non traditional

  1. emilyyy.torres03

    Better to wait or apply late to SMP?

    Hello! I am currently a junior in my undergrad and I anticipate applying to an SMP to improve my record before applying to med school. I have been looking at the registration dates for the SMP programs that I want to apply to and I see a lot of the applications for Fall 2025 open in...
  2. R

    MD & DO WAMC 3.59/3.075 519 MCAT low gpa/high (?) MCAT with lots of red flags, institutional action (details given)

    Please do not quote for privacy! Hello, I'm a 2021 undergraduate non-trad looking for advice. C in Chem grades across all four years brought GPA down, with no upward trend. I believe there are a few issues with my overall app. I bolded things that may be red flags due to being started recently...
  3. S

    WAMC/Non-traditional w/ 3.97 second-bachelor's GPA, 2.82 cGPA. Afraid of getting screened out before secondaries. 515-520 on AAMC FLs, taking in May.

    5 years ago, I started following Goro's guide to reinvention. Well, I'm here now. I am a non-traditional student that started his first bachelor’s degree way back in 2011 and graduated nearly 8 years ago. I graduated with a non-science degree and wasn’t even thinking of medicine back then...
  4. D

    MD WAMC: 3.64 undergrad/3.87 postbacc/507 MCAT

    - AMCAS GPA: 3.64 undergrad, 3.87 post-bacc, no W or I - MCAT: 507 (126/128/125/128) - Primary: 07/04, Secondaries: 07/11-10/9 - NY - White, F, non-trad, 29 years old - Undergraduate institution: Boston College, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2016) - Post-bacc completed at Hofstra University -...
  5. wannabedocmath

    Formal vs DIY Post Bacc

    I know this question has been explored here before but I was looking to get advice unique to my situation. I recently graduated from a T10 university with a degree in math (cGPA: 3.61, BCPM: 3.42 (two Cs in theoretical math courses)). I need to fulfill my pre-med reqs so I applied to some...
  6. antipeptide

    WAMC: non-trad ORM seeking low MD/DO A in the 2025 cycle

    27 yo M ORM Massachusetts resident Bachelors in Molecular Bio '18 2.89 GPA AAS '22 in Respiratory Therapy 4.0 (70 credits) Post Bacc (in progress, '24) 3.9 (24 credits) Estimated Cumulative GPA would be 3.3 overall MCAT 511 in September 2023 Clinical Hours: 400 hours clinical scribe in...
  7. M

    Non-trad MD worth it to do EM and global health?

    Hi all, Long time lurker on SDN, but this is my first post. I am a 40yo public health researcher with a PhD, trained as a social scientist. I started college at 17 as a pre-med but nearly failed physics my first semester - I was devastated because I figured I wouldn't be able to excel on the...
  8. N

    Apply upcoming cycle or take another gap year? How do you know when you’re ready to apply?

    Basically the question above. Should I apply for 2025 cycle or take another year off to apply for 2026 cycle? I graduated spring 2023. For stats rn I have a 3.9 cgpa, ~150 nonclinical, 35 hrs shadowing, got a scribe job this august, (+ recently started hospice volunteering), and 200+ research...
  9. L

    Charles Drew University Masters in Biomedical Sciences 2023 versus non-degree classes at CSUN

    Hi everyone! I'm new to SDN. I was premed in college and faced some pretty significant mental health issues. ive been sober 5 years now and getting back on my feet. my science gpa was a 3.57 ish and my college gpa was 3.53. i took some community college classes but my college advisor said they...
  10. T

    Having doubt about gpa and confused about Smp/MS options? Non trad (ish).

    Hi there, new to the field and want some advice on how to move forward based on where I am currently. I know it’s not a complete WAMC but I am deciding if I need a masters, etc, so any insight would be incredibly helpful!! Date of submission: 2025 Overall GPA: 3.438 Science GPA: 3.192...
  11. I

    WAMC, Canadian student 3.3 cGPA, 3.83 GPA in last 2 years/60 credits

    Hi everyone, I completed my undergrad in lifesci with a 3.3 cumulative GPA and 3.83 GPA in the recent two years of undergrad. I graduated in 2021 and have been working in sales since because of responsibilities and having to take care of finances and survive on my own. I am yet to write my MCAT...
  12. Luna25

    WAMC/School List, 3.58 cGPA, 3.74 PostBac GPA, 520, Non-Trad, ORM (I think)

    Looking to finalize my school list soon and would love some feedback! I'm a non-trad student interested in mental health and women’s health, and I have a background as a project manager and tech consultant. State of Residency: Colorado, ties to Oklahoma (lived there until I was 22) and Texas...
  13. H

    At a Crossroads: transfer to Masters, just finish the MD, or grind it out?

