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Dr.Linus
I would like to make a list of schools that are non-traditional student friendly.
Case Western Reserve University
Temple
Vermont
Case Western Reserve University
Temple
Vermont
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I think it might be unwise to base your list on other people's anecdotal info, and then use other people's advice and opinions to determine which schools to apply to. Every student is unique, and an exceptional non-trad probably has a better chance in most places than a very ordinary trad. And, admissions committees change direction year to year, and so 5-year-old information may no longer be valid.
Also, what is a non-trad student? Some people think it's a 23-year-old who took a year off after undergrad. If you want to know, which schools have actually accepted applicants over 40 in recent years, that's a much more specific question and you can probably get a good answer at oldpremeds.org
I would recommend doing your research according to which schools you are interested in and will provide a quality education, period. Yeah, Vermont might be friendly, but their out of state tuition is disgustingly high.
Also, what is a non-trad student? Some people think it's a 23-year-old who took a year off after undergrad. If you want to know, which schools have actually accepted applicants over 40 in recent years, that's a much more specific question and you can probably get a good answer at oldpremeds.org
I would recommend doing your research according to which schools you are interested in and will provide a quality education, period. Yeah, Vermont might be friendly, but their out of state tuition is disgustingly high.
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i think most schools are fairly non-traditional friendly. of the schools i visited, vermont definitely seemed the most non-trad friendly. but hey, they rejected me (a non-trad) post-interview.
i don't think you should really base where you apply on what other peoples' experiences have been. there is a lot of luck in where you will or will not get into med school, and as meowmix pointed out, just because a school was non-trad friendly in the past does not mean it will necessarily want a class of non-trads this year. my class at uci supposedly has a lot of older students, but from reading past threads about uci on sdn and looking at past classes, there was no reason to believe uci would have been seeking non-trads for their class.
i don't think you should really base where you apply on what other peoples' experiences have been. there is a lot of luck in where you will or will not get into med school, and as meowmix pointed out, just because a school was non-trad friendly in the past does not mean it will necessarily want a class of non-trads this year. my class at uci supposedly has a lot of older students, but from reading past threads about uci on sdn and looking at past classes, there was no reason to believe uci would have been seeking non-trads for their class.
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Stanford ??? .. this would be news to to me if it were true.
I agree with the above posters, that you shoudl just try and apply all over and where you feel you might like to go. Just because Vandy (for example) doesn't have many non-trads might be because not too many apply. And then because not many apply, they don't accept many and it becomes an unintentioned cycle.
Besides, I think these schools are often changing their classes to reflect new ideas and trends. So you never know.
I agree with the above posters, that you shoudl just try and apply all over and where you feel you might like to go. Just because Vandy (for example) doesn't have many non-trads might be because not too many apply. And then because not many apply, they don't accept many and it becomes an unintentioned cycle.
Besides, I think these schools are often changing their classes to reflect new ideas and trends. So you never know.
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Dr.Linus
Thanks for all the responses. Your views/ideas make perfect sense. I also know that most state schools are friendly towards their state resident non-trads.
No, I am not a california resident. Hearing the woes of californian premeds, I think I am lucky that I am not a californian
No, I am not a california resident. Hearing the woes of californian premeds, I think I am lucky that I am not a californian
I didn't think Stanford was friendly toward anyone...... 
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TCOM is very family friendly I believe. It is a DO school located in Ft. Worth, a family friendly but big city environment.
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I'll also add my two cents about UCSF. I was told by both interviewers and several of the students that UCSF really likes what nontraditional students bring to the class as a whole. OHSU was the same way. In fact, OHSU has the oldest average age of first year medical students at 26. That doesn't sound very old but if you consider that most classes will be weighted heavily with 22 years olds, 26 means something. PM me if you want to discuss more. I'm not anxious to publically tell everyone just how nontraditional I am
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For my money:
Albany
U. of Pittsburgh
Why? Because they interviewed me!
I am a 36 year old whose undergraduate academic credentials are pathetic.
I spent 6 years as a paramedic, took a bunch of post-bacc classes. Kicked ass on the MCAT.
I got WL'ed at UPitt and Albany; got off WL at AMC 3 weeks ago!
Albany
U. of Pittsburgh
Why? Because they interviewed me!
I am a 36 year old whose undergraduate academic credentials are pathetic.
I spent 6 years as a paramedic, took a bunch of post-bacc classes. Kicked ass on the MCAT.
I got WL'ed at UPitt and Albany; got off WL at AMC 3 weeks ago!
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Columbia likes diversity too. Ave age is 26 and lots of people returning after other careers or time ...
Congratulations Paramed2Emed on getting into Albany !!
I bet the sunny New Hampshire summer just got a little brighter up there
Congratulations Paramed2Emed on getting into Albany !!
I bet the sunny New Hampshire summer just got a little brighter up there
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Dr.Linus
Congratulations Paramed2Emed!!
I wish you all the best in Medical school.
I wish you all the best in Medical school.
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A little off topic, but with non-trads following this thread I thought it would be easier than starting a new one.
For all of you non-trads, did you send two academic LORs? I sent one and then LORs from the PI's I've worked with. I called OSU to ask if they needed two academic, but I'm too lazy to call the other twenty some.
For all of you non-trads, did you send two academic LORs? I sent one and then LORs from the PI's I've worked with. I called OSU to ask if they needed two academic, but I'm too lazy to call the other twenty some.
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Dr.Linus
I have applied to only one school EDP as of now. I have sent 3 academic and one from my boss at work. One letter is from premed advisor. I don't know what is the optimum ratio of academic: nonacademic lors.
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i had 5 academic (3 undergrad, 2 grad), 1 committee letter from undergrad b/c i did all my prereqs back then, and 2 work/volunteer letters. that's a little overboard probably, but that's how it worked out. usually i just sent in the committee letter, which had input from all the academic and non academic letters.
i think you should have more than 1 academic letter for sure. in fact, i believe most schools require it, but i'm not certain b/c i almost always used my committee letter in place of the requirements. even though med schools are looking for people with work experience and other activities, they want to be certain that you can handle the work in med school.
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