Nontrad Just Getting Started

[PBHoney]

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Hi all,

After quite some time deliberating, I have decided to answer the calling to be a doctor. I graduated with a cGPA of 3.234 and sGPA of 3.667 from UNC-CH in 2005 (Business Administration), and I could bring those up to 3.48 and 3.85 respectively with the post-bacc work I need to do. I estimate my MCAT will be 33 or so.

My dream would be to return to Chapel Hill and study medicine, but I realize my UG grades are not spectacular. Currently, I am a California resident, so I plan on applying to all of the California schools (minus Loma Linda).

For the next year+, I will be saving up money for post-bacc and beginning volunteer work at local hospitals. I plan on starting class in August 2011 and matriculating in August 2014. Assuming I accumulate good community service in the next few years, is it realistic to think I can be a double Tar Heel or make it into a CA school?

 

[TriagePreMed]

I plan on applying to all of the California schools (minus Loma Linda).

LOL That's what I'm going to do. Loma Linda... oh god. I would never want a doctor from there to treat me.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

LOL That's what I'm going to do. Loma Linda... oh god. I would never want a doctor from there to treat me.

What's wrong with the Double L?

 

[EdLongshanks]

LOL That's what I'm going to do. Loma Linda... oh god. I would never want a doctor from there to treat me.

Tell me you criticism of Loma Linda. The "ChanceMe" spreadsheet showed it a safe match for me and I like California. What's wrong with the school in your opinion?

 

[TriagePreMed]

Tell me you criticism of Loma Linda. The "ChanceMe" spreadsheet showed it a safe match for me and I like California. What's wrong with the school in your opinion?

Sorry, I should have kept that to myself. If you have no problem with attending a school that's heavily influenced by religion (to the point of requiring certain religious activities from all students), I guess there is no problem. Unless you are a 7th day adventist, expect yourself to have a harder time for admissions than someone who is. Also, if you aren't used to dealing with highly religious people, some of whom may hold controversial political views, it may not be the campus for you.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Sorry, I should have kept that to myself. If you have no problem with attending a school that's heavily influenced by religion (to the point of requiring certain religious activities from all students), I guess there is no problem. Unless you are a 7th day adventist, expect yourself to have a harder time for admissions than someone who is. Also, if you aren't used to dealing with highly religious people, some of whom may hold controversial political views, it may not be the campus for you.

Ohhh. So it's a faith-based school? Geez, I thought maybe there was something wrong with it. I'm glad to know there is one. I never thought Cali would have such a thing out there.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Sorry, I should have kept that to myself. If you have no problem with attending a school that's heavily influenced by religion (to the point of requiring certain religious activities from all students), I guess there is no problem. Unless you are a 7th day adventist, expect yourself to have a harder time for admissions than someone who is. Also, if you aren't used to dealing with highly religious people, some of whom may hold controversial political views, it may not be the campus for you.

Seventh-day adventists have done quite a bit in the medical field and deserve some respect in that area. It doesn't sound like saying that doctors from there are sub-standard could be justifiable.

Residencies and clerkships in Adventist hospitals might be more available to their students. I wonder if residencies in unaffiliated organizations are limited.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Seventh-day adventists have done quite a bit in the medical field and deserve some respect in that area. It doesn't sound like saying that doctors from there are sub-standard could be justifiable.

Residencies and clerkships in Adventist hospitals might be more available to their students. I wonder if residencies in unaffiliated organizations are limited.

I apologize for making it sound like they must be inferior doctors. It was a tongue-in-cheek thing.

 

[EdLongshanks]

For the next year+, I will be saving up money for post-bacc and beginning volunteer work at local hospitals. I plan on starting class in August 2011 and matriculating in August 2014. Assuming I accumulate good community service in the next few years, is it realistic to think I can be a double Tar Heel or make it into a CA school?

Your plan is reasonable and doable. You can see your chances for specific sets of schools by going to the Chances forum and downloading the spreadsheet on the sticky at the top of the forum.

