I stumbled on this board, during my seemingly nightly “inform myself as much as possible about the cliff I may be about to dive off of” ritual…
Honestly, I’m borderline speechless. I’ve felt utterly lost during the past few months as I was coming to grips with the fact that what I’ve always wanted to do was sitting right under my nose for who knows how long, and then it suddenly jumped up and hit me upside the back of the head. I’d felt absolutely lost, and probably way past my “prime”, in doing research to prepare myself- as a 30 year old premed- for an amazingly daunting task.
This site is exactly the kind of thing that I’ve been looking for.
I don’t feel quite as uninformed as I did an hour ago. Or like I’m the only “nontraditional premed” out there anymore. So I threw my hat in the ring, joined as a member, and now I’ll start soaking in the info.
I guess I’ll post a more appropriate introduction when I pick my jaw up of the floor.
I’m grateful for those who’ve put forth the effort to create, and build, this unique community and tremendous resource.
Many Humble Thanks,
Ron
Welcome, Croyd!
I think you will find this to be a great resource for you. The members here are amazing; we have several who are MD or DO residents, quite a few medical students (DO, MD, offshore), lots of pre-meds from many different backgrounds, and a professional admissions counselor, just to mention a few.
What I love most about OPM is the supportive, honest environment. If your plan isn’t realistic, people will tell you that, but then they will also give you ideas for improving your plan. Unlike another pre-med bulletin board (which I still surf regularly), the advice is accurate and if somebody is not sure about what they are telling you, they will say so and give ideas for where you can find the correct answer.
Amy
Hey Dude! Another West Coast person! How far along in the process are you?
Welcome! Yea Ive been out on the cliff (I sometimes feel on the edge now!) Anything just ask and good luck! 
and hey I’m 41 now!
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I’d felt absolutely lost, and probably way past my “prime”, in doing research to prepare myself- as a 30 year old premed- for an amazingly daunting task.
Ron, don’t ever feel you are way past your prime. Some of us just come into the prime of life a little later. Like me. I was 52 when I started med school.
Welcome to our group! You’ll find endless support and information here!
Hi, Ron. I’m new here, too, and I get the same impressions. My thanks to everyone who contributes here and makes it such a welcoming place.
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Hey Dude! Another West Coast person! How far along in the process are you?
SoCal can be a bit brutal, am I wrong LilBird? In answer to your question, I’m just beginning the process. I’m currently enrolled at the local CC, preparing to tranfer to UCR. They’ve got an awesome satellite program( although it’s highly competitive. But what med school track isn’t?!) with the Geffen School of Med at UCLA. I’m busting my @ss, crossing my fingers, and hoping for a little serendipity…
Speaking of Serendipity, after viewing the wonderful, welocoming replies to my post, I decided to take the plunge and pen a more fitting introduction of myself to all the denizens here ( it may be a bit longwinded, and hopefully not too maudlin. So I beg your indulgence here)…
I don’t know how most of you came to the decision that practicing medicine was where you wanted to pour your energies. But for me the knowledge came in a series of explosive, bone rattling epiphanies. It’s seems odd to me now, that it took me nearly thirty years and a lot of trial and error, too see what had probably been just at the periphery of my vision the whole time.
I was blessed to be born with a “disability.” I was born with a very slight case of Cerebral Palsy. I was gifted with the perfect amount of the disease. I had just enough for me to intuitively, realistically, and empirically, understand the struggles that those with disabilities must endure and ultimately overcome.But I wasn’t so afflicted that, with some effort and drive on my part, I couldn’t achieve a high measure of competence with most normal day to day tasks.
My situation gave me a high degree of empathy with those less fortunate, and at a much younger age. I can think of the tremendous doctors, physical therapists, and caring teachers that came into my life and helped me achieve the self confidence, and tough as nails attitude, to be able to do anything I set my little mind to.
Like most of you here, probably, I pursued other career tracks and other educational pursuits. But, for me, something essential was always missing. " I should be using my unique set of experiences, and gifts, to help people." A voice in the back of my mind always whispered.
But I ran from that uncomfortable idea. And I might have continued running forever, if tragedy hadn’t intervened.
Within fourteen months, a close friend lost his 13 year old daughter, and I lost two members of my family, all to entirely avoidable causes.
Everytime I’ve ever been in any hospital, I’ve always felt the inescapeable pull. And with these experiences, in particular, the voice that had always been a quiet, yet insistent whisper reached a volume I could no longer ignore.
As I watched my aunt slip away, after an incredibly valiant struggle, and as I sat, alone, at a picnic table collecting my thoughts, I finally stopped fighting it.
I didn’t know, then, exactly how, but I knew that I was meant to help people and that the true use of my talents would be in a service profession.
As I searched my heart, and soul, and did my due dilligence, the choice became increasingly clear. Doctors had always had a profound effect on my life. And it was time to give back some of the amazing gifts that I had been given.
Sure, some nights I wake up in a sheen of cold sweat, wondering if I’ve totally lost my mind. It’s too big an endeavor, it’s too cumbersome a burden.
But then, I happen- or am seemingly led- to find something unique ( like this amazing forum) and my choice is reaffirmed. My faith is bolstered.
This forum is a truly amazing resource and I’m so humbly grateful to have discovered it. Thank you so much to those of you that have put forth the effort, and time, to build this thing from the ground up. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Or unappreciated.
My goodness, was that long winded, and verbose, or what? ( Smirk)
Mea Culpa.
Humbly Grateful,
Ron
Ron,
What a fascinating story! Good luck as you pursue your dream.
Amy
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Ron,
What a fascinating story! Good luck as you pursue your dream.
