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My first post on this site! I just want to thank everyone in advance for any help you can throw my way and that I'm really thankful for people such as you.
Like other posters, I have the goal of medical school (MD or DO) in mind. But as with every poster, his/her position in life is unique and garners a different solution. I just wanted to tell everyone where my position is, and hopefully turn my goal into a success. I also want to say that I am doing this for myself and not to please anybody else. I am willing to take my time to do this right, even though I'm sure the road will be arduous.
To set the tone, I never solidified my desire to attend a medical school until after I graduated my university and the level of seriousness in my undergrad career can be reflected in my performance. This is a huge thorn that I am working to overcome.
A brief history before academics. I had the opportunity to have an actual clinic attached to the house I live in. My father is a MD with a specialty in infectious disease and my mother is hardest working RN I've ever seen. During most of my downtime, I'd spend it in the office with my parents, working as a secretary. I've had a chance to do this for most of my life. It's during the long hours working here that I found I had a very strong desire to help people. I knew this long before ever considering med school as a career.
At the behest of a high school project, I volunteered in an Alzheimer's care unit, met and befriended a patient, Conrad, who was a WW2 veteran. It sounds corny, but he always remembered my name and nobody elses, and that was really touching for some reason. This relationship started a long career of volunteering. At the University of Connecticut health center ER, school activities, hundreds of hours at church, before I ever thought of medical school. Most recently, I have been giving my hours over to my wife's optometrist clinic.
I have 17 years of martial arts training and a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and years of experience in Jui Jitsu and Judo. I also have 12 years of piano practice with a smattering of other musical instruments thrown in.
I am 24 now, married, no kids. I graduated in 2008 from the University of Connecticut with two BS degrees. One in chemistry and the other in biological sciences. My overall GPA is 2.72. I have done 3 years undergraduate research within my chemistry degree, but geared toward biology. I have also done UG research within the biological sciences degree, but no published papers for either. It falls in here someplace, but I did get my head around taking medical school during my undergrad career, but never took it seriously enough to really apply myself. I scored a 25 on the MCAT, but I'm sure I can do better. I have also taken the GREs and done well, although I'd have to dig around for the exact score.
In the time between my graduation and now, I have been 'soul searching' so to speak, on what the right career choice would be for my future. Aside from job searching, over the year, I've taken a college course offered by my church that certifies me as a Sunday school teacher, and am looking into taking an EMT-B course starting mid September which would help my undergrad grade (somewhat). Does anybody think that an EMT course would help boost a resume?
So now, I'm taking a much deeper look into medical school and I know the hole that I've dug can really delay me. I have a few choices ahead from what I see.
1) I could choose to utilize my degrees for a few years doing a job in chemistry or finding a research assistant position for a medically oriented research project, or
3) Try for a post-bac degree to increase my undergrad GPA, although the issue is I've taken all of the post-bac courses already in my undergrad, so would it be worth it to retake them again?
3) ..or I could try to apply to a Master's Program that would help my resume and show that I've matured in academics
I personally, was looking into the Special Master Programs that were put up awhile ago. The 'true' SMPs are what I'm studying right now. They are on the pricey side, but they seem as a good route to take. What are your opinions for my situation?
So that's what I've got for the meantime although I'm sure I missed a few things here and there. If you need any more information, let me know and I'll put it up as fast as I can. Please feel free to comment or criticize, I already have pretty tough skin. But once again, thanks in advance for any advice, and for allowing me to take part in your awesome forum. - Cliff
Like other posters, I have the goal of medical school (MD or DO) in mind. But as with every poster, his/her position in life is unique and garners a different solution. I just wanted to tell everyone where my position is, and hopefully turn my goal into a success. I also want to say that I am doing this for myself and not to please anybody else. I am willing to take my time to do this right, even though I'm sure the road will be arduous.
To set the tone, I never solidified my desire to attend a medical school until after I graduated my university and the level of seriousness in my undergrad career can be reflected in my performance. This is a huge thorn that I am working to overcome.
A brief history before academics. I had the opportunity to have an actual clinic attached to the house I live in. My father is a MD with a specialty in infectious disease and my mother is hardest working RN I've ever seen. During most of my downtime, I'd spend it in the office with my parents, working as a secretary. I've had a chance to do this for most of my life. It's during the long hours working here that I found I had a very strong desire to help people. I knew this long before ever considering med school as a career.
At the behest of a high school project, I volunteered in an Alzheimer's care unit, met and befriended a patient, Conrad, who was a WW2 veteran. It sounds corny, but he always remembered my name and nobody elses, and that was really touching for some reason. This relationship started a long career of volunteering. At the University of Connecticut health center ER, school activities, hundreds of hours at church, before I ever thought of medical school. Most recently, I have been giving my hours over to my wife's optometrist clinic.
I have 17 years of martial arts training and a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and years of experience in Jui Jitsu and Judo. I also have 12 years of piano practice with a smattering of other musical instruments thrown in.
I am 24 now, married, no kids. I graduated in 2008 from the University of Connecticut with two BS degrees. One in chemistry and the other in biological sciences. My overall GPA is 2.72. I have done 3 years undergraduate research within my chemistry degree, but geared toward biology. I have also done UG research within the biological sciences degree, but no published papers for either. It falls in here someplace, but I did get my head around taking medical school during my undergrad career, but never took it seriously enough to really apply myself. I scored a 25 on the MCAT, but I'm sure I can do better. I have also taken the GREs and done well, although I'd have to dig around for the exact score.
In the time between my graduation and now, I have been 'soul searching' so to speak, on what the right career choice would be for my future. Aside from job searching, over the year, I've taken a college course offered by my church that certifies me as a Sunday school teacher, and am looking into taking an EMT-B course starting mid September which would help my undergrad grade (somewhat). Does anybody think that an EMT course would help boost a resume?
So now, I'm taking a much deeper look into medical school and I know the hole that I've dug can really delay me. I have a few choices ahead from what I see.
1) I could choose to utilize my degrees for a few years doing a job in chemistry or finding a research assistant position for a medically oriented research project, or
3) Try for a post-bac degree to increase my undergrad GPA, although the issue is I've taken all of the post-bac courses already in my undergrad, so would it be worth it to retake them again?
3) ..or I could try to apply to a Master's Program that would help my resume and show that I've matured in academics
I personally, was looking into the Special Master Programs that were put up awhile ago. The 'true' SMPs are what I'm studying right now. They are on the pricey side, but they seem as a good route to take. What are your opinions for my situation?
So that's what I've got for the meantime although I'm sure I missed a few things here and there. If you need any more information, let me know and I'll put it up as fast as I can. Please feel free to comment or criticize, I already have pretty tough skin. But once again, thanks in advance for any advice, and for allowing me to take part in your awesome forum. - Cliff
