Who else started from scratch as undergraduates?

[riverjib]

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I noticed many of the posts here are from those who either didn't do well undergrad (or did well in other majors and subsequent careers) and who have decided to go the post-bacc route, or from those who have achieved higher degrees. I never finished my bachelor's degree. I started out in engineering, had to drop down to part-time to work full-time to help my family stay afloat, and during this time realized that my heart wasn't in engineering...in fact, I had no idea I wanted to do, and I wasn't in the position to pay for classes that weren't a means to an end.

Purely incidentally, I started working in the medical field. I needed a "real job" that paid the bills while I hoped to stumble upon what I wanted to do when I grew up. A few years later, after some soul-searching and a life-changing medical/surgical mission to Ecuador, I decided that medicine was it. By then, it was six years since I took my introductory science classes, and I knew I would have to start from scratch rather than simply picking up where I left off.

I took (well, "re-took") some of those classes at a reputable community college. I eventually transferred to an honors program at a state school with a 4.0 GPA, knowing full well that I'd be at a disadvantage and have to prove my worth on the MCAT. I'm studying for the MCAT, and I've maintained my GPA in upper-level science courses. I've volunteered, become part of AmeriCorps, presented research at national conferences, and edited an undergraduate research journal.

The funny thing is that I while I certainly don't fit in as an overachieving traditional student, I don't fit in any better amongst what I feel is the newly "traditional non-traditonal" crowd. I sometimes wish my undergraduate career was a flop that could easily be corrected with a stellar post-bac transcript, or one that wasn't stellar but led me to the JD/MS/PhD degrees so many non-traditional students today have. The truth is I'm a product of difficult family circumstances that simply led me to so much self-doubt that I decided not to return to school until I could focus on myself instead of them...and until I knew what I really wanted to do.

I've done all the "right things" for a traditional student, but I feel completely out of place. I'm not looking for validation...I'll learn where I really stand when I apply and I'm either accepted rejected, and I ask what I can do to improve my application. What I'm really looking for here is other students who are like me to tell their stories. I want to hear from those of you who are undergraduates now (or were) in their late 20's, or 30's, or 40's. I'm just curious. I'm in a huge state school that is 25% pre-med, and the "non-trads" are either grad students or those who only took a year or two off.

 

[johncronejr]

I started all over in 2006 working on a bachelors. I did one year of college in 1986 but pledging a fraternity really distracted me...well that along with all the women was just way too much for a 20 year old fresh out of active duty for the military. I left after that failed year and went to work for the next 20 years.

Since starting back I have maintained a 3.95 (science gpa of 4.0). Spanish 1 was my lone B. I am nearing my senior year rapidly and am trying to decide if I want to attend 3 years of PT school or go for the brass ring and attend medical school. I am very interested in the field of rehabilitation. I realize that I would be 49 when I graduated medical school, but I figure that I will be 49 then no matter if I am a doctor or selling Ray Bans at Sun Hut.

PT is very interesting, but I am intrigued with the challenge and autonomy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

I applaud the job you have done riverjib. Bravo!

 

[riverjib]

Johncronejr, that's great!! Thanks for your story...you're clearly capable of doing whatever it it that you choose to do 🙂 I hope to see you in med school. If not, you can help me (or my family) as we continue to trash our joints on the basketball court lol!!

Anyone else?

 

[sgtbrushes]

I don't know if there really is a "traditional non-traditional" student, even on SDN. Yes, there are some students here with J.D.,s PharmDs, PhDs. But there are a lot of people with a B.A. or B.S. And then there are people like me, no degree whatsoever, got out of the military and finally started college. Some are married, some have kids, etc. Don't be discouraged because you're a non-trad starting from scratch. You've got the grades, and you've got the support system. You'll do great.

 

[riverjib]

I don't know if there really is a "traditional non-traditional" student, even on SDN. Yes, there are some students here with J.D.,s PharmDs, PhDs. But there are a lot of people with a B.A. or B.S. And then there are people like me, no degree whatsoever, got out of the military and finally started college. Some are married, some have kids, etc. Don't be discouraged because you're a non-trad starting from scratch. You've got the grades, and you've got the support system. You'll do great.

Thanks, Sgt, for the words of encouragement. I agree that the "trad non-trad" statement was not the best wording. It just seems like so many of the non-trads here either did something exemplary, or are only non-trad in the sense that they've taken an extra year or two. I love reading everyone's stories, but I just hoped to start a forum for those of us who really did start this later in the game, without post-bacc classes and higher degrees. I'm really not discouraged, but I'd like to hear more stories like ours, in one thread 🙂

 

[EdLongshanks]

Thanks, Sgt, for the words of encouragement. I agree that the "trad non-trad" statement was not the best wording. It just seems like so many of the non-trads here either did something exemplary, or are only non-trad in the sense that they've taken an extra year or two. I love reading everyone's stories, but I just hoped to start a forum for those of us who really did start this later in the game, without post-bacc classes and higher degrees. I'm really not discouraged, but I'd like to hear more stories like ours, in one thread 🙂

I know what you mean about non-trads being all over the place. Some of us, like you, never finished our undergrad but have excellent GPA's. Some are trying to fix bad GPA's. I see one guy who was a child prodigy and started college too early for his maturity level and is now trying to fix this in his mid-twenties. I'm 46.

I guess the point of all this is that "non-trad" is a negative term. It is like "independent" in poltics, it only defines what we aren't. We aren't people high school seniors who walked through undergrad in 4 years with a National Merit Scholarship and a 3.8 GPA and are now looking to walk into a cushy position in medical school with Daddy's money behind us.

Non-trad means that at least one of these elements is missing. Either we are having to work our way through school on our own money, OR we are finishing the pre-med process much later, OR our GPA is way low and we are having to fix it, etc.

The virtue of this forum is that we don't get the comments that you see in other venues. "Dude, you'e THIRTY, you're TOO OLD. Just give it up now and buy a walker with attached tennis balls"

 

[Rickybobby]

I am also among those who are beginning from scratch so to speak. I'm taking full-time classes at a school where the average age is around 20, I'm 27. That alone creates somewhat of a disconnect.

It's difficult to pigeon-hole any diverse group of people and the same holds for this website. I find that when I read posts I begin to judge myself based on the creds of others who are writing. I realize that's a mistake; although, everyone is vying for a coveted spot in medical school, we still approach it from many different angles. Some successful and some not.

In that respect you,me and everyone else here -regardless of age- are the same. It's our approach, background, life-experiences that are different.

it's difficult to balance "fitting in" with "standing out." I always try to find a common thread, some perfect combination that will equal acceptance. But, I also think, if someone just like me was accepted then maybe my spot was filled. Who needs two of the same?

Anyway, quite the ramble. Wish you the best OP!

RB

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I am also among those who are beginning from scratch so to speak. I'm taking full-time classes at a school where the average age is around 20, I'm 27. That alone creates somewhat of a disconnect.

It's difficult to pigeon-hole any diverse group of people and the same holds for this website. I find that when I read posts I begin to judge myself based on the creds of others who are writing. I realize that's a mistake; although, everyone is vying for a coveted spot in medical school, we still approach it from many different angles. Some successful and some not.

In that respect you,me and everyone else here -regardless of age- are the same. It's our approach, background, life-experiences that are different.

it's difficult to balance "fitting in" with "standing out." I always try to find a common thread, some perfect combination that will equal acceptance. But, I also think, if someone just like me was accepted then maybe my spot was filled. Who needs two of the same?

Anyway, quite the ramble. Wish you the best OP!

RB

That's why I gave up on doing what I wanted to do seven years ago. Now it's the time to start a new life doing what I want to do.

 

[riverjib]

I am also among those who are beginning from scratch so to speak. I'm taking full-time classes at a school where the average age is around 20, I'm 27. That alone creates somewhat of a disconnect.

It's difficult to pigeon-hole any diverse group of people and the same holds for this website. I find that when I read posts I begin to judge myself based on the creds of others who are writing. I realize that's a mistake; although, everyone is vying for a coveted spot in medical school, we still approach it from many different angles. Some successful and some not.

In that respect you,me and everyone else here -regardless of age- are the same. It's our approach, background, life-experiences that are different.

it's difficult to balance "fitting in" with "standing out." I always try to find a common thread, some perfect combination that will equal acceptance. But, I also think, if someone just like me was accepted then maybe my spot was filled. Who needs two of the same?

Anyway, quite the ramble. Wish you the best OP!

RB

I know exactly how you feel. I went back to school at 26, and it was so funny listening to undergrads talk about feeling so "old" as 20 approached. I started working full-time at that age, and I was used to hearing how young I was when we celebrated my birthdays at work. What was even more disconcerting was when I realized how immature my fellow pre-meds were. I'd spent so much time with physicians and nurses who were older, and even the medical students and residents in their 20's seemed so much more mature than the students in my classes.

Of course, now that I'm graduating, the (now 21-year-olds) seem infinitely more mature than they did when we all started this process together. It's the first time I've really considered how much people mature during those (traditional) college years. Of course, those who are still serious applicants had to grow up to get this far.

Still, it feels funny when my classmates ask me how old I am and they're shocked when I say I'm 30...it makes me feel old. Aside from the few real friends I've made (mostly graduate students), I don't really tell my story to the other pre-meds in my program unless they specifically ask. So they assume I'm pretty much the same age they are. That's definitely flattering, but it doesn't change the LOOKS of shock I get when I say I'm 30...lol! By my age, they'll be attending physicians!

Fortunately, I still work part-time in a clinical setting with health professionals who are constantly going back to school (at all ages)...techs in nursing school, nurses who are now in PA or med school, non-trad med students...many of whom already have kids and mortgages.

I know I'll stand out among the traditional students, but I read an interesting article in the New England Journal of Medicine:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/3/224

This is worth reading. It illustrates our reality, and is written from the point of view of a successful non-trad student. He brings up a lot of good points, but the one that's already hit home with me is that traditional medical students are (in my words, not his) academic machines who are unencumbered by responsibilities and accustomed to processing information quickly and efficiently. This is veering off-topic, though...

I'm rambling quite a bit, too. It's good to hear from others who are doing the full bachelor's degree later in life before applying, and trying to balance between fitting in and standing out.

 

[kebertxela]

I'm 26 and starting from scratch as an undergrad. Just finishing up my first semester at a state university. At midterm my GPA was 3.8, and I believe it's gone up since then. It's a lot easier than I expected, and the fact that I'm a nontraditional student has allowed me to develop close relationships with most of my instructors, as they tend to see that I'm the most inquisitive and confident student they have. They tend to be willing to go the extra nine yards for me if I want to discuss anything with them.

One kink is that this university's pre-med program is a joke, and I'm basically on my own as far as managing my academic requirements to get into med school. I never assumed it would be any other way, so that's not a big deal for me. I can see how it might be for someone else who was expecting a lot of support from their school. Even peer support is basically nonexistent here. Graduating seniors who are about to enter med school are encouraged to enter into a peer mentoring program the school offers, but in my experience the advice they offer is universally bad. They don't really know what they're talking about. Luckily, I have some connections in (MD) and near (medical research PhD) the field who can give me any supplemental info I might need.

As the OP mentions, the MCAT is where we're really going to be proving anything. It's the only thing I have to go out of my way to prepare for, and I'm not particularly concerned about that either. I've already taken one practice session of it, even before I enrolled at this university. I took it cold, with no preparation at all. While the result was not impressive, it was adequate for entry into some of the less prestigious med schools. I see the next 3 years as nothing but developing the academic talents I'll need to do better on the MCAT. I'll accept nothing less than a 40R.

My advice for someone else who is starting from scratch, or who is considering doing so, is not to second-guess yourself. The fact that you're not a kid fresh out of high school is an advantage, not a disadvantage, in succeeding as an undergraduate.

 

[ForrestG]

The funny thing is that I while I certainly don't fit in as an overachieving traditional student, I don't fit in any better amongst what I feel is the newly "traditional non-traditonal" crowd. I sometimes wish my undergraduate career was a flop that could easily be corrected with a stellar post-bac transcript, or one that wasn't stellar but led me to the JD/MS/PhD degrees so many non-traditional students today have.

Maybe none of us feel like we fit in, and if we just talked to each other more we would discover a common bond?

I felt out of place in my Chem 2 class at first. It was filled with nontrads, but I assumed they were all the 24-27 year old slow-to-grow-up type, not the 30+ married with kids and previous successful career types (like me). Turned out that the majority of the nontrads were successful in other careers or were married or had kids, and most were older than they looked. And nontrads aside, my favorite person in the class was an 18 year old tomboy girl whose dad was trying to run her college career (I could relate). Anyway, I doubt you are as unique as you think. 😛

 

[ForrestG]

I was used to hearing how young I was when we celebrated my birthdays at work.

LOL. I can relate. I had my oldest son at 19, graduated college at 21 and started my engineering job, bought a house at 22. People at work called me kiddo, and some of my son's friends' parents were closer to MY parents' ages than mine.

I think that history of being so young and awesome 😉 made this process of being a "non-trad" premed even more painful!

 

[zootycoon]

I too pretty much started from scratch at 26 yrs old. I had taken some college courses right out of high school to get an A.S degree and work as an x-ray tech. After working for several years I realized I wanted to do more and went back to school for a bachelor's in Biology in order to apply for medical school. I was married at this point with a mortgage and other responsibilities to worry about. Took me 3 years and yes it was funny at times to hear the students that were 20 or 21 yrs describe themselves as "so old" ha ha. It wasn't easy but it was well worth it as I have been accepted and will start medical school next year. I can't say I mind being a non trad medical student as my years working in the hospital gave me invaluable insight into what I wanted to do and what it is like in the hospital setting. I also don't think I was mature enough back in my early college years to have gone pre-med then straight to medical school.

 

[flybry2000]

Ah yes,

Fellow "Non-trads", it's very refreshing to hear your testimonials. I'm twenty-seven, and have my B.S. in biology. I'm applying to dental school next year. In a nutshell, I partied my last year of undergrad, screwed up a semester, picked up the pieces and graduated on time. Took three years to "grow up", and realized the significance of DS, and got my ass in gear. I've been studying solid for the past two months, and going strong. This will be my second time taking the DAT's. I stress, I get cocky, I do good on practice problems, then I get destroyed on others. But there is nothing else I want to do with myself, and I trudge through the muddy fields of self-sabotage, anxiety, and minor distractions. In other words, it took me a little while to get back on track. My best advice is that "Nothing comes easy, and if it does it wasn't earned." Good luck to all the prospective students that are truly committed to their proffession of choice, and improving the quality of life. 😉

(Soon to be)Dr. Villescas

 

[riverjib]

Maybe none of us feel like we fit in, and if we just talked to each other more we would discover a common bond?

I felt out of place in my Chem 2 class at first. It was filled with nontrads, but I assumed they were all the 24-27 year old slow-to-grow-up type, not the 30+ married with kids and previous successful career types (like me). Turned out that the majority of the nontrads were successful in other careers or were married or had kids, and most were older than they looked. And nontrads aside, my favorite person in the class was an 18 year old tomboy girl whose dad was trying to run her college career (I could relate). Anyway, I doubt you are as unique as you think. 😛

I think my problem is that I started in a class like this, where it was impossible to make assumptions about anyone. Since I was essentially repeating basic sciences while supporting myself, I chose a reputable community college. My classes were actually harder there than they are at the (relatively prestigious) school to which I transferred, and the students were much more interesting. I'm in the honors program and surrounded by classmates who are currently interviewing at (or already accepted to) Hopkins, Duke, and Yale. They're bright, determined, and have had everything I hope I can provide my own kids. But they're essentially all the SAME. The students in my classes at the community college were more interested in learning for the sake of learning, and were generally appreciative of the opportunity to learn in a classroom setting.

Now that I only interact with stellar traditional students and come on this board for admissions input, I just want to hear other non-trad stories. While I think it's terrific that lawyers, PhDs, and other professionals have chosen to return to school, I never made it that far. I really like hearing from other smart and family-oriented people who are finally going for their first bachelors degree, for whatever reason.

Thanks for everyone's input! These stories are encouraging...keep them coming!!

 

[MrFoot]

Also starting from scratch..finishing my first semester with a 4.0 and i couldnt be happier, I didnt even get through 10th grade because of a very rocky home life and was working full time at the age of 16.
at the age of 26 i decided to get my GED and do what i always knew i should have been. Recieved my GED about 7 months ago and have qualified for the honors program at my community college which i will be transferring from next fall.

I have the drive and determination and im just starting to realize that i AM smart enough to do it!!


* --- im pre-med, not pre-pod....havent made a definite choice as of yet, but i have time to do so 🙂 v --- *

 

[riverjib]

Also starting from scratch..finishing my first semester with a 4.0 and i couldnt be happier, I didnt even get through 10th grade because of a very rocky home life and was working full time at the age of 16.
at the age of 26 i decided to get my GED and do what i always knew i should have been. Recieved my GED about 7 months ago and have qualified for the honors program at my community college which i will be transferring from next fall.

I have the drive and determination and im just starting to realize that i AM smart enough to do it!!

Awesome!!! You're hardcore 🙂 I can't wait to someday be your colleague!

 

[FaceInTheCrowd]

I love reading everyone's stories. It's quite inspiring. 🙂

I'm also starting from scratch. I'm almost 25 and will be starting my journey at the local CC in January as a full-time student. The plan is to eventually transfer to the nearest university, which is about an hour train ride away.

I dropped out of high school during my freshman year. A few months later I started taking correspondence high school courses, but soon put my education on the back-burner to work full-time. Over the years I worked in hotels, restaurants, dabbled in freelance travel and entertainment writing, and even did some voice over work. I was homeless twice.

Last year I decided to focus on my education, and I finally received my high school diploma about 11 months ago. I got myself back on my feet and six months ago, after some soul-searching, something clicked and I made the decision to follow my heart into medicine. I thought I had screwed up my life and ruined my chances, but now I'm learning that it's never too late. So...that's where I am now.