RN to MD, a non-traditional path

[Lovescience1]

Hi! I'm a new RN, working as an RN for about 3 months and LPN for 1 year (I became an LPN during my second year of nursing school). My ultimate goal is MD. I have received some negative feedback from nurses whom I've shared about my passion of practicing medicine. I'm in a BSN program right now and I'll get my bachelor in 2018. This may sound bad, but nursing is my back up plan, I want to make sure I at least have my BSN, then if I don't get accepted to MD school I can continue to get my DNP/PhD later. I am seeking guidance from anyone who is pursuing their MD in a non-traditional path in terms of pre med courses and research opportunity. I was told that could take some series of science courses at a community college, then some at university level. I should not attempt to take the MCAT until finish all the pre med prerequisites. I will be paying out of pocket for the pre-med courses so I want to make sure the classes that I am enrolled in will be counted at the time of application.

Some background info about me: I'm 26, currently at the University of Washington, Tacoma for my BSN. Current GPA 3.71. I am actively looking for research opportunities in the summer to participate, hoping to add that to my resume. Next summer I am planning on going back to Vietnam and do some volunteer work there at hospitals as a nurse. I have been in the States for 9 years, originally from Vietnam. Bilingual English and Vietnamese; I work as a medical and social service interpreter on my free time from the RN job and school. I am also a volunteer nurse at the American Red Cross.

I had an encounter with an anesthesiologist during my nursing preceptorship. She was an critical care nurse, went back to school for her MD. She was accepted to the University of Washington for med school, went to Dartmouth for her residency. Her advice for me: where you complete your residency is more vital than where you go to medical school. I feel like I have the "soft" factors (diversity, life experience, inspiration, motivation, volunteer) to be a competitive applicant, but I want to make sure I have the "hard" factors (GPA, MCAT score, and research background) as well.

Thank you so much in advance for your advice and suggestions!

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[Newtonian21]

Hi! I'm a new RN, working as an RN for about 3 months and LPN for 1 year (I became an LPN during my second year of nursing school). My ultimate goal is MD. I have received some negative feedback from nurses whom I've shared about my passion of practicing medicine. I'm in a BSN program right now and I'll get my bachelor in 2018. This may sound bad, but nursing is my back up plan, I want to make sure I at least have my BSN, then if I don't get accepted to MD school I can continue to get my DNP/PhD later. I am seeking guidance from anyone who is pursuing their MD in a non-traditional path in terms of pre med courses and research opportunity. I was told that could take some series of science courses at a community college, then some at university level. I should not attempt to take the MCAT until finish all the pre med prerequisites. I will be paying out of pocket for the pre-med courses so I want to make sure the classes that I am enrolled in will be counted at the time of application.

Some background info about me: I'm 26, currently at the University of Washington, Tacoma for my BSN. Current GPA 3.71. I am actively looking for research opportunities in the summer to participate, hoping to add that to my resume. Next summer I am planning on going back to Vietnam and do some volunteer work there at hospitals as a nurse. I have been in the States for 9 years, originally from Vietnam. Bilingual English and Vietnamese; I work as a medical and social service interpreter on my free time from the RN job and school. I am also a volunteer nurse at the American Red Cross.

I had an encounter with an anesthesiologist during my nursing preceptorship. She was an critical care nurse, went back to school for her MD. She was accepted to the University of Washington for med school, went to Dartmouth for her residency. Her advice for me: where you complete your residency is more vital than where you go to medical school. I feel like I have the "soft" factors (diversity, life experience, inspiration, motivation, volunteer) to be a competitive applicant, but I want to make sure I have the "hard" factors (GPA, MCAT score, and research background) as well.

Thank you so much in advance for your advice and suggestions!

I am an CICU nurse going up to 2 years now. I have been a nurse going to 3years. I have worked med surg and ER, now ICU nurse. I have my BSN. I will advise you make sure you know this is what youre going to do. There is alot of distraction especially being a nurse first. You'll encounter so many distraction from fellow workers. My best advise do not tell anyone what your plan is. That being said, now focus on your studies, get better grades on your prereqs, and crush the MCAT hard. Better get to know those science professors who will write that recommendation when time comes. Focus Focus Focus. I plan to take MCAT next year. I wish you good luck. And to add, yes where you go to med school doesn't matter. Make sure it's a school that matches your values.

 

[Lovescience1]

I am an CICU nurse going up to 2 years now. I have been a nurse going to 3years. I have worked med surg and ER, now ICU nurse. I have my BSN. I will advise you make sure you know this is what youre going to do. There is alot of distraction especially being a nurse first. You'll encounter so many distraction from fellow workers. My best advise do not tell anyone what your plan is. That being said, now focus on your studies, get better grades on your prereqs, and crush the MCAT hard. Better get to know those science professors who will write that recommendation when time comes. Focus Focus Focus. I plan to take MCAT next year. I wish you good luck. And to add, yes where you go to med school doesn't matter. Make sure it's a school that matches your values.

Thank you so much! It's good to hear from someone who's doing the same thing that I am. I agree with you, there are many distractions. The key is to focus on getting good grades and absorbing as much knowledge in the pre-med courses for the MCAT. If I may ask, did you do your pre-med courses at a community college and/or university? I have done some research about post-bac for pre med, wonder if anyone has tried it. Thanks again for your advice!

 

[Newtonian21]

Thank you so much! It's good to hear from someone who's doing the same thing that I am. I agree with you, there are many distractions. The key is to focus on getting good grades and absorbing as much knowledge in the pre-med courses for the MCAT. If I may ask, did you do your pre-med courses at a community college and/or university? I have done some research about post-bac for pre med, wonder if anyone has tried it. Thanks again for your advice!

I am taking prereqs right now 1 more semester for me. I am working weekend status while taking classes. I am at a 4year university. I only had about 5k in loan from my previous BSN because I worked all through school same thing I'm doing now. You can do it takes discipline just look for a nearby school

 

[Newtonian21]

Thank you so much! It's good to hear from someone who's doing the same thing that I am. I agree with you, there are many distractions. The key is to focus on getting good grades and absorbing as much knowledge in the pre-med courses for the MCAT. If I may ask, did you do your pre-med courses at a community college and/or university? I have done some research about post-bac for pre med, wonder if anyone has tried it. Thanks again for your advice!

You don't have to do an SMP or something you can go in a non degree seeking student

 

[Lovescience1]

I am taking prereqs right now 1 more semester for me. I am working weekend status while taking classes. I am at a 4year university. I only had about 5k in loan from my previous BSN because I worked all through school same thing I'm doing now. You can do it takes discipline just look for a nearby school

Is it a post-bac program or just a second B.S. for you? The university I'm going to for my BSN did not encourage me to work on my pre-med concurrently with my part-time BSN program. There's a rule for the university that if you have more than 220 credits total they will stop you from taking classes, according to my advisor. That's why I thinking about taking some classes from a community college to start.

That's very smart of you for minimizing your loan. I graduated with about 6K in loan for my ADN, now I have scholarships and grants for my BSN so it's practically free. My priority is paying for my pre-med courses myself and then save the rest for med school later.

Keep up the good work! Best of luck to you! I hope to hear from you after taking your MCAT. Thanks.

 

[berean4ever]

I am also planning on doing PreMed classes. I am finishing my BSN this semester. I have agonized over doing an official postbacc vs a diy. There are good and bad components to either. Right now due to having a family and cost, diy has won out. One thing I have been concerned about is will schools frown on CC classes if that's all I take? I am not snobbish about having to go to one medical school in particular. I do prefer it be in Florida though since I am a resident. Anyone here in FL? Also I told a lot of my nursing coworkers and they were very supportive. Sorry they did not support you OP, sometimes nurses and doctors are at odds. I'm sure you see this being a nurse yourself.

 

[brainnurse]

Hi, everyone. Just wanted to chime in and let you all know it's doable. I'm an ICU nurse with an ADN. I started on this path in 2014. I had significant GPA repair to do. I worked full time while taking a full load of classes. For the first two semesters, I took classes at both the local CC and the University where I was doing my RN-BSN courses. I had to do this for financial and commute reasons. I eventually transitioned all my classes to the university.

I took the MCAT in April and finally applied. I have several II's and an acceptance.

@berean4ever I can't say that my CC classes didn't hurt my application, but I got several bites despite them. We do what we gotta do. Just make sure you get as many As as possible.

@Lovescience1 You can also declare a generic second degree so you don't have to wait to register for classes. Those premed weed-outs fill up pretty quickly.

Finally, I wanted to direct you to the RN-to-MD/DO support thread. Good luck!

 

[Newtonian21]

Hi, everyone. Just wanted to chime in and let you all know it's doable. I'm an ICU nurse with an ADN. I started on this path in 2014. I had significant GPA repair to do. I worked full time while taking a full load of classes. For the first two semesters, I took classes at both the local CC and the University where I was doing my RN-BSN courses. I had to do this for financial and commute reasons. I eventually transitioned all my classes to the university.

I took the MCAT in April and finally applied. I have several II's and an acceptance.

@berean4ever I can't say that my CC classes didn't hurt my application, but I got several bites despite them. We do what we gotta do. Just make sure you get as many As as possible.

@Lovescience1 You can also declare a generic second degree so you don't have to wait to register for classes. Those premed weed-outs fill up pretty quickly.

Finally, I wanted to direct you to the RN-to-MD/DO support thread. Good luck!

Brainnurse, what was your cGPA, and sGPA when you applied? Just curious. Thanks, I am an ICU RN finishing up prereqs.

 

[brainnurse]

Brainnurse, what was your cGPA, and sGPA when you applied? Just curious. Thanks, I am an ICU RN finishing up prereqs.

I'll PM you. 🙂

 

[Lovescience1]

Thank you everyone for all your comments and advice. This has been very helpful. I will definitely do more research about post bacc and DIY. I agree, it depends on which school you apply to, I live in WA state so I am hoping to get into UW or WSU, or even Oregon. But I am not planning on applying outside of WA or Oregon, due to family and financial reasons. Best of luck to everyone who is working on their premeds and/or getting ready to apply. And congratulations to ones who have been accepted. You are all inspirational and will be extraordinary MDs!

 

[berean4ever]

I'll PM you. 🙂

Do you mind PMing me your GPA too? What EC's did you do? Did you shadow seeing as you are a nurse? Thanks in advance.

 

[brainnurse]

Do you mind PMing me your GPA too? What EC's did you do? Did you shadow seeing as you are a nurse? Thanks in advance.

My ECs were fairly bare-bones. I had clinical experience, some volunteering and leadership from several years ago, and 20 hours of shadowing (half DO, half MD). Shadowing was pretty low yield for me, but it might be different for other nurses.