RN questions :D

[jeenyus02]

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Hey guys I'll try to spit this out quick. I graduated in 2013 with a BSN and have been working as an RN in surgical ICU for about 1.5 years now. During nursing school I was dead set on becoming a crna, however after shadowing crnas and bedside ICU nursing I found that I want more responsibility and autonomy when it comes to decision making. I would still like to go into the field of anesthesiology as I am very interested in physiology/pharmacology. I've actually been really inspired by Jane Fitch, the former ASA president who started as a crna.

• My undergrad gpa was 3.57. Could have been higher but I worked 24+ hours/week throughout nursing school.
• Volunteering: overseas one week medical mission trip and once a month I volunteer at a free healthcare clinic in the area. Many more random volunteer hours from undergrad and highschool too.

• I published an article on Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia in an internal nursing journal at the hospital I work.
• I have attended multiple conferences, presentations, symposiums etc. if schools are interested in that and received multiple awards from the hospital during my time working.
• NO real research experience - IS THIS A PROBLEM?
• NO do/md shadowing experience. I have shadowed multiple crnas and working in icu I have a good idea of physician responsibilities, but I'm guessing it would still be a good idea to shadow? IS IT A PROBLEM IF I DON'T SHADOW?

I took the new mcat on apr 18th, obviously still awaiting results. The DO school I want to apply to requires genetics and biochem, which I'm signed up to take this summer.

?s

1. Should I apply before I get my mcat results? I feel like I did decent on it...
2. Should I apply before I complete genetics and biochem, which are required courses. Both classes will be done by early September.
3. I've read it's a good idea to apply early (early June), which is why I'm thinking I should apply before I get my mcat results and finish the required courses. Thoughts?
4. OR should I just take it easy this summer, get my mcat results, finish my classes and wait until next year to apply?

I'm sure some of this as been asked before, but I feel some aspects of my situation are unique. Thanks for your time, any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

[quickfeet]

Not a DO student but good for you for deciding to go the med school route. It is much harder but I believe it will be more rewarding.

 

[jeenyus02]

Not a DO student but good for you for deciding to go the med school route. It is much harder but I believe it will be more rewarding.

Yeah I'm excited for this new journey, thanks for the encouraging words

 

[chizledfrmstone]

H

1. Should I apply before I get my mcat results? I feel like I did decent on it...
2. Should I apply before I complete genetics and biochem, which are required courses. Both classes will be done by early September.
3. I've read it's a good idea to apply early (early June), which is why I'm thinking I should apply before I get my mcat results and finish the required courses. Thoughts?
4. OR should I just take it easy this summer, get my mcat results, finish my classes and wait until next year to apply?

I'm sure some of this as been asked before, but I feel some aspects of my situation are unique. Thanks for your time, any and all suggestions are welcome.

1.) When do the MCAT results get back? I don't know how the rules have changed since I took it.

2.) You just have to have the classes done before your matriculate (I believe).

3.) How were you doing on practice exams? For now just work on filling out the application and prewriting secondaries.

4.) The MCAT will decide what you should do.

 

[jeenyus02]

1.) When do the MCAT results get back? I don't know how the rules have changed since I took it.

2.) You just have to have the classes done before your matriculate (I believe).

3.) How were you doing on practice exams? For now just work on filling out the application and prewriting secondaries.

4.) The MCAT will decide what you should do.

So the mcat results should be available june 16th I think. 70ish% on aamc practice test, not stellar on Kaplan like 496-498. But I walked out of real mcat feeling a little confident...but you never know.

You think I should just wait til june 16th and go from there? Is that still considered "early"?

 

[chizledfrmstone]

So the mcat results should be available june 16th I think. 70ish% on aamc practice test, not stellar on Kaplan like 496-498. But I walked out of real mcat feeling a little confident...but you never know.

You think I should just wait til june 16th and go from there? Is that still considered "early"?

I would have an application filled out and secondaries pre-written. You can get previous prompts from old secondary threads. Establish a threshold number for yourself and if you get that number then everything should be ready to send out.

I applied sometime in September and had tons of IIs. I think anything before end of August is good.

I'll be honest, I have no clue what 496-498 means. Back in my day we had 2 digits and we liked it. 2 cycles later and I'm already feeling old.

In previous years I would tell people to get verified by submitting to 1 school first. I don't even know if that is still possible.

