Nontraditonal chances???

[jkaaac]

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Here is my situation...36 YO married female with three kids. I have a Bachelors from the University of Central Florida in Nursing. I have been an RN for almost ten years now. I have to take a couple pre-med classes (Organic Chem and Physics). I currently work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I have a 3.9 GPA. I served four years active duty in the Air Force as a RN. I have already decided to take my remaining classes through the SUNY system (Community Colleges) online. I know that MAY be frowned upon, but it is the only way for me to get these done. I have plenty of awards/recognition. Officer of the Quarter x2 in the military and Med/Surg Nurse of the Year 2004 for my hospital in Florida etc. I have spent plenty of hours volunteering from coaching youth soccer to working in the womens shelter. I plan on applying to the University of ALabama at Birmingham ONLY!!! I was just wondering what you guys thought of my chances with a decent MCAT score. Any advice/criticism is welcomed.

 

[DrMidlife]

Awesome chances in general. You'll be one of the most interesting candidates in the pile.

Just keep in mind you're competing with 21 year olds, and you have to jump through the same hoops. You'll be initially measured & compared on:
1. cumulative undergrad GPA
2. MCAT
3. personal statement
4. letters of recommendation
5. extra-curriculars

Be careful with your nursing science coursework - you may or may not have med school prereqs covered. Compare the premed curriculum subject matter with the coursework you've had.

Lastly, applying to only 1 school profoundly limits your chances. People have bad days (you might, the interviewers might, there might be a paperwork problems, etc.). In your shoes I'd apply to a few more just to try to have an interview elsewhere before the one that matters. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Make really, really sure that you *look* like an Alabama resident when you apply - get that Birmingham-area address way ahead of your application, and be ready to play up your ties to the area when you get AB's secondary app.

Best of luck to you.

 

[TrimtheChute]

From what you posted, it seems like you have a solid clinical, military, volunteer experienced application. For the prereqs, many (maybe most schools) require labs with orgo and physics. Not sure how you can do an orgo lab online. Have you considered a local CC or U of Phoenix with a location for the labs?

Are you geographically constrained? Even if you are, you might want to consider applying to more schools because you are going to put in all the effort anyway to apply so why not add some more. I am geographically constrained, but my spouse and I decided we would make commuting (within reason) work. Luckily, I only have to commute 1 hour to school.

 

[jkaaac]

Awesome chances in general. You'll be one of the most interesting candidates in the pile.

Just keep in mind you're competing with 21 year olds, and you have to jump through the same hoops. You'll be initially measured & compared on:
1. cumulative undergrad GPA
2. MCAT
3. personal statement
4. letters of recommendation
5. extra-curriculars

Be careful with your nursing science coursework - you may or may not have med school prereqs covered. Compare the premed curriculum subject matter with the coursework you've had.

Lastly, applying to only 1 school profoundly limits your chances. People have bad days (you might, the interviewers might, there might be a paperwork problems, etc.). In your shoes I'd apply to a few more just to try to have an interview elsewhere before the one that matters. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Make really, really sure that you *look* like an Alabama resident when you apply - get that Birmingham-area address way ahead of your application, and be ready to play up your ties to the area when you get AB's secondary app.

Best of luck to you.

Great suggestion about applying to a few other schools to gain the experience of the interview process...I guess I never looked at it that way. I do live about 45 minutes outside of Birmingham and work for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Birmingham, so I think I have my B-ham ties knotted. Thanks for the advice, I would have never looked at it that way.

 

[jkaaac]

From what you posted, it seems like you have a solid clinical, military, volunteer experienced application. For the prereqs, many (maybe most schools) require labs with orgo and physics. Not sure how you can do an orgo lab online. Have you considered a local CC or U of Phoenix with a location for the labs?

Are you geographically constrained? Even if you are, you might want to consider applying to more schools because you are going to put in all the effort anyway to apply so why not add some more. I am geographically constrained, but my spouse and I decided we would make commuting (within reason) work. Luckily, I only have to commute 1 hour to school.

Thanks for the advice, yes I am geographically constrained. I have 15 moves in 18 years of marriage (my husband was active duty for 9 years), so uprooting the kids from high school just isn't a viable option. I do agree with applying to several schools though. This is the type of input I was looking for. Thanks

 

[jackieMD2007]

Sounds like a solid application. 😀

I feel like the theme of your application should be:
"Why I want to be a doctor after I've had so much success as a nurse"

That is going to be an interesting line to walk where you don't put down nursing!

Apply broadly--some schools love the non-trad story....some not as much.

PS: AWESOME WORK & THANK YOU for serving in the military!👍