Non-trad looking for advice

[Docxenuuu]

Hello SDN! Been a long time lurker but finally decided to register and become part of the community. I'll try to keep this post short. I'm 30 years old and single with no kids. My main questions are the following:

1. I'm graduating from FIU in the fall with a bachelors in Bio but I was wondering if I should hold off and maybe leave senior seminar for the Spring when I plan to study for my MCAT. Should I take biochem in the fall or in the spring while I also study for the MCAT? If I graduate early I feel like the need to repay loans will get in the way of preparing for the MCAT... I currently am a full-time student and would like to keep it this way as long as possible.... Any advice here?

2. Is applying for medical school right after graduation realistic? Or is something like a 2yr post-bacc/Masters necessary? I started at a community college after high school and did extremely poorly with roughly a 2.3 GPA after about 20 credits. (I at the time, went to school because I was pretty much forced by my parents). I stopped going and returned at the age of 23 interested in Pharmacy... I started to do very well but then started having some health trouble. I started to go half blind and treatment was extremely difficult/painful and had a very bad effect on my personal and professional life. I was in and out of the hospital and dropped many classes in about a two year period... Including 2 F's in math courses. Once my eye issues were mediated I gave it one more shot... I went back earning mostly A's and retook many of the classes I did poorly on and graduated from community college with a 2.78. Since transferring to a University I've managed to maintain a 3.75. **** My question is the following.... I know when applying to Med school my GPA will be recalculated and be lower than it currently is... Will the upward trend at the University level with upper division classes give my application the strength it needs to be competitive? Should I only apply DO?

It's been a very long and unforgiving road for me but I feel confident that everything is finally starting to come together. I hope to be an ophthalmologist one day to help people suffering from the same diseases that put my life on hold for so long. I wish everyone here the best at whatever stage they might be at in their pre-med journey! Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Ad2b]

I would take biochem before the MCAT (so fall).

Do very well on MCAT. Also, what types of volunteering, clinical and shadowing experiences do you have? If you don't have much, start adding to the list by finding something you're passionate about.

The GPA is recalculated, the F's won't keep you out; the MCAT will help overcome a lower than normal GPA for MD, and grade replacement is great for DO.

Don't give up... as for MD v DO, until you have an MCAT score, can't really advise (nor would I anyway)... others will

 

[italiancowgirl]

I would take biochem before the MCAT (so fall).

Do very well on MCAT. Also, what types of volunteering, clinical and shadowing experiences do you have? If you don't have much, start adding to the list by finding something you're passionate about.

The GPA is recalculated, the F's won't keep you out; the MCAT will help overcome a lower than normal GPA for MD, and grade replacement is great for DO.

Don't give up... as for MD v DO, until you have an MCAT score, can't really advise (nor would I anyway)... others will

Solid advice. If loan repayment will get in the way for spring than add some class to stay in, but I agree in biochem before. Take lots of practice tests for the mcat to make sure you are ready but try to take it with enough time to get your score back well before you want to apply! Your comments about grade recalculation are valid concerns, generally DO schools are more forgiving of a slightly lower GPA and they also allow for grade replacement (MD programs do not). You can apply to med school whenever you feel you are a competitive applicant. That means your GPA should be in the range of the accepted students at the schools you are applying to, as well as your mcat. You should have volunteering, shadowing, leadership, and clinical experiences. There is no time limit on this, it is a process not a checklist, so when you have built yourself into a more competitive applicant and more competent professional is when you apply. GL

 

[Docxenuuu]

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely take Biochem in the fall before I plan on taking my MCAT then. I've shadowed a colorectal surgeon (~100 hrs), Retinal Specialist (50 hrs). No PAID clinical experience, I'm not involved in any clubs at my school since I've tried to make sure I performed well academically before getting involved much. Is not joining a club looked at negatively by medical schools? I have some volunteering ~15 hrs but plan on adding to that this summer.

 

[italiancowgirl]

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely take Biochem in the fall before I plan on taking my MCAT then. I've shadowed a colorectal surgeon (~100 hrs), Retinal Specialist (50 hrs). No PAID clinical experience, I'm not involved in any clubs at my school since I've tried to make sure I performed well academically before getting involved much. Is not joining a club looked at negatively by medical schools? I have some volunteering ~15 hrs but plan on adding to that this summer.

You don't need paid clinical exp time but you do need time in clinical settings learning about medicine. You need much more volunteering with different populations and in different environments. Doesn't really matter what you do, but make sure you can spend your life serving people from all walks of life. Clubs don't matter. What matters is having meaningful experiences that help teach you about yourself, about medicine and about the life and job of a physician. Look in the appropriate forums to get more info on what an appropriate # of hrs is (it varies) but really it matters that you can show commitment and perspective. If you are just starting to volunteer now you may not be competitive for this cycle. Do your research reading in the forums to learn more. GL