Hello SDN,
I joined because I'm considering becoming a non traditional applicant and I'm sure like many of you here, my situation is so unique that I'd be reading old posts all century, if a similar situation even exists. I'm toying with this idea, I got my eyes on one particular med school and that might be the only place I apply. With this particular school, its one of those situations where you'd kick yourself if you didn't at least try. Please don't try to tell me the benefits of applying many places, I understand that, this opportunity is very unique to my circumstance which makes it possible. Maybe I will apply elsewhere though once I get going.
At the end of this story, the core question is, what specific areas should I focus my energy to help my chances? Please keep in mind, compared to most of you, I'm very old. If I get rejected, I can't lie low in my parents basement to figure out my next career move (I miss those days, please don't rush away from them). I need to keep my life together, and my career until the day I get that acceptance letter...then I'm willing to toss caution to the wind. The key is, distribution of effort for maximum reward.
So, I'm 38, I'm a biochemist, well, functionally I'm just a chemist at this point, but let's go to the beginning to how I got here.
I was a very bright grade school student, straight A's and college was fully expected to look the same way. Unfortunately life happened and a happy family life that was going to support me fell apart, I did not take enough loans because family promised to help. Mind you, my family wasn't dead, just gone, fighting amongst each other, battling their own mental illnesses (they lost for the record), and all to happy to claim me on their taxes too. I couldn't seek help. It sounds silly at 38, but at 18, I was not equipped to deal with my never imagined issues. That first year, food became more important that class. To put it in perspective, I had this saying, "Homeless people don't have microwaves." That is what I told myself when I stole the microwavable food from the needy food bins, fortunately my dorm had a microwave, but I was really that destitute. I got my feet under me by sophomore year, but taking 200 level classes without 100 level background information did not work out so well. By the time I graduated though I was pulling straight A's again...and I was an electrician. None the less my GPA is terrible, from an absolute top-tier public university.
From there I had a very successful career with noteworthy achievements at well respected companies, two Fortune-500. For good and bad, mostly good reasons I was known right up to the CEO's office. I carved some great achievements, some of them google-able, one in particular might get me in the footnotes of the next generation of history text books. That one deserves a little elaboration. In the name of scientific integrity, I offered my career as a sacrifice to protect consumer safety. I survived, but the events are very noteworthy and very public. I also did things like volunteer as a firefighter, and drove a tow truck during a recession to supplement my income.
During that career I decided to get my MBA. Not because I needed it at this point, but because even at 33, I was very self conscious about my undergrad. I took $40,000, threw it in a fire and got myself a 4.0...for no reason than I wanted to prove I could have if my life had been different. Right after that, I took my confidence, quit my job, started a consulting company, and met an incredible woman.
She was a resident doctor and I watched her do amazing things. I backed off of work to help her succeed, taking over domestic duties. I felt that every packet of energy I saved her, was a packet of energy she could give to her patients. I still feel that way, which is how I got here. We unfortunately broke up right before she left for fellowship, I was supposed to follow, but sadly never so. Internally, I needed to fill that need to help people, but I no longer had a doctor to vicariously work through, For now, I run/built an analytical lab on the fringes of healthcare (just barely considered healthcare for the purpose of vaccination). I need more, here I am.
What would my application look like?
2006 GPA: Trash, not even worth mentioning except there is progressive improvement towards A's if you follow the story. Top School.
2017 GPA#2: 4.0, except not related to science. It was financed based so lots of numbers, but that's it. High-Mid School, but very respected by the top.
MCAT: On two short practice tests, I got a 60% and 75%. No prep or studying. I recognized the material, I knew where to get the answers if I had to in under 30 seconds. A great majority of my correct answers were educated guesses where I wasn't certain. I'm not entirely comfortable with that strategy. It seems most of the exam is undergrad memorization. I do have my old text books, and I always read. I could just start going cover to cover. (save your textbooks! They may not always be up to date, but you we're intimate with them, you will be surprised how 20 years later, your fingers can still find the exact page it's looking for.)
Letters of Rec/Experiences: I believe I can excel here. One will come from a well respected researcher/professor at a med school linked university. We collaborate often and I may volunteer to help him on his latest project (its in my lane) just to say I did. Usually I'd just help him, we'll make it official this time. He will probably talk about how in the matter of a month, I taught myself to use the most complicated analytical instrument and in three months, was teaching the experts new tricks. He will attest that when it comes to scientific knowledge, I can catch myself up in the blink of an eye.
