Rhonda (sorry I didn't post this before!)

2) Age (real age please)

29

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?

I am a paralegal right now, I got an Associate’s Degree in Legal Studies/Paralegal, and thought I’d follow the path of Law straight into law school, except I don’t like it and I keep being pulled back onto the Pre-Med path. I’ve changed my major about a million times trying to find something that I like and I always end up back on the Pre-Med track. Right now I am like a 8th year Senior at my University majoring in Biology. I’m also getting the credits required to teach Biology, just in case this whole Doctor thing doesn’t work out. My fascination with Biology will probably be helpful in the classroom as well.

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

I’m in love with the thought of being a doctor. I have always been on the line but finally my fiancé of all people told me to just go for it, but to have a back-up plan…just in case.

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

Engaged, 1 son he’s 9 (10 this summer)

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

No experience yet.

8) Biggest hurdle getting to med school

What isn’t a hurdle? Time and money mostly. I have to work full time in order to support our household, so I don’t have a lot of free time to volunteer or do things that I normally would, I volunteer as much as I can. I’m just hoping that it’s enough. The money thing well that’s just that school is expensive and even though I get financial aid and loans eventually I will have to pay all of that back and I’m trying to be smart about it. I would love to find a different more flexible job but I wouldn’t make enough money and I have really good benefits for my son and myself. I also have to overcome some black marks on my transcripts, although since I committed to the Pre-Med route I have nothing below a B, and that’s a rare occasion that it’s below an A.

9) Are you going MD or DO? Why?

I’m going to apply to both. There are a few DO schools that I like.

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

Focus on one thing at a time.

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

Just stay positive. And keep moving.