Seeking outsider review - warning long post!

[runningmom]

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Hi all - I'm a long time lurker on this forum and now at 0030 when I can't sleep have decided to worry instead.

I'm a 31 y/o mom of 2 (#3 is on the way), hubby is active duty military retiring in 1 yr and we have been planning for 4 yrs for me to goto med school when he retires and can stay home with the children. As such, we've had a "plan" going for a while now and I just want to see if an outside review of our plan gives me some insight on any area(s) I can improve upon. Basically I'm chomping at the bit to get on the websites and put in my apps for 2007 and waiting these couple of months to do it is making me a little nuts.

Here's my story in brief:
*BS Chemical engineering 3.3 GPA (3.47 sciences but I have a *C* in 1st semester Orgo from 1994!!!)
*MS Engineering management 3.66 GPA
*9 yr active duty Navy as a nuclear engineer (includes a buttload of schools that I am not sure how to credit on the AMCAS, but that is for a different discussion group), 2 yrs as a reservist and full-time stay at home mom.
*Currently volunteer 12-14 hrs a week at the otolaryngology clinic checking in patients, taking vitals, inputing lab requests and history questionaires, and shadowing when there is nothing to file.
*Previously certified CPR instructor, first aid instructor, and outdoor emergency care technician (first step to ski patrol cert). I've let all these lapse for pretty good reasons this year (hubby has been deployed for 1 yr of the 1.5 yrs we've been here and there is no snow for skipatrol!).
*33O on MCAT in Aug. (12 Bio, 12 Ver, 9 Phy)
*Currently taking A&P II at the local community college so that I can have a more recent academic science recommendation than 10 yrs ago (I have enough bio hours without it) where I'm getting an A.

I have LOR promises (not yet written) from my current reserve boss, my previous reserve boss and both shadow docs.

So - what am I missing? Can I do something in the next couple of months while I wait for those websites to open that will help me? Or should I just drink a class of warm milk and go back to bed? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[relentless11]

Community service? I mean thats one impressive resume there. I don't think you need it. But you can always try to do something non-medically related. Homeless shelter for example, etc etc. That kind of stuff.

Could just do something that you like too. Volunteer at something unique but fun for you. Adcoms want to see that you have a life outside of the stuff you did. Of course htey also understand that being a mother is a full time job too!

Just an example, one of the med students at my school took a year off to play soccer in Europe. Something she liked, and definately something that stands out. Of course other aspects of her application were good too. So go have some fun with something unique, and/or do some community service. Doesn't have to be medical related.

 

[medicalbound]

Welcome to SDN RunningMom (I'm sure your screen name applies to many aspects of your life🙂) I'm a 33 year old father of 3 who will be starting med school this fall. Your CV is impressive! What I would do if I were you, would be to start thinking about your applications. As a non-trad student, you will have no problem filling out the 15 "experiences" and have a good deal of material for your personal statement. A lot of experience = a lot of thinking = a lot of time. I rewrote my personal statement at least 6 times in its entirety before I was happy with it. I also tweaked each of my experience descriptions several times before I submitted it. I don't know if you are applying to both allopathic and osteopathic schools, but you will have to write two different versions of your personal statement (differing length limitations) - which takes more time. Another thing to do is to schedule face-to-face, sit-down meetings with the people who will write your LORs. Ensure that you portray all of the things that you want them to know about you and give them ample opportunity to ask you questions.

The application battle can be mentally and emotionally draining - especially when you have others depending on you, but it is well worth fighting. Best of luck to you in your endeavors!

 

[dr.z]

I think you are in good shape.

