Need some advice (premed)

[Nana8467]

Hello, I’m new here and just really needed someone to talk to about my situation. 

I’m a premed with a B.S. in Biology and I guess you could say I’m a late bloomer. After graduating I took a prep course and studied for the MCAT for about 6 months. I took the MCAT but I want to retake it to see if I can get a better score. My gpa isn’t very high so I’d like my MCAT to make up for it. I’m currently preparing for my second go at the exam while looking for hospital volunteer opportunities and scribe positions. I’ve always wanted to do both of those things but, just never got around to doing them during undergrad. I honestly spent most of my time as a full-time student studying in the library and working and that was all I could handle back then.

My family has been trying to discourage me from pursuing medicine anymore because of how long this whole process is taking me. I feel really dejected because I’m honestly trying to do my best and I know it’s taking me a long time but, I don’t know what else to do. Medicine is my dream career but my family is urging me to get another career already. I’ve been really feeling the pressure lately and have looked into working as a lab technician since I already have 2 years of experience in that field and could possibly find some positions with my current degree. I’m starting to think that doing this will be the only way I could get some peace at mind while getting my family off my back so I can continue pursuing medicine on my own.

If anyone would be kind enough to share their thoughts on this and give some advice, I’d greatly appreciate it.

[Potentiate]

Disclaimer: I took a traditional approach to med school. That being said, here’s my (limited) perspective. Your med school hopes all depend on a few factors:

a) Where you reside (province)

If you live in BC, A 3.8 GPA is great. If you live in Ontario, not so much. 

b) your Mcat score

if you meet western cutoffs, get a >95th percentile MCAT (>517), or score in the >95th percentile in CARS (>129), congratulations, you’re basically competitive for Western queens, and Mac respectively (given a 3.7+ GPA) 

c) your cGPA/wGPAs

Many people with lower GPAs still get accepted after doing grad school or another bachelors. If medical school is your only true passion, this road should seem feasible. You’d be chasing a 4.0 GPA and it may cost you between 20-60k depending on your residential situation and spending habits. 

If your desire for medical school is absolute, then go for it! What’s 4 years in the long run. You’d still be living well and enjoying your life in school (I know I did). 

In the case you choose this option, I’d recommend mapping out your goals for each year and ensuring you think you can have a competitive medical school application by the end of it all. 

[xiphoid]

1 hour ago, Potentiate said:

b) your Mcat score

if you meet western cutoffs, get a >95th percentile MCAT (>517), or score in the >95th percentile in CARS (>129), congratulations, you’re basically competitive for Western queens, and Mac respectively (given a 3.7+ GPA) 

I want to add the disclaimer that I wouldn't say getting a >95th percentile MCAT makes OP basically competitive for Queen's. Queen's is black box and a substantial part of their admissions is based on subjective review of extracurriculars/ABS. Whereas with a certain MCAT, GPA, CARS or combination thereof, you can objectively say if someone is more or less competitive for Western and Mac based on previous applicants (Western does seem to be moving away from this though with the introduction of the abbreviated ABS this cycle), we've seen time and time again that there is no analogous formula for Queen's. Those with high GPA and/or MCAT have indeed been turned down in favour of those with lower GPA and/or MCAT but "better" (according to the admissions committee) extracurriculars or lived experiences. Also from what I know (but I don't know for sure), Queen's uses the MCAT as a screening tool (i.e. higher MCAT score does not result in a higher applicant ranking, you just need to meet the cutoff in order to get to file review).

[Happy_go]

19 hours ago, Nana8467 said:

Hello, I’m new here and just really needed someone to talk to about my situation. 

I’m a premed with a B.S. in Biology and I guess you could say I’m a late bloomer. After graduating I took a prep course and studied for the MCAT for about 6 months. I took the MCAT but I want to retake it to see if I can get a better score. My gpa isn’t very high so I’d like my MCAT to make up for it. I’m currently preparing for my second go at the exam while looking for hospital volunteer opportunities and scribe positions. I’ve always wanted to do both of those things but, just never got around to doing them during undergrad. I honestly spent most of my time as a full-time student studying in the library and working and that was all I could handle back then.

My family has been trying to discourage me from pursuing medicine anymore because of how long this whole process is taking me. I feel really dejected because I’m honestly trying to do my best and I know it’s taking me a long time but, I don’t know what else to do. Medicine is my dream career but my family is urging me to get another career already. I’ve been really feeling the pressure lately and have looked into working as a lab technician since I already have 2 years of experience in that field and could possibly find some positions with my current degree. I’m starting to think that doing this will be the only way I could get some peace at mind while getting my family off my back so I can continue pursuing medicine on my own.

If anyone would be kind enough to share their thoughts on this and give some advice, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Without any of your stats, nobody here can offer good advice.