New here! :)

[MTinIL]

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I'm new here and have a few questions. I will give a bit of a background as well. I'm 34 and I currently work at home as a medical transcriptionist. I have been doing that for the last 7-1/2 years. Prior to that, I worked for 7-8 years as a CNA. I'm in the process of signing up for classes at the local college for spring. The transcription field is not what it used to be. With offshoring, speech recognition, and electronic medical record, I feel it is time for me to go back to school for a new career. Plus my daughter is now 13, she's part of the reason I chose to work at home.

I'm pretty much at a point in my life where I can choose whatever I want to do. By the time I get my bachelor's degree, my daughter will be a junior in high school. I chose going pre-med because I love the medical field. It really fascinates me more than I can explain. Also, it would be something I could devote my life to since my daughter will be out of the house and on her own.

Anyway, my questions are:

1. Chemistry or biology? Does it matter which is the major?

2. I already have experience, but when do you start shadowing/volunterring, and how long do you shadow/volunteer for?

3. Any ideas, helpful hints, or suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[njbmd]

Anyway, my questions are:

1. Chemistry or biology? Does it matter which is the major?

2. I already have experience, but when do you start shadowing/volunterring, and how long do you shadow/volunteer for?

3. Any ideas, helpful hints, or suggestions?

Thanks!

You don't have to limit yourself to biology or chemistry (though either of the two is fine if you love the coursework). You can major in any subject that you love and can do extremely well in. There are plenty of English, Psychology, Philosophy, History and Math majors who apply and enter medical school. It's easier to get the pre-med coursework covered with Biology but getting a Biology degree is not a requirement especially if Biology is of little interest to you. Major in what you love and do well in that coursework. In addition, take your pre-med courses (General Biology with lab, General Chemistry with lab, General Physics with lab and Organic Chemistry with lab). In addition, check the websites of the medical schools that interest you and see if there are additional requirements such as Calculus/Statistics, Genetics or Biochemistry.

Go to this website: Pre-med Handbook from Michigan State College of Human Medicine and download this handbook. It's a great starting point and can answer many of your questions right away. In addition, go to this website: American Association of Medical Colleges where you can find information on the AMCAS application, the Medical College Admissions Test and other things that may be useful in the application process.

Finally, check out a copy of the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) book at your school library (at this point, you don't need to purchase this) and have a look at the various schools out there. This book is a good starting point too. The Student Doctor Network has a guide to medical school that is available from Amazon or from this website's bookstore so check that out too. There are loads of resources out there so get informed and keep your grades up. Good luck!

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

Welcome!

Suggestions..

1) either, or neither. Majoring in either chem or bio would require quite a bit of coursework that's not really related to medicine. I'd go with the area that interests you, there are a fair number of us liberal arts/business/engineering/etc majors along with all of the science majors. Some feel that science majors are "tougher" to do well in. Admissions committees require high GPAs, if it's easier for you and more interesting to major in some other area in addition to completing the required pre-med classes, that'd be an option.

2) shadowing/volunteering? No exact requirement on this, at least some clinical volunteer work should be included (with patient contact, and it should allow observation of physician/patient relations). Ideally this would be more than six months in length as of completion of the online "primary" amcas application, which is done around summer/early fall of the year prior to entry. Many applicants have in the area of 150 +/- hours, more is always good, schools generally say "quality is more more important than quantity", but they're really looking for 100 hours or more as an absolute, bare minimum. (4 hrs per week for 6 months). Good to add shadowing experience here, although it may take a while to get to know a physician well enough to do this.

3) other ideas/hints/etc? Numbers (at this point, GPA) are all important, it'd be better to earn high grades in a 2nd rate school than low grades at a top school. If, like me, you are not an "under represented minority" (as defined by med schools), the required GPA to be competitive is in the 3.6+ range, depending on your ethnic background, the competitive GPA may be higher or lower. Race to some extent does factor into admissions, the med school association AAMC provides breakdowns of applicants by gender and general racial background. I wouldn't consider it a big deal, just something to be aware of.

Other than that, best of luck! You'll probably have a feel for the "fit" with the material after taking the prerequs and the MCAT and spending time in a clinical setting.

 

[MTinIL]

Thanks to both! I actually like bio and chem, so I'm good there! I have spent about 2 hours on this forum reading. There's so much info! Good thing I'm off work for the day!

I will definitely be checking everything out. I have an appointment with my counselor next month to sign up for spring classes. I'm just a little nervous, even though I'm just starting out, but I want to make sure I know what I need to do.

Thanks again!

Edited to add that I'm not what would be considered an under represented minority. I will be attending a community college for the first 2 years and after that will either transfer to Bradley (Peoria) or Western (Macomb) as they are closest to me. As far as GPA, I think the older we get we realize how important an education is. I can honestly say I did blow off classes when I originally started college right after high school. Luckily, it wasn't very many classes, so getting my GPA up will not be an issue. 🙂

 

[NTF]

I will be attending a community college for the first 2 years

Good luck and warm thoughts for your new journey. We will all be rooting for you and always feel free to ask for advice.

Be careful about taking medical school prerequisites at community colleges though. Many medical schools won't accept them or will require several advanced courses in that field at a 4 year accredited college to waive the prerequisite.

Since you have CNA experience, I would suggest (it's what I did) getting a job at a University Hospital. They often have tuition benefits. I took two classes for free every quarter as a part of my job at a university hospital.

 

[MTinIL]

Thanks again! I will basic be taking general courses for an associates in science and transfer to a 4-year major in chem or bio and minoring in the other. 🙂 I will be here a lot I'm sure. lol Lots of questions to ask.