Plan for the MCAT the entire time that you are going to pre-req classes. As you are taking Biology, go to Amazon.com and get some used books on MCAT prep and read through them as you are taking the class. This gives you a good feel for what you need to remember and keep practicing on. While I was taking Chem II, I just did the bare minimum work in the equilibrium and acid-base chapters to get an A and didn't try to memorize it. That cost me some time in the weeks leading up to the MCAT when I realized that these were critical chapters. If possible, take Physiology and Genetics before the MCAT.

Begin thinking about your personal statement now. You are being admirably brief here, but the "calling to be a doctor", even in expanded form, is vanilla pablum.

Finally, and this is the error that I made, make and keep updated a list of community service and leadership activities that you have been involved in. Did you serve on college committees (whoops I forgot that one, I need to write it down) do any weekends with Habitat for Humanity or go with a church group to help build a church on an Indian reservation?

 

[PBHoney]

Finally, and this is the error that I made, make and keep updated a list of community service and leadership activities that you have been involved in. Did you serve on college committees (whoops I forgot that one, I need to write it down) do any weekends with Habitat for Humanity or go with a church group to help build a church on an Indian reservation?

I was the President of a professional fraternity in college. During that time, we did Ronald McDonald House, Adopt-A-Highway, and Habitat. Can I list the philanthropy I did with the fraternity?

 

[EdLongshanks]

I was the President of a professional fraternity in college. During that time, we did Ronald McDonald House, Adopt-A-Highway, and Habitat. Can I list the philanthropy I did with the fraternity?

Absolutely. I would group them together under a single heading. But write them down now so that you don't have to start trying to remember everything in the matter of a few days application time. Keep a community service resume and update it regularly.

 

[Emerald84]

I love how posters can estimate their MCAT. Geesh

Hi all,

After quite some time deliberating, I have decided to answer the calling to be a doctor. I graduated with a cGPA of 3.234 and sGPA of 3.667 from UNC-CH in 2005 (Business Administration), and I could bring those up to 3.48 and 3.85 respectively with the post-bacc work I need to do. I estimate my MCAT will be 33 or so.

My dream would be to return to Chapel Hill and study medicine, but I realize my UG grades are not spectacular. Currently, I am a California resident, so I plan on applying to all of the California schools (minus Loma Linda).

For the next year+, I will be saving up money for post-bacc and beginning volunteer work at local hospitals. I plan on starting class in August 2011 and matriculating in August 2014. Assuming I accumulate good community service in the next few years, is it realistic to think I can be a double Tar Heel or make it into a CA school?

 

[NTF]

Your stats aren't bad, but California schools are notoriously difficult to get into because of the enormous #'s of applicants. If you're limiting your choices to UNC and California schools it will severely limit your chances. You'd be prudent to widen the net you cast.

 

[PBHoney]

I love how posters can estimate their MCAT. Geesh

Sorry, I should have said "hope for a 33", not "estimate a 33". Geesh.

 

[PBHoney]

Your stats aren't bad, but California schools are notoriously difficult to get into because of the enormous #'s of applicants. If you're limiting your choices to UNC and California schools it will severely limit your chances. You'd be prudent to widen the net you cast.

Thanks! As application time draws nearer, I will add safety schools to the list.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Loma Linda is a great school, but your stats need to be substantially above their averages if you are not a 7th Day Adventist. It's not a good place to have as a safety school (they are very picky about fitting into the religious culture of the school).

Personally, I have no interest in a school that is religious to the degree of Loma Linda, but it's a great place if you can get in and you don't mind conservative Christianity. They have produced many fine doctors and have some ground-breaking Parkinson's disease research taking place (including a chip that can be implanted into the brain to decrease or eliminate the tremors associated with Parkinson's disease).

Seventh-day adventists have done quite a bit in the medical field and deserve some respect in that area. It doesn't sound like saying that doctors from there are sub-standard could be justifiable.

Residencies and clerkships in Adventist hospitals might be more available to their students. I wonder if residencies in unaffiliated organizations are limited.

 

[gman33]

Let me throw this out there, try not to take it the wrong way.

Based on the stats you hope to get in the post-bacc, you are going to have a very hard time getting into any CA school unless you throw in a 40 in the MCAT or something crazy like that.

Do your best and it doesn't hurt to apply to CA schools, but keep in mind that there is a very good chance you won't be going to school in CA. It's just super competitive and you are starting from a poor position with your overall ug gpa.