The divide... a great rec and experience, or potentially better grades/MCAT?

[Sleepies]

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Please forgive me in advance if a similar question has been asked elsewhere. I've read many threads, but alas, I'm still completely stuck.

The crux of my predicament is that I'm a non-traditional student (I'm 29) with no background in science/math, because I had dreamt of law school in my younger days. Now, my plan is to attend either a post-bac or community college to complete prereqs for med school, while supporting myself with a full-time job. Currently, I work for a physician who has very sincerely assured me that if I'm able to work for him until I'm ready to apply, that he will write me a stellar letter of recommendation and include me in clinical experience, if he can. (It helps that he completed his residency at my top choice university.)

Here are my questions/conflicts--

A.) The only postbac available in my area is extremely expensive (I estimate to be about $55K). While I'm already inquiring into every financial sacrifice I can make, I'm not sure that going into that much debt for just the chance of going into $100K+ more debt for a med school that I might not get into is a great idea. On the other hand, I'm concerned that because of extenuating circumstances I had as an undergrad, I'm already on a lower competitive rung. I feel like CC classes won't be enough to overcome this hurdle like a postbac would.

B.) Paying for and attending prereq courses (and probably an MCAT course), while trying not to starve and end up homeless, is not sustainable with the hourly that I make working full-time for a doctor. I have worked in restaurants for years (to fund my undergrad degree) and know that I might be able to pull this whole adventure off if I continue working as a server. I could also work less hours, which means more time to study. But, as I mentioned earlier, if I followed this route, I'd be sacrificing a potentially great recommendation, and what's more--direct experience with a physician.

C.) If I did opt to leave the physician's office, would it be prudent to supplement my time with plenty of volunteering/shadowing/etc., as is so often recommended to younger students?

Any advice you have for me would be beyond greatly appreciated (positive and negative). I have many reasons for wanting to put myself through this inane torture for just the potential of being a doctor, but I know that even if I fail, I'll be happier than had I not tried.

Thanks again 😳

 

[kraskadva]

Please forgive me in advance if a similar question has been asked elsewhere. I've read many threads, but alas, I'm still completely stuck.

The crux of my predicament is that I'm a non-traditional student (I'm 29) with no background in science/math, because I had dreamt of law school in my younger days. Now, my plan is to attend either a post-bac or community college to complete prereqs for med school, while supporting myself with a full-time job. Currently, I work for a physician who has very sincerely assured me that if I'm able to work for him until I'm ready to apply, that he will write me a stellar letter of recommendation and include me in clinical experience, if he can. (It helps that he completed his residency at my top choice university.)

Hi- I'm 28, doing an informal postbacc (more below). Yes you can do it if you're willing to put in the work and the time. This doc you work for sounds super nice.

But... why? As in, why do you want to go to med school?
I'm an anonymous person on the internet, you don't have to explain yourself to me- and you probably have explained your reasons to this doc if he's willing to write an LoR for you- however, this is a question you will have to answer many times before you're done, and an anonymous forum is a pretty safe place to practice.

Here are my questions/conflicts--

A.) The only postbac available in my area is extremely expensive (I estimate to be about $55K). While I'm already inquiring into every financial sacrifice I can make, I'm not sure that going into that much debt for just the chance of going into $100K+ more debt for a med school that I might not get into is a great idea. On the other hand, I'm concerned that because of extenuating circumstances I had as an undergrad, I'm already on a lower competitive rung. I feel like CC classes won't be enough to overcome this hurdle like a postbac would.

PostBacc= any undergrad level classes taken after graduating w/ a BA/BS.
There are formal postbacc programs to prep for med school (sometimes aka SMPs) which is what I think you're looking at with a price tag of 55K. These tend to be last resorts. Search for the DrMidlife thread about this for more info.
There are also 'informal postbaccs' or 'DIY postbaccs', which essentially means you enroll at a college, either class by class or as a 2nd Bachelors degree-seeking student. In this case you take classes at the normal rate the school charges (for whichever option you pick) and just do the prereqs + whatever you want. You do not have to complete a 2nd degree.
Community college is generally not recommended, as some med schools don't accept credits from cc's. However, there are non-trads who have gotten in with cc credits.

If you want more specific info, you should post your cGPA and sGPA from your first degree.

B.) Paying for and attending prereq courses (and probably an MCAT course), while trying not to starve and end up homeless, is not sustainable with the hourly that I make working full-time for a doctor. I have worked in restaurants for years (to fund my undergrad degree) and know that I might be able to pull this whole adventure off if I continue working as a server. I could also work less hours, which means more time to study. But, as I mentioned earlier, if I followed this route, I'd be sacrificing a potentially great recommendation, and what's more--direct experience with a physician.

