I am currently 30.
I originally studied something totally unrelated and then worked in unrelated fields for a few years. I realized i wanted to go to med school and started prereq courses when I was 27. My original plan was to go to med school in another country, but I recently changed my mind to apply in the US (I am a US citizen, born and raised here) because of various reasons.
Anyways, I just decided a month ago to apply in the US. But I only have 40 hours clinical experience. I have a bit over 100 hours of non-clinical volunteering such as social services agencies. I also have to take the MCAT. Done with all prereqs: sGPA 3.8, general GPA 3.65. A lot of bench research experience.
So I want to do really well on the MCAT, and get a lot of clinical experience (a few hundred if possible). And work. And have leisure time. But if I take the MCAT in April, I have 5 months to try to do that. And I'm wondering if you think it's better if I delay a year or try to do it all this year. If I delay, I would have to start med school at age 33, rather than 32. So I know I'm much older than the average student, but I guess does another year matter that much? I also look like I'm 20...not that it matters, but it helps in me not feeling weird in terms of perceived as much older.
Would appreciate your opinions, thank you!
I originally studied something totally unrelated and then worked in unrelated fields for a few years. I realized i wanted to go to med school and started prereq courses when I was 27. My original plan was to go to med school in another country, but I recently changed my mind to apply in the US (I am a US citizen, born and raised here) because of various reasons.
Anyways, I just decided a month ago to apply in the US. But I only have 40 hours clinical experience. I have a bit over 100 hours of non-clinical volunteering such as social services agencies. I also have to take the MCAT. Done with all prereqs: sGPA 3.8, general GPA 3.65. A lot of bench research experience.
So I want to do really well on the MCAT, and get a lot of clinical experience (a few hundred if possible). And work. And have leisure time. But if I take the MCAT in April, I have 5 months to try to do that. And I'm wondering if you think it's better if I delay a year or try to do it all this year. If I delay, I would have to start med school at age 33, rather than 32. So I know I'm much older than the average student, but I guess does another year matter that much? I also look like I'm 20...not that it matters, but it helps in me not feeling weird in terms of perceived as much older.
Would appreciate your opinions, thank you!
