Need a Little Advice

[nycdreamer89]

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Hi guys,

Just joined the forum, all of the information here is amazing. I have a bit of a unique situation that I was hoping to get some input on. I'm currently a political science major at a flagship state university in Florida. I'm 19 years old and am graduating magna cum laude (3.9 GPA) with a degree in political science and a minor in English in April. I did my first 2 years at a former community college, that is now a college. Over the past few months, I've realized that my calling is to be a doctor. Unfortunately, I must move back to South Florida due to family issues, so I cannot remain at my current university. I will need to take basically all of my science prerequisites. Do you think that schools will look negatively upon my situation, particularly since I will be taking my post-bacc year at a much smaller school such as FAU or FIU? I will have significant clinical and shadowing experience once I apply, and have a lot of non-clinical volunteering experience as well, although I probably won't have much, if any, research experience.. I've worked throughout college, and am planning on a 1 year prerequisite program (I know that its not normally recommended). I know that I'm not shut out of med school, but do you think that my somewhat unconventional background will be a significant disadvantage, and if so, is there anything I can do to remedy this? Thank you!!

 

[medschoolfamily]

I don't think you'll have any real problems, as long as you do well in the pre-req's and on the MCAT. Graduating Magna at your age shows you have great potential, but at this point that's all it is - potential. Get your EC's up, like you plan on doing, that is a necessity. Research is nice for most schools, and virtually essential for top tier med schools. That being said, I had absolutely no research (also a non-trad) and was able to land multiple acceptances (no top schools mind you). All in all, you're off to a promising start and have alot of time to figure out exactly what schools you would like to apply to and can build your app around that. Good luck.

 

[nycdreamer89]

thanks for the quick response and the good advice. As nice as going to a med school at the very top would be, in terms of finances, a school more in the range of UM (obviously dependent on my prerequisite grades and mcat), would probably be my goal. 🙂

 

[EdLongshanks]

... do you think that my somewhat unconventional background will be a significant disadvantage, and if so, is there anything I can do to remedy this? Thank you!!

Medical school is filled with people from unconventional backgrounds. That's not going to affect much.

What will probably surprise you, though, is that you aren't the sweetest cookie on the plate. Most doctors could have achieved a 3.9 in a poliSci/English major at a state university. No one's going to fall down at your feet in wonder and shade their eyes at the brightness of your glory.

I might not be talking to you. You might be a fine, humble young man. But I wasn't humble at your age and I'd be surprised if you are. (For that matter, I'm not humble at MY age).

So you have several years of work - not just scholastic work - you could pull that off in 2 years. But you need to get clinical experience - get a job in a hospital or nursing home. Getting an EMT cert wouldn't hurt. You also might want to get some research experience. You'll want to buff up your resume on those things that your competitors can't match - like research. If you go at this steadily, then you could graduate with a combined MD/PhD at age 28 and have a brilliant life ahead of you.

Since you're interested in politics, keep up those party contacts. Politicians LOVE to recruit doctors to run for office.