I'm applying for the pre-med program at the age of 30 and haven't been to a 4-year college before. I've read on some sites that 100-150 hours is competitive, but I've also seen that 1,000+ hours is competitive if there are gaps in education (not sure if they mean gap from HS to starting undergrad, or gaps during undergrad) or if the hours are acquired through working in a job.
My situation is:
*I'm 30 and I'm applying for college/undergrad for the 1st time. I don't plan on starting undergrad school until Fall of next year (2023)
*I can get my CNA license in about a month, so I was planning on getting my direct patient care experience by working as a CNA (if necessary).
Do the hours for direct patient care experience have to be acquired DURING undergrad?
I've worked 5 years full-time as a home health care provider but that was from 2010-2015, and I also helped take care of my 90-year-old grandma who needs full-time help from 2015-2021 (I didn't get paid for taking care of her and I helped part-time because I had another full-time job). Can any of those hours count or does it have to be DURING undergrad years or more recent?
*If I need more recent experience and I work as a CNA, do the hours have to all be consecutively acquired (like working on a consistent basis until the all the hours are met), or can I work like 2 months during the summer break each year for 3 years (adding up to about 150 hours)? Or do I need 1,000+ hours since it's from working at a job? Or does it not make a difference? If I need 1,000+ hours can I get it the year before I start undergrad school or do the hours have to be acquired during undergrad school years?
My situation is:
*I'm 30 and I'm applying for college/undergrad for the 1st time. I don't plan on starting undergrad school until Fall of next year (2023)
*I can get my CNA license in about a month, so I was planning on getting my direct patient care experience by working as a CNA (if necessary).
Do the hours for direct patient care experience have to be acquired DURING undergrad?
I've worked 5 years full-time as a home health care provider but that was from 2010-2015, and I also helped take care of my 90-year-old grandma who needs full-time help from 2015-2021 (I didn't get paid for taking care of her and I helped part-time because I had another full-time job). Can any of those hours count or does it have to be DURING undergrad years or more recent?
*If I need more recent experience and I work as a CNA, do the hours have to all be consecutively acquired (like working on a consistent basis until the all the hours are met), or can I work like 2 months during the summer break each year for 3 years (adding up to about 150 hours)? Or do I need 1,000+ hours since it's from working at a job? Or does it not make a difference? If I need 1,000+ hours can I get it the year before I start undergrad school or do the hours have to be acquired during undergrad school years?