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- Aug 22, 2015
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So it's been more than a year since I determined I would try this whole post-bacc adventure, and I've just completed my first semester back at school! I had to move back home after a few years abroad, and although the transition has been difficult at times I'm having a lot of fun. I wanted to make this post to get your opinions on how I'm doing, and especially to remind me of anything I may be forgetting to work on for my eventual application (even at this early stage).
--Target application date: June 2018, take MCAT in April/May 2018. I will be 31 years old when I apply.
--I'm a Florida resident doing an informal post-bacc at a state school. My undergrad GPA in Political Science was 3.5 (grad GPA same major 3.7).
--Target sGPA after post-bacc: 3.8+ (straight-As). cGPA in this scenario: 3.6+. (just completed calculus this summer with a high A)
--Target MCAT: 510 (obviously this is a long way off, but I've targeted 508-510 to be the minimum I need to be competitive for an MD school. DO is absolutely on the table)
--Right now I have 150 hours of tangentially medical volunteering I did in Calcutta (caretaking for disabled children and adults)
--Approx. 50 hours volunteering with the local hospice organization so far, I'll have at least 300 hours by the time I apply.
--Passed my CNA certification last month, although no plans to use it for work until at least next year (currently committed to a full-time office job)
--Leasing a plot at the local community garden (good EC? I'm really just doing it b/c I've never gardened before and I think it's fascinating)
Plans for next two years:
--Begin volunteering at local soup kitchen next summer/fall (cannot right now due to weekday work commitments) OR at local children's shelter as a tutor (need to wait until I have more free time, schedule is tight right now)
--Earn phlebotomy and EKG certifications for potential work as patient care technician
--After completing gen chem 1 and 2 this fall/spring, try to apply for research assistant positions at uni (possible long-shot)
--Shadow family member physician (highly successful in his specialty, can't ask for rec letter b/c he's family but can I at least claim as legit shadowing?)
--Shadow local GP (family friend)
--Continue second job as a tutor/teacher for major national test prep company (considering quitting b/c it'll take up a lot of my time and energy, only benefit is I will eventually qualify for a free MCAT course...)
Any thoughts at all? It's tough being at the beginning of this two-year plan and realizing how much further I have to go. I feel like once I get into med school it'll be easier to stomach the 8+ years that will follow admission... Right now I'm just keeping my sanity by staying busy, if that makes sense; I try to keep a regular gym schedule, and I'm going on a much needed hiking trip next week.
Complicating things are the fact that I don't have a car, and I get around solely by bicycle and public transportation. It's less than ideal in the summertime with steady daytime temps above 90 and humidity above 75%, but it's good enough to get me where I need to go. I'll be quitting my full-time job next summer out of necessity to attend daytime-only classes.
Background: in my previous life I was an English teacher overseas for a couple years. I've done quite a bit of traveling and even did a stint as a chef down under. In other words, I have a lot of interesting experiences to write about on my application and hopeful secondaries (at least people tell me they're interesting).
Please let me know what you think! I appreciate your opinions.
--Target application date: June 2018, take MCAT in April/May 2018. I will be 31 years old when I apply.
--I'm a Florida resident doing an informal post-bacc at a state school. My undergrad GPA in Political Science was 3.5 (grad GPA same major 3.7).
--Target sGPA after post-bacc: 3.8+ (straight-As). cGPA in this scenario: 3.6+. (just completed calculus this summer with a high A)
--Target MCAT: 510 (obviously this is a long way off, but I've targeted 508-510 to be the minimum I need to be competitive for an MD school. DO is absolutely on the table)
--Right now I have 150 hours of tangentially medical volunteering I did in Calcutta (caretaking for disabled children and adults)
--Approx. 50 hours volunteering with the local hospice organization so far, I'll have at least 300 hours by the time I apply.
--Passed my CNA certification last month, although no plans to use it for work until at least next year (currently committed to a full-time office job)
--Leasing a plot at the local community garden (good EC? I'm really just doing it b/c I've never gardened before and I think it's fascinating)
Plans for next two years:
--Begin volunteering at local soup kitchen next summer/fall (cannot right now due to weekday work commitments) OR at local children's shelter as a tutor (need to wait until I have more free time, schedule is tight right now)
--Earn phlebotomy and EKG certifications for potential work as patient care technician
--After completing gen chem 1 and 2 this fall/spring, try to apply for research assistant positions at uni (possible long-shot)
--Shadow family member physician (highly successful in his specialty, can't ask for rec letter b/c he's family but can I at least claim as legit shadowing?)
--Shadow local GP (family friend)
--Continue second job as a tutor/teacher for major national test prep company (considering quitting b/c it'll take up a lot of my time and energy, only benefit is I will eventually qualify for a free MCAT course...)
Any thoughts at all? It's tough being at the beginning of this two-year plan and realizing how much further I have to go. I feel like once I get into med school it'll be easier to stomach the 8+ years that will follow admission... Right now I'm just keeping my sanity by staying busy, if that makes sense; I try to keep a regular gym schedule, and I'm going on a much needed hiking trip next week.
Complicating things are the fact that I don't have a car, and I get around solely by bicycle and public transportation. It's less than ideal in the summertime with steady daytime temps above 90 and humidity above 75%, but it's good enough to get me where I need to go. I'll be quitting my full-time job next summer out of necessity to attend daytime-only classes.
Background: in my previous life I was an English teacher overseas for a couple years. I've done quite a bit of traveling and even did a stint as a chef down under. In other words, I have a lot of interesting experiences to write about on my application and hopeful secondaries (at least people tell me they're interesting).
Please let me know what you think! I appreciate your opinions.