...So What Now?

[Glauer]

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Non-traditional student, that's me alright:

-Did horrible in high school (1.8 GPA with 950 SAT).
-Community College in Psych.
-Transfered to a big University in Philadelphia.
-Graduated with a B.S. Distinguished Cum Laude (3.67) dual majoring in Neuroscience (3.94) and Psychology (3.85), with a paper under my name. Lab experience with both animal and human subjects. Founding father of the Universities first Neuroscience Undergrad Organization.
-...bombed the GREs.

-Discovered I didn't want to submit to a life of publishing or perishing for prestige.
-Discovered I liked the idea of the Clinical Neuropsychology path.
-Discovered that means applying to Clinical Psych programs.
-...Discovered that 5 slots with 500 applying students all with 4.0 GPAs is not uncommon...

-Graduate Admissions secretaries probably laughed when they saw my GRE scores.
-...Ok fine then, let's do a MS in Clinical Psych and slide into a PhD.
-Apparently Master programs think I'm "too good" to be doing a MS, that I wouldn't be happy in their program. Really? REALLY?!
-Got laid off from my job of being a Neuroscience consultant for a wellness company.

-Discovered a Post-Bacc program at my old University.
-12-month, covers pre-med cores, integrated MCAT prep in the curriculum.
-Maintain a 3.5GPA and score at least a 30 on the MCAT, get offered a spot in their Medical School...LEGIT.
-Rolling admissions with a deadline two weeks from when I discovered the program...FRAK!
-...Also wants volunteer, in-field, or community service experience; which none I have...
-No car, no job, live at home with mom, 25, what the hell do I got to lose? APPLY.
-Not expecting to get in right away (with intentions to reapply for next year), seek in-field experience...EMT seems like a good idea (can be volunteer or paid).

-Discover AWESOME EMS Academy program that is not only EMT-B cert, but also includes:

- Emergency Vehicle Driver Training (EVDT)
- International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)
- Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS)
- ACLS for the EMT-B
- National incident Management System Components (overview, IS100, IS200, IS700, IS800)

...LEGIT.

-Apply, Director of program seems really happy to have me apply.
-Week later they call back saying they can't run the program due to insufficient applicants.
-Ironically at the same time I get letters from the TSS and advisor positions I applied to. NO GO.





...


So what now?😕

 

[Jamie561]

McDonalds?

Seriously, though, your rambling narrative post offers little information useful for those giving advice.

 

[Glauer]

I'm trying to get to either Pediatric Neurology/Neuroradiology, or do Bioengineering Research for the Navy.

What can I do to better prepare myself with this downtime? There has to be something more beneficial than McDonalds.

 

[Jamie561]

I'm trying to get to either Pediatric Neurology/Neuroradiology, or do Bioengineering Research for the Navy.

What can I do to better prepare myself with this downtime? There has to be something more beneficial than McDonalds.

Well, if you want to do pediatric neuro/rads you need to get back on track with MD/DO applications. Your scores and ECs are not bad, and so I think you'd have success with this route given hard work. If you want to do research, get a PhD. Both are very viable options. I'm not sure where the confusion is - you are in a good position to work toward either of your goals.

Concrete, helpful tip: start taking classes to cover your prereqs and study for the MCAT. This can begin as soon as this summer. You don't need a formal postbac since your undergrad work was completed with good grades. In addition, many undergrad premed offices will offer advising to alums (free).