Nontraditional Student Seeking Advice

[ZooMedic]

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I have been lurking for a while, and finally decided to post. I have been hemming and hawing about medical school since I was a freshman in 2003, and finally feel like (after reading a ton of nontraditional student success stories) that I might actually have a chance. So here is the quick and dirty on me:

-B.S. in 2007, GPA is 2.495. (To make a long story short, I was a double major in bio and chem and was doing great until family issues came up, and I changed my major as I was burned out on school and life in general. From junior year to senior year I just did what I had to in order to pass.)

-Shadowed Emergency room Physician from 2003-2004, was offered an internship for 2005 in the hospital (it was awesome because I was basically working as an unpaid ER tech for him, but the whole family issue caused me to walk away). I have no earthly idea if the guy remembers me to get a letter or recommendation from him or not. I haven't contacted him to see. So basically I think even mentioning this might be a wash? Especially if he doesn't even remember me, and I am not sure if the hospital keeps volunteer records for that long.

-Served active duty Army as a combat medic from 2011-2015. Deployed to Afghanistan where I ran an aid station as the senior medic. Treated U.S. military personnel, ISAF forces, and local nationals. Earned combat medic badge during deployment. (This is where I feel like I can really shine honestly, as I have so many really unique stories from this experience.)

-Nationally registered EMT since 2011. I haven't worked (persay) on the ambulance, but plan on doing volunteer work between now and next summer (when I plan on applying.)

-I am missing some core required courses- both Physics, as well as both courses of Organic Chemistry. I will have to take them online due to work. (I tried Org I twice and failed once, withdrew the second time. This was that timeframe I mentioned earlier).

-Masters of Science in Biology in 2014. I have taught at two separate four year universities since obtaining this degree, and even helped nursing students with prereqs by holding outside of class study sessions. I traveled to Brazil for my research during my studies for the summer of 2014. My GPA was 3.25 upon graduation.

-Several other community service type volunteer/paid jobs such as working with disturbed youth, volunteering with mentally handicapped adults, etc.

-Here in a few weeks I am taking a job as a federal park ranger. It is a dream job of mine, but I worry they are going to ask why I have done so many different things before finally coming to medical school.

So here's the real deal: I applied and did one semester last fall as a graduate counseling student and left the program, and I am worried about how that will look as I didn't finish (almost like I started doing better for myself in school by obtaining the M.S. but then attended another program and put another black mark on my record by dropping out. I have a 4.0 at that school if it matters.) But outside of that and my lackluster grades (I haven't taken the MCAT yet, saving it for after Physics and Chem) what else should I focus on? My undergrad grades were horrible, but many of the science prereqs I did decent in (at least a B).


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[Ad2b]

1. "At least a B" won't get you much... take more and get A's... make sure you can prove that you can get them; in physics and chem if I read that correctly and you've not taken them

2. Don't take the MCAT until you have those courses.

3. that post-bacc GPA is a bit difficult and with a Master's degree, it might be a little deadly right now (emphasis on right now)

4. Frankly, I think you need to focus on what you can do to get A's in classes; upper division biochem, genetics, etc; something to show you can do the courses; something that gives the adcoms looking at an application from you that screams, "READY"

5. you've got excellent ECs and leadership attributes ... just really, really, really need to focus on the grades; until that's resolved, I would not worry about dropping out and how that will be viewed...

FWIW, med school is not going anywhere. At 28, I was told I was a worthless student and would never get badged for the med school. At 35, and a Rotarian, I was told by the Dean of the med school at our Rotarian lunch that I was a loser and waste of time. At 44, I said to myself, "Well, they can shove it" started pre-reqs and am applying this cycle. At 51.

Take your time to prove to yourself THIS is what you want. Figure that out and I bet the rest will fall into place: grades, hopping around, etc.

All is not lost. Just take your time and be methodical. There are schools that reward reinvention. I'm banking on that myself 🙂

 

[ZooMedic]

Reviving this thread after a few months as I have done soul searching and decided that the only thing truly stopping myself from going to medical school is.....myself.

