Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 6/28/2009

Question
Hello Dr. Levy:

I am interested in applying to medical school and I have a few questions. I am a non traditional applicant, 30 yrs old, have a masters in electrical engineering from an IVY LEAGUE school and have already taken all pre requisite courses while I was in school.  I am preparing for MCAT with goal of taking it in Jan 2010.
I have decent volunteering experience and none in medical arena recently.  I have volunteered at hospitals, participated in preceptorship programs, etc while in college, and after college but nothing as intense as shadowing or research.
I plan to apply in 2010.  I would appreciate any advice you could provide on what types of volunteering in medical arena is required/recommended/looked well upon that I could get myself involved in between now and 2010 application yr.
Also since I am applying 9 yrs after college grad, I don't have any academic and especially science profs who could write recommendations given I majored in engineering or who would remember me to write a meaningful rec.  Are recs from previous employment or from engineering profs accepted for non traditional applicants like myself at most TEXAS schools?
Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Amy


Answer
Any hospital volunteer or research work would do. As for recs, again any recs are fine. If you can get some from your volunteer or research jobs, even better. The main thing schools are going to wonder is why you are switching. Beyond that, you are like all other applicants.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMb-Galveston