Hi,
I graduated undergrad back in 2013 (majored in Biology/minored in Chemistry, science GPA was around ~3.5). I then went on to complete a Masters of Science (Tropical Medicine and Public Health) in 2015 (3.8 GPA). I've been working in the healthcare data analytics/health information technology arena for the last 4 years (in a clinical setting). 2 years into the job, I realized I wanted to go back to school and pursue medicine. I had a sibling pass away suddenly and those aspirations took a back seat for over a year. Once COVID hit, I decided to take a huge risk...I quit a job I was good at (but unfortunately, wasn't passionate about) to pursue my passion to become a medical provider. I'm open to MD/DO programs (Internal Medicine is what I'm gravitating toward.).
As I do more research into applying for medical school, my two biggest worries/concerns are...1) Doing well on the MCAT and 2) My coursework being too outdated. I took gen chem in my first year of undergrad. However, most of my upper-level biochem/chemistry classes were taken in the last 2 years of undergrad.
What is the next logical step for me?
1) Focus my energy on studying hard to do well on the MCAT. Are there non-trads who were accepted with pre-req coursework that was slightly more than 10 years old? Did you find the MCAT that much more difficult to tackle having taken those pre-req courses so long ago?
and/or
2) Start researching post bach programs/CC courses to "prove" I can still do well in the academic setting?
Words of encouragement are also appreciated as 2020 has not been the most encouraging of years.
Thanks in advance, folks!
I graduated undergrad back in 2013 (majored in Biology/minored in Chemistry, science GPA was around ~3.5). I then went on to complete a Masters of Science (Tropical Medicine and Public Health) in 2015 (3.8 GPA). I've been working in the healthcare data analytics/health information technology arena for the last 4 years (in a clinical setting). 2 years into the job, I realized I wanted to go back to school and pursue medicine. I had a sibling pass away suddenly and those aspirations took a back seat for over a year. Once COVID hit, I decided to take a huge risk...I quit a job I was good at (but unfortunately, wasn't passionate about) to pursue my passion to become a medical provider. I'm open to MD/DO programs (Internal Medicine is what I'm gravitating toward.).
As I do more research into applying for medical school, my two biggest worries/concerns are...1) Doing well on the MCAT and 2) My coursework being too outdated. I took gen chem in my first year of undergrad. However, most of my upper-level biochem/chemistry classes were taken in the last 2 years of undergrad.
What is the next logical step for me?
1) Focus my energy on studying hard to do well on the MCAT. Are there non-trads who were accepted with pre-req coursework that was slightly more than 10 years old? Did you find the MCAT that much more difficult to tackle having taken those pre-req courses so long ago?
and/or
2) Start researching post bach programs/CC courses to "prove" I can still do well in the academic setting?
Words of encouragement are also appreciated as 2020 has not been the most encouraging of years.
Thanks in advance, folks!