 

[Crookster]

Hey guys I'll try to spit this out quick. I graduated in 2013 with a BSN and have been working as an RN in surgical ICU for about 1.5 years now. During nursing school I was dead set on becoming a crna, however after shadowing crnas and bedside ICU nursing I found that I want more responsibility and autonomy when it comes to decision making. I would still like to go into the field of anesthesiology as I am very interested in physiology/pharmacology. I've actually been really inspired by Jane Fitch, the former ASA president who started as a crna.

• My undergrad gpa was 3.57. Could have been higher but I worked 24+ hours/week throughout nursing school.
• Volunteering: overseas one week medical mission trip and once a month I volunteer at a free healthcare clinic in the area. Many more random volunteer hours from undergrad and highschool too.

• I published an article on Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia in an internal nursing journal at the hospital I work.
• I have attended multiple conferences, presentations, symposiums etc. if schools are interested in that and received multiple awards from the hospital during my time working.
• NO real research experience - IS THIS A PROBLEM?
• NO do/md shadowing experience. I have shadowed multiple crnas and working in icu I have a good idea of physician responsibilities, but I'm guessing it would still be a good idea to shadow? IS IT A PROBLEM IF I DON'T SHADOW?

I took the new mcat on apr 18th, obviously still awaiting results. The DO school I want to apply to requires genetics and biochem, which I'm signed up to take this summer.

?s

1. Should I apply before I get my mcat results? I feel like I did decent on it...
2. Should I apply before I complete genetics and biochem, which are required courses. Both classes will be done by early September.
3. I've read it's a good idea to apply early (early June), which is why I'm thinking I should apply before I get my mcat results and finish the required courses. Thoughts?
4. OR should I just take it easy this summer, get my mcat results, finish my classes and wait until next year to apply?

I'm sure some of this as been asked before, but I feel some aspects of my situation are unique. Thanks for your time, any and all suggestions are welcome.

What DO school requires genetics???

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

I would have an application filled out and secondaries pre-written. You can get previous prompts from old secondary threads. Establish a threshold number for yourself and if you get that number then everything should be ready to send out.

I applied sometime in September and had tons of IIs. I think anything before end of August is good.

I'll be honest, I have no clue what 496-498 means. Back in my day we had 2 digits and we liked it. 2 cycles later and I'm already feeling old.

In previous years I would tell people to get verified by submitting to 1 school first. I don't even know if that is still possible.

498 is like a 24

 

[kenjixshadow]

I would have an application filled out and secondaries pre-written. You can get previous prompts from old secondary threads. Establish a threshold number for yourself and if you get that number then everything should be ready to send out.

I applied sometime in September and had tons of IIs. I think anything before end of August is good.

I'll be honest, I have no clue what 496-498 means. Back in my day we had 2 digits and we liked it. 2 cycles later and I'm already feeling old.

In previous years I would tell people to get verified by submitting to 1 school first. I don't even know if that is still possible.

Let just say the 500 is in the 50 percentile. Sub 496-498 is about 22~24 on the old score.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Let just say the 500 is in the 50 percentile. Sub 496-498 is about 22~24 on the old score.

That's a no Bueno.

 

[jeenyus02]

MSU requires genetics now. Not sure if that's new this year or not?

Those Kaplan tests were way harder than the real thing. I'm guessing I got at least 50 percentile on actual mcat

 

[Mad Jack]

You should get some shadowing in, if possible. As a clinician, I found it annoying to do, but most DO schools require a physician letter of recommendation, and shadowing the doctors that wrote my LoR really helped them get to know me better and write a great letter, so it was a win-win, really. Also, following them around for a day, you get a good idea of the pace of physician work, the tedium, and things that I'd never really seen, despite working alongside them for 5 years as an RT. You don't need a lot of shadowing, 50 hours max, but you could get away with less, maybe two or three shifts.

The lack of research won't hurt you. Clinical experience>>>research for most DO schools.

 

[AM508]

You said "the DO school [you] want to apply to"...you are planning on applying to more than 1 school correct?

 

[burritowithgreensauce]

I would apply this cycle and try to get in asap. med school plus residency (plus fellowship) results in a minimum requirement of 7+ years and 200k+ debt. Not to mention that usmle/comlex board scores have been consistently rising and i suspect will continue to rise. you want to get in asap and beat the average. A 230 use to mean something. now it's the mean score.

best of luck to u.