New member. Need some advice =]

[yerac]

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I have recently found this community and have read many of the threads and I can see that there are many well educated and very knowledgeable individuals here. So i decided to join and post here looking for some help.

Crrently I am a pre-PT student and have been accepted into an accelerated doctoral program at my college. But I have started considering Med school as an option. I feel like I am not being challenged to my full potential and I want to do the most and the best that i can. I guess have a few questions for you all here in this community.

1) I am in the second semester of my dophmore year and have taking 1 year of bio, 1 year of chem, A&P, one year of physics. from what ive gathered i need another year of chemistery, would be a semster of Orgo II and a semster of general chem II, and genetics and maybe biochem. Now what i couldnt figure out is if i need these all completed before i apply to med school, or can i finish them after i apply say in my senior year if i apply in the end of my junior year.

2) when do you guys recomend taking the Mcat. i was thinking, again from what ive gathered so far, in late may. would that permit me to apply that summer of junior year?

as for volunteer horus i have about 80 in a pt setting and plan on doing much more this year. I guess im just a little confused about everything and am looking for some extra input from this great community =] thanks in advance

 

[Catalystik]

1) As long as you finish the prerequisites before matriculation, you'll be fine.

2) Take the MCAT after finishing your Bio, Physics, and OChem I at the minimum, ideally after 2-3 months of dedicated study time. Taking it in April or May is good if you want to apply in June. Even a June administration is fine, if you need more study time, as there's no point in taking it at all if your practice test scores are not consistently in your target range. Some take it in the fall after a summer of study, planning to apply the following summer.

Besides the clinical volunteering, plan some shadowing. Community service is important and adcomms will also want to see some of: leadership, teaching, sports, artistic endeavors, hobbies. keep reading the forums for ideas and to fine tune your plan.

 

[mvenus929]

Take Orgo I (if you haven't already), and Gen Chem II, then take your MCAT. If you can swing it, do both in the fall, and take the MCAT in January. That'll give you time to study again should you need to retake it to apply June following your junior year. Otherwise, you don't have to take any classes prior to applying, only prior to matriculation (and biochem is the only one that's semi-required at schools, genetics usually isn't even mentioned).

The most important thing you need to do, though, is figure out and express why you want to be a physician vs. a PT. You need to do more than just volunteer in a patient setting to get this... you actually need to speak to and follow docs around to see what they do on a day-to-day basis.

 

[yerac]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ve taken organic chem I and gen chem I. I was hopping to take a few of my gen ed courses this summer to make some room for an extra class or two. so hopefully i can take gen chem II in the fall and get some good studying in for the MCAT.

So what kind of volunteering do you guys recommend. There is a lot of volunteers want for the hospices by me, and i was hoping to get some hours in at a hospital, but I'm not really sure how to go about getting that rolling yet. thanks again

I have one more question. Is it realistic to apply to med-school having not done any research yet. Ive been reading and people are worried about where their names appear on papers and abstracts, and i have none of that kind of stuff yet. Is that a necessity to have before i even think about applying?

 

[Catalystik]

If you don't start the research before you submit, it won't be on your application (you can't list future activities). About 60% of applicants don't list research. It isn't required. But if you aspire to a reserch-strong med school, you should strongly consider having a substantive experience before you submit. Less-selective schools are often content with a summer's worth of research, or a semester or two.

You can get clinical experience with sick people through the workplace, for class credit, data gathering for a clinical trial, or via volunteerism. It can be gained at a free, family-planning, or private clinic, hospice, hospital, VA, residential home, rehabilitation facility, nursing home, as a first responder, among others. Unpaid clinical exposure isn't always a volunteer experience. If there is any purpose that serves you, it is not community service and it's not "Volunteer" for the purposes of the AMCAS application.

Clinical patient experience is not always gained in a clinical environment, eg EMT, battle field medic, home hospice care, physical therapy aide, special camp environments. In such a case, you also should acquire some experience in a clinical milieu where doctors work, like a hospital, surgicenter, clinic, nursing home.

The advantage of gaining clinical exposure through volunteerism, is that it also is looked on as community service, another unwritten requirement for your application.

So you have lots of choices to consider. I'd suggest you call the volunteer office for your local hospice or hospital and ask if they need help. Ask how soon you could start and what the requirements are. Some require a PPD, or titers to prove immunity. Some require you to attend an orientation provided only a few times a year. Some require a year's commitment. Some give you a volunteer spot in the gift shop, which is worthless, so don't do it. I'd specifically ask what postions they have that allow for maximal patient contact.