At Crossroads...Looking for input

[shakinbake]

I have been lurking on the site for quite sometime and suppose it is time to blow my cover. I am at a point with my undergrad studies that some future class scheduling could be very beneficial or detrimental regarding my timetable on getting into med school. I am 33 and will have 90 hours at the end of the summer term. I will have all pre-req's fulfilled with the exception of physics and I have not taken the MCAT. My science GPA is 3.75 or so but my overall blows, around 2.7. I have a foreign language requirement to fulfill along with genetics, histo, biochem to finish my Zoo degree. Problem is along with getting the physics done and adding in the foreign language with the upper level sciences that will make for some tough hours to get finished by next summer. I could honestly care less about an undergrad degree in the context of attaining my ultimate goal, but I am wondering if I should concentrate on the sciences and forget the foreign language with the hope that I get accepted to a school that doesn't require a BA/** or should I stay the route of my Zoo major and be conventional along with taking the MCAT in April of 2006 and look for a fall of 06 or Jan. 07 start? I have everything that should make a competitive application to the schools that accept students with just the pre-req's completed. I don't have any clinical experience but I have great LOR's available through a chem professor and an ENT, compounding pharmacist, physical therapist, urologist, and a radiologist. I was drinking women and chasing beer while they studied, but I loved every minute of it!!! I had thought about taking the September MCAT but trying to handle Orgo this summer will probably be plenty. I don't really see much use of possibly doing marginal on the MCAT when I am marginal as it is. If I do the MCAT, I feel it should be with 100% focus. I would really kind of like to take it but I am 33 and time is a bigger factor than when I was 23, obviously. Sorry for the length of the post, but I am looking for some insight from you grizzled veterans who have 20/20 on the past. I also thought about going the general education degree route but that requires 12 hours of a foreign language; so that doesn't really help. What about the MERP and such, I know most think it sucks but is that something to look at also? Suppose what I need is some real pre-med advice from people who have gone this route.

Thanks

Shakinbake

[ResearchingGuy]

I know where you are coming from about trying to get things moving. I spent about 6 or 8 years working and going to school getting myself ready for med school. At times it seemed like it would never happen, but it finally did.

Don't worry so much about making things happen quickly. Think about preparing yourself well for where you want to be. Looking back, I think I would have spent more time working on things that would help me in Med School - i.e. more advanced science courses - so your Zoology degree seems perfect.

It takes some extra effort and time to get your degree, but I think it makes you a much stronger candidate. You can find a school that will let you in without a degree or some pre-req's, but it's probably not a school you would want to attend.

In the meantime, keep plugging away and try to enjoy the ride.


Best of Luck!

[grace]

I would definitely recommend getting your Bachelor's degree; you wouldn't want to limit yourself to a few schools that don't require one.