non-trad

[raysofillumination]

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I guess i fit under this category, I am not a traditional 4 year university student. I've been supporting myself for the past couple of years whilst living with my parents. I am keen to understanding where I stand in the applicant pool towards an education in medicine. An input would be great and well appreciated.

I am a 22 year male first generation college student
1 year w/ experience as a CNA in a major hospital and covered floors from nuero icu to high security traumu floors. ACLS certified & EMT-B certified.
I went to SJSU first and whilst did sub par in my studies which I hate myself for, I was supporting myself and it was hard to find a balance, I dropped with a 2.93 and transferred into a community college.
-huge amounts of hours tutoring college students in chem and ochem for the community college as well as highschool kids
-More then 1,500 hours volunteering for a local temple (Gudawara Sahib) where i would help cook and prepare meals for 400+ patrons (homeless, at-risk as well as your middle/uppermiddle class patrons).
The last 2 years ive been working on transferring to CSU east bay with a degree in Physiology and have a gpa currently of 3.6. Ive been working since i was 12 years old (mowing lawns with my grandpa, servicing pools for my dad) Im currently trying to fix myself a job in an ER room. I have yet to take the MCAT and finish my degree. I have no research experience but am looking forward to getting an opportunity. Although i don't have a stellar profile. I was wondering what my chances are for getting into schools in the likes of UCSF and UC Davis, I still have loads of classes to go, including the second year of physics and o-chem, medical microbio, animal physio, biostastics, biochem, etc. etc.
Oh, and should I include restoring (rebuilt suspension, cosmetic repairs, rebuilt brake calipers, transmission work including clutch slave, guibo, center-bearings, etc etc..) an 81 bmw e12 that has been my daily for the past 5 years as an experience in my med school app?...just curios for future consideration...hahaha
_ Also a question pertaining to screening for applicants. Is it true that the review board looks particularly closer to the most recent 60 units completed in comparison to total undergrad grades?
Any advice towards strengthening my application and person will be greatly appreciated,...

 

[SOMBound13]

The last 2 years ive been working on transferring to CSU east bay with a degree in Physiology and have a gpa currently of 3.6. Ive been working since i was 12 years old (mowing lawns with my grandpa, servicing pools for my dad) Im currently trying to fix myself a job in an ER room. I have yet to take the MCAT and finish my degree. I have no research experience but am looking forward to getting an opportunity. Although i don't have a stellar profile.

I was wondering what my chances are for getting into schools in the likes of UCSF and UC Davis, I still have loads of classes to go, including the second year of physics and o-chem, medical microbio, animal physio, biostastics, biochem, etc. etc.

Without MCAT scores, it's always hard to tell. However, I don't think you're on a path for UCSF. If you bump your GPA up and do well on the MCAT, you may be competitive for UCI or UCR.

Is the 3.6 GPA your cum GPA including the low grades from San Jose? What is your science GPA?

 

[Slave to the Game]

Definitely a unique story, but I can't see why you wouldn't be competitive for those schools assuming your GPA picks up a bit (3.7-3.8) and your MCAT is strong enough to get past screenings (510+? not sure). For the GPA, upward trend is definitely a good sign.

As for the car, I'd mention it in the "diversity/unique" secondary questions, and under hobbies of your AMCAS primary. Sounds cool, but don't geek out too hard on it if you choose to include it in other parts of the app.

Best of luck.

 

[raysofillumination]

Yes, I know my chances are bleak if at best. I just thought someone out there in a similar position could give advice in circumventing the problems of the past and provide advice in matriculating into one of these schools. My cumulative is very low 3.2? my sGPA is 3.6? maybe lower..... ive been getting 4.0's (plan to get these for the rest of my life) for last 3 semesters thus my interest if the latest 60 units play precedence to your total units.
Thanks for your input..
Best Wishes