Hi all,
I am a non-traditional student from California. Give you a quick background:
After graduating high school I applied and finished vocational nursing here in So-Cal. I took the NCLEX and became licensed. After nursing school I initially began taking Pre-RN courses at a local community college. I soon decided after working as a nurse and going to school part-time that I wanted to go to medical school instead of applying for the RN program. I love how medicine integrates every part of science and uses it to treat illness. I felt cheated in the nursing program when asking questions too detailed for my instructors to answer. I finished a good amount of my pre-reqs at my CC with decent grades (3.6 cumulative) and did well in the sciences.
Transferred to UCLA.
I work at a nursing facility close to school in Santa Monica. When I work, there is no supervisor on duty so that makes me in charge of an entire wing of the facility (around 30 patients). I have had ample experience with various high stress situations at work and had to call the shots (multiple admissions, sending people to the hospital, code blues, disgruntled family members, combative patients, 5150s, elopements, etc.).
I also intern at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. I do QA work through the surgical quality department. Less clinical than I’m used to; more data analysis and management type work. I basically audit the surgeons for not filling out certain paperwork and compile weekly reports.
Minimal research experience: one quarter I spent doing clinical research through the ED at a satellite UCLA hospital.
I have been involved on campus (pre-med clubs and a social fraternity). Ever since I started at UCLA my grades have been slipping. I am worried I have ruined my opportunity to get into med-school because of getting a few C’s in my coursework. Currently sitting on a 2.8cum gpa at UCLA but still have about a year to go to bring it back up. If I really pull the gpa up I suspect I will be able to obtain a 3.4 cum gpa, 3.3 sci cum gpa (UCLA +CC).
I feel like I need to cut back on everything and focus on grades more. I’m getting old, 26yo, single, no kids. It’s hard because I have to support myself. I can’t feel to sorry though because I’ve read similar posts of people going through harder situations.
What do you guys think? I have more than enough experience to share on my personal statement for the AAMCS and am sure I’d make a great doctor just worried about grades being an issue.
I don’t plan on trying for a “top-tier” school; just want to study at a place where I can learn what I need to be successful and get into a decent residency.
I am a non-traditional student from California. Give you a quick background:
After graduating high school I applied and finished vocational nursing here in So-Cal. I took the NCLEX and became licensed. After nursing school I initially began taking Pre-RN courses at a local community college. I soon decided after working as a nurse and going to school part-time that I wanted to go to medical school instead of applying for the RN program. I love how medicine integrates every part of science and uses it to treat illness. I felt cheated in the nursing program when asking questions too detailed for my instructors to answer. I finished a good amount of my pre-reqs at my CC with decent grades (3.6 cumulative) and did well in the sciences.
Transferred to UCLA.
I work at a nursing facility close to school in Santa Monica. When I work, there is no supervisor on duty so that makes me in charge of an entire wing of the facility (around 30 patients). I have had ample experience with various high stress situations at work and had to call the shots (multiple admissions, sending people to the hospital, code blues, disgruntled family members, combative patients, 5150s, elopements, etc.).
I also intern at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. I do QA work through the surgical quality department. Less clinical than I’m used to; more data analysis and management type work. I basically audit the surgeons for not filling out certain paperwork and compile weekly reports.
Minimal research experience: one quarter I spent doing clinical research through the ED at a satellite UCLA hospital.
I have been involved on campus (pre-med clubs and a social fraternity). Ever since I started at UCLA my grades have been slipping. I am worried I have ruined my opportunity to get into med-school because of getting a few C’s in my coursework. Currently sitting on a 2.8cum gpa at UCLA but still have about a year to go to bring it back up. If I really pull the gpa up I suspect I will be able to obtain a 3.4 cum gpa, 3.3 sci cum gpa (UCLA +CC).
I feel like I need to cut back on everything and focus on grades more. I’m getting old, 26yo, single, no kids. It’s hard because I have to support myself. I can’t feel to sorry though because I’ve read similar posts of people going through harder situations.
What do you guys think? I have more than enough experience to share on my personal statement for the AAMCS and am sure I’d make a great doctor just worried about grades being an issue.
I don’t plan on trying for a “top-tier” school; just want to study at a place where I can learn what I need to be successful and get into a decent residency.