Cecil

2) Age (real age please)

30

3) What's your sign? (curious and contemplating, pre-med, med-student, resident, fellow, god)

pre-med

4) Briefly describe your career and or academic history. Including your pre-doctor life (if applicable) and bouts of time in between school. What makes you non-trad?

Began in electrical engineering, then computer science. Dropped out in 2003 at to start my own business. Business was good, started working for the Union Pacific for the benefits, and began to like it. Currently, I'm a locomotive engineer, and still programming work on the side. Never really meant to return to school until the birth of our son. Within two months, I was enrolled in college as a Biology major at age 29. I plan to graduate May 2011, and *hopefully* matriculate in August of 2011.

5) What propelled you to switch into the medical field?

Birth of our son... not sure why the first two didn't trigger this fascination with medicine, but ever since the seed was planted, I have been on a mission to get into medical school.

6) Family status... married? children? how old are they?

Married 7 years, 3 children (4, 1, 0)

7) What's your experience with the MCAT? If you are a successful applicant will you share your academic stats and application highlights?

Will take it this summer. Share? I'll be telling anyone who will listen if I get accepted!

8) Biggest hurdle getting to med school

Money and timing. At the moment, I have to work full time while going to school. It is possible that my job will require me to travel in the near future which will mean I can't attend classes. I am currently considering quitting and finding another job. This is a major impediment since my current wage and benefits are really good. I really don't have time to volunteer between work, school, and family, so I worry that will hurt my app. Finally, although I have earned straight As for the last few semesters, I'm not sure it will be enough to overcome some bumps in my previous college transcripts (10 years old).

9) Are you going MD or DO? Why?

Whoever will take me. I am more interested in becoming a doc than what the initials are behind my name. To be honest, I'd really prefer MD, but just because I don't want to have to defend/explain it to everyone I meet.

10) Best advice to other pre-meds (non-trad or not)?

Screw the little voice in your head that says your goal is impossible. If I gave up every time I came up with a new way in which I am unworthy, not ready, etc. I wouldn't make it 5 minutes.

11) Anything else you'd like to say... or something cool about your story you'd like to share?

I haven't made it yet, but I guarantee you that if I DO make it... so can anyone else. The only thing that I have going for me is my ability to proceed as if there were no obstacles at all.


Update:


MCAT - 24Q (I was quite happy given I hadn't had o-chem or micro at the time)
Thoughts on the exam: I know this is not normal, but I wasn't nervous at all. I didn't find it particularly difficult... the parts I had difficulty with were entirely due to coursework I had not yet completed. I used ExamKrackers, and if you learn well from text, I would highly recommend it.

Appication: I applied to 2 in-state schools. I was invited to complete secondaries for both, and just completed my first interview. It was a BLAST! I was the only one not dressed in a black or navy suit, and they even asked me about it in the interview. As long as you're dressed professionally, breaking the mold is VERY apparent in a room full of "penguins."