When and where for Prereqs?

[SquishyMonster90]

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I’m a nontrad music major who’s recently decided to go to med school. I graduated from VCU with a 4.0 GPA and quite a few awards. I was there on a full ride.

I live in Atlanta now and I just got accepted into Grady’s EMS academy. I’m going to get my EMT-b and work to get my clinical hours and experience in the medical field. I’m trying to decide where and when to apply for prereqs/postbacc. I’m getting married this April, so I have that to deal with. I was hoping to apply for prereqs for Fall 2016, but I feel like I would have to rush to get my things together. At the same time, I’m 25 so I want to get on it as fast as possible. Should I just work an extra year as an EMT, get lots of experience, save a little $ and apply for Spring 2017 or Fall 2017 instead?

Here’s my list so far of places to apply. I have a mix of post baccs and non post baccs (I would just go for a second bachelor’s and drop out after I get my courses).The GA schools are my first choice since I wouldn’t have to move. But I could also go to VA and use my mom’s address for residency, or CA and use another family member’s address.

GSU
G Tech
UGA
Agnes Scott post bacc

VCU (my alma mater)
UVA post bacc

UCSD Extension


Which of these schools will set me up for the most success? Any other schools from GA, VA, or CA that I should add? I may add a few top tier post baccs in there like Scripps, Mills, etc. I want it to be affordable, but I also want to prove to adcoms that I’m dedicated to this and that I can handle a heavy course load. I’m torn between formal post bacc and DIY post bacc. If I apply for Fall 2016, I would cut this list way back.

Also, I was wondering how are extension schools looked at by adcoms? Would doing one of those put points against me as opposed to a formal post bacc or second bachelors? They seems to be more affordable.

 

[DrMidlife]

Feeling too rushed to apply now for a Fall 2016 program doesn't make sense, because your GPA is so strong. You should definitely be applying now.

Your EMT program is not as valuable as it seems. EMT is a cookie cutter activity for premeds. Absolutely do it if you want to. Just don't fool yourself into believing that it's getting much done for your postbac or med school app, vs. other activities that don't cost anything such as clinic/ED volunteering. Also note that getting EMT certification in one state doesn't automatically set you up for the next state. In my view, doing phlebotomy training is more relevant and useful than EMT. You might find you can do something with music - there are music therapists in hospitals, and you could turn a volunteer music gig into a volunteer clinical gig.

I don't see any reason to apply to programs outside GA/VA and maybe DC. The cost of moving cross-country-ish to do a 1-2 year program followed by another cross-country-ish move completely undoes any savings you see in lower tuition. Having UCSD extension on your list is madness.

The formal postbacs have pros and cons. I suggest not getting overly excited about linkage, unless you choose a program that is famous for linkage such as Goucher or Bryn Mawr. If your academic record is sustained in hard science (don't be too confident that you'll be getting A's in the med school prereqs - these classes are the graveyard of dreams), then you should be free to apply fairly broadly to programs that will offer you scholarships, vs. being tied to a lower value linkage.

In general, with your GPA, you can make this decision on location. If you want to stay in GA, then just focus on the schools nearby and how they allow students to get the med school prereqs done. Avoid community college and online, for best results. Devour the web pages for the local schools - what do they offer for summer, extension, postbac, nonmatriculated, 5th year?

Search SDN for "DIY" to see how others have rolled their own postbacs.

Best of luck to you.

 

[SquishyMonster90]

The only reason I had CA on the list is because I could live with family and put my stuff in storage. If we did the CA thing, we would also try to make it permanent and stay over there for medical school. CA is my ultimate destination as the west coast is where I would like to "settle down." But you're right, it probably would be wiser to stick to the east coast and try west coast for med school or residency.

I chose EMT because it still gets me clinical hours, even if it is "cookie cutter." It also gets me out of my waitressing job which I DESPISE. I also live in Atlanta where EMS is in high demand, so I figured it was a good way to go. I wanted to do something like EMS as opposed to just straight volunteering so that I can show adcoms that I'm dedicated to medicine since my previous career is wildly different. I'm hoping my music career and exploits as a sound designer/composer for film and having an album released will be enough to distinguish me as not cookie cutter.

Thanks for the advice! I'll do more research on the GA/VA schools! I think Im going to at least apply for a couple schools for Fall 2016 and see what happens!