What are my chances, from a nursing student perspective?

[NursingStudent16]

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So, I know there are a few posts about "what are my chances as a nursing student", but I wanted to include my own information to see if I could get a better idea towards me specifically. I have always thought about becoming a doctor, but a nurse also. I like the bedside care that nurses provide, but envy at the fact that doctors get to do so many more procedures (especially ER docs).

I am a junior in my BSN program with a 3.8 cumulative GPA without having taken biology, general or organic chemistry, or physics. I am confident that I will graduate my BSN program with a 3.78 GPA, at least. While working as a RN, I would plan to take the required pre-med classes, and I feel like I would do pretty well in those. So I feel once it's all said and done my sGPA would be ~3.8, and cGPA around the same.

I am an ER tech at a level one trauma center and just love what all the residents and others docs get to do, and I crave that knowledge. I have volunteered in an ER before and also at a nursing home. I plan to become a volunteer EMT, and shadow MDs and DOs. I feel like I would receive some excellent letters of recommendation. With my GPA and extracurricular activities that I have done, and will do, I feel like the only thing that is going to be my downfall will be the MCAT. I'm probably only saying this because I haven't taken any of the classes yet, but it is still tough to think about.

What would be the lowest score on the MCAT that I could receive with my GPA where I would still be considered for med school? I would prefer MD schools, but DO schools are just as good.

I don't mean for this thread to be so long, it just excites me. I appreciate what you all do, and will continue to do.

So if this doesn't work out for me, there is always flight nursing ;D

 

[FutureOncologist]

What's your ethnicity OP? Also be able to explain why you chose MD over RN, where "because MD's get to do more procedures than RNs" doesn't cut it (autonomy).

 

[drdoom12]

As a BSN with multiple acceptances to some top to mid tier MD schools, I think you will be fine. As someone previously stated, be able to explain why you are switching. I had to explain it in each interview, but I think it certainly helped my application. I generally say that majoring in nursing will be seen as a positive as long as you didn't do nursing with the intent of going to medical school. So work as a nurse while you finish the prereqs and the mcat and you should be golden. If you ace the prereqs, I'd say you'd be fine with around a 30. Anything less than a 28 is getting a little scary for MD territory, although people certainly get into MD schools with less than 30s.

 

[NursingStudent16]

"What's your ethnicity OP? Also be able to explain why you chose MD over RN, where "because MD's get to do more procedures than RNs" doesn't cut it (autonomy)"

I am Caucasian American. Having a broader knowledge base (more than what I would have from nursing school). Having a bigger part in diagnoses and treatments. It's just simply something that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life, because helping people is #1 in my book. There are plenty of reasons why I would like to become a MD.

 

[NursingStudent16]

As a BSN with multiple acceptances to some top to mid tier MD schools, I think you will be fine. As someone previously stated, be able to explain why you are switching. I had to explain it in each interview, but I think it certainly helped my application. I generally say that majoring in nursing will be seen as a positive as long as you didn't do nursing with the intent of going to medical school. So work as a nurse while you finish the prereqs and the mcat and you should be golden. If you ace the prereqs, I'd say you'd be fine with around a 30. Anything less than a 28 is getting a little scary for MD territory, although people certainly get into MD schools with less than 30s.

Thank you! It's good to see a fellow BSN student getting accepted into medical schools.

 

[The Buff OP]

EMT is cool to do, but I feel like you are already getting enough clinical exposure at the hospital, there's no need to spend money on a EMT class. The pre-reqs for medical school are a different ball game compare to your studies at the moment, you'll be fine as long as you have that drive to get good grades. Applying to medical school fresh out of nursing school would make Adcoms questioned your application; however, if you work like a couple of years as nurse then transition to pre-med and you can explain why, they you are good. Flight nursing is pretty cool too, but hopefully you don't stay wishing you were a doc instead of a nurse. Best of luck!

So, I know there are a few posts about "what are my chances as a nursing student", but I wanted to include my own information to see if I could get a better idea towards me specifically. I have always thought about becoming a doctor, but a nurse also. I like the bedside care that nurses provide, but envy at the fact that doctors get to do so many more procedures (especially ER docs).

I am a junior in my BSN program with a 3.8 cumulative GPA without having taken biology, general or organic chemistry, or physics. I am confident that I will graduate my BSN program with a 3.78 GPA, at least. While working as a RN, I would plan to take the required pre-med classes, and I feel like I would do pretty well in those. So I feel once it's all said and done my sGPA would be ~3.8, and cGPA around the same.

I am an ER tech at a level one trauma center and just love what all the residents and others docs get to do, and I crave that knowledge. I have volunteered in an ER before and also at a nursing home. I plan to become a volunteer EMT, and shadow MDs and DOs. I feel like I would receive some excellent letters of recommendation. With my GPA and extracurricular activities that I have done, and will do, I feel like the only thing that is going to be my downfall will be the MCAT. I'm probably only saying this because I haven't taken any of the classes yet, but it is still tough to think about.

What would be the lowest score on the MCAT that I could receive with my GPA where I would still be considered for med school? I would prefer MD schools, but DO schools are just as good.

I don't mean for this thread to be so long, it just excites me. I appreciate what you all do, and will continue to do.

So if this doesn't work out for me, there is always flight nursing ;D

 

[FutureOncologist]

Assuming you keep a 3.7 cGPA, you have a 50% chance of getting in with a 28 on the MCAT. What this translates to in new MCAT score, I don't know. However, you're going up 10% in chances per MCAT score you go up by 1, peaking at ~35.

However, this alone won't get you in. Show adcoms you have a life outside school and working in the hospital. Pick up a hobby or two and stick with it.

One more thing, MD LORs for MD schools don't pull much weight, if any at all (in fact it may seem like unwanted fluff.)

Good luck OP!

"What's your ethnicity OP? Also be able to explain why you chose MD over RN, where "because MD's get to do more procedures than RNs" doesn't cut it (autonomy)"

I am Caucasian American. Having a broader knowledge base (more than what I would have from nursing school). Having a bigger part in diagnoses and treatments. It's just simply something that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life, because helping people is #1 in my book. There are plenty of reasons why I would like to become a MD.

 

[LizzyM]

The whole scoring system of the MCAT is changing in 2015 so the numbers we are quoting you now will have no relationship to the score you'll be shooting for a couple years from now. Do aim to be in the 67th percentile or higher among those taking the MCAT and you should be ok.