RN to MD (with BSN)

[Catalyst38]

Hi everyone,

I am a working full time RN with a BSN degree in my mid twenties. About 5,000 hours of clinical experience in the hospital. Hoping to apply for the 2026 application cycle and matriculate in 2027 for MD schools. I would really appreciate your insights on what would be the best/quickest way to complete my pre requisites and when to take the MCAT. I graduated with my BSN 3 years ago, and some courses I took were:

- Intro to Bio Lecture (3) B+
- Intro to Microbiology Lecture and Lab (4) A-
- Intro to Anatomy (5) A+
- Intro to Physiology (3) B+
- General Chemistry 1&2 (3 credits each) A's
- Soc & Psych 101 (3 credits each) A's
- Organic Chemistry 1 Lecture only (3) (online through UNE) A-

I know I have some background in science courses, but I feel like they are slightly fading away so I need to retake them all again. I was planning on retaking intro to bio, gen chem 1&2 with labs, physics 1&2 with labs, ochem 1&2 with labs, and intro to biochemistry at a community college near by. My other option is to do a career changer post bacc program, and some programs I've reached out said I couldn't apply as I took more than half of the pre requisites. I am currently working full time as a nurse too. If I plan on taking 3 courses each semester, and start MCAT preparation late September 2026 to take it in March 2027, can I still matriculate in 2027 given I have a decent MCAT score? Thank you and I appreciate your input!

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[LizzyM]

The admission cycle for medical school is a marathon. Typically, applicants prepare their applications in May, submit early June, follow the AMCAS application (a common app for almost all medical schools) with secondary applications specific to each school (best to have these completed by late August) followed by interviews anywhere between August and April for matriculation that summer.
So, about 14-15 months between the start of an application cycle and the start of the med school classes. Working backward, you'll take the MCAT no later than April about 15 months before you intend to matriculate and not until you've taken o-chem I and II, physics I and II, and biochemistry, biology I and II.

So, you might not be ready to start medical school until July/August 2028 if you stay on track to take the MCAT in 2027

 

[Splenda88]

Don't try to rush anything. I was a RN and started MD in my mid 30s.

I took my time to get my prereqs done and did ok on the MCAT. I took 2-3 classes most semesters as I was working as a RN. I took half of my classes at a community college (CC) and no one asked me anything about them during interviews. Just make sure you get A on them. I actually got a B for bio II at a CC. Lol

All I did was completing the prereqs and took a couple upper division classes such as biochem, genetics, micro at a state university to show them that I can do well in those classes.

I dont think you need to retake any classes at all. Get you s/cGPA > 3.5+ and do well in the MCAT and you should be good for MD

For DO , 3.3+ c/s GPA and an ok MCAT should suffice.

 

[Catalyst38]

Don't try to rush anything. I was a RN and started MD in my mid 30s.

I took my time to get my prereqs done and did ok on the MCAT. I took 2-3 classes most semesters as I was working as a RN. I took half of my classes at a community college (CC) and no one asked me anything about them during interviews. Just make sure you get A on them. I actually got a B for bio II at a CC. Lol

All I did was completing the prereqs and took a couple upper division classes such as biochem, genetics, micro at a state university to show them that I can do well in those classes.

I dont think you need to retake any classes at all. Get you s/cGPA > 3.5+ and do well in the MCAT and you should be good for MD

For DO , 3.3+ c/s GPA and an ok MCAT should suffice.

Hi,
thanks for your reply. Huge congrats to you with your journey! If you don't mind me asking, how long did you work as an RN and what area were you specialized in? For me, I took a course from NP school and ultimately decided to drop out, and other option was CRNA but I couldn't really see myself calculating things in sec/minutes and being stuck in the OR for several hours. I have a undergrad GPA of 3.52 which is okay but not great. Did your CC courses help alot when studying for the MCAT? When did you start studying for the MCAT? Did you have to use Kaplan test prep for MCAT at all? Sorry for all these questions, thank you for your advice!

 

[Splenda88]

Hi,
thanks for your reply. Huge congrats to you with your journey! If you don't mind me asking, how long did you work as an RN and what area were you specialized in? For me, I took a course from NP school and ultimately decided to drop out, and other option was CRNA but I couldn't really see myself calculating things in sec/minutes and being stuck in the OR for several hours. I have a undergrad GPA of 3.52 which is okay but not great. Did your CC courses help alot when studying for the MCAT? When did you start studying for the MCAT? Did you have to use Kaplan test prep for MCAT at all? Sorry for all these questions, thank you for your advice!

I worked at a rehab for ~8 yrs (I also did other PRN odd jobs during those 8 yrs.... eg., county health department, jail)

Same thing happened to me regarding NP. I started taking NP classes and I was shocked to see how trivial/bad the curriculum was. I left after 1 semester.

I think my GPA were ~3.5 c/s GPA. CC courses will definitely help, but the MCAT itself is a different beast. For instance, my bio 2 couse at a CC was more rigorous than all the upper division courses I took at a state university.

I started studying after I finished all my prereqs because I was working quasi FT and have a family (2 kids). I studied for 16 wks for a score of 27 (11PS, 9BS, 7VR). I had a hard time with BS/VR because English is my second language. I did not take any prep course. I used Berkley/Princeton reviews. Took it 2-3 months before applying so I could get my score on time.

I applied to ~ 8 schools (was geographically limited); got into 2 US MD and 1 DO.

Going to med school was the best career decision I made. I have been an IM hospitalist for more than 3 years now and I like my job.

Feel free to ask any question (even the financial aspect of medicine).