What to do with extra time?

[Dabears]

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Here's the my deal
I'm 31, graduated college in 1998 with a 3.0, but I am almost finished with my prereqs and have all 4.0s (Chem, OChem, Bio, Anat&Phys, Physics, and just have to finish organic chem 2 in summer or next fall). I am currently taking classes at the University of Illinois, Chicago. MCAT will be next spring (2009) I will apply next year in 09 for 2010. So I have a year to kill. What is the best thing I can do?
I can't do a masters because UIC doesn't really do traditional 2 years masters because it is now all PhD for applicable majors like bio snd stuff.
Do I just start taking advanced science type classes to raise my GPA (all my classes are free of cost thanks to the Illinois Veterans Grant)?
Do I try to do a second Bachelors??
I have my EMT-B and EKG Tech, should I get a few more hospital type certs and get a job in a nearby hospital (once again all my hospital type certifications are free of cost thanks to the Illinois Veterans Grant!!)??
Do I try to do research stuff, and if so what kind of research stuff can I do?
Well thanks for the help!!

 

[fireflygirl]

Don't spend time doing more school. The only thing I would suggest is possibly taking some upper level sciences if you don't have any under your belt. If you have the strong BCPM that you seem to have because of the 4.0s in your science classes, doing an SMP or another bachelor's is a total waste. Get yourself involved in the clinical side of medicine - don't spend more time getting recerts - you have a lot of good certs as it is so use them to work and make the extra money you will need for apps, med school,....etc. Also do any kind of clinical research you want if you see yourself on the research side of things. Don't do extra things just to bulk up your "resume" - do stuff that will make you a better doctor and more immersed in medicine. Also, don't forget to think about yourself and take up opportunities to do what you have always wanted to do - now is the time to do those things!

 

[gman33]

It depends if you think you will get accepted on the first try or if you are trying to build your application for a possible reapply in 2010.

If you have any doubt if you will get in first time, than you should be working on strengthening your application. It seems like you overall UG gpa will still be a little low. Another year of upper level UG courses would help this. You won't really have any idea how competitive your app is until you get your MCAT score.

 

[Blade28]

What's your overall undergrad GPA (BCMP and AO)?

 

[HunterJumper]

As a non-traditional student and in a limbo situation myself, I have asked a couple physicians this same question. The main thing is to do as much patient care/contact as you can do. I also am an EMT and the physicians I have spoken with strongly recommend using these skills in a hospital or pre-hosptial setting to show my dedication to and experience and knowledge in the health field.

 

[Dabears]

So basically just get a job in a hospital working with patients then? Are you planning on taking any more upper lever courses or have the physicians said don't bother with them?? Do you have any other hospital certs??

 

[Dabears]

My overall undergrad GPA was 3.0 which is awful but since taking all of my prereqs I had 4.0s in all of them. How would that look since college was 10 years ago and did pretty bad with the 3.0 but now that I applied myself I got all 4.0s? Will they look at that as a lousy GPA still or will they see it differently since it was so long ago and that I did well recently in all the sciences?? (not considering MCAT since I haven't taken it yet which I know is huge)

 

[saylorsdad]

I am in similiar situation, have 3.1 gpa "graduated with bs in 03, MEd in 06". Now have 3.2 "when you have 200 hours pre-req's don't change much" with around 30 hours of pre req's under my belt. I was interviewed at my choice school and they want me to take a few more upper division credits two or three. I say apply and let them sort out if you are qualified or not. Just don't be disappointed if they tell you to take a few more courses. I am pretty pumped that I'll be ready to go, and will have a good argument that I will be ready next year. Best of luck

 

[Martin Prince]

I've not done this, but I've heard of applicants approaching their local med school a year before applying and scheduling a meeting with someone in admissions to go over the application.

If you could get a meeting, you'd have a perspective of how an adcom would perceive your story and hopefully get some pointed advice. It would have the added benefit of displaying interest in that school early.

i always felt like deciding on different volunteer/research positions was like a guessing game. I never knew if I was jumping through the right hoop. During my interviews I quickly found out which hoops were good decisions and which ones were wastes of time (in the eyes of the committee at least).