Needs some encouraging..

[bcurtis]

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I switched majors at the end of last fall from nursing psychology because I decided not to run from my desire to bece a doctor anymore; one nursing class was enough to push me. I currently have a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 science, but that's only with A&P I and II and micro. I have 3-4 semesters left and that puts me at either graduating on time or a semester early. After I graduate I'm looking at taking physics and organic at a community college to replace the semester I gained by graduating early. Does this sound like a good plan? I'm currently CNA-I certified and I'm taking a EMT-B course now and will be certified in that at the end of the summer. I plan on working 12 hr a week during school to get some valuable EC's. I feel like my CNA-I was a waste and it was in a way because I like working as an EMT vs CNA. I also love about 20 min from VCOM-CC so that's the love school!

Any comments would be great, I'm also posting this from the back of an ambulance 🙂

 

[bcurtis]

Also what would be a good timeline to take the new MCAT since there really isn't a way to avoid the new one, but the psychology section is a little easy to look forward to.

 

[Urnathok]

Sounds solid to me; you have plenty of room ahead of you to develop an upward trend in GPA, and Psych classes should be manageable with that work schedule.

Take your MCAT no later than the September before the year you plan to enter med school, iirc. For example, that usually has 4-year traditionals taking it the summer between Junior and Senior years, but since you're taking some of your sciences after graduation and don't want to avoid the new test, just take it when you feel like about 9 months more is all you will need of non-med school life.

 

[hallowmann]

Sounds solid to me; you have plenty of room ahead of you to develop an upward trend in GPA, and Psych classes should be manageable with that work schedule.

Take your MCAT no later than the September before the year you plan to enter med school, iirc. For example, that usually has 4-year traditionals taking it the summer between Junior and Senior years, but since you're taking some of your sciences after graduation and don't want to avoid the new test, just take it when you feel like about 9 months more is all you will need of non-med school life.

Agreed, except I'd say schedule to take the MCAT at the very latest by July, but preferably by May the year you plan to apply (e.g. if you are applying to enter in Fall 2016, you would take it by May 2015). That way, you'd be able to apply in June, as it would take 1 month to get your scores back. Applying early is important, and you also want enough time in case you need to retake it.

Take all the classes you need to take, and if possible fit as many pre-reqs into your undergrad schedule, so most are done before you apply.

Overall you're in good shape, just do well from here on out.

 

[Goro]

Sounds like a plan. CC coursework is fine. For your best chances, you need to start acing some classes to get your GPAs above the floor of 3.0. Aim for 3.3-3.4. It's doable.

I switched majors at the end of last fall from nursing psychology because I decided not to run from my desire to bece a doctor anymore; one nursing class was enough to push me. I currently have a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 science, but that's only with A&P I and II and micro. I have 3-4 semesters left and that puts me at either graduating on time or a semester early. After I graduate I'm looking at taking physics and organic at a community college to replace the semester I gained by graduating early. Does this sound like a good plan? I'm currently CNA-I certified and I'm taking a EMT-B course now and will be certified in that at the end of the summer. I plan on working 12 hr a week during school to get some valuable EC's. I feel like my CNA-I was a waste and it was in a way because I like working as an EMT vs CNA. I also love about 20 min from VCOM-CC so that's the love school!

Any comments would be great, I'm also posting this from the back of an ambulance 🙂

 

[bcurtis]

Thanks for the advice guys, I really haven't looked into when to take the MCAT and that helped a lot, and Goro you really think a 3.4 is doable lol I love that optimism.

 

[csx]

I've always been told its frowned upon by adcoms to take premed prereqs (ie: orgo) at CC's and prefer you to take them at your university? Can anyone confirm this or is it flat out wrong?

 

[dfib slim]

.

 

[hallowmann]

I've always been told its frowned upon by adcoms to take premed prereqs (ie: orgo) at CC's and prefer you to take them at your university? Can anyone confirm this or is it flat out wrong?

It is wrong. But don't take my lowly, soon-to-be med student word for it, take the word of Goro, who's actually on a DO school's adcom 🙂.

 

[Goro]

It's more of an urban legend amongst pre-meds and their advisors. Yes, there are some MD schools that seem to dislike CC coursework, and I have colleagues who always say "he took his Orgo at a CC", but at my school at least, we have a view that CCs can be as rigorous as any 4 year university.

We recognize that not everyone can afford classes at a 4 year school, and DO have a tendency to be much more accepting of non-trad students, who by nature of their lives, have to take coursework at a CC.

Just do not take 1/course per year over 4-5 years...that will get you wait listed. We like to see that you can juggle several things at once.

I've always been told its frowned upon by adcoms to take premed prereqs (ie: orgo) at CC's and prefer you to take them at your university? Can anyone confirm this or is it flat out wrong?

 

[csx]

It's more of an urban legend amongst pre-meds and their advisors. Yes, there are some MD schools that seem to dislike CC coursework, and I have colleagues who always say "he took his Orgo at a CC", but at my school at least, we have a view that CCs can be as rigorous as any 4 year university.

We recognize that not everyone can afford classes at a 4 year school, and DO have a tendency to be much more accepting of non-trad students, who by nature of their lives, have to take coursework at a CC.

Just do not take 1/course per year over 4-5 years...that will get you wait listed. We like to see that you can juggle several things at once.

I like this philosophy. Out of curiosity, does this apply to MD schools as well (the whole CC thing) or just DO? All the prof's at my school have been hammering this notion into my head...in denial right now