I am currently enrolled in Organic I, I am also working on a second master's degree (using the GI Bill) and in the meantime taking extra undergraduate science courses at the same time to build my GPA. I am two classes away from an associate's due to this, and (more than likely) when I apply I will have earned the associate's, two bachelor's, and two master's. (I mean, really, if I have to take so many courses I might as well do so in a manner that I end up with more degrees at least.) The undergrad is being paid out of pocket while I work full time in my role as a park ranger. As a commenter noted, I will have a little ways to go before I will be able to apply, however I sat down and calculated it and I am looking at needing around 26-30 undergrad courses to bring up my GPA to a 3.2. My goal is to apply for either 2018 or 2019 depending on how I feel about the MCAT. I will be 35-36ish at this timeframe, but the only real clock I am running against is Uncle Sam's, as the scholarship program with the military has an age limit.

I have talked to both a DO and an MD about shadowing them (both agreed), the MD told me that with my leadership credentials, if I complete the additional undergrad courses and score high on the MCAT, that the school he graduated from would at least look at me as most of my poor grades from undergrad are in nonscience courses, not the science ones. After talking with me he told me that in his opinion, all I need to do is focus on getting in front of the panel for the interview and that he thinks that I would get in from my demeanor- that (as mentioned before) my grades are my only true hurdle. He did say that DO was probably a better shot, but that if I was dead set on MD that I could make it happen with a little money and a lot of effort.

In addition, I am currently securing my red card, for wildland firefighting, and I am also now a certified national archery instructor. I am also slated on a medical mission trip in January to volunteer in a clinic in a rural part of Peru.

But I do have a question, as someone had mentioned previously that without being an URM that my scores will hurt me tremendously. Will male versus female play any role in this? While I am sure that with my military experience, etc. that I listed most would assume I am a male, I am actually a woman.

 

[DrMikeP]

Reviving this thread after a few months as I have done soul searching and decided that the only thing truly stopping myself from going to medical school is.....myself.

I am currently enrolled in Organic I, I am also working on a second master's degree (using the GI Bill) and in the meantime taking extra undergraduate science courses at the same time to build my GPA. I am two classes away from an associate's due to this, and (more than likely) when I apply I will have earned the associate's, two bachelor's, and two master's. (I mean, really, if I have to take so many courses I might as well do so in a manner that I end up with more degrees at least.) The undergrad is being paid out of pocket while I work full time in my role as a park ranger. As a commenter noted, I will have a little ways to go before I will be able to apply, however I sat down and calculated it and I am looking at needing around 26-30 undergrad courses to bring up my GPA to a 3.2. My goal is to apply for either 2018 or 2019 depending on how I feel about the MCAT. I will be 35-36ish at this timeframe, but the only real clock I am running against is Uncle Sam's, as the scholarship program with the military has an age limit.

I have talked to both a DO and an MD about shadowing them (both agreed), the MD told me that with my leadership credentials, if I complete the additional undergrad courses and score high on the MCAT, that the school he graduated from would at least look at me as most of my poor grades from undergrad are in nonscience courses, not the science ones. After talking with me he told me that in his opinion, all I need to do is focus on getting in front of the panel for the interview and that he thinks that I would get in from my demeanor- that (as mentioned before) my grades are my only true hurdle. He did say that DO was probably a better shot, but that if I was dead set on MD that I could make it happen with a little money and a lot of effort.

In addition, I am currently securing my red card, for wildland firefighting, and I am also now a certified national archery instructor. I am also slated on a medical mission trip in January to volunteer in a clinic in a rural part of Peru.

But I do have a question, as someone had mentioned previously that without being an URM that my scores will hurt me tremendously. Will male versus female play any role in this? While I am sure that with my military experience, etc. that I listed most would assume I am a male, I am actually a woman.

Being a female can help some at many schools, but it's not going to fix the low grade issue. There is a below 3.0 gpa thread, do some reading on it as some of the advice on recovering from prior bad grades will be helpful. DO is likely your best route, but a ton will depend on the MCAT and if you can bank A's on the rest of your science classes.

Best of luck