Amy,
Thanks, so much. I think I really needed to hear that. Thank you so much
Amy
Croyd,
I’m a new member as well, and this is my first time posting or replying! I’ve been reading forums in the sidelines waiting for that moment where I would suddenly feel ready to engage. And Croyd, your posting was just the one!
My story is really in the making and perhaps I’ll feel more ready to tell it in time, but I wanted to just say thanks for telling yours. Sounds like a great start to your medical school statement of purpose!
FYI, to both Croyd and Lilbird, I’m originally from Redlands, California and am preparing to apply to a couple different post-bacc pre med programs out there. I’m particularly passionate about the Scripps program. Croyd, I’m curious how or why UCR or UCLA is in the picture? Are you working for your pre reqs or your bachelors degree? If pre reqs, have you considered a post bacc program?
I’m in New York now, love it, would like to attend programs out here as well, but feel its time to head back to SoCal, though not thrilled about the IE.
thanks again! Jeremy
ron!
your story is awesome!
Quote:i feel the same as you.
Sure, some nights I wake up in a sheen of cold sweat, wondering if I’ve totally lost my mind. It’s too big an endeavor, it’s too cumbersome a burden.
But then, I happen- or am seemingly led- to find something unique ( like this amazing forum) and my choice is reaffirmed. My faith is bolstered.
actually, i too, have been blessed with a disability. mine is extremely rare - i have a genetic disorder called ehlers-danlos. luckily, like you, i have been spared the worst of it.
anyway. just wanted to let you know that you truly aren’t alone. we are all right there with you, every step of the way! hope you post here often… i have found that everyone here is very open and accepting. i have not come across ANY instances where anyone has said hurtful, rude or disparaging comments. the support here is second to none.
hope to see you around more!
Susanna,
Thanks. Your story is pretty inspiring, as well. I think one of the most difficult things is accepting that this thing isn’t just going to “go away.” Once I stopped fighting it, and started trying to figure out how to go about climbing the mountain, it’s been a lot more pleasant.
Jeremy,
Welcome. I’m fairly new here, but the people on this forum are amazing, inspiring, and there’s great support here. Thanks for the kind words. Writing my story, even in brief, took some doing on my part. But I’m glad I did it.
The IE isn’t as bad as all that, man… It could be worse, you could be stuck in The OC!(Smirk) Just kidding.
Oh, the UCR/UCLA thing? Still chasing my bachelor’s. And the UCR program is right up my alley, I think. But I’ve got some time to fine tune it a bit.
Thanks for the kind words, guys
All I can say is, WOW. I am brand spankin’ new to this site, and I am seriously glad I happened upon it. I too, am starting this trail, and reading your story has been cathartic for me. This is my story too. Good luck with all your endeavors!
Safiyyah
Scripps was recommended, but I had already finished a majority of the prereqs by the time I even heard about such programs. Personally, I think they are a really good way to part with your money. The “experts” say that it matters, but when I looked closely, it looked like they choose post-bacc program students carefully, and then you get to meet everybody and if they like you, you get to go to med school. Seems like an awful lot of money to pay to be prescreened, unless you are taking the classes at a private university already. If Scripps is that hard to get into, and you are that promising, then do you really need them?
Hi Guys -
Good to know that there are other Californians out here pursuing the same dream. My wife and I live in Murrieta and the closest school with an affordable post-bac program is Cal State San Bernardino, which I was just accepted into for Fall 2006 - lools like I’ll be making the 140-mile daily commute for the next 3-years. We just sold our home and have acquired a rental that we plan to stay in until I complete the pre-reqs. My wife is a teacher at Moreno Valley Middle School and we have been REALLY reviewing our planned budget since we will shortly be living on a single income in this wayyyyyy over-priced economy! Good Luck to you all
LilBird,
How’d the snafu with the USC ADCom, work out? Did you get an interview? Do you have any idea where you’re headed for school yet? Where’d you apply?
I e-mailed USC and they gave me an extension, not a long one, but long enough to get everything in! Finally I finished a secondary!!!
Hey, isn’t that a bit of a commute? I used to communte to teach in Palmdale and EdAFB, and people came from so far cause there’s NOTHING out there. I put my O-chem stuff on tape and listened to it for my work commute. Glad I didn’t crash cause I’m boring, but it’s probably less dangerous than putting on make-up. Anytime a passenger complains about my radio choices, I pop in the “Amide” tape and that shuts them up real good.
Hopefully you’ll somehow get everything done in time. Ah, the SoCal commute! I’m lucky because I actually like driving on the freeways…
I figure I’ll move into the IE when it comes time for that particular phase. Where all did you apply, LilBird? Even though I’ve ot awhile before I get to that point, I’d be interested to hear stories about the SoCal schools. SC is right near the top of my list. But I figure I’ll be applying to quite a few places to give myself more options.
Thanks for the chuckle!
Thanks LilbirdTolMe for your thoughts on Scripps. I think you have a very good point! My interest in Post Baccs really stems from the fact that I have completed very few of the pre-reqs. For me, the support and structure combined with a strong cohort group of students in the same boat is what entices. I see that an open enrollment or non-private program would be MUCH cheaper, I’m just toying with just how much of a price to put on the benefits a formal program like Scripps can offer. I believe USC’s program is cheaper than Scripps, so there is that possibility as well.
Hey bcrashing,
That’s great that you are headed to CSUSB! I’ve taken many classes there – great school! I’m curious to know if you’ve met/heard about the pre-med advisors at CSUSB? Is there a pre-med student association or any other support they can offer? Curious also why you chose CSUSB over Cal State San Marcos or San Diego?