oh the politics 🙂
I guess I am most concerned that my advisor doesn't think I should apply until I switch jobs and amass more clinical/research experience because he is the head of a reputable post-bac program. His opinion certainly carries some weight and he would also be deciding when to provide sponsorship. His thoughts on my clinical experience kind of blindsided me - I expected him to say I should wait a year to apply so that I wouldn't have to study for the MCAT while taking two classes, etc...not that I didn't have enough patient exposure at 200hrs.
I have to chime in and say this really irks me. I was told something similar last month when I went to my first advising appointment. My advisor strongly encouraged me to go to school to be a medical assistant. I told her I wasn't interested in spending money on schooling I didn't need to make even less money than I make now. Her response? Well, you want to be in medicine right? It's not about money. I told her I have to eat!
As I have often said, if premed advisors knew what it takes to get into medical school, they'd be doctors and not premed advisors. It is *not* necessary to do research in order to get into medical school--the one exception to this is if you are applying to a research program such as MD/PhD or MD/MS like Case Western's CCLCM program. No MD-only program requires research as a prereq. Concerning clinical exposure, it is *not* necessary to quit your current job to work as a low-level allied health professional like MA or research assistant to prove that you're committed to going to medical school.
So much for what you don't have to do. What do you have to do? First, get a good GPA--ideally 3.8+, but the 3.5 range is acceptable. If you have less than a 3.3, and especially if you have less than a 3.0, you should seriously consider a post bac (either formal or DIY) or an SMP.
Second, get a good MCAT score. 35+ means you are in the elite range and competitive for pretty much any US school. 30+ puts you in a reasonable range for most allo schools. High 20s is a gray zone; you can apply, but you're applying at a disadvantage. You should seriously consider retaking if your score is less than 27 or so.
Third, get some clinical experience. This can involve shadowing, volunteering, paid employment, research, or some combination of the above. If you are applying to osteo schools, shadowing a DO is a must at some schools, so take that into account. If you are going to volunteer, a small commitment over a long period of time (ex. 2 hours per week for a year or more) is better than a two week full time stint. Non-clinical volunteering is also looked upon favorably. Paid non-medical service-oriented jobs like teaching are also looked upon favorably.
Concerning how to deal with the advisors who are insisting that you do need to do things that you don't really need to do, what I would suggest is that if you can reasonably meet their requests, go ahead and meet them. It won't kill you to do things like fit in a little extra shadowing here or there, or take an extra class in biochem. Those things probably won't be dealbreakers at most med schools if you don't do them, but they aren't unreasonable things to do.
You two obviously don't need me to tell you that asking nontrads to change jobs is extreme and unrealistic for many people. I suggest that you handle this situation by telling your advisors what you're going to do to "make up" for the lack of on-the-job clinical experience in other ways. So for example, if you're not going to quit your job to be an MA, maybe you'll take a first aid course and volunteer to teach first aid once a month. If you're not going to volunteer as a research assistant, maybe you'll take a class that requires a mini-research project next semester. In other words, substitute something analogous but realistic for their unrealistic suggestions, which will let them know you're not just ignoring their input. Because you're right: you will need these people's support to apply if they're compiling your committee LOR.
Hope this helps, and best of luck.
🙂
to you. 
