This thread may do better here, actually. Chances??

[DeterminedSoul]

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Age 18: 4 year college, 4x withdraw no grade. Great grandfather got sick and also I hated living away from home.

Age 19-25: worked full time, primary caregiver of my great grandpa, attended two online colleges off and on (university of phoenix + ashford university) with 83 credit hours @ 2.3 cGPA (only 2 science classes thank god). At this point I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life.

Age 26-28: got my RN at a local community college + completed 100% of the pre-reqs for med school. Unfortunately everything was at CC level but it was all I could afford. I took the pre-reqs in addition to the similar nursing classes. All in all, I had 108 credit hours at 3.8 cGPA (and 3.85 sGPA). While doing this, I worked in a hospital as a Health Information Technician (and later Manager) full time. I also volunteer 4-8 hours per week at a hospital hospice ward working directly with patients. Married + 2 kids. My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at two years old which led me to nursing and ultimately medicine at the beginning of this time.

Age 28-30: got my BSN at a local 4 year state college. Also took organic chem here. Another ~30 credit hours at 3.8 cGPA. While doing this, I worked in a hospital as a Health Information Technician full time. I also volunteer 4-8 hours per week at a hospital hospice ward working directly with patients. +1 additional kid.

Final Stats:
3.2~ cGPA, 3.75 sGPA with over 220 credit hours total.
~3.8 cGPA for the past 4 years of college.
510 MCAT score.
RN, BSN
3 years working as an RN
6 years working in Health Information (closely with physicians)
~400 hours hospital level hospice volunteering
~200 hours MD/DO shadowing

Now that I'm done with all that I have no clue what to do? Do I have a shot at MD? I live in Ohio so there are a lot of MD schools in state. If not, what are my chances of getting into a DO? I'm happy with MD or DO.

 

[njtrimed]

Age 18: 4 year college, 4x withdraw no grade. Great grandfather got sick and also I hated living away from home.

Age 19-25: worked full time, primary caregiver of my great grandpa, attended two online colleges off and on (university of phoenix + ashford university) with 83 credit hours @ 2.3 cGPA (only 2 science classes thank god). At this point I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life.

Age 26-28: got my RN at a local community college + completed 100% of the pre-reqs for med school. Unfortunately everything was at CC level but it was all I could afford. I took the pre-reqs in addition to the similar nursing classes. All in all, I had 108 credit hours at 3.8 cGPA (and 3.85 sGPA). While doing this, I worked in a hospital as a Health Information Technician (and later Manager) full time. I also volunteer 4-8 hours per week at a hospital hospice ward working directly with patients. Married + 2 kids. My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at two years old which led me to nursing and ultimately medicine at the beginning of this time.

Age 28-30: got my BSN at a local 4 year state college. Also took organic chem here. Another ~30 credit hours at 3.8 cGPA. While doing this, I worked in a hospital as a Health Information Technician full time. I also volunteer 4-8 hours per week at a hospital hospice ward working directly with patients. +1 additional kid.

Final Stats:
3.2~ cGPA, 3.75 sGPA with over 220 credit hours total.
~3.8 cGPA for the past 4 years of college.
510 MCAT score.
RN, BSN
3 years working as an RN
6 years working in Health Information (closely with physicians)
~400 hours hospital level hospice volunteering
~200 hours MD/DO shadowing

Now that I'm done with all that I have no clue what to do? Do I have a shot at MD? I live in Ohio so there are a lot of MD schools in state. If not, what are my chances of getting into a DO? I'm happy with MD or DO.

I’m not too familiar with Ohio, but you should have a good shot at MD and you’re definitely competitive for DO schools. Do a quick search on SDN for schools that “reward reinvention,” and consider making a WAMC post for advice on where to apply that is more specific to your situation. How does your spouse feel about the prospect of moving? That’s probably the biggest determining factor here. As long as your spouse is supportive, med school with kids really isn’t much harder than working full time.

 

[RNthenDoc]

As long as you have the LORs and interview well, you’ll get accepted!

