Already Graduated UG, What Next?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hi all, looking for a bit of advice.</p>

<p>Already graduated with a degree in Mathematics with >3.6 GPA, decent (less than my cum GPA but not by much) bcpm GPA, took most of the med school prereqs while in UG (struggled with the choice between Med School and career during UG, so was covering all of my bases while I decided), etc. Very involved in some great (medically related) ECs while at school, but elected to forego medical school as I felt I needed some time to experience life and was not ready to commit to something that I was not reasonably sure was the right path for me.</p>

<p>Currently working as an actuary in the health sector and wondering what the next step is for me. I like my job for the most part, but I would like to start doing things to help determine if an MD is my utimate goal or if I would like to continue developing my career as an actuary. I have the job to answer the actuary side of it, but what about the other half of the equation? Is it possible to volunteer after one has already graduated? For reference, I live just outside of a major metro area, so there should be a pretty good amount of places to choose from. Do hospitals, etc. accept people that are not students when it comes to volunteering/job shadowing? I need to decide whether or not medical school is for me, and to do that I am going to need to expose myself to the day-to-day rigors associated with practicing medicine. Any advice on this would definitely be appreciated.</p>

<p>Finally, if I do this and ultimately decide (however long it takes, 1 year, 4, is there a limit?) that I do want to go to medical school, what is next? I still have a few prereqs to finish (no organic chem and I need another biology class, gen chem, physics, etc are all done). Would I complete those at my previous university? Or any university? Are there programs specifically tailored for nontraditional students like myself? I would also need to take the MCATs, but that's pretty straightforward. Also, how long do my UG grades "last?" Is there a shelf life in that it won't matter if I did well in UG if it was 10 years ago, for instance? If that is the case, as I said earlier, are there programs that I could go into where I could just retake all of the prereqs while studying for the MCATs? What about programs like that that would accommodate me working a full-time job (i.e. night classes)?</p>

<p>Anyway, I am not looking for an answer in regards to what I should do with my life, just looking for advice on how to figure it out for myself, and what sort of resources are already in place for people like me. Thanks all, I appreciate any help that you can give.</p>

2

<p>Edit: See #3, Thanks, sorry for long-winded initial post.</p>

3

<p>Synopsis:</p>

<p>Struggled with MD vs. Career in college, working as a health actuary now, looking for tips on–</p>

<ol>
<li><p>What resources are available to graduates as far as decision-making aides (i.e. is general volunteering still an option? other options?)</p></li>
<li><p>How long does UG performance matter (i.e. if a 31 year old applies to med school, do his/her grades from UG matter at all, or is it just accomplishments since then?)</p></li>
<li><p>Almost finished prereqs in college, still have a few classes. Best way to pick those up while still working full-time?</p></li>
<li><p>General advice for making a decision after college.</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>I mostly skimmed. But here we go.</p>

<p>First, your UG grades will not “expire”. They will remain an essential and important part of your application no matter how long you wait. However, if your pre-reqs may “expire” if it has been too long, while the grades will count, some schools will consider them outdated (as you will have long forgotten the material). This is school specific and something you should look up.</p>

<p>Next, in my experience, most organizations prefer non-students! To my knowledge, this is because they don’t go home during the summers, are usually more responsible and mature, etc. So you shouldn’t have a problem.</p>

<p>Last, there is such a thing as a post-bacc, some of which are meant for non-traditional students who have yet to finish their pre-reqs. You probably don’t need an SMP, which is usually meant for students with low GPAs who have already scored well on the MCAT. They take higher level bio classes or the first year of medical school to prove that they can handle the course load. However, you can go through a specialized program to do your basic sciences or do it yourself at a local university. A particularly good source of info for post-bacc info is here:
[Post-bacc</a> FAQ | Postbaccalaureate Programs | Student Doctor Network](<a href=“Post-bacc FAQ | Student Doctor Network”>Post-bacc FAQ | Student Doctor Network)</p>

5

<p>1) yes, you can still volunteer. Hospitals especially seem to like older and more mature adults who are reliable and will stay more than a semester or two.</p>

<p>2) your undergrad grades will always count. Your UG GPA will be one of the first things med schools look at when they consider your application. But a sub 3.6 GPA does not equal failure. What it means is that your MCAT score needs to be strong (32+) and your personal statement, ECs and LORs need to be very, very good compensate for the GPA. As non-traditional student, schools may weigh these things and your more recent grades on the pre-reqs you’ve taken post graduation more heavily than your undergrad record. Make sure your don’t get anything below an A on the pre-reqs you still need to take. </p>

<p>3) You don’t need to formal post-bacc program. Those are full time programs and since those are mostly offered thru private universities, they are also often expensive. You can take your remaining pre-reqs thru your local state college, though you should try to find a nearby college with the strongest academic reputation you can. (IOW, state flagship, not unknown directional state U. If it’s choice of a private U with a strong academic reputation or directional state U–go to the private.) Some of the courses you need may even be offered as evening or/and weekend classes. </p>

<p>My D1 was a non-trad with a physics & math degree and an undergrad GPA of 3.4. She did as I outlined (lots of volunteering-- way more than most fresh-out-school applicants; 36 MCAT; all As on her remaining pre-reqs; excellent LORs including 1 from her clinical supervisor of EMT-I class; and very strong personal statement) She applied widely, including to her state med schools and to other schools known to be friendly to non-traditional students. She was accepted to one and will be starting in July.</p>

6

<p>You may also want to check with your UG school to see what support they can provide. I know my D’s UG was tremendously helpful throughout the process, even though she didn’t apply until 2 years after graduation. They may also have other suggestions for volunteer opportunities.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

7

<p>Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate the help!</p>

<p>Looks like the first step is to start calling some local hospitals. Wish me luck!</p>