 

[QofQuimica]

Yeah, I think you sound really strong academically and with your ECs. It's also helpful in my experience if you get the doc you are shadowing to write you a LOR. LORs are definitely important, so make sure in general to pick people who will write really good ones. It's ok to submit more than the mandatory three LORs; most schools will accept as many as six letters. You are also going to have to explain logically and convincingly what made you decide to pursue medicine after your previous successful career; that's really the hardest thing about applying as a non-trad IMO. I think medicalbound gave good advice about the PS. Finally, don't forget to mock interview before you go on the real thing. Your school or pre-med advisor may do this, or you can print out a list of questions from the interview feedback forum here, and get your husband to ask you the questions so you can practice. Hope these suggestions help, and good luck. 🙂

 

[efex101]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned...but you *will* need about three academic LOR's...and not sure if this can be "waived" due to being non-trad. Most schools require two science professors LOR and one non-science professor LOR. You seem to have everything else in place volunteering/clinical experience/etc, your military experience is a major plus and some schools preferentially recruit prior military (or so their websites say). You say you have one recent class? bio right? this "could" be an issue with some schools so you might want to call ALL schools you are applying to and asking them if more recent coursework will be required. Some are pretty obnoxious about this and would like to see recent proof of academic prowess before you embark on a ton of medical school classes. I am also prior military like yourself and my advice to you about your military credit is to read AMCAS instructions very very carefully. All classes attempted via military schools OR those for military purposes have to be entered in a certain way. Your application can and will be delayed if you do not do this "their" way...very frustrating. Good luck!

 

[wook]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned...but you *will* need about three academic LOR's...and not sure if this can be "waived" due to being non-trad. Most schools require two science professors LOR and one non-science professor LOR. You seem to have everything else in place volunteering/clinical experience/etc, your military experience is a major plus and some schools preferentially recruit prior military (or so their websites say). You say you have one recent class? bio right? this "could" be an issue with some schools so you might want to call ALL schools you are applying to and asking them if more recent coursework will be required. Some are pretty obnoxious about this and would like to see recent proof of academic prowess before you embark on a ton of medical school classes. I am also prior military like yourself and my advice to you about your military credit is to read AMCAS instructions very very carefully. All classes attempted via military schools OR those for military purposes have to be entered in a certain way. Your application can and will be delayed if you do not do this "their" way...very frustrating. Good luck!

This is an important point. I needed a LOR from my pre-med committee and schools profs. One institution would only take a letter from undergrad's pre-med committee or Dean of my school. Since I had been out for over 15 years, this was a challenge. Long story short, pre-med committee said they didn't know me and were not willing to meet me to talk about my background. My dean was not willing to write a letter, as he did not know me, and he was too busy to meet me. Weird thing was I graduated with a decent GPA (3.79/4.00) and 2nd in my class. I attended a state school for undergrad, and these folks had adopted the "state worker" mentality. Bottom line, start trying to line up these LOR early from the academic institutions and find out what LOR the med school's want before you apply. I ended up wasting some dough by applying to places that would not look at me without the letter from the Dean or the pre-med committee.

Good luck and IMO your background sounds great!

Wook

 

[runningmom]

This is an important point. I needed a LOR from my pre-med committee and schools profs. One institution would only take a letter from undergrad's pre-med committee or Dean of my school. Since I had been out for over 15 years, this was a challenge.
Wook

Wook, what a mess!! I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that. 😱

Everyone else, thanks for the advice and support! Looks like turning my attention to LORs is key for now.

Actually, I'm learning a little about the LOR struggle now. The good news is that so far I'm finding that I can apply without going through my undergrad's evaluation committee for at least my top choice schools. The three I've contacted so far have all recommended at least 1 faculty recommendation from a recent instructor if I have one, at least 1 from a supervisor and 1 from a medical person familiar with my work. So I've got those covered.

And I could go through my undergrad school if I can't get around it. They were very willing to accept my paperwork, but they require *3* letters from faculty members and would look at no more than 2 other letters. So I figured I was shooting myself in the foot by wasting 3 LORs from profs from 10 yrs ago who honestly wouldn't remember me. My biggest strengths come from my last 10 years!! My plan is to not go through the evaluation committee unless I run into a top choice school that won't accept otherwise. So we'll see how it goes. I just keep reminding myself that this is all part of a tortuous journey that we all much go through to reach that MD (or DO!) goal....

Thanks again for all the input!

 

[tiredmom]

You can probably get an LOR from the A&P professor. Our's wanted at least 1 letter from your undergrad major.