thereisnotry Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hi everyone, I just want to say hi and to introduce myself. I'm pretty new to these boards, and I'm definitely a non-trad. I'm a 30-year-old PhD who is doing a postdoc in a stellar lab - I should be in heaven but I am absolutely miserable, because I am NOT meant to be in research. I have been fighting that truth for almost five years now. Several major events in my life upon which I won't elaborate here have led me to an intense desire to be a MD. I feel as if I am fighting against the odds - I have a baby and a mortgage to pay. But, I also have an incredibly supportive spouse (with a steady income ) who has encouraged me to pursue this dream. So, I have decided to apply to medicine at a couple of schools this cycle. Why not? What have I got to lose? I wrote the MCAT on July 31st, and I feel pretty good about it. I'm a bit weak on the EC side of things, but I'm working on that now. I want to thank you all for sharing your experiences on these boards. They have given me some hope that I'm not the only person who isn't a 21-year-old biochem/microbiology/physiology major with a 4.0 and a 36+ MCAT score who has volunteered 20 hours a week since they were four at various hospitals, and found the time to cure cancer on the side. I am looking forward to sharing this difficult path to a medical school acceptance with you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwh333 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 welcome to the forum thereisnotry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potter Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Welcome indeed! I think it's great you are pursuing your dreams to obtain an MD after your PhD. Do you know that McMaster gives "bonus" points for having completed a graduate degree at the time you apply? You've got one definite advantage there at least Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Hi everyone, I just want to say hi and to introduce myself. I'm pretty new to these boards, and I'm definitely a non-trad. I'm a 30-year-old PhD who is doing a postdoc in a stellar lab - I should be in heaven but I am absolutely miserable, because I am NOT meant to be in research. I have been fighting that truth for almost five years now. Several major events in my life upon which I won't elaborate here have led me to an intense desire to be a MD. I feel as if I am fighting against the odds - I have a baby and a mortgage to pay. But, I also have an incredibly supportive spouse (with a steady income ) who has encouraged me to pursue this dream. So, I have decided to apply to medicine at a couple of schools this cycle. Why not? What have I got to lose? I wrote the MCAT on July 31st, and I feel pretty good about it. I'm a bit weak on the EC side of things, but I'm working on that now. I want to thank you all for sharing your experiences on these boards. They have given me some hope that I'm not the only person who isn't a 21-year-old biochem/microbiology/physiology major with a 4.0 and a 36+ MCAT score who has volunteered 20 hours a week since they were four at various hospitals, and found the time to cure cancer on the side. I am looking forward to sharing this difficult path to a medical school acceptance with you all. Welcome! Questions: Where do you live? Where are you hoping to apply? What's your undergrad cGPA (OMSAS style)? The journey to med school as an older pre-med is certainly never boring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereisnotry Posted August 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Welcome! Questions: Where do you live? Where are you hoping to apply? What's your undergrad cGPA (OMSAS style)? The journey to med school as an older pre-med is certainly never boring! Living in Toronto. Applying to U of T and Mac (for this year) If neither of those pan out, my husband and I are going to discuss applying to institutions outside the GTA-ish area (I can apply as either an Ontario, Quebec or Manitoba resident). I was pleasantly surprised by the +0.04 on the weighting for an interview at Mac as a result of the PhD. 3.85 (about average for the accepted population at both universities if my research is accurate) so I'm not too worried on the GPA end of things. Thanks everyone for welcoming me to your community Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spacko Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Your story sounds a bit similar to my own (http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30819). I've managed to turn the corner from research to medicine, and I'm sure you'll be able to do it also. It may a little work (e.g. getting more EC value on your application), but if it's where you heart is than it's totally worth it. Thirty is still quite young in the grand scheme of things, we'll both still have lots of years to practice something we really enjoy long term. Keep us posted and feel free to contact me if you have any specific inquiries that I could help you with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Living in Toronto. Applying to U of T and Mac (for this year) If neither of those pan out, my husband and I are going to discuss applying to institutions outside the GTA-ish area (I can apply as either an Ontario, Quebec or Manitoba resident). I was pleasantly surprised by the +0.04 on the weighting for an interview at Mac as a result of the PhD. 3.85 (about average for the accepted population at both universities if my research) so I'm not too worried on the GPA end of things. Thanks everyone for welcoming me to your community If you can apply broadly, go for it! Even with perfect stats, the process is a bit of a lottery. More schools = better chances Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123coco Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 If you can get IP status for QC- the great thing about being there while doing your studies is that a) med tuition is less than 5k per year day care is heavily subsidized d) cost of private school is a fraction of what other provinces are charging e) cost of living is modest relative to the GTA f) if you end up at a french school but are more comfortable writing your exams in english, you can ask to do so (my cousin is at UofM but more english than French and writes her pharmacy exams in English) ________ Porno movies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughboy Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I want to thank you all for sharing your experiences on these boards. They have given me some hope that I'm not the only person who isn't a 21-year-old biochem/microbiology/physiology major with a 4.0 and a 36+ MCAT score who has volunteered 20 hours a week since they were four at various hospitals, and found the time to cure cancer on the side. Hello Yoda, There is hope. I was approx 10 years older than my classmates, and my undergrad(s) were neither in biochem nor microbio nor physio, and I definitely don't have a 4.0 GPA. Keep the faith, do lots of reading (message boards, school websites, etc) and good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astudentis Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Living in Toronto. Applying to U of T and Mac (for this year) If you are really serious about getting in, it really wouldnt hurt to pay a little bit more and apply to rest of schools in ontario (as long as you meet their min reqs). What if you dont even end up getting an interview at UT or Mc, and getting it at other schools...you would still have a chance at it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereisnotry Posted August 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 If you can apply broadly, go for it! Even with perfect stats, the process is a bit of a lottery. More schools = better chances Oh, I know. And I'd love to apply more broadly. My goal is to be admitted in 2011, so to do that I am: 1. Working on my ECs (starting to volunteer again, doing some teaching, getting back in touch with my long-abandoned interests). 2. Practicing applying! If I get in for 2010, great, but I'm working on the assumption that it's a long shot. For familial reasons, applying outside the GTA isn't feasible for 2010. For 2011, however, the net will be spread much, much wider. 3. Hopefully NOT re-writing the MCAT... I'll be getting those results back on Sept 1, wish me luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endeavour Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Oh, I know. And I'd love to apply more broadly. My goal is to be admitted in 2011, so to do that I am: 1. Working on my ECs (starting to volunteer again, doing some teaching, getting back in touch with my long-abandoned interests). 2. Practicing applying! If I get in for 2010, great, but I'm working on the assumption that it's a long shot. For familial reasons, applying outside the GTA isn't feasible for 2010. For 2011, however, the net will be spread much, much wider. 3. Hopefully NOT re-writing the MCAT... I'll be getting those results back on Sept 1, wish me luck! Sounds like a great plan. Good Luck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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