Another may come right out of a hospital from a head of pharmacy for 20+ hospitals. I've been entering a project with them to deter drug diversion. It might turn into a full time job after the consulting period, but I'd be willing to turn it into volunteer work. I'm really excited about this, I was already committed to doing it for free if the pay didn't work out.
After that, there is a long line of respected people who would be more than happy to write.
Personal Statement(s): I believe my journey and motivations are genuinely compelling. Much of it is redacted here, or "tweaked", to protect my identity. In addition, I think I have much to offer a medical school. I can relate to the younger group, I never grew up entirely, I still play contact sports, kids (undergrads) if you're still reading this, protect your back, lift with your knees, trust me, if you don't, you better buy stock in Bayer and plan on becoming friends with a pain management doc. My hiring practices generally focus on mentoring young scientists. I love taking a new grad, work with them for a few years, and toss them off to grad school to make an amazing life. I love writing letters of recommendation. We celebrate two-week notices here. I would love to be the odd one out and act as a wall to lean on. I may not remember the pre-requisite course material like they can, but I do have plenty of experience fighting and winning losing battles with nothing but determination.
Interview: I probably get job offers from 80% of my non-reach interviews, and my resume gets an interview almost 100% of the time. I got this.
All the other stuff is just basic cake.
So to recap my question. Given the summary of my relevant life. Where should I focus my energy to give myself the best chance? The particular school attests to holistic application review for all applicants. It seems everyone that files a primary, gets to file a secondary.
I can take a few classes to boost my GPA. I got that university with a med school near me. That might help with the MCAT too.
I can dive hard into the MCAT, but I'm not sure I can improve that without diving deep into undergrad material.
I can focus on even more volunteer work than I already mentioned. Mentioned is already scheduled.
I probably have time to completely devote to one of these; or split that energy equally between them. Anything more, and my career will suffer too much to recover should I not get accepted.
Thanks for making it this far and the custom tailored advice!
I joined because I'm considering becoming a non traditional applicant and I'm sure like many of you here, my situation is so unique that I'd be reading old posts all century, if a similar situation even exists. I'm toying with this idea, I got my eyes on one particular med school and that might be the only place I apply. With this particular school, its one of those situations where you'd kick yourself if you didn't at least try. Please don't try to tell me the benefits of applying many places, I understand that, this opportunity is very unique to my circumstance which makes it possible. Maybe I will apply elsewhere though once I get going.
At the end of this story, the core question is, what specific areas should I focus my energy to help my chances? Please keep in mind, compared to most of you, I'm very old. If I get rejected, I can't lie low in my parents basement to figure out my next career move (I miss those days, please don't rush away from them). I need to keep my life together, and my career until the day I get that acceptance letter...then I'm willing to toss caution to the wind. The key is, distribution of effort for maximum reward.
So, I'm 38, I'm a biochemist, well, functionally I'm just a chemist at this point, but let's go to the beginning to how I got here.
I was a very bright grade school student, straight A's and college was fully expected to look the same way. Unfortunately life happened and a happy family life that was going to support me fell apart, I did not take enough loans because family promised to help. Mind you, my family wasn't dead, just gone, fighting amongst each other, battling their own mental illnesses (they lost for the record), and all to happy to claim me on their taxes too. I couldn't seek help. It sounds silly at 38, but at 18, I was not equipped to deal with my never imagined issues. That first year, food became more important that class. To put it in perspective, I had this saying, "Homeless people don't have microwaves." That is what I told myself when I stole the microwavable food from the needy food bins, fortunately my dorm had a microwave, but I was really that destitute. I got my feet under me by sophomore year, but taking 200 level classes without 100 level background information did not work out so well. By the time I graduated though I was pulling straight A's again...and I was an electrician. None the less my GPA is terrible, from an absolute top-tier public university.
