So I'm at ends with my premed counselor here at college. I asked for an honest assessment of my progress and chances of getting into medical school, and she told me I should forget medical school and look at postbacc program first, that being said, here is the skinny on my status.
ECs:
4 Year USMC Infantry (2 deployments iraq/afghan)
2 Years EMT 911 and private
6 Years Critical Care Flight Paramedic in 911 & private
-> Both of which, was a lead field training officer, and clinical supervisor.
2 Year Paramedic-tech in local high volume trauma center ER
4 Years Volunteering at the local 911 EMS agency with multiple certs for ROSC pts, deliveries, successful RSIs, etc.
2 Years as Founder and operator of a nonprofit program "baby proofing" homes for elderly and disabled people, as well as providing home improvements and repair for those in need. (grip tape on floors, building banisters, repairs to homes, etc to prevent avoidable injury/illness)
Member of the Student Veteran Affairs Club (only college related EC)
Education:
Double associates in emergency medical services & general science (3.7 GPA) @ Community college
Bachelors in Kinesiology - minor in public health - focus in premed (3.61 overall - 3.4 SGPA)
PALS / ACLS / CPR Instructor / TCCC / ITLS / FP-C / NRP certified
But because I have a C in general chemistry 2, B's in life science physics, gen chem 1, and orgo 1 : She told me even with an MCAT score of 510+ I should plan on postbacc programs.
I was also considering taking a year and doing private military contracting (search and rescue in Baghdad) as a flight paramedic and dedicated an entire year to studying for MCAT, but I'm approaching 30 and feel like I'm racing the clock as it is. That being said, I'm really not interested in anything that prolongs my admission to medical school, especially since postbacc programs around here range from 25-35k.
It should also be mentioned that until my senior year in college (currently) at the age of 28, throughout my entire educational career I had to work two jobs while attending school, and volunteered, which is obviously the reason for so many B's on my transcript, because as soon as I cut down to only worked under 20 hours a week, i got straight As. For nontraditional students who have to work to feed and shelter themselves while attending school, obtaining GPAs above 3.5 seems almost impossible (regardless of how much I studied, how many monsters I drank, or how many DAYS I locked myself in the library.)
Thoughts? She seems adamant about doing a postbacc program, or applying to DO schools instead, but she has a reputation of being overly harsh. (She advised my best friend, an army ranger that graduated last year with a 3.8 - and he went against everything she said - and he got into duke on his first app) I don't think I'm ready just yet to give up on medical school, what'd you guys think?
ECs:
4 Year USMC Infantry (2 deployments iraq/afghan)
2 Years EMT 911 and private
6 Years Critical Care Flight Paramedic in 911 & private
-> Both of which, was a lead field training officer, and clinical supervisor.
2 Year Paramedic-tech in local high volume trauma center ER
4 Years Volunteering at the local 911 EMS agency with multiple certs for ROSC pts, deliveries, successful RSIs, etc.
2 Years as Founder and operator of a nonprofit program "baby proofing" homes for elderly and disabled people, as well as providing home improvements and repair for those in need. (grip tape on floors, building banisters, repairs to homes, etc to prevent avoidable injury/illness)
Member of the Student Veteran Affairs Club (only college related EC)
Education:
Double associates in emergency medical services & general science (3.7 GPA) @ Community college
Bachelors in Kinesiology - minor in public health - focus in premed (3.61 overall - 3.4 SGPA)
PALS / ACLS / CPR Instructor / TCCC / ITLS / FP-C / NRP certified
But because I have a C in general chemistry 2, B's in life science physics, gen chem 1, and orgo 1 : She told me even with an MCAT score of 510+ I should plan on postbacc programs.
I was also considering taking a year and doing private military contracting (search and rescue in Baghdad) as a flight paramedic and dedicated an entire year to studying for MCAT, but I'm approaching 30 and feel like I'm racing the clock as it is. That being said, I'm really not interested in anything that prolongs my admission to medical school, especially since postbacc programs around here range from 25-35k.
It should also be mentioned that until my senior year in college (currently) at the age of 28, throughout my entire educational career I had to work two jobs while attending school, and volunteered, which is obviously the reason for so many B's on my transcript, because as soon as I cut down to only worked under 20 hours a week, i got straight As. For nontraditional students who have to work to feed and shelter themselves while attending school, obtaining GPAs above 3.5 seems almost impossible (regardless of how much I studied, how many monsters I drank, or how many DAYS I locked myself in the library.)
Thoughts? She seems adamant about doing a postbacc program, or applying to DO schools instead, but she has a reputation of being overly harsh. (She advised my best friend, an army ranger that graduated last year with a 3.8 - and he went against everything she said - and he got into duke on his first app) I don't think I'm ready just yet to give up on medical school, what'd you guys think?
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