Post-Undergrad Pre-Med

[Ligamentumarteriosum]

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Hello folks! I want to get some opinions, advice, and/or sensical words about engaging in doing pre-medical coursework post-undergrad. The essentials: I'm a pretty busy guy working in IT and with several local EMS agencies who wants to begin taking pre-requisite classes for DO/MD in the way that allows for the most individualized, professional way that will best prepare me for switching careers and entering medical school.

Here's a bit about me:
I'm a full time (40hr/wk) programmer for the last few years. I'm also a volunteer FF/EMT with a local fire district (48hr+/mo), part time with a private ambulance (48hr/mo), a Search and Rescue Techincian/EMT/Team Leader, and I'm in my last semester with Western Governors University for a Bachelors Degree in Science, Information Technology - Software. I earned an Associate of Arts (DTA) in 2011 along with a High School Diploma (Running Start program in WA - graduated ahead of class).

I've been working in EMS since September 2014 and have more than 400 hours in from that. Fun stuff!

Getting on with it:
I know I have at least two options, led by two simple facts. WGU grades on P/F and so porting over to GPA doesn't work very well, and because of how long I had taken on it (particularly because I've been working full time to avoid financial aid) trying to convert to a GPA looks worse than it is. The other fact is that WGU is very competency/skill driven, which meant that with the exception of technical writing all of the additional credits post-AA were programming classes. That means that when you look at the pre-requisite academic requirements for any medical school, I have the full list to do.

Options:

1. The way I see it, I can hit the basic pre-reqs doing community college. The exception are the schools that require biochemistry AND microbiology, as microbiology is not offered by CC's within 2 counties of me. Ditto with genetics. If I continued to work, I could essentially keep my same schedule. I already have permission from my boss, I can go do class during lunch break or any other time in the day as long as I hit my 40 hours a week. That leaves time for one daily class in the AM or any PM evening class. Keeping the schedule the same, if I finish MATH141 - Precalculus this summer I'll finish biochemistry and be course-wise prepared for MCATs in Spring 2017.
2. The other option is to put full focus on academics and get a double-major at another university specifically designed for pre-med type students such as Washington State University's B.S. in Basic Medical Sciences, or Arizona State University's B.S. in Medical Studies*. This represents a significant loss of income/gain of student loans for a couple years assuming I am not able to gain part-time or campus EMS work. The benefits though are being able to fully devote to nailing these classes with the best GPA I can forge with hard work and focus. Another benefit is being able to possibly get into doing research projects, which seem to go a long way. Being able to engage with a community of pre-med students and using the university staff as a launching pad for medical school applications is appealing. Finally, this is the only opportunity to hit and surpass each individual pre-requisite that gets listed on admissions sites. I am aware that med schools don't seem to mind where classes came from and the name of the school doesn't go far.

My thoughts: This is literally square one of the pre-requisite list. There's a long way to go, and I could get half way there and curriculum could spit me out. I don't see myself letting that happen, but the worse thing that could happen is a year and a half from now I'm sitting in a resident hall feeding my student debt trying to figure out how to make it work without a job, retaking classes. The only thing slightly worse than that is 2 years from now I finish the community college classes and have no idea what I'm doing because it's been 2 years of a la carte, wondering how my application will stand against someone who majored in what I cherrypicked.

*Another potential option, and the reason I threw in an application to Arizona State was because it's 30 minutes from one of our corporate offices, presenting an opportunity to potentially change my work site and keep my job.

All options except just kind of staying where I am with CC's would result in at least a temporary pause in EMS until I can find a new agency elsewhere. Fortunately, my state licensure and NREMT are all up to date with the latest posted CME.

So, what do you think?

 

[DrMidlife]

Without a GPA you have a lot to prove. I know somebody who got into a DO school from Evergreen, and it was a painful process made more difficult by a low MCAT.

You can't take the prereqs at a CC. That doesn't do anything to establish that you're capable of med school classes. Nothing you've done academically will work for you in med school admissions, yet.

First thing: take one CC class (only one CC class) in math or science as a warmup. If you get an A, take that as permission to dive into the prereqs.

After getting that A at a CC: don't take any more CC classes. Figure out a way to be a full time student at a reputable 4 year college. I like the 2nd bachelors idea. You have to take sociology & humanities for the MCAT as well.

Avoiding debt is fine for an IT career but med school costs $250k or worse. Make friends with that or go another direction.

Don't prioritize EMT work over other options. You already get full credit for doing that, and it's a very common premed activity.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Ligamentumarteriosum]

Thanks DrMidlife. My concern about debt isn't an overall concern, it's very specific, and you may have input where I am a little ignorant. I have about 20k from some of my early university days before I was fully employed, so I want to make sure that if I add another 20k to that as it stands now, financial aid will actually pay for it as any other undergraduate. This could be a "stupid question". The paying in cash the last couple semesters was a privilege of a job but I have no qualms about racking it up for med school. If financial aid will just continue ringing it up while I do the second degree then let me know and that'll just add that many more pros to the university track.

 

[SpicyFalafel]

Well, there is a limit on your financial aid you receive during undergrad. Also, your financial aid would be based on whatever the financial office at school X says, Hypothetically, if you're making decent money above 20k. You're more than likely that you would be awarded Subsidized loans/un Sub.loans, and once you reach your limits for Subsidized you will be awarded un Sub.( it is not need based though). So, your financial aid should be the last thing to worry about.

If I were in your shoes, I will do this:
1- Make up my mind whether MD/DO route. Check with couple schools to see if they are going to accept your bachelor(P/F grades) for their requirements.
2- If yes, then take your pre-reqs along with couple upper science division, prep for MCAT , apply and call it a day.
3- If No, then pursue with your plan towards 2nd bachelor.