    I recently finished 2nd year but did not pass Step 1 due to lack of motivation and inadequate prep. So currently, I'm considering three possibilities (kind of raked in the order of interest): Transfer my credits to a Masters in Basic Medical Sciences and complete a Capstone project that could...
  14. noelmedicine1

    Taking Pre-Medicine Courses at Community College

    Would it harm my medical school application, if I completed all the pre-requisites courses at a community college? I graduated from university last spring with a bachelor’s degree in business. I understand it’s better to complete the courses at a four-year institutions but the colleges in my...
  15. M

    clinical experience in addition to EMT

    tl;dr is I believe need "in-clinic" clinical voluteer hours on top of my main EMT gig. Which option is the best fit & how many hours would be ideal w/in my timeframe? --- Non-trad; 10 years as a software engineer. Have quit to pursue this full time. My ~2.5 semester post-bac starts this...
  16. A

    Change/"Transfer" to a different Post-bacc?

    Hi all - So I'm a semester into my post-bacc and really am not feeling like this specific school is a good fit for me, I'm hoping I can maybe gain some insights/advice from the wonderful humans here in SDN. Briefly, I'm 25 years old--been working at a psychiatric inpatient unit (just came up...
  17. S

    I did poorly on my first calc 1 exam any tips ?

    Hello everyone since 2015 I had leukemia the placement test i took back then for math i did very poorly. In 2021 I came back to CC I took the placement test again I score very high into it I was placed into the higher math I took survey mathematics then I did a major swap to start pre med I...
  18. thisisnotpaul

    Veteran with Upward Trend Requesting Post-Bacc Advice

    I am working towards medical school as a nontraditional student, currently active duty Air Force until January 2023. I will be finishing my BA in Psychology by the end of this year. I expect to graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.32 and a science GPA of ~2.7. About 7 years ago, I took courses...
  19. W

    Something just clicked and I want to go to medical school and I don't know where to start?

    I'm 24 years old and have been out of undergrad for about 2 years now. For a long time, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. However, after working at a courthouse for over a year, I've found myself disenchanted by the politics and structure of the legal field. It's all politics and no one...
  20. Future Dr. Juice

    Thomas Jefferson P4 2022-2023

    Hello, Has anyone received an interview invite/acceptance from the Postbaccalaureate Pre-Professional Program (P4) at Thomas Jefferson? I received an invite Friday 12/17 and I signed up on the website they gave me to schedule an interview. They provided two online dates for 12/20 and 12/21...
  21. A

    Should I Delay Graduation?

    Hey everyone. I posted here a couple months back and got some really good advice, thanks again for that. It's time to register for what will be my final semester starting in January. My plan was to take the MCAT in May and apply immediately after, thus taking a gap year. But not I'm not sure if...
  22. S

    Is this a decent DIY post bacc plan?

    Hi everyone! I just joined the forums, though I've been lurking for a little while. I am an aspiring non-traditional medical student--currently I am active duty Army, and am looking at possibly having about 5 years left in, 4 of which might be in the Austin, TX area. I'm 28, married with a 1...
  23. boston_3

    Fulfilling Physics Pre-requisite with Engineering Courses?

    I was wondering if anyone has used engineering courses as a non-trad student to fulfill the physics requirements?
  24. HaleyNPtoMD

    I’m lost: NP to MD

    Hi! I’m really hoping to get some feedback that will help me through this process. A little about me: I’m 28. I’ve been a nurse practitioner now for 4 years. I’ve practiced strictly in pediatrics, both primary and specialty care. I love it, but it’s not enough. I truly want to be a...
  25. N

    Graduated with low GPA, but I'm ready to to make a comeback. HELP!