I’m similar to your resume and already have 3 decent acceptances, with 2 more likely on the way.

 

[DeterminedSoul]

As long as you have the LORs and interview well, you’ll get accepted!

I’m similar to your resume and already have 3 decent acceptances, with 2 more likely on the way.

Thank you. I have been blessed to be very close and work with with more than a handful of well renowned physicians - all of which are writing me very strong LORs and I believe that I do interview well. I am so thankful to be hearing all this good news - I have been an anxious mess.

 

[DeterminedSoul]

I’m not too familiar with Ohio, but you should have a good shot at MD and you’re definitely competitive for DO schools. Do a quick search on SDN for schools that “reward reinvention,” and consider making a WAMC post for advice on where to apply that is more specific to your situation. How does your spouse feel about the prospect of moving? That’s probably the biggest determining factor here. As long as your spouse is supportive, med school with kids really isn’t much harder than working full time.

My spouse is willing to move anywhere (she is a nurse, can find work anywhere if she decides to continue working through this). She was even willing to move, dare I say, to the Caribbean *shudder*. I am glad that it seems I will not need to venture down that road.

 

[DeterminedSoul]

@LizzyM -

Do you have anything to add here? You seem to have great insight from what I have noticed reading around the community.

 

[LizzyM]

@LizzyM -

Do you have anything to add here? You seem to have great insight from what I have noticed reading around the community.

My experience is with the top research medical school and your MCAT and lack of research experience puts you below the benchmarks for those schools but, as others have said, you may have a good shot at other MD schools. I believe that DO schools would also be interested.

 

[physgal]

@calivianya

 

[calivianya]

Where I had my MD IIs with five years of RN experience and a winding path (also greater than 200 credit hours) was my state school, the private 15 minutes up the road that I had ties to, and a brand new private MD opening this year, although they resulted in two rejections and a waitlist so far.

DO schools definitely respect the clinical experience I've gotten as a RN. With an identical application as my MD application, I've gotten 8/11 DO interviews vs. 3/25 MD. I liked my first DO interview (acceptance) so well I have been turning down most other DO interviews at this point.

I would also like to add the caveat that my state MD program was very clear that my lack of community service was what killed my application there. I, like you, did my volunteering clinically - and I got asked directly in my interview why I didn't make time for community service, so you might want to consider adding some to round off your application.

DO is where the guarantee is with your numbers and experience. If you also want to try for MD, make it a short list - all of the Ohio schools, all newly opening MD programs, and a few lower-stat OOS privates. Good luck!

 

[DeterminedSoul]

Where I had my MD IIs with five years of RN experience and a winding path (also greater than 200 credit hours) was my state school, the private 15 minutes up the road that I had ties to, and a brand new private MD opening this year, although they resulted in two rejections and a waitlist so far.

DO schools definitely respect the clinical experience I've gotten as a RN. With an identical application as my MD application, I've gotten 8/11 DO interviews vs. 3/25 MD. I liked my first DO interview (acceptance) so well I have been turning down most other DO interviews at this point.

I would also like to add the caveat that my state MD program was very clear that my lack of community service was what killed my application there. I, like you, did my volunteering clinically - and I got asked directly in my interview why I didn't make time for community service, so you might want to consider adding some to round off your application.

DO is where the guarantee is with your numbers and experience. If you also want to try for MD, make it a short list - all of the Ohio schools, all newly opening MD programs, and a few lower-stat OOS privates. Good luck!

Hi!

First of all, congratulations!

I am also the vice president of my neighborhood's civic association - so I am hoping that will count as community service as I have sunk a lot of time in it. I forgot to add it here!

 

[calivianya]

Hi!

First of all, congratulations!

I am also the vice president of my neighborhood's civic association - so I am hoping that will count as community service as I have sunk a lot of time in it. I forgot to add it here!

Thank you. 🙂

I think that could definitely be a good community service EC, depending on what activities you describe. Either way, it sounds interesting and will be something different than your average applicant.