college. (Paramedic GPA: 4.0) Currently working part time for a rural, hospital based ambulance service where I work extensively in the emergency department. This gives me a direct working relationship with physicians of multiple specialities, along with the independent decision making that goes along with working as a paramedic.
- Worked in other rural hospitals as a unit coordinator/nurse assistant.
- Currently co-manage a house with 14 other students including 9 international students, this has me working with many volunteering opportunities and organizing longitudinal volunteering projects. It averages out to about 2 hours a week of volunteering.
- Other volunteer experience include working with refugee families, working with a local Ronald McDonald House to fundraise for purchasing a grill for the house.
- Worked as a compensated volunteer for a local ambulance service during high school.
I am looking for an honest opinion on my ability to get into medical school given my circumstances. I would appreciate the input of someone that has been down a similar road, or has worked with others in this situation. Those that are simply going to say you dont have the numbers dont apply need not reply.
I guess at this point my road could go a few directions. I still have to take 1 more physics and math class for pre-reqs but, I was hoping to take the MCAT in January to get an idea of where I am at (obviously after preparing well). I could simply move my efforts towards working on a Masters in Public Health, although that doesn't intrigue me nearly as much as working in clinical medicine.
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