Need some advice on the pre-med path

[seattle0212]

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Hello there,

I'm a 22 year old living in the Seattle area. I work as an NAC at a hospital here and am starting nursing school to pursue my BSN this winter-very excited! I'd like to become an ICU RN after school.

I've always been fascinated by medicine, disease, surgeries...and every day I work in the hospital, this dream of mine to become a doctor escalates.

What shall I do? When did you all know that you absolutely and certainly wanted to be a physician?

If I choose the pre-med path, what should my next step be? Can I get into med school with a BSN and experience as a critical care nurse or should I get a bachelor's degree in another science after nursing school?

Oh, decisions, decisions.... any advice will be so helpful!

Thank you.

 

[coffeesnob]

.... google + search function can do wonders.

i will just give you the basics. your GPA must be about 3.6, MCAT should be above 30 to have a decent chance. Google if you don't know what MCAT is. Med schools will require you to have taken to required courses. It depends on the school but usually bio, chem, physics, orgo, etc.

 

[deleted407021]

@seattle0212

Look all around the forums and learn what you can about the standard prerequisites, target GPAs and MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, shadowing volunteering, work experience, extracurricular activities, interviewing and more, and how these culminate to get you an MD or DO acceptance. Yes, if you weren't aware, there are two types of physicians in the US. I'm not sure how much about this process that you know, but I'm certain you have some homework to do. You can definitely work as a nurse and then go to med school. I know a girl who did just that. No need not change your degree program or get a second one. Do well in your science classes and the prerequisites (which you will learn all about) and find out about the MCAT. If I'm understanding your current progress, you will most likely be taking the 2015 MCAT, which is new and quite different than the old version. Here's a link to get you started: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/

Do you have any specific questions?