I'm a TFA alum from a rural area and non-traditional pre-med. TFA was life changing, and it will be excellent experience if you want to do rural medicine. HOWEVER, do not go into it unless you are ALL IN. I made some of my best friends and met my husband in TFA, and grew as a person, teacher and leader. I ended up continuing teaching later at a different school before going this pre-med route. I did feel like I was making a real, meaningful impact with students by the second year. TFA prepares you to serve all kinds of communities and you grow a lot as a person, but it is not for the faint of heart. Med school will be easier than my experience in TFA, I have no doubt in my mind. You will be working with very low pay for 80-100 hours/ week your first year. You will be working in completely mismanaged schools with many incompetent adults. You will meet amazing kids and families, and you will work with many children facing the trauma of poverty. Rural districts are great placements because they are more welcoming but it can be very lonely unless you connect with other TFA corps members and community members for support. I encourage you to apply, but do consider taking an education methods class and child psych class before you go to Institute (which does not prepare teachers enough for the classroom). Good luck with your decision.