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countryboy87

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Hello everyone

I come from quite a scattered background and I'm sure I would be considered a non-traditional student by any means. I am hoping to present a little of my background and ask for recomendations, suggestions, criticisms; anything you believe to be helpful in guiding me in the right direction.

I attended a very rural, country high school with a graduating class of 19 students. The school was/is terrible; my girlfriend just pointed out to me that we are ranked 712 out of approximately 750 schools in the state. Needless to say I had a terrible eduction growing up.
*Side note, my father nor mother have a college education; don't know if that means anything.

I was accepted to Illinois State University and attended there for 5 years (due to uncertainty in choosing a major). I graduated with a degree in Sociology; I believe my cumulative was around 3.5 and my major was around 3.7.

I went to work in a maximum security prison 3 months after graduating; I hated every single day of it. In a nutshell, I ended up in the ER one day and "had an epiphany"; this is where I want to be. I began the steps necessary to place myself into medical school. While working full time, I took 2 courses at a community college in chemistry and biology. I was required to complete these courses before I could apply to the postbaccalaureate program in the Biology department at Illinois State. I finished both courses with "A" and transferred the 4.0 avg to Illinois State where I was accepted into their Biology program. I finally left the prison 1 week shy of 3 years of employment.

By the time May comes around, I will have completed my first year of pre-med requisite courses. The first semester I took Gen Chem 1 and Gen Physics 1, both with labs and and received a 4.0 that semester as well. I'll note that I was also working part time for my father that runs a farming operation. This semester I will have competed Gen Chem 2, Gen Physics 2, and Gen Bio 2. I am on route to receiving "A" in both physics and chemistry and most likely a B in Biology. Therefore, I will have completed Gen Physics 1 & 2, Gen Chem 1 & 2 and Gen Bio 1 & 2 by May. This will place my science grades as follows:

Intro to Chem: A @ comm. college
Biology 1: A @ comm. college
Biology 2: B @ state university
Chem 1: A @ state university
Chem 2: A @ state university
Physics 1: A @ state university
Physics 2: A @ state university

That leaves me with the next year to finish Organic 1 & 2. This fall I will take Organic 1 and will be taking an independent study with my Sociology professor. We will construct a sociologically based research project on doctor-patient relationships. I know some may giggle at social research, but apparently it is receiving its own due respect when examining the changing MCAT exam and reviewing the new required/suggested sociology courses posted by medical schools. In addition to that, I will be reviewing for the MCAT. I plan to take it in December 14 or January 15. My tutor is a college professor with a Ph. D. in organic chemistry, so with her assistance and my hard work, I hope for Organic 1/2 to go well; in addition, she will be assisting me in studying for the MCAT.

I just contacted a local hospital about joining their volunteer program where I plan to help 3-4 hours a week; it appears this is all they allow due to the large number of volunteers. I also plan to take on new employment working as a medical scribe in a hospital starting spring semester of next year. It will be a full time position since the only other course I will need to complete is Organic 2.

I am currently trying to find physicians to shadow, but am having a difficult time due to the hospitals strict adherence to HIPPA law regulations.

So, with that in mind, what do you think? What else should I do, what shouldn't I have done, do I stand a chance at getting into school, do i present as competitive? I don't plan on attending a top 20 school; I would simply be happy just being accepted into a respectable program. One thing I'm worried about is the lack of "full load" while taking my courses. Since it took so long to figure out what I wanted my major to be first go round, I have quite a few semesters that were 12 hours. Also, some people tend to laugh at the difficulty of my major; I found it interesting and complex, but perhaps thats just me. In addition, my last semester was 9 hours and this semester is 13 hours. I am working for my father on the farm while taking these courses, but perhaps they find no value in that. In addition, I don't have many extra-curricular activities. I will have a descent number of volunteer hours at the hospital and will have worked approx. 6 months full time as a scribe by the time I apply, but thats about all, aside from my social research project I plan on completing.

Sorry for taking so long, I've really wanted to get this off my chest and acquire advice from this great online community.

Thank you
 
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