Hi. I was hoping anyone could give advice, what to do next, etc…
I am a 39 year-old married male with a 2-year-old and 3-year-old. I currently work about 60 hours a week as a elementary school teacher. My wife saw that I was burning out as a teacher and asked what I really wanted to do with my life. I’d always wanted to be a doctor. She said go for it.
History:
2000 - B.S. in Government/Minor in Music - 3.42 GPA
3.15 BCPM (used AMCAS GPA calculator spreadsheet)
Went to law school after graduating undergrad. Mother committed suicide the morning of my second first semester exam. Witnessed it, gave permission to harvest organs, planned the funeral, etc., etc. Eventually took a hardship withdrawal and pursued teaching to support myself. My father took the life insurance money for himself and moved to across the continent with his new wife.
Law school GPA was not good, but I don’t think that counts for AMCAS GPA. I have been told there is a place to talk about this on the applications.
I took some graduate courses in education for continuing ed. credits for my teaching certificate. All A’s. I have a master’s in education, It was pass/fail and online. I don’t think these are counted for AMCAS GPA either.
Post-Bacc GPA so far is 3.77. I retook my science courses because they were so old. What worries me is I have A’s in everything except Orgo I and Biochem. I am likely to get a B in Orgo II (currently taking) I should be researching in the fall with my old Biochem professor, but I am not sure if that will count towards my GPA.
I withdrew three times during the post-bac. Once when the father-in-law passed, when I had my first child, and when I transferred from the community college to a regular 4-year.
I volunteer at a hospital 4-hours a week (I should have about 160 hours by now), and have shadowed a general practice MD (4 hours), Pediatrician (12 hours), and possibly a dermatologist soon as well.
I took the MCAT in May and voided my score. I thought I would have more time to prepare, but being a parent took some of that time away. I will take it again in either the spring or early summer of 2018. I could definitely see what I needed to work on.
Questions: I am most concerned about the Biochem and Organic grades affecting my ability to get in.
- Should I take more science courses after Organic II? I have not had psychology yet, and could take it, but many people I’ve talked to said I just need Khan Academy and the Kaplan or Exam Kracker’s book.
- I am pretty sure I need a high MCAT score to balance the Organic Grades. Is this thinking rational?
- Anything else I should be considering?
Thank you for your time. It’s been great reading about everyone else’s goals here.