The doc sounds like a good letter to have, but no one here can comment on your financials without knowing you/ the situation.

C.) If I did opt to leave the physician's office, would it be prudent to supplement my time with plenty of volunteering/shadowing/etc., as is so often recommended to younger students?

Yes.

Any advice you have for me would be beyond greatly appreciated (positive and negative). I have many reasons for wanting to put myself through this inane torture for just the potential of being a doctor, but I know that even if I fail, I'll be happier than had I not tried.

Thanks again 😳

If you have no science background at all, then start slow. Ease into the prereqs and make sure you get good grades, rather than rushing in and screwing up. Better to take more time than to shoot yourself in the foot.

 

[Shjanzey]

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[Doctor Bob]

LORs and clinical experience will not overcome a GPA/MCAT deficit.

Schools screen applications based on GPA and MCAT. If those are not stellar in-and-of themselves, then they'll never even consider the LOR/clinical experience.

In the world of med school applications GPA/MCAT are king.

 

[sazerac]

I would pay big $$$ to go to a med school because the odds of success are very high at that point. But is there ANY way you could reduce the cost of a post bacc?

I signed a lease on an apartment three hours away from my home just to go to a cheap (self-made, informal) post-bacc because it might have been a foolish folly of mine.

Is there ANY way you could find a cheaper post bacc program? I spent about $2000 per semester on mine, plus another $1000 per month in rent.

 

[Goro]

this process will be a marathon, not a sprint, and so you in this for the long haul.

First, work for the doctor. the experience will be invaluable and maybe you'll find out that Medicine isn't for you. You'll save a bunch of headaches that way.

Next, invest in the MSAR and find out what schools will accept CC credits. They run the gamut from accepting none, some or all. Keep in mind that some schools do not even have any pre-reqs! On the whole, we understand that you have a life and need to work, not repeat your UG.

Please forgive me in advance if a similar question has been asked elsewhere. I've read many threads, but alas, I'm still completely stuck.

The crux of my predicament is that I'm a non-traditional student (I'm 29) with no background in science/math, because I had dreamt of law school in my younger days. Now, my plan is to attend either a post-bac or community college to complete prereqs for med school, while supporting myself with a full-time job. Currently, I work for a physician who has very sincerely assured me that if I'm able to work for him until I'm ready to apply, that he will write me a stellar letter of recommendation and include me in clinical experience, if he can. (It helps that he completed his residency at my top choice university.)

Here are my questions/conflicts--

A.) The only postbac available in my area is extremely expensive (I estimate to be about $55K). While I'm already inquiring into every financial sacrifice I can make, I'm not sure that going into that much debt for just the chance of going into $100K+ more debt for a med school that I might not get into is a great idea. On the other hand, I'm concerned that because of extenuating circumstances I had as an undergrad, I'm already on a lower competitive rung. I feel like CC classes won't be enough to overcome this hurdle like a postbac would.

B.) Paying for and attending prereq courses (and probably an MCAT course), while trying not to starve and end up homeless, is not sustainable with the hourly that I make working full-time for a doctor. I have worked in restaurants for years (to fund my undergrad degree) and know that I might be able to pull this whole adventure off if I continue working as a server. I could also work less hours, which means more time to study. But, as I mentioned earlier, if I followed this route, I'd be sacrificing a potentially great recommendation, and what's more--direct experience with a physician.

C.) If I did opt to leave the physician's office, would it be prudent to supplement my time with plenty of volunteering/shadowing/etc., as is so often recommended to younger students?

Any advice you have for me would be beyond greatly appreciated (positive and negative). I have many reasons for wanting to put myself through this inane torture for just the potential of being a doctor, but I know that even if I fail, I'll be happier than had I not tried.

Thanks again 😳

 

[Patassa]

LORs and clinical experience will not overcome a GPA/MCAT deficit.

Schools screen applications based on GPA and MCAT. If those are not stellar in-and-of themselves, then they'll never even consider the LOR/clinical experience.

In the world of med school applications GPA/MCAT are king.

Listen to Bob.

A letter from a Doctor friend is a distant factor in the grand scheme of this process.

1. GPA
2. MCAT













3. Everything else

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Listen to Bob.

A letter from a Doctor friend is a distant factor in the grand scheme of this process.

1. GPA
2. MCAT













3. Everything else

This. I wish this would autopost every time this came up.