Option #

[TheLongRoad87]

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I posted previously about the difficulty of being active duty and trying to accomplish my pre reqs,BS, balancing a family while dealing with constant moves and deployments and everything.. not to mention the BS in Psych im working on(3.8 GPA to this point) is all online and that may be looked down in school I would like to apply for.

Im kind of formulating an option #2, maybe get out of the air force after this next assignment I have in Colorado that will last till Feb 2013. At this point I should have AT LEAST half of my Bachelors done and would be looking to transfer my credits to a university and finish the rest of my degree as a more traditional student. Potentially while im working part time and my wife is working Full. A big downside of this is I would have to cut into my GI bill for my Bachellors and coldn't put the whole thing toward medical school which probably means more loans, but whatever it takes.

How would I go about looking at and getting into schools at this point? Maybe im being a little ignorant because i've never had to be concerned about entering a traditional college, ive only taken one class that was not online(Anatomy) in the past 5 yrs. I joined the Air Force straight out of high school, my SAT's werent really up to snuff but i wasnt really concerned at the time. Now I would basically be going back to school full time but maybe with half of my degree complete, but also having a wife and son to support at the same time,..Im interested in going back to school on the east coast particularly south carolina where my Number #1 Med School interest lies, maybe work part time as an EMT to build up experience.

Seems kind of overwhelming to me, but what I do know is completing my pre reqs and Bachelors while on active duty is going to take multiple years, and my bachellors would have to come almost all online and my pre reqs would be pulled from many different schools depending how much I move around, maybe not a good recipe for med school entry even with my military experience background. Looking for input and advice, especially from those who have gone back to being a traditional student and supporting a family, thanks

 

[EdLongshanks]

I posted previously about the difficulty of being active duty and trying to accomplish my pre reqs,BS, balancing a family while dealing with constant moves and deployments and everything.. not to mention the BS in Psych im working on(3.8 GPA to this point) is all online and that may be looked down in school I would like to apply for.

Im kind of formulating an option #2, maybe get out of the air force after this next assignment I have in Colorado that will last till Feb 2013. At this point I should have AT LEAST half of my Bachelors done and would be looking to transfer my credits to a university and finish the rest of my degree as a more traditional student. Potentially while im working part time and my wife is working Full. A big downside of this is I would have to cut into my GI bill for my Bachellors and coldn't put the whole thing toward medical school which probably means more loans, but whatever it takes.

How would I go about looking at and getting into schools at this point? Maybe im being a little ignorant because i've never had to be concerned about entering a traditional college, ive only taken one class that was not online(Anatomy) in the past 5 yrs. I joined the Air Force straight out of high school, my SAT's werent really up to snuff but i wasnt really concerned at the time. Now I would basically be going back to school full time but maybe with half of my degree complete, but also having a wife and son to support at the same time,..Im interested in going back to school on the east coast particularly south carolina where my Number #1 Med School interest lies, maybe work part time as an EMT to build up experience.

Seems kind of overwhelming to me, but what I do know is completing my pre reqs and Bachelors while on active duty is going to take multiple years, and my bachellors would have to come almost all online and my pre reqs would be pulled from many different schools depending how much I move around, maybe not a good recipe for med school entry even with my military experience background. Looking for input and advice, especially from those who have gone back to being a traditional student and supporting a family, thanks

Since you have 2 more years of undergrad after you get out, I wouldn't worry about the online classes that aren't pre-reqs. You had a good (the only good, in my opinion) reason to take them online.

Slow down. You have plenty of time, you are still young. Get a part time job (at UPS for example, they like veterans and have great benefits for morning or evening workers) take 2 or 3 classes a semester and finish everything in 3 or 4 years. Take high level biology/chemistry courses so that you are prepped for the MCAT. Don't use your GI Bill for this, just take the Pell Grants and whatever scholarships you can get from a state school. With the extra time, you will be able to thoroughly understand your subjects and ace the MCAT. You can then enter Med school with good stats and a full GI bill. You'll sail through without financial problems.

I wish I was in your shoes.

 

[cabinbuilder]

To apply to a traditional college/university go online to that schools web page and look at the admissions requirements/paperwork. Fill them out and send it in. The school will let you know if you are accepted.

You can always go to the school you want to go to and talk to one of the guidance counselors to get more information about the admissions process/financial aid/etc.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Good advice here.

The EMT job that you mention isn't a bad idea either. It is a unique position to have in this whole process. First, it is a great patient care experience for your med school application. Second, depending on the system in which you work, the scheduling can be accommodating. Third, it can also be a shadowing experience (an application builder) if you were to work in an emergency department where you are able to work side by side physicians (and observe their daily life). Fourth, it's an application building activity where you get paid, which isn't easy to find (though it may not be the best paying job you could find).

Sometimes getting into an EMT course can be a pain (usually this depends on the state you are looking to take the course). If you are able to get this training / certification through the military (or with their assistance), that may be better than trying to do it on your own afterwards.

I am a little biased though; I was an EMT, which is how I supported myself through undergrad. Good luck.