From there I had a very successful career with noteworthy achievements at well respected companies, two Fortune-500. For good and bad, mostly good reasons I was known right up to the CEO's office. I carved some great achievements, some of them google-able, one in particular might get me in the footnotes of the next generation of history text books. That one deserves a little elaboration. In the name of scientific integrity, I offered my career as a sacrifice to protect consumer safety. I survived, but the events are very noteworthy and very public. I also did things like volunteer as a firefighter, and drove a tow truck during a recession to supplement my income.
During that career I decided to get my MBA. Not because I needed it at this point, but because even at 33, I was very self conscious about my undergrad. I took $40,000, threw it in a fire and got myself a 4.0...for no reason than I wanted to prove I could have if my life had been different. Right after that, I took my confidence, quit my job, started a consulting company, and met an incredible woman.
She was a resident doctor and I watched her do amazing things. I backed off of work to help her succeed, taking over domestic duties. I felt that every packet of energy I saved her, was a packet of energy she could give to her patients. I still feel that way, which is how I got here. We unfortunately broke up right before she left for fellowship, I was supposed to follow, but sadly never so. Internally, I needed to fill that need to help people, but I no longer had a doctor to vicariously work through, For now, I run/built an analytical lab on the fringes of healthcare (just barely considered healthcare for the purpose of vaccination). I need more, here I am.
What would my application look like?
2006 GPA: Trash, not even worth mentioning except there is progressive improvement towards A's if you follow the story. Top School.
2017 GPA#2: 4.0, except not related to science. It was financed based so lots of numbers, but that's it. High-Mid School, but very respected by the top.
MCAT: On two short practice tests, I got a 60% and 75%. No prep or studying. I recognized the material, I knew where to get the answers if I had to in under 30 seconds. A great majority of my correct answers were educated guesses where I wasn't certain. I'm not entirely comfortable with that strategy. It seems most of the exam is undergrad memorization. I do have my old text books, and I always read. I could just start going cover to cover. (save your textbooks! They may not always be up to date, but you we're intimate with them, you will be surprised how 20 years later, your fingers can still find the exact page it's looking for.)
Letters of Rec/Experiences: I believe I can excel here. One will come from a well respected researcher/professor at a med school linked university. We collaborate often and I may volunteer to help him on his latest project (its in my lane) just to say I did. Usually I'd just help him, we'll make it official this time. He will probably talk about how in the matter of a month, I taught myself to use the most complicated analytical instrument and in three months, was teaching the experts new tricks. He will attest that when it comes to scientific knowledge, I can catch myself up in the blink of an eye.
Another may come right out of a hospital from a head of pharmacy for 20+ hospitals. I've been entering a project with them to deter drug diversion. It might turn into a full time job after the consulting period, but I'd be willing to turn it into volunteer work. I'm really excited about this, I was already committed to doing it for free if the pay didn't work out.
After that, there is a long line of respected people who would be more than happy to write.
Personal Statement(s): I believe my journey and motivations are genuinely compelling. Much of it is redacted here, or "tweaked", to protect my identity. In addition, I think I have much to offer a medical school. I can relate to the younger group, I never grew up entirely, I still play contact sports, kids (undergrads) if you're still reading this, protect your back, lift with your knees, trust me, if you don't, you better buy stock in Bayer and plan on becoming friends with a pain management doc. My hiring practices generally focus on mentoring young scientists. I love taking a new grad, work with them for a few years, and toss them off to grad school to make an amazing life. I love writing letters of recommendation. We celebrate two-week notices here. I would love to be the odd one out and act as a wall to lean on. I may not remember the pre-requisite course material like they can, but I do have plenty of experience fighting and winning losing battles with nothing but determination.
Interview: I probably get job offers from 80% of my non-reach interviews, and my resume gets an interview almost 100% of the time. I got this.
All the other stuff is just basic cake.
So to recap my question. Given the summary of my relevant life. Where should I focus my energy to give myself the best chance? The particular school attests to holistic application review for all applicants. It seems everyone that files a primary, gets to file a secondary.
I can take a few classes to boost my GPA. I got that university with a med school near me. That might help with the MCAT too.
I can dive hard into the MCAT, but I'm not sure I can improve that without diving deep into undergrad material.
I can focus on even more volunteer work than I already mentioned. Mentioned is already scheduled.
I probably have time to completely devote to one of these; or split that energy equally between them. Anything more, and my career will suffer too much to recover should I not get accepted.
Thanks for making it this far and the custom tailored advice!