Nutrition to Medicine/Really need some advice

[MEDSCHOOLGOGO]

Hi, 

I am a nutrition student from Ryerson U, just finished my third year. I had always wanted to become a doctor when I was in high school. But because I have a low-income background and am first-gen student and immigrant, I had lots of self-doubts. I then chose to pursue the dietetics and become a Registered Dietitian. After three years of undergrad studies and various working and volunteering experiences, I gain more confidence and maturity, so I really want to switch to medicine and pursue my childhood dream. I have some questions about my next steps.

My grades:

First year (five courses/semester, full-time): 3.96 

Second year (five courses/semester, full-time): 3.99

Third year (four courses/semester, full-time): 4.00

Extra-Curricular Activities: 

2 year- Clinical experience in visiting patients, job shadowing a dietitian 

1 year - Community Diabetes Program volunteer 

Worked in a non-profit and at school in the career centre

Research assistant at a nutrition lab in my first & second year, and now doing some research with my prof 

Vice president of a student group in food policy

Have a business start-up in sports goods 

 

These are some of my questions and concerns: 

(1) Pre-requisites: I have taken science courses in my program (1 year physiology, 1 year biochem (no lab), 1 semester Gen Chem (with lab), 1 semester Organic Chem (with lab), some nutrition sciences, psychology minor). Because my sciences courses are done in my nutrition program so they may be a bit easier than the regular courses that science students take, so my concern is that med schools will not count these courses as pre-requisites. 

(2) Grades: Because I started a new student group, worked part-time and have a start-up during my third year, so I took only four courses per semester and with one online course each semester, I regretted about it as I saw that some schools like UofT and Western don't like students taking four courses. Will it really impact my application? 

(3) Extra Curricular: Most of my extra-curricular activities centred around nutrition and food, do I need more experiences? What other experiences am I missing? Any suggestions?

(4) My final undergrad year: I feel very lost when choosing courses for my final undergrad year. If I am not going to pursue dietetics, I won't need to take the nutrition professional courses. Schools like Western want students to study at least 3 courses that are published as the year of and above (e.g., fourth-year students should take fourth-year courses). But in my program, there are no such courses as fourth year. In the curriculum, there is only 1 mandatory course for my fourth year and I can choose all the courses that are either professional related or open-electives. So I am confused. Should I take the regular nutrition courses or take some science courses and pre-requisites (e.g., Stats) in my final year?

(5) MCAT: I am planning to study MCAT full-time next summer for three months and write it in August. For someone like me with only some/minimal science background, is it possible to cram all the info within three months?

 

Thanks for reading my long post. I really appreciate you help and advice.

[hopefullyRD]

Hi! 

I finished all the required courses + internships for dietetics at mcgill and am taking an extra semester to do the pre-reqs (that weren't required as part of the dietetics degree). I am planning to take the MCAT in sept 2020. Hit me up if you would like to be MCAT study buddies or simply want to connect! 

[NutritionRunner]

Take your professional courses. Dietetics is an amazing back-up plan if it takes you a while to get into medical school, or if you never get in.

Anecdotally, I know at least 2 graduates of Guelph's Applied Human Nutrition program, and at least 2 graduates of Western/Brescia's Dietetics program who were later accepted to medical school. So it is definitely possible. At least 2 of those 4 individuals obtained their RD designation before being accepted to medical school. As I said, it's a great health care back-up plan. No doubt there are many more from other programs who have also made the transition.