Non-Traditional Pre-Med Looking for Advice

[medchick28]

Hi everyone,

I am new to student doctor and looking for some advice.

I'm a non-traditional pre-medical student who earned a B.A. in Natural Sciences and Mathematics in 2005 with a 3.6 GPA overall (Cum laude) and an M.Ed. in 2006 with a 4.0 (honors). I taught middle school science and math for 3 1/2 years (I was a December grad, hence the half year) before realizing I wanted to apply to medical school. I have been volunteering at a hospice, have undergrad research experience, and took gen chem, physics, bio, orgo, and genetics this summer and fall. I have three questions:

1. How do I calculate my science GPA? I have recent classes, plus ones from my undergrad, and even a few from a dual credit program I participated in during high school. Some of the recents are repeats (like physics, which I took 10 years ago in high school).

2. Is there anything else I can/should be doing? I'm taking the MCATS in April, and the second semesters of orgo and physics starting in January. I'm studying on my own with the ExamKrackers books. which were recommended by my premed advisor. I am not registered for a class like Kaplan, and am pretty good about studying on my own.

Thanks!

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[Mindscrew]

you need to demonstrate some clinical experience/shadowing physicians. This is important b/c as a non trad, you have to show that you know what you are getting into.

 

[DrMidlife]

1. How do I calculate my science GPA? I have recent classes, plus ones from my undergrad, and even a few from a dual credit program I participated in during high school. Some of the recents are repeats (like physics, which I took 10 years ago in high school).

Instructions are here, starting on page 34: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/131750/data/2011amcasinstructions.pdf.pdf (that double .pdf.pdf isn't a typo...weird).

 

[artsydoc]

I'm also a nontrad with a different prior career and will be starting med school in the fall. First of all, in my experience having done something different has been nothing but an advantage as an applicant, so you already have a feather in your cap for that. I also volunteer with a hospice and that was my only clinical experience at the time that I applied. I believe it is more than sufficient especially if you've been doing it for a long time. It would be a good idea to re-involve yourself in research; I found professors to be surprisingly receptive to welcoming people into their research groups. Finally, shadow if possible. I didn't do it until after applying but had started by the time I interviewed and the experience was integral to the quality of the interviews. (I know how hard it is to get everything in as a nontrad!) Also, learn from my mistake and start studying HARD for the MCAT now if you aren't already so you can take it in the spring and have your apps in by early summer. It turned out fine in the end but you'll save yourself a world of misery by applying early and not cramming all the relearning into a few months. Good luck!

also, re science gpa just add any new undergrad classes into your undergrad gpa as if you took them all in college to get the amcas sgpa. Average retakes if you have them. Grad gpa is irrelevant (I also have an advanced degree-no one cared, more interested in work experience)

 

[nabeel76]

, re science gpa just add any new undergrad classes into your undergrad gpa as if you took them all in college to get the amcas sgpa. Average retakes if you have them. Grad gpa is irrelevant (I also have an advanced degree-no one cared, more interested in work experience)

Pretty much this (above), expect that you don't take the average of courses that you have retaken. For example, if you've taken a 3 credit course and earned an F and then retook it and recieved an A you do not list one course worth 3 credits with a C grade - which would be the average in this case. You would list each course seperately as if they were seperate courses, the first being a 3 credit course with grade of F and the second being a 3 credit course with grade of A. This happens to average out to 6 credits of C as opposed to 3 credits of C at the end of the day.