newbie needs some advice!

[kleo0986]

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I wanted to introduce myself and get some advice from people who have been there done that! I'm just about to start on my pre-med saga, hoping to complete the pre-reqs over the next 3-4 years (I always wanted to be a doctor, and did a 150 hour internship in HS where I shadowed MDs and nurses in L/D, NICU, and surgery but wasn't quite ready to commit to it until I looked into every other career possible...but now, I'm absolutely sure and ready to buckle down to make it!). I'm about to graduate college and begin working as an AF officer, (from notre dame, 3.3 gpa as a psych major). I know I need to kill these pre-reqs to make up for the 3.3, so I'm going to take them one at a time--do adcoms look down on taking the classes this slowly, or are they understanding if you are working full time? also, are they understanding that due to my job I might need to take time off between semesters for deployments, or will that look like a lack of dedication to the pre-reqs?

the other question I had was about volunteer work. The hospital near my base has only two real patient contact opportunities--one of them is in the NICU holding preemies and giving newborns hearing tests and the other is working in a spine injury rehab wing. I wasn't sure if these would be considered good contact time. The rest are clerical type jobs which I know won't cut it. Any thoughts or advice/encouragement would be appreciated!

 

[Deanis]

From what I hear, taking classes part-time can be held against you. I know of some schools that won't even consider the grades you get during part-time towards your GPA.

Search the forum before simply posting:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=503740&highlight=part-time

 

[njbmd]

From what I hear, taking classes part-time can be held against you. I know of some schools that won't even consider the grades you get during part-time towards your GPA.

Search the forum before simply posting:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=503740&highlight=part-time

The above is not true. If you are working full-time, you are expected to take coursework part time. Don't sacrifice your performance in your coursework as you NEED to put that uGPA up. Since you already have a degree, part time post bacc is not going to count against you but not taking enough hours to get your uGPA up will.

Also, get make and Excel spreadsheet and calculate your uGPA after every course. You need to get yourself as close to the medical school matriculant average as possible. That 3.3 is low especially since you are a non-science major. You may find that you need more than just the pre-med prereq courses. Be prepared for this.

 

[Mobius1985]

The hospital near my base has only two real patient contact opportunities--one of them is in the NICU holding preemies and giving newborns hearing tests and the other is working in a spine injury rehab wing. I wasn't sure if these would be considered good contact time.

Either one of these experiences would provide great clinical contact. Pick the one that appeals to you most, and maybe try the other half way through your tour of duty.