Medical What steps should I take to apply to medical school after working as a registered dietician?

[Catalystik]

I am a registered dietitian working in research. I graduated in 2013 and sat for my RD exam in March 2017. I dropped out of high school beginning of my junior year due to health issues and years later, I worked my way from GED preparation classes to my BS in nutrition and dietetics. Unfortunately, the minimal exposure to sciences in high school led to me really struggling in college with them. I wish I could say I had an upward trajectory, but I did not since I transferred from a community college to a university where I did the upper level classes.

My curriculum was pretty rigorous with 2 semesters each required for gen chem, orgo, and biochem, along with a few upper division bio classes as well:

* gen chem 1 & 2 and orgo 1 & 2: C.
* Biochem 1 and cell bio: D's, retook C and C- respectively.
* Biochem 2: A-.
* The rest of my bio classes were A's and B's, as were all my nutritional science classes and other cores.

cGPA is 3.31 and sGPA 2.69/2.75 AMCAS/AACOMAS.

Edited to add in case it matters: I took A&P 1 and 2 last year and received A's in both. Adding those in, it bumps my sGPA up to 2.84/2.87.

I need to take the MCAT, but here is where I am struggling.

1) I know I shouldn't retake classes with a C grade, but gen chem and orgo were from 2009. Will schools care how old they are?

I would prefer to audit a few of those classes to review the material while taking physics to do well on the MCAT, then do a DIY post bacc with upper level classes to show I can handle the load. Or would a SMP be a better way to go? I know the key is to show that the me of now is not the me of then.

2) I have about 570 hours of clinical experience from my internship in 2015-2016, along with 200 hours of volunteering in the community. Should I try to get some part-time work doing clinical so it is more recent? I am the sole earner for my husband and 3 children at the moment, but if getting a bit more clinical would help my chances, I will definitely try. If having to choose between more clinical or volunteering, which would be the better use of my time?

1) I think you'd be perfectly justified in retaking (for a grade) prerequisite courses from 10 years ago, even though you earned a C grade. Yes, some schools do expire the prerequisites. Not only would retaking for As boost your sGPA, but you'd be better prepared for the MCAT.

2) You do need recent clinical experience, though it need not be through the workplace (if you make a good salary now). A volunteer gig would be sufficient for 3-4 hours per week. And you need physician shadowing (including a DO, so you can get a LOR). And you need recent demonstrations of your altruism through non-medical community service (helping with your kids' soccer team/scouts would qualify).

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[Catalystik]

Thank you so much for the response. Another 12 credits of physics/science ( physics and genetics are the plan) with A's would boost me to c3.41 and s3.01.

1. Retaking the pre-reqs would boost me further, but would Adcoms be unimpressed since I have taken the courses before?

2. Would retaking the pre-reqs combined with a solid MCAT score be competitive enough that I could forego a full post bacc and maybe add in an extra 1 or 2 upper level courses or should I still follow Goro's reinvention advice taking several upper level courses?

1) They won't hold it against you, considering ten years have passed since you first took them. They will be impressed by straight As in upper-level Bio/Chem that you've never taken before.

2) I think you should still take more upper-level Bio.

 

[Goro]

Agree that you should retake the pre-reqs for the mCAT.

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention