Considerations for Nontraditional Medical School Students

As a non-traditional student, perhaps you have decided to finally pursue your dream of medical school. You will be faced with quite a challenge in pursuit of medical school, from overcoming family objections, to financing medical school, to finding out information on how to begin finding and applying to a medical school that is willing to accept non-traditional medical students.

Finding Information for Nontraditional Medical Students

If you are an older student, or an adult who desires to be a physician or MD, you may be interested in the process of applying to medical school as it applies to non-traditional students. There is very little information available on the subject; however, the good news is that most medical schools have an office dedicated to special demographic populations seeking entrance into medical school. This means minorities, females, and non-traditional medical students also have an advocate at medical school for them.

Non-traditional Medical Student Considerations

Every year the demand for seats in medical schools outstrips available medical school positions by more than 50%-60%. . For nontraditional medical students the odds of being accepted to medical school are even greater.

In 1998-1999, the average percentage of non-traditional students, medical school applicants over the age of 32, accepted to medical school was 26%.

One medical doctor who entered medical school as a nontraditional student feels that this is due less to age discrimination and more to GPA and MCAT, as these tend to be used as the best predictors of successful completion of medical school.

What should your GPA and MCAT scores be?

Since the fact that you are a nontraditional medical student seems to have less bearing than your GPA and MCAT scores, you need to know the minimum thresholds which most pre-med students achieve in order to be accepted to medical school.

The following scores are scores generally associated with getting into medical school: Verbal reasoning 9.5, Biological sciences 10.2, Physical sciences 9.9, Writing Sample 0.

GPA's are usually no less than 3.6, with an average of 3.64. The average GPA in undergraduate sciences is 3.52 and non-science courses is 3.64.

Non-traditional Students Applying to Medical School

If becoming a physician is your dream and you have waited until your family is grown or you have matured to the point of knowing what you want in life, then do not hesitate to take required science courses and the MCAT and apply to medical school.

Don't allow your dream, ambition, or calling to be stifled by statistics or naysayers. You can get into medical school and succeed.

Remember, when you apply to medical school that you may have to relocate. If the opportunity becomes available and you are accepted at medical school you may have to follow the opportunity.

Apply to several medical schools. If your GPA in the sciences and MCAT scores are well above average, you may not need to apply to more than four to six schools. If, however, you fall in the average range, as most of us do, apply to as many medical schools as you have to. A dozen to twenty-four is not too many medical schools to apply to if you are a non-traditional student.

If you have difficulty getting into a medical school in the continental U.S., familiarize yourself with accredited medical schools offshore. While some offshore medical schools are scams, there are many that work with hospitals and clinics in the U.S. to help students find clinical work and residencies.

The Realities of Becoming a Non-traditional Medical Student

You probably already realize that the path you have chosen as a nontraditional medical student may not be an easy one. Like any student, you will be faced with obstacles and roadblocks. The good news, however, is that for bright, passionate med school students there are possibilities.

Explore them and begin the path to achieving your dream.

Sources:
Facts: Applicants, Matriculants, Graduates, and Residency Applicants
Nontraditional Medical Student
Top Caribbean Medical Schools