Old Texan

[jaboy]

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Hello all!
I am a twenty-three year old Texan who graduated from a non-respectible texas university in 2000. I earned a degree in Finance and had a 3.9 GPA. I have been working as a financial analyst for two years since graduation, but I am interested in a career change. I have always wanted to be a doctor and work in a poor rural area, on an indian reservation, or in a poor foreign country. I was wondering what I should do to build my medical school application package; i.e. what are my choices?
I live in Texas, and I hear that is an advantage...but what do I need to do?
Should I try to enroll in a post bacc program? If so, are there any around the Dallas area? Also, what else could I do? I have a very limited science background (I have eight biology and eight chemistry hours).

 

[scamp]

jaboy- you should use the search feature to find suggestions on how to pump up your application...there have been many discussions about this issue. I know that the University of Texas at Arlington has a post bacc premed program-custom designed to fit your needs. I think it's through the College of Science. (I was born and raised in Arlington and I'm moving back from NYC this summer.) Here's the number: (817) 272 3491
Good luck!

 

[spacecadet]

jaboy,

Check out <a href="http://www.oldpremeds.net" target="_blank">OldPreMeds</a>, especially the forums. It's a site dedicated to non-traditional students.

There is going to be an OldPreMeds conference in Dallas at the end of this month. You should consider attending (only $25) since you live nearby.

By the way, you're not even close to old.

 

[jaboy]

scamp and spacecadet: thank you for your suggestions.

 

[GoMavericks]

jaboy,

I worked as a retirement specialist for several years before applying to medical school this year. I'm not sure what your major was in college, but I did have the advantage of being a Biology major in school. Anyway, here's some advice I'd offer you. If you weren't a science major in school, take some classes at UTA or UTD to get into the swing of things. It also gives you the opportunity to talk with their PreMed advisory committee, something I wish I would have had. Also, I don't know how demanding your job is, but mine didn't give the time to properly study for the MCAT because I either had to work late or study for some licensing exam for work. I'd recommend finding another job that will provide you with more time to study, and if possible get one in a hospital. You should also try volunteering at a hospital to give you some experience if you don't have some already. I volunteered at Children's Medical in the ER which was a great experience.

My GPA wasn't too good so applied to about 15 schools, MD and DO. So far I've been accepted to UNECOM, and waitlisted at UTMB and Tech.

I hope this helps.

 

[jaboy]

Go Mavricks, I like your name! Thanks for the post. My job is pretty demanding and it doesn't give me much free time. Thanks for the advice. One more question: I was thinking about taking physics I and II over the summer at the dallas county community college. Should I do this, or wait and take it in the fall at a university such as UT Dallas, UT Arlington or UNT? I read that it is better to go to a university for the premed classes. What do you think?

PS congrats on the UNECOM acceptance

 

[GoMavericks]

I personally would take it at UTA or UTD instead of DCCC. I found physics to be pretty challenging, and I think you'll learn more at one of those schools. The physical sciences section of the MCAT (physics and gen. chem.) was the toughest section for me, but I think it would have been even worse had my physics professor in college not worked us pretty hard. Of course it's all luck of the draw with professors... If it's easier (time wise) for you to take it at DCCC, just make sure you get an A. That's the big thing, just keep your science GPA up!

 

[praying4MD]

Hi all you fellow Texans,

#1: There will be a 38 year old starting his first year of med school with me this year. You are by NO means old!!

No need to panic about going to a non-prestigious college. I went to a no name school in Texas and was still lucky enough to get in on my first try. Your undergrad GPA is excellent (congrats!) and in a difficult major as well. If anything, your "real life" experience in the work force will definitely help you out in the application process. Make sure to play it up and focus on the positive points about how beneficial it has been and how much you have grown and learned by actually working in the real world.

It would also be a good thing to get involved in the community. You mentioned that you are interested in treating underserved areas (yay! so am I!) so you may want to consider doing some volunteer work in that arena. This doesn't have to be medically related (although that would help). You could even fundraise for a charitable non profit relief organization and hold down a leadership position there. Most of all, do things that interest you and you will excel. Also, try to choose unique things. While volunteering in a hospital is good, every premed and their mother has done this, so try to find a new angle to it and be creative with it. Ex: One of my friends was an MIS major and wanted to help out in underserved areas as well. She began teaching job training and computer classes and ESL classes to those who sought political asylum here in the US. So, she used her expertise to help out in the community, and it certainly set her apart from other applicants. However, it is necessary to get a good exposure to the medical profession as well, so keep that in mind.

Living in Tx is a Great advantage~! I know some of my advice is probably something you'd want a little more down the road in the future, but I thought I'd go ahead and contribute anyway.

Good luck and keep us posted on the developments!

 

[jaboy]

praying4MD:
thanks for the encouragement
🙂

 

[reesie0726]

I did post bac at UT Arlington last year. I was a psychology major. I am still at UTA and I will be starting med school in August. Do not go to a community college to do your post bac. Do it at UTA or UTD. I liked UTA and they have a very good range of classes. Go ahead and call the admissions office, I think the deadline is June 1 to apply for fall. Talk to Ed Morton. He can give you good guidance in the pre-med process and what classes to take, what professors to stay away from. Praying4md has good advice also. Alot of students work full time and manage with classes so I am sure you can do it too. You will have to just take a lighter load. Ed will tell you that you need to get some hospital/clinic experience and other community service activities will be great. You can pm me or email me if you have any questions. I teach (ta) freshman bio lab right now at UTA so I am pretty familiar with the school. If you really want to take summer courses, hurry up and call both UTA and UTD. I bet your application could get rushed.

 

[praying4MD]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by jaboy:
•praying4MD:
thanks for the encouragement
🙂 •••••Any time! If you have any questions about the application process when you start applying, feel free to private message me & ask. The match system can be kind of confusing at the beginning. Good luck again. 🙂