Starting From Scratch

[PolymerKid]

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I recently made the decision to pursue a medical degree at the age of 25.

I got an English degree in 2006 and took four years off before deciding to go back for Polymer Chemistry. My program has a medical concentration that will include a significant amount of microbiology, biochem and genetics but is not specifically geared toward future medical students. It is a textile degree geared toward tissue engineering and medical textile research (ie - artificial heart valves, cartilage, skin and the like). In addition I will be getting a minor in biochemistry.

Naturally, I have several questions.

1. While I realize that many medical schools encourage students to have a diverse background how much does that actually affect admission? Does my diverse educational background and unconventional degree program give me any advantages? What about my undergraduate research?

2. I will have finished Organic Chem, two semesters of Biology and Engineering Physics by the end of this school year but will not graduate for another two years. Should I go ahead and take the MCAT after the semester ends while the material is still fresh in my mind or wait until I'm closer to applying for med school?

3. Are there schools that are more suited to someone who eventually wants to go into surgery?

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Petypet]

I am 25 as well, albeit making a slightly different change I think I can give a few tidbids of advice

1. Advantage, not really. It may give you a slight advantage on explaining why you chose medicine, IE you experienced other areas but came to the conclusion that your life goals are medicine. But from my experience in this process (still a pre-med) is that even having higher degrees in other fields only helps a little bit, becaues there are many tremendous applicants with vast differences, that its hard to say what non medical experience will play as an advantage.

2. You need to take the MCAT at a time before say 1-2 years prior to matriculation. If you plan on entering medical school next year, take it asap. If you plan on taking it in 5 years, take the mcat in 3 years because scores only last for so long.

3. Lots of schools are "better" for one specialty or the other, but I would focus on the path to getting there before worrying about your desired specialty. Google or sdn search residency matches for certain schools will give you an indication on where their students go.

 

[EdLongshanks]

I recently made the decision to pursue a medical degree at the age of 25.

I got an English degree in 2006 and took four years off before deciding to go back for Polymer Chemistry. My program has a medical concentration that will include a significant amount of microbiology, biochem and genetics but is not specifically geared toward future medical students. It is a textile degree geared toward tissue engineering and medical textile research (ie - artificial heart valves, cartilage, skin and the like). In addition I will be getting a minor in biochemistry.

The things that you will be studying in the next 2 years will be tested on the MCAT. You won't have to have the facts memorized, but they will give you a passage on a subject that you have been studying and ask you questions. Take the practice tests available for $35 apiece. There are only 8 available, so don't use them all up at once.

If you are graduating in 2012, then you are in a great position to start school in 2012. - assuming that your GPA is high. You're also in a great position to have the option of a PhD/MD and do research.

If you plan for 2012 admission, then you would want to take the MCAT next year in April or May of 2011. Make sure that you dedicate some weeks of review to just the MCAT. You'd be surprised at how much just understanding the test will do for you. Knowing the material will get you into the low 30's, knowing the test will push you up several points.

Use Interfolio.com to gather your Letters of Reference. It only costs a few dollars a year. You'll want about 5 letters - three professors (2 science), one doctor, and one personal. Gather them now. You'd be surprised how much some of your writers will procrastinate.

You can start your application with AMCAS on 5/1. Start it and get your college transcripts and letters into AMCAS so that they are there waiting on your earliest possible submission on 6/1. This will get you verified and in the very first batches submitted to schools on 6/26/11 for matriculation in 8/2012.

In this case, the early bird does get the worm. Most medical schools do rolling admissions.

You can start medical school at age 27 - which will be right in the middle of the ages of your classmates.