Premed or 4get it..posted elsewhere, but this might be a good place 4 feedback 2

[RxAZ]

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[funkymunkytoes]

Ok so here is the deal. I went to college out of high school primarily because my parents forced me to and since neither of my siblings went to college. I withdrew completely the first semester and for the next year or so, I had lots of Ws and Bs and Cs. I got married at 19, left school and began to work full time in retail. After 3 years, I went back to school full time as a premed student. I ended up making a 3.8 or so for about 2 years (Jr/Sr) and a few of Cs. I was also the primary caregiver for my father while he was battling cancer. During that time, I had also gotten a divorce (at 23 yrs) - he was a bum. Anyways, throughout the two years, I did LOTS of shadowing, I did some research at Baylor College of Medicine in genetics, and was a co-author for a publication. At 25, I still had a couple of premed classes to finish, but then i got engaged to a physician who pretty much told me to forget about med school. I tried to complete the classes "just in case", but i ended going part time, having some more Ws and and making some Cs. In the end, it took me 10, yes 10 years to finish college from the time I left high school. My overall GPA ended up being about 3.45, but I had quite a few Ws. Now, at 29, I am getting a Masters in biomedical science. I'm married, and my husband still tells me to forget about med school, but I know that it is my passion and dream. My Masters GPA is about 3.66--not too bad considering that I commute 3 hours a day and I'm not studying very much (husband gets annoyed with me being in school). I've never taken the MCAT......MY QUESTION is..with these stats, and with such a rocky history, not the best grades, quite a few Ws, is it even worth my time to try and take the MCAT and apply, or should I move on. I have a pharmacy school interview soon --the alternative, and the next best career I would enjoy, and with which I feel like I could do to keep my marriage. Advice??? Do the alternative, just go for the dream and accept all consequences, or don't bother -- doesn't look like I'll get in anyways....

As the for the bolded, there really are no consequences. You seem to really know what you want, so all it takes now is to study for the MCAT, take it, and see where it leaves you. With a 3.45 and a 3.66 GPA, medical school is definitely attainable. I don't really know what extracurriculars you have, but evenso, you have an interesting story which I'm sure many medical schools would love to know more about. Don't give up.


As an aside, this was the saddest things I've read:

...my husband still tells me to forget about med school, but I know that it is my passion and dream.

I'm sorry to hear that. Medical school, let alone the application process, can be really tough without support. Best of luck, hang in there!

 

[RasenShuriken]

Ok so here is the deal. I went to college out of high school primarily because my parents forced me to and since neither of my siblings went to college. I withdrew completely the first semester and for the next year or so, I had lots of Ws and Bs and Cs. I got married at 19, left school and began to work full time in retail. After 3 years, I went back to school full time as a premed student. I ended up making a 3.8 or so for about 2 years (Jr/Sr) and a few of Cs. I was also the primary caregiver for my father while he was battling cancer. During that time, I had also gotten a divorce (at 23 yrs) - he was a bum. Anyways, throughout the two years, I did LOTS of shadowing, I did some research at Baylor College of Medicine in genetics, and was a co-author for a publication. At 25, I still had a couple of premed classes to finish, but then i got engaged to a physician who pretty much told me to forget about med school. I tried to complete the classes "just in case", but i ended going part time, having some more Ws and and making some Cs. In the end, it took me 10, yes 10 years to finish college from the time I left high school. My overall GPA ended up being about 3.45, but I had quite a few Ws. Now, at 29, I am getting a Masters in biomedical science. I'm married, and my husband still tells me to forget about med school, but I know that it is my passion and dream. My Masters GPA is about 3.66--not too bad considering that I commute 3 hours a day and I'm not studying very much (husband gets annoyed with me being in school). I've never taken the MCAT......MY QUESTION is..with these stats, and with such a rocky history, not the best grades, quite a few Ws, is it even worth my time to try and take the MCAT and apply, or should I move on. I have a pharmacy school interview soon --the alternative, and the next best career I would enjoy, and with which I feel like I could do to keep my marriage. Advice??? Do the alternative, just go for the dream and accept all consequences, or don't bother -- doesn't look like I'll get in anyways....

