non-trad with no science wants to go to med school. (?)

[timwat2]

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Hi, Im 27 (about to be 28) and I am starting to consider going to med school. I have worked in a few different jobs since graduating college with a mediocre GPA, but from a good school. I have always dreamed of being a doctor, but since almost flunking freshmen chemistry I have been scared away. For the past few years, I have repeated the refrain that it was "too late".
Well I just completed a year of law school, and while I could probably finish and be a decent lawyer, I dont know (and somewhat doubt) that I would enjoy the actual day-to-day job.
And I have a break in front of me, an empty semester, and I have been considering taking chemistry over, and biology and bio lab, and working full time, and volunteering and shadowing when I can. Working because I have to have money, classes to prepare and volunteering to get experience in the environment, all in the hopes that I might learn something about my desire (whether it is naive and unrealistic, or whether I might actually have a passion for medicine.).
I understand that I will need about three semesters of classes, plus an MCAT, plus another year after that before I can start.
What I want to ask is whether my idea for the spring sounds sound, or whether there is something better I could be doing. I.E.- should I take more classes and work less? Should I focus more on volunteering? etc..
Thanks

 

[Luxian]

I understand that I will need about three semesters of classes, plus an MCAT, plus another year after that before I can start.
What I want to ask is whether my idea for the spring sounds sound, or whether there is something better I could be doing. I.E.- should I take more classes and work less? Should I focus more on volunteering? etc..
Thanks

It's never too late! Also, while I did do science in undergrad, I have a good friend who was an English major and got into med school after doing her pre-reqs. As long as you know the stuff by the time you apply, there's really no problem with WHEN you learned it.

I do think you're being ambitious working full time and taking three classes, especially if you don't have a lot of background in science! Then again, everyone is different. I won't tell you you can't do it, but when you try it out, make sure you only take on as much as you think you can handle AND do well at. If that means dropping down to only 30hr/wk job or dropping a class, that's okay.

In any case, good luck! It's a long journey, but you'll be there at a younger age than I will! (Just applying now at 32!)

 

[maristella]

I think your plan sounds good, it's just a lot! (as said above, especially if you're not used to upper level science classes!)

I worked full time, volunteered, and took 2 classes (Org Chem II and Biochem) in a semester so it is definitely doable. But it takes a LOT of motivation to come home after a full day of work and then study organic for 5 hours. so I would definitely try volunteering NOW so that you know for sure that this is what you want to do! maybe volunteer at a free clinic or ask your PCP if he/she can suggest someone to shadow.
GOOD LUCK

 

[apoptos]

Volunteering is less important than doing well in the pre-requisite courses, especially if you're compensating for your undergrad GPA. As stated it sounds like you're used to taking law school courses, so science courses could be jarring and uncomfortable at first. I wouldn't risk taking more than 2 courses while working full time; I'd start with one course including lab. Don't rush it, take your time and do well. I wager you'll do well on the MCAT because so much of it has to do with reading comprehension - but you'll have to really know the info you learn in pre-req courses in order to conquer the beast.

 

[Law2Doc]

Volunteering is less important than doing well in the pre-requisite courses, especially if you're compensating for your undergrad GPA.

It's not so much a question of import. Someone jumping from one professional program to another really needs to be able to show they are well thought out, and not compounding one misstep with another, and so gaining more exposure BEFORE you launch into another scholastic endeaver is a really good idea. Coming from a law school program, you shouldn't consider changing paths until you do some volunteering, shadowing and/or otherwise increase your exposure to medicine. Folks are going to key in on the fact that you didn't finish up your initial degree program, and will have to wonder why you think you'll like this one better or be more likely to finish this one. They will worry that you didn't think through your last career decision and maybe haven't mended your ways, and learned to really look before you leap. The goal shouldn't be to launch into a career and THEN decide if you like it. In fact, medicine is a far worse choice for doing this because the exit costs are so much higher.

The best way to address these issues is to demonstrate a long process of thinking through this latter career choice, starting with volunteering and shadowing and ENDING with the actual prereqs. So get the volunteering in during your break, and if (and only if) you still have an interest after you see more, then consider taking an actual life altering step.

 

[montessori2md]

Agree w/ law2doc.

Also, sometimes finding the right clinical experience takes time, so it's best to do that sooner, rather than later, so that if it's not helpful, you have time to find something else.

I had just gen bio I and gen chem I going into my post-BA trip, and took 2 classes at a time, but I took organic all by itself in a summer intensive, first, as my test run (figured if I could do that, I could do it all). That was really, really hard, but a lot of what I needed to know for cell bio and gen chem II was covered in organic, so it made my following coursework easier (that works in reverse, too, so there's no reason to follow that sequence).

Rule number 1: Do whatever you need to do to get a stellar GPA.

For me, taking chem II and physics II at the same time was helpful because there was some overlap across courses.

I was a humanities major, and am currently a teacher, became interested in medicine at age 25.

 

[saylorsdad]

I'm a high school teacher, I previously taught mathematics at college and high school level. Now I'm teaching high school science, and taking organic chem, and biology to fill prereq's for med school. It can be done is the important thing to remember. The stress is difficult working full time, having wife, and kids but it will all pay off in the end I keep telling myself.

My advice don't rush and try to finish all your prereq's in one year take a little time "maybe two or three years" you have a great carrear ahead of you even if you don't get into med school and you should consider that a plus. If you took three years you would be finished with your law degree and would have a little income while applying, not to mention you could possibly work summers and make a little cash doing legal work. Assuming you pass the Bar exam which I hear is a monster in itself.