WAMC - Non Traditional, MBA, Corporate Career, Firefighter/EMT, DIY POST BAC

[Blackjack204]

TLDR: Currently 28, would matriculate at 30. Looking to transition out of a corporate career into MD Program. Interested in Emergency Medicine, and Trauma. Stretch would be Cardiothoracic. Goal would be a T100 MD program.

Educational Background:

A.S. in Criminal Justice from Community College - 2016 - 3.221 cGPA
BS in Business, Supply Chain from Big 10 State School - 2019 - 3.22 cGPA
MBA from T20 Program, Online Version. Class of 22. (Grad School Grading Scale is Pass/Fail. Live Virtual/In Person Classes. Taken During COVID)

Career:
I've worked full time since the age of 18 and attended school at the same time.

Age 20: Analyst in Supply Chain for a Recognizable Luxury Name Brand.
Age 21: Promoted to Senior Analyst. Supervised a small team of Analysts. Earned my bachelors degree at night.
Age 22/23: Worked as a Senior Consultant for a Big 4 Consulting Firm.
Age 24: Moved to a Fortune 10 Healthcare Company as a Sr. Manager and was promoted to Director after 2 years. Attended Grad School at the same time.
Age 27/28: Laid Off. Moved to a Fortune 500 Consumer Health Manufacturer as a Director. I plan to stay here for the next 2-3 years.

Extensive background in leading large multi-geographically dispersed teams, both domestically and internationally. Have had 3-5 direct reports while a Sr. Manager and Director. Not that it should really matter, but I am highly compensated ($300k+/Yr), reflective of extensive career impact and maturity.

Extracurriculars:
Volunteer Firefighter since the age of 17. NREMT as well.
Agency #1 - Volunteer Firefighter 2014-2016
Agency #2 - 2021-Current

Agency 2 is a large combination department bordering a major city. Annual volumes of 1700 Fire/4000+ EMS.
Served as the volunteer fire company Board President in 2023. (80+ volunteer members and $500k annual budget)
Fire Lieutenant from December 2023 onwards.
Attendance Award - 2022
Attendance Award - 2023
Chief Award - 2023
Chief Award - 2024
Extensive Prehospital Care and Patient Contacts as a non-transporting Quick Response Service.

Extensive Firefighter/Technical Rescue Education:
Proboard Firefighter 2, Fire Officer 2, NREMT, Technician Level Certs in Vehicle, Rope, Water, and Confined Space Rescue.

Current Shadowing:
8 Hours ED Physician
8 Hours Ortho

Forward Path from Here:
With a cGPA of 3.2 and minimal sGPA courses - 5 total classes from AS and BS (sGPA 3.48). Plan would be to go to local community college and do a DIY Post Bacc of 32-40 credits consisting of:

Chem 1 and 2 w/Lab
Bio 1 and 2 w/Lab
Physics 1 and 2 w/Lab
Organic Chem 1 and 2 w/Lab
Possibly a Biochem and a Anatomy Course.

I believe with a successful track record of a DIY Post Bacc, I could raise my overall cGPA to 3.4+ and sGPA to 3.8+.

If I polish up my story and double down on going back for my prereqs, how does my candidacy look as a non-trad application for a Top 100 MD program?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have you reached out to "career changer" postbac programs?

How to Choose a Postbaccalaureate or Special Masters Program (SMP) - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[LunaOri]

To get attention from top programs, in addition to improving your GPA and getting a good MCAT score, I would suggest getting more clinical exposure (shadowing, hospital volunteer, or clinical job). I know the big salary is hard to give up, but right now it’s hard to see that you are serious about becoming a physician.