RN to MD

[serenademe86]

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Hi all,

I am currently doing my Master of Science in Nursing and have been wanting to apply to med school for the past three years.

About me:
-Graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree with honours
-Received an award for the last three years of my undergrad for being 10% in my class (my class ~ 100 students)
-Decent extracurriculars in my undergrad (Chair, External PR for various social groups, charity work at a native reserve in Arizona one summer, volunteered at the hospital, etc.)
-Currently working as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant; studying MCAT on the side

Issues:
-My undergrad program did not include courses such as Bio, Chem, or Phys (I took Orgo one summer though)
-Took the Princeton MCAT prep course two summers ago but didn't end up writing the MCAT (because I didn't feel prepared and wasn't doing well in the classes)

I want to know if whether or not I should take the prereq courses this coming summer or if my chances of getting to med school even exist. What if taking the prereq courses drops my GPA?

Also, do you think I should take advantage of my RN license and work on the side? Would med schools NOT want to accept me due to the nursing shortage right now? (<-- stupid question but it hAS always been on my mind).

Thanks for all your help!!!! 😉

 

[HrryUpNwait]

I have never heard of nursing hurting your chances to get in- I would think it may help because it shows dedication to medicine. What is your GPA? As far as the pre reqs dropping your GPA- yes, that is a possibility, but your alternative is not taking them and thus not applying soo... if you want to go- take the classes and take the MCAT. Your undergrad GPA and MCAT score need to be seen before anyone can really give you a good idea of your chances or where to apply.

 

[Mobius1985]

There is no reason to rush in taking the prerequisite courses. Your goal is to get straight As, not to prove you can get the courses finished quickly. Meanwhile, continue to work as an RN, as your clinical experience will be looked at very positively. Also, have a good answer for the inevitable interview question, "Why MD, and not nursing?"

Do finish your nursing masters, as you are expected to complete any current commitment to a graduate program. You will, however, be judged in the MD application process by your undergraduate GPA and MCAT. If you graduated with honors, it should be pretty good. If your prerequisites are taken outside your graduate program, they should be figured into your undergrad GPA.

 

[serenademe86]

Just out of curiousity, are there any schools in the states that DON'T have prereqs?

 

[Mobius1985]

There's one in Illinois that has "recommendations" rather than required courses, but it's a state school that takes no OOS and no internationals.

 

[Speed Racer]

Hi all,

I am currently doing my Master of Science in Nursing and have been wanting to apply to med school for the past three years.

About me:
-Graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree with honours
-Received an award for the last three years of my undergrad for being 10% in my class (my class ~ 100 students)
-Decent extracurriculars in my undergrad (Chair, External PR for various social groups, charity work at a native reserve in Arizona one summer, volunteered at the hospital, etc.)
-Currently working as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant; studying MCAT on the side

Issues:
-My undergrad program did not include courses such as Bio, Chem, or Phys (I took Orgo one summer though)
-Took the Princeton MCAT prep course two summers ago but didn't end up writing the MCAT (because I didn't feel prepared and wasn't doing well in the classes)

I want to know if whether or not I should take the prereq courses this coming summer or if my chances of getting to med school even exist. What if taking the prereq courses drops my GPA?

Also, do you think I should take advantage of my RN license and work on the side? Would med schools NOT want to accept me due to the nursing shortage right now? (<-- stupid question but it hAS always been on my mind).

Thanks for all your help!!!! 😉

DONT DO IT!!! Seriously, go for your CRNA or ARNP....you get to do %90 of the medicine you love with %10 of the hassles.

 

[serenademe86]

DONT DO IT!!! Seriously, go for your CRNA or ARNP....you get to do %90 of the medicine you love with %10 of the hassles.

I've thought about it, but the problem with NAs and NPs in Canada is that they're not very recognized. The NP's scope of practice is not really known and I was told that they're giving out NP certificates as a "solution" to fix the Family GP shortage. Also, if I may recall correctly, the first NA program just started up this Fall at the University of Toronto, so I don't think I'm willing to be a guinea pig.

To Mobius:
So I guess I lucked out then eh? Gotta do those prereqs no matter what. 🙁

 

[bigpharmD]

For what its worth, a coworker of mine who is a >50 yo NP just found out she was accepted to medical school and will be attending this fall. It's something she has always wanted to do, and she is a very good NP. Better than most I have worked with.

 

[Mobius1985]

To Mobius:
So I guess I lucked out then eh? Gotta do those prereqs no matter what. 🙁

Well, you'd pretty much have to take them to do well on the MCAT anyway. If you're interested in getting a look at a free, full-length MCAT test to see where you stand, see: https://services.aamc.org/Publicatio...179&prv_id=214

 

[jmeng]

Hi all,

I am an RN with 4 years of experience and currently doing Acute Care NP. I am doing well in the courses, but I am very dissatisfied. I want to have more autonomy and thinking of going to medical school. I have two BSNs. I started out to do pre-med, thus I have taken bio 1+2, chem 1+2, microbiology and anatomy physiology 1+2. I did well with 3.8 GPA But then I changed my major to computer science (which I regret). Once I finished my first degree, I went to nursing school for two years and got my second bachelors (3.6 GPA) I really want to go to med school and want to prepare myself for MCAT. Do i still need to take organo chemistry + physics to do the MCAT or can i just prepare for MCAT with Kaplan?

thanks

 

[J ROD]

Hi all,

I am an RN with 4 years of experience and currently doing Acute Care NP. I am doing well in the courses, but I am very dissatisfied. I want to have more autonomy and thinking of going to medical school. I have two BSNs. I started out to do pre-med, thus I have taken bio 1+2, chem 1+2, microbiology and anatomy physiology 1+2. I did well with 3.8 GPA But then I changed my major to computer science (which I regret). Once I finished my first degree, I went to nursing school for two years and got my second bachelors (3.6 GPA) I really want to go to med school and want to prepare myself for MCAT. Do i still need to take organo chemistry + physics to do the MCAT or can i just prepare for MCAT with Kaplan?

thanks

first, start your own thread and dont bring up stuff from 08...👍

 

[Catalystik]

Do i still need to take organo chemistry + physics to do the MCAT or can i just prepare for MCAT with Kaplan?

You have to complete the prerequisite coursework before you matriculate in med school. You'll do better on the MCAT if you take these classes first. If you have more questions, starting your own thread will get you better attention.