This year or next?

[Scienceteacher]

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please forgive me if this is not the right place.

I am a career-change adult, who would love some feedback regarding my likelyhood for med school, specifically if I should try to apply this year or wait until next cycle. I realize that I am late to the game, at this point for this year, both for the MCAT and applications in general....but have come a bit of a full circle for applying for medical school.

I started school with a pre-med major, and was mostly underprepared to work hard. I ended up with a 3.0 GPA (in Biology), and a 3.0 science GPA, and didn't think I would get in...so never applied, though it has always been my dream.

Instead, I continued with a M.S in Biology (3.7 GPA), and fell in love with teaching, mostly because I love science. So, I have been a high school teacher (AP/honors Biology&Chemistry) for the last 8 years, and also now have a M.S in Science Education (3.9 GPA).

During this time, not only have a taught, but have also worked with 2 very well known research institutions to conduct research in origins of life chemistry, which will be submitted for publication this fall.

Just recently, I realized that I will never get over my dream of going to med school, and want to go for it...even if I am starting in my early 30's.

So...I am not sure if I should try to get my applications in for this fall OR wait until next year to apply.

I have not taken the MCAT yet, which I know is insane, if I plan on taking it in September...but I am pretty comfortable with a lot of the material already, as I have taught AP Biology and Chemistry, and generally tests well. I know the MCAT is really, really hard, and can devote lots of time to studying over the next 8 weeks or so...

I can also get great recommendations from the professors who I worked with at the universities, and have a good resume with research and leadership roles.

Do I scramble to try to pull this off by the fall deadlines, or would I be better off waiting until next spring to apply? And, provided I do OK on the MCAT, would a career changer like me have a shot of getting in?

 

[PreMedder]

Definitely not this cycle. Pushing it to the next one would be a heck of a lot less stressful/probably a lot more successful.

 

[once]

Definitely apply next year as you will have more time to collect yourself and put it all together on the app (and it also won't be so late). Seems like the potential of a new publication, added clinical experience, and an early application would be a lot more successful than rushing through it and applying late.

As for whether or not you will get in, thats hard to say. Unfortunately medical schools really only look at the UG gpa regardless of advanced degrees, so having a 3.0 is a disadvantage. If possible you may want to consider a gpa repair, such as an SMP or post bacc (probably an SMP), if you have your mind set on allopathic med schools (MD). I think if you took a year off and worked alot on your EC's and applied broadly you would get in to a DO school, and who knows maybe a MD school will show you some love.

So destroy the MCAT, beef up the extracurriculars, and apply early next season is my opinion.

 

[once]

In addition, if you do end up applying next year, I would definitely delay the MCAT. I believe you said you would devote 8 weeks to it; that is not sufficient as most people use about 3 months or so (see the MCAT discussion forum). In your case, the MCAT is especially critical so don't rush through it and be positive that you will get a very competitive score before actually taking it. Even though I haven't taken the MCAT either, I recommend glancing at some of the study schedules that are posted over on that forum:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=623898
^SN2ed's schedule

I would recommend shooting for at least a 32 so that at least you know the MCAT isn't holding you back.

 

[LizzyM]

Medical school admission is different than college. Deadlines exist but are largely irrelevant in that most applicants apply at the earliest possible date. Interview invitations (an essential part of the application process) are handed out before the deadline so you are at a disadvantage (competing for fewer interview slots than the early bird).

Your gpa is what it is.... moving on your MCAT is going to be important and you should follow the advice above in devoting the time necessary to doing very well. Start by taking a practice test under simulated test conditions (timed, sitting in a library carrel or similar space, etc).

What exposure do you have to the practice of medicine? Have you had any work or volunteer experience in a place where patients obtain medical care? Have you shadowed physicians? This is going to be essential experience when answering the question "why medicine" and "why now" given than you have already invested years and the time and effort of advanced degrees in the field of secondary education.

Both the MCAT and the application process are expensive and draining. You want to do each only once which means not doing it until all the ducks are in a row. Doing it in a rush this season would be, IMO, a mistake.