I dont know who you've been talking to, but I think you have a great shot. If you can do well on your MCATs, there is no reason why a med school would outright reject you. 1. You did reasonably well in college, especially given the difficult circumstances. You might have some explaining to do, but you have a very compelling story that will explain most of that. 2. Medschools will like your life-experience, especially if these experiences directed you toward medicine. 3. You have a Masters that shows you still have the drive, and shows your determination in proving yourself to medschools.

Really put your heart into a killer personal statement, I think you have the material for an epic piece of work. Then do well on your MCATs. The last thing you should do is let your dream wither and die just because you 'didnt want to bother'. I would be more scared of being stuck wondering if I could have been a doctor for the rest of my life than trying and failing.

 

[RUc10]

Depends what you want IMO. I think your in for a rocky road with your current husband if you choose to go on to medical school. It would have been rough considering the dedication it takes as it is but seeing that he outrighted stated he doesn't think you should go things might not go so well. Your stats are definitely good enough to get you in somewhere. You just need to consider your priorities... fulfill a lifelong aspiration or keep to your commitment to your current husband. Pharmacy is definitely a great career but if it's not truly something you want to do, especially when you know you're capable of something else, you may not be the happiest person ever.

 

[RxAZ]

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[DrWookie]

That is exactly what my dilemma is...career vs marriage. I know that med school is demanding, and 8+ yrs is a very long time--but so is the rest of my life...I cant help but wonder what the "right" decision is.

As for the extracurriculars, I have 2000+ hrs of physician shadowing experience, have been taught suturing etc, and performed a few biopsies (so some hands on shadowing). Have the Baylor publication, taught biotechnology to inner city high school students for about a year. I'm a Big Sister, member of the Junior League, I rescue feral cats, do home improvement projects, yoga....

Perhaps I will take the MCAT and just see what I get...If I get a 25 or something..there's my answer 🙂

To be honest the only problem I see in your predicament is you have someone that doesn't support your dreams.

Does he say why he doesn't want you to go? Is it because he things you won't get in or is there another reason? (He doesn't want both you and him working long hours for the rest of your life or something) Medical school is a very big commitment and you need the support and love of everyone around you. I honestly don't think you would have any trouble getting into medical school (provided you do okay on your MCATs). Really it sounds like the only thing weak are your grades, but then I would consider you an "unconventional" applicant, and in those cases grades aren't as important.

study hard and take the MCAT. In the mind time, talk with your husband about what his problem is. If he just doesn't believe in you, there is something wrong with your relationship. If it is something else, you need to talk about that with him. You've wanted the dream for too long to just give up without actually trying to go through with it.

 

[DendWrite]

As for the extracurriculars, I have 2000+ hrs of physician shadowing experience, have been taught suturing etc, and performed a few biopsies (so some hands on shadowing). Have the Baylor publication, taught biotechnology to inner city high school students for about a year. I'm a Big Sister, member of the Junior League, I rescue feral cats, do home improvement projects, yoga....

Perhaps I will take the MCAT and just see what I get...If I get a 25 or something..there's my answer 🙂

It sounds like you have some really solid ECs, along with a strong motivation to want to go to medical school. Not only that, but you will have a Masters degree as well. I think you have an excellent chance at getting in, especially if you do well on the MCAT. I'd say that if it's something you want to do and think that will make you happy, you should definitely go for it.

 

[Mobius1985]

Even with an MCAT score of 25, you'd have a shot at DO (osteopathic) medical schools. With a 32-33, you'd have a shot at allopathic med schools. To get an acceptance, you'd need to apply widely, implying a probable need to relocate to attend school. How would that go over with your husband?

Have you considered a counseling situation to help sort things out with your spouse? This will be a very difficult road to take without your partner's emotional (and maybe financial) support. I give you a lot of credit for sticking to your dream without it.

 

[Brandqn]

redacted

 

[kernel]

DO IT.

It's obviously what you want. Why do yo think you came here?



...And if there's a will, there's a way.

 

[CardioPlus]

I would def take a look at some DO programs, they tend to be geared toward nontraditional students.