UChicago English major, cGPA 2.75

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A SNAPSHOT

Age: 24
College: University of Chicago
Degree: English Language & Literature (A.B., 2009)
cGPA: 2.75

CPR, First Aid, AED Instructor with the American Red Cross
Passed an approved EMT-B program through Advocate Christ Hospital

In my first quarter, I took general chemistry and received a D. I did not attempt to take any other prerequisites as an undergraduate.

My grades have an upward trend over the course of my college career.

I have addressed the issues that caused my poor performance. (Namely, I was living at home.)

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SUMMARY

Here's a short version of my story: I entered college (there I was -- me, the doe-eyed, optimistic "pre-med"), and I initially placed into courses that were way over my head. I quickly reassessed my situation, and I decided to take all sorts of courses while carefully avoiding medical school prerequisites out of fear that I would screw myself. In the end, I wound up with a shoddy GPA and a degree in English Language & Literature. And yes, I somehow still consider myself a "pre-med" student.

I have had a rather dismal financial situation since graduating, and I worked for a defense contractor from May through November 2009, which is when I was laid off. Luckily, per month, my loan payments have been affordable.

Last summer, I applied and was was accepted to a pre-med post-bacc program at Dominican University in River Forest, IL, but I have been forced into deferring my acceptance because of the aforementioned financial situation.

Earlier this year, because of my lack of employment, I took one of the "most difficult" EMT-B programs (according to a general consensus of people with whom I've spoken) through Advocate Christ Hospital's EMS Academy in Oak Lawn, IL. While it is likely irrelevant, my final grade in the course was an A (>95% average). I am planning to work as an EMT-B for a period of time in order to save money.

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QUESTIONS

Which would be more beneficial in the long run: continuing my EMT education and becoming certified as a paramedic or beginning the post-bacc program as soon as I am able?

Would it be a better idea to seek out full-time employment in a lab? (Is a research position preferred by medical school admissions over a clinical care position?)

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Thanks!

 

[mediskwid]

I would advise you getting a paramedic license so you can get some extra cash. EMT-B pay is **** and you are not going to enjoy the work you do- especially while studying for difficult classes. With a solid career down then you can start to concentrate on a post-bacc program.

Honestly, you would have to perform extremely well to combat your cGPA which is very poor for a humanities major. Reassess your skills and what made you fail. If it was outside circumstance then by all means ace the **** out of your post-bacc program and study your ass off for the mcat. A 3.5-3.9 post-bacc with a 30-33 MCAT will do you just fine as long as mention your shortcomings in your personal statement.

Realistically now, if you could not handle college coursework and much less coursework in the sciences it's time to reevaluate. If I were in your position I would go for paramedic + fireman as the pay, respect, and hours are pretty awesome with the chance to move up to chief. Medicine is not worth it unless you can do these courses easily enough to stay sane.

If you take this route, thank me in 10 years when you're making 6 figures, getting women, and not having to deal with the bull**** of being a doctor. 👍

 

[ronaldo23]

I would advise you getting a paramedic license so you can get some extra cash. EMT-B pay is **** and you are not going to enjoy the work you do- especially while studying for difficult classes. With a solid career down then you can start to concentrate on a post-bacc program.

Honestly, you would have to perform extremely well to combat your cGPA which is very poor for a humanities major. Reassess your skills and what made you fail. If it was outside circumstance then by all means ace the **** out of your post-bacc program and study your ass off for the mcat. A 3.5-3.9 post-bacc with a 30-33 MCAT will do you just fine as long as mention your shortcomings in your personal statement.

Realistically now, if you could not handle college coursework and much less coursework in the sciences it's time to reevaluate. If I were in your position I would go for paramedic + fireman as the pay, respect, and hours are pretty awesome with the chance to move up to chief. Medicine is not worth it unless you can do these courses easily enough to stay sane.

If you take this route, thank me in 10 years when you're making 6 figures, getting women, and not having to deal with the bull**** of being a doctor. 👍

Except pay as a paramedic is horrific. We are talking 30-40K tops with maybe potential down the line in the 50s. While it is an important job, you won't ever be earning six-figures as a 'medic. I've worked in EMS and in a fire department for a few years, and I strongly disagree that the pay is good, and that the hours are awesome. If anything, it is like medicine in that the firefighters/medics are passionate about their jobs, and always tell people to go for another career unless they LOVE doing this (much in the same way docs tell pre-meds this). Hours are sporadic and shifts can be in the middle of the night.

But that's not to say you should go for medicine, either OP. I'm just refuting the notion that a medic has a "sweet job" while medicine has tons of bulls****. Medics may very well be the worst-off on the health-care totem pole when you consider all careers. My advice: start some physician shadowing and hospital volunteering to truly learn more about the field to see if that's what you want. Sounds like you really don't know yet as you don't have much exposure. EMS is good clinical experience, but it is way different from what a doctor does, and plenty of people LOVE EMS but end up hating medicine, as well as vice versa. If you end up deciding on medicine, I would start doing the post-bac (will probably take you 2 years to get a decent GPA), just aiming for A's in everything, and then focus on the MCAT. Paramedic school is incredibly rigorous and you will almost surely not want to do both things at once.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I wouldn't even bother with this paramedic career. If you can live off your EMT or another type of job, just focus on your classes. No point in going off-track and ending up in med school 4 years later than you could.

 

[coupcontrecoup]

Thanks for your suggestions and advice.

 

[Moebius]

If your relatives and family could help you, I recommend taking all the core classes at your local state university and ace the MCAT and apply early.

 

[coupcontrecoup]

In the event anyone had any interest, here's where I am now:

In the past year, I completed Human Anatomy I & II, Biology I & II, and Chemistry I through the City Colleges of Chicago. At $87.00 per credit hour, these courses were within my financial reach. Currently, my post-bacc GPA is 4.0.

I applied and was accepted to a CCC nursing program, which will be starting in mid-August. Upon applying, the total cost of the classes comes out to be something like $4000, and health care professionals with whom I've spoken have told me that it's considered to be a good program.

So, in two years, I'll be an RN with an AAS in Nursing.

I've been unemployed for over a year, and I know that there are many openings for nurses, which is a major reason why I am choosing this career path.

I plan to work in critical care, and I will continue taking courses while working.
In the future, I will likely once again be faced with a dilemma -- medical school or a graduate program in nursing...

That's the story, folks.

 

[TriagePreMed]

A 3.5-3.9 post-bacc with a 30-33 MCAT will do you just fine as long as mention your shortcomings in your personal statement.

If he's anything like me (standard 120 unit BA), it'll take him about 45 units with 4.0 to get to the magical 3.0. I think a steep upward trend hitting the 3.0 and applying to Osteopathic is the best bet.

 

[Temperature101]

If he's anything like me (standard 120 unit BA), it'll take him about 45 units with 4.0 to get to the magical 3.0. I think a steep upward trend hitting the 3.0 and applying to Osteopathic is the best bet.

I second that...