    I don't want to focus too much on my sob story, but the gist of it was my biggest support system passed away during undergrad and I spiraled. To get straight to the point, I graduated in the spring with a 2.7 GPA, have over hundreds of community service hours, research, and I'm currently a CMA...
  26. leadsquid

    Khan Academy for algebra prep

    I’m a couple of years removed from any sort of math courses. I’m also not very good at math. Would going through the Khan Academy Algebra 1 and 2 courses be enough to set me up for success for General Chem 1 and Physics 1? My chemistry background is limited and I have no experience with physics...
  27. S

    Overcoming a low GPA -- I feel like I have many options but I'm not sure which is most effective

    I'm a non-traditional candidate, I'm looking at getting back into the race but I have some areas I'd like to round out and compensate for. I'm a decent candidate with a Math degree. Some genetics research along side research in mathematical models of cancer and some pure math research (both...
  28. F

    Post-Bac 2022-2023 Admissions

    Hey everyone! I have yet to see a thread for those of us looking to be admitted into career-changer post-bac programs in 2022-2023 so I thought I'd go ahead and post this! Please feel free to drop any questions and advice here :) Good luck to all of my fellow prospective students!!!
  29. noin

    Would I be considered non-trad?

    Hello! Sorry if the answer to my question seems obvious, but I was wondering if you/dental schools would consider me a non-traditional student. I don’t fit the mold of traditional non-traditional (military or post-Bach career change), but I will be 31 when I enter dental school if I get in my...
  30. D

    3.5/525/Mixed Race (URM?)/CA/Non-trad -- WAMC and School List Help

    Hi all, Long-time lurker having trouble narrowing down my school list, especially being a CA resident and having such a low GPA but high MCAT. Any advice is appreciated! cGPA: 3.54 and sGPA: ~3.3 (waiting for my app to be verified) MCAT score(s) and breakdown: 525 (130/132/131/132) State of...
  31. AsILayFaulkner_8

    Looking to reinvent, but not sure where to start? I have taken nearly every science class in the book.

    Hello! I'm hoping my situation isn't super unheard of because I'm really needing some insight. I am a MD/DO hopeful looking to reinvent with a DIY postbacc. However, I have a million undergrad credits and have taken Zoology, Ecology, both sections of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Histology...
  32. J

    What age did you get accepted into med school?

    What age were you when you got accepted into med school? Did you have to go back to get your undergrad or another degree before applying? If so what was your age were you when you went back to college? What is your specialty?
  33. A

    Post-bacc Application Advice (non-traditional student)

    Hi, I've been a long time reader of these forums but this is my first time posting. After spending a long time debating whether to make a complete mid-life career change, I've decided to make the first step towards going to med-school, but as a non-traditional student I need to first get into a...
  34. surgfering

    Non-Traditional Applicant, What should I do?

    Hello everyone! I truly need help in what to do from now. I am a current applicant with 2 MCAT attempts (492, 502) who only applied to 4 schools this cycle (MD schools) for the sole reason that I meet their minimum requirements criteria, but I have not heard from any of them. Given the...
  35. Luna25

    What else should I be doing? Non trad premed

    Hi all, I’m trying to figure out if I’m on the right track. I’m 26 and was a project manager/consultant in IT for 4 years after I graduated college with a MIS degree. I quit my job and have been doing a DIY post bac this semester. Originally I thought I wanted to apply to Clinical Psych PhD...
  36. J

    Non-trad(27 year old) pre-dental looking for advice on pre-reqs

    So I’m just starting my pre-reqs and looking for advice on the best way forward. Currently, I have a bachelors degree in accounting from Western Governors University (online school). The downside is that through this university I have no gpa. I do have about 30 hours attempted from a community...
  37. E

    Non-trad engineer here. I think I have some potential but really need feedback.

    Hi all, I got by BS & MS from USC in civil engineering in 2016. I have been working in the field since graduation but decided to go to UCLA extension to complete my premed requirements in 2018. Fast forward 2 years, here are my stats: cGPA 3.74 sGPA 3.63 MCAT = 520 (131/129/131/129) Full...
  38. M

    Engineer to Physician.. what’s the best path forward??? Need advice

    Introduction Hi all, I have found myself in a bit of a predicament and would really (really) love some advice. Just to give a little background… Right now, I’m an engineer at a large aerospace and defense company (100,000+ employees). I studied mechanical engineering with minors in electrical...
  39. crazyotter

    Stigma of doing premed pre-reqs at a Community College?

    I'll keep things short: 27 year old male. I graduated in 2015 with a degree in Political Science (arts). Got a 2.24 GPA. Worked in IT for 3 years, then went back to get a second Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Will graduate this year with an expected 3.78 GPA. Post-Bac CAS puts my...
  40. L

    Choosing DIY Post Bacc in CUNY

    Posting for the first time as I am about to officially start my journey to become a Physician as a 31 year Old Non-Trad. First step is to choose a college to take all the prerequisites. Looking for advice from current or former CUNY students as to which school i should choose. I am currently...
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