<p>I am a slightly above average high school student (not CC average). I am now working to go to college and med school. But now with this desire people are telling to explore my options. At first I thought ok this is reasonable. So I did a little exploring to kind of narrow down what i want to do. I definitely loved science and it is my strongest subject. So I began investigating options. Over the summer I worked on a research project at UMich. I didnt really enjoy it. Then after a doctors I had one of the residents asked me if i would like to shadow him for about a week and get a feel for what it was like. It was an amazing experience. Mainly because it was way over the top of what I was expecting. I got to meet doctors from every speciality, see what rounds were like, etc. I definitely have a personal preference to hematology. Now what is getting to me is my parents and counselor are now basically coming out and saying we think if u do this u will be setting yourself up for failure because of how competitive. Now this past semester i have proven at least to myself i am capable of studying hard and getting the grades necessary and i think i am personally cut out for this kind of work. My biology and anatomy courses come really easy to me (i was in the honors program at my school and did very well), chem is a little harder but i can get it. I have also explained to them that it will be easy for me to work in college because I realize how important grades are no matter what i want to do (this was not an overnight realization just to let you no). I also feel i will be able to focus better in college because of the amount of resources available and just the overall environment. </p>
<p>I have been seeing a counselor. According to him this is depressing me because my parents are both successful and my school counselor know what it takes to be successful and i am feeling that they dont see in me that i have what it takes to make it. He says a whole bunch of reassuring things as well such as I can make it and have demonstrated it to him. I feel he is right. But my parents tell me to "explore my options" daily and i am getting to my breaking point. Community college isnt an option because i think my parents are boderline psychologically abusive (this is not my only issue with them please trust i have many reasons to go into that i dont feel comfortable discussing). As of right now i think my best option are the residential colleges of state universities (my top choice is the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State). Please has anyone gone through something like this. Are there any better options for me? Advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>The good news is that you’re in HS right now so you don’t have to make any assessments of your abilities or decisions regarding med school right now. A lot of HS students change their study habits when they enter college (some for the better, some the other way). Don’t let an assessment of a HS counselor dictate your future since they don’t know how you’ll progress in college. </p>
<p>If this is what you think you want to pursue for now, just go to college, major in what you want but make sure you take the required ‘premed’ courses (o-chem, etc.), work hard with your goal in mind, and see how you progress. Four or so years from now you might decide to apply to med school or by then you might have found something else that excites you but you don’t need to make that decision and importantly, you don’t need to worry about it, right now.</p>
<p>Medical schools admit students from all kinds of colleges, not just the most prestigious ones. So choose a college based on your financial situation and personal needs, not whether or not you think that it’ll give you a leg up in med school admissions.</p>
<p>From my memories of college, the people who ended up going to med school were the ones who worked hard, not necessarily the most brilliant people, so if you feel that this is really your vocation then go for it!</p>
<p>Evaluate your acceptances. Make your decision based on the best “fit” rather than rankings or prestige. By fit, I mean choose from your acceptances the college that fits you both socially and academically. If you’re happy with the environment at the school (nice kids, active campus, accessible professors, decent dorms, etc.) then you’ll be happier overall. </p>
<p>Don’t worry so much about your future 5 years from now. Your focus should be about the excitement of starting a new phase in your life which includes new friendships, more independence, freedom to explore subjects that were not available at your high school, and basically the corny saying of “finding yourself.” Many times (more often than not), students enter college thinking they want to major in one subject and end up finding a new passion. This is the beauty of college. Explore, engage, and enjoy. </p>
<p>If the health field continues to be your passion, there are many different avenues to consider. Medical Technology (I earned a BS in this years ago), Physician’s Assistant, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Physical Therapy, etc. If Med School continues to be your dream after a couple of years in college, then by all means give it a try. </p>
<p>Perhaps the people around you are trying to help you to see that it’s a big world out there and it’s important to explore all options–try new things–be receptive to different opportunities. Success isn’t measured by status or brand names or titles. Success is measured from within.</p>
<p>nysmile what interests me about medicine is the diagnosising of conditions, especially in hematology due to being a patient, as well as helping these people go through a very difficult part of their lives by offering guidance and maybe even relating to them through my condition. Are there any fields other than being a doctor that can allow me to satisfy that desire. I am sincerely asking.</p>
<p>The MCAT is different from the SAT. There are sections that measure academic ability but there are also sections that test subject knowledge. It is sort of a combined SAT/SATII for college courses. You can do well on it without a genius level IQ if you are diligent.</p>
<p>You need great grades in college and solid MCAT scores. There are medical schools that aren’t part of the Ivy League. You can try for an accredited medical school that concentrates on training medical practioners, not researchers. Then you can be the guy who delivers the fruits of the researchers efforts to actual patients. You can save lives, improