Considering a Change. HELP!

<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>So I have been out of high school for a few years now. I was originally a pre-med/chemistry major. However, my sophomore year of college, I decided that I didn't think it was right for me because I wasn't sure how I could pay for med school and I wasn't sure I wanted to go to school for so many years. I switched my major to theater (big difference!) and took a B in most of the science classes I was in because I didn't see the point. Since then, I've bounced around majors and taken a year off from school.</p>

<p>But every semester, I consider changing back to pre-med. I'm having that thought now. I can't shake this feeling that it is what I should be doing.</p>

<p>However, would I even get in now that I took B's in some of my science classes and I've bounced around so much? And then there's the MCAT; it's been a few years since I took Biology and Chemistry, so I would have to start from square one. So, I guess what I am asking is, is it worth it? Do I have a chance? And how do I know if it's right for me?</p>

<p>Have you done any physician shadowing or clinical volunteering?</p>

<p>If not, that would be the first place to start. Find out if this appeals to you on realistic level instead of romanticizing the what-might-have-been.</p>

<p>Clinical volunteering doesn’t need to be done at a hospital. It can be done at stand alone clinics, group or nursing homes, a long-term care facility or rehab hospital.</p>

<p>There are many non-traditional students in medical schools who took the long & crooked path to med school. It can be done, but you will have to work very hard to repair your science GPA. You will need to review thoroughly then complete the rest of your your pre-reqs. If you do retake your previous science classes it’s vital that you earn As in them to demonstrate you’re serious about medicine this time around.</p>

<p>Also please be aware that med school pre-reqs have changed since you last took science classes. Be sure you get current advice from the health profession advisor at any college you matriculate at.</p>

<p>I am working on doing a few job shadows right now, actually. And I only took a B in Organic Chem 1 and University Physics 1. The other B was in Calc 3. Would you suggest retaking those classes?</p>

<p>Not just job shadows, but you’ll need to do some actual volunteering in clinical medical settings to get a better feel for if you like working around sick, injured and stressed out people. Med schools will expect substantial amounts of clinical volunteering anyway.</p>

<p>The rule of thumb is not to repeat a class if you got a C or better, but to take higher level coursework in the same field and ace it.</p>

<p>The exception to this would be your Calc 3 class. You’ll need stats for the MCAT, but you won’t need any higher math than what you’ve already taken.</p>

<p>Would it look bad to retake the the classes anyway? Because it has been about 3 years, I feel like to would be really nice to retake those classes. Unless it would hurt my chances more than help. I have good scholarships and the school I’m going to isn’t costing me much at all.</p>

<p>If you need to take refresher courses, then do so. Just make sure you ace them. You can address why you retook classes you passed in your primary or secondaries.</p>

<p>Retaking and earning less than an A in the retake can be damaging to your application. (Especially since you already earned B’s the first time.)</p>

<p>Since you are thinking of taking the courses just to refresh rather than get the grade, have you thought of just auditing a class? In our area the community college professors are very approachable and allow students to sit in on a class without paying. It’s no extra burden on them since they won’t be grading your work. Obviously you wouldn’t be able to participate in the labs unless you propose to be a lab aid and hep out for free. They might go for it.</p>

<p>You can find sample tests and answers to course exams all over the internet. You can do them yourself.</p>

<p>You are really going to have to be self disciplined though. It might not take you long to remember things once you sit down to do it.</p>

<p>I was going to suggest auditing the coursework. </p>

<p>Audits need to reported (and official transcripts sent) on the AMCAS–even though no grade was earned.</p>

<p>See:</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf”>https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Well, I know I would get an A if I retook the classes, because I was set to get a high A before I completely slacked off when I changed my major. Plus, I just don’t do B’s usually.</p>

<p>I guess I’ll have to decide which would look better on an application to med school, a retaken class that resulted in a higher GPA or an audit. The audit would probably look better in the long run, I guess.</p>