I am a 33-yr old single Mom of 2 kids(6 & 7yrs) with a successful business career. I always wanted to become a doctor and have finally decided to go for it. I completed my bachelor’s in business with a 3.9 GPA, with some Math and Science classes, but almost none of the pre-reqs. I am planning to quit working this fall and attend school full-time, I just need to decide where. Which option is better?
Kansas
-1 in-state school to apply to (40% acceptance rate for in-state applicants)
-familial support
-already established here
-no formal post-bacc program in my area
Texas
-8 schools to apply to as in-state, assuming I establish residency (much lower acceptance rate for each individual school, around 10%)
-approx half the cost/yr with in-state tuition
-formal post-bacc program at UT-Dallas
-no family/friends
If you have any advice to offer, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Hey TeeTee,
I moved to Texas (Houston actually) for a similar reason. There are more schools out here and I find that there is more of a flavor and mix of nontrads like us striving for all things medicine. I attend UHD and currently work in the Med Center itself. The air our here is that if one strives enough and works hard enough then the opportunities will present themselves. Yes, there maybe be less of an acceptance rate per school but if you manage to become an instate resident then you’ll be paying much less than many other schools (Not counting Baylor, lol!)
I left my family back home in Orlando, I am out here by myself. Its hard sometimes but the key is to find a solid support group.
Being a single mom throws all kinds of extra variables into the mix. On paper, Texas looks like a fantastic option–but if you don’t have family support there, it’s going to be unbelievably difficult. (Or at least it would in my case…)
My kids are making huge sacrifices along with me in order to do this… and knowing that we are planted in an area where there is stable, consistent family support for them during this time is the only reason we will NOT leave Tennessee for this journey. I can’t imagine how we’d do this without help and support from the family!
Even during the pre-req phase, my mom and dad have stepped in many a night to help out so I could study or just pick my daughter up from school because I couldn’t make it in time… It’s such a tremendous relief to not have the added strain of worry that comes with the details.
If you can develop a family-type support structure in Texas that you are comfortable with, that’s one thing… but that’s a huge “if!”
I’m learning that it takes a village to do this when you have a family!! My husband is a pilot, so while I’m not a single mom, he’s gone at night about 3-4 days a week…so it would be nearly impossible without help.
Either way–tough call. Good luck on your decision and congratulations on making the choice to leap!!! 
Julio & Carrie - Thanks so much for the encouragement. I don’t personally know any other pre-meds, so I have been anxious to hear some advice from someone who’s been there. I know familial support is a huge factor and my parents are here and so supportive, but the cost and number of schools in TX is very enticing too so I just can’t decide. I have applied to the Certificate in Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas in Richardson. I think I’ll wait until I know if I’ve been accepted to decide for sure. Thanks again 
If you plan to move to Texas for school purpose, it might be a good idea to look into residency classification. I think one is expected to live in the state for a year without attending school in other to be classified as a Texas resident.
I thought it was more like 24 months for the purpose of receiving in-state tuition etc. And the time you spend as a student does not count - I looked into it a long time ago, so not 100% sure of it…
Its 12 months. I found a link to the .pdf file as of January 2011.
See below:
http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index.cfm?Objec…
I had actually looked into this quite a bit and found the following website:
http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/reside ncy.h…
It seems to indicate that I can establish residency while attending class if I am earning enough to pay for at least half of my expenses or by purchasing a home. Or, is there anyone in Texas single and looking for a future-doctor wife? ha ha, JK! Even if I can’t manage to establish residency in the first year while I work on my pre-reqs, I think I’m ok with waiting for a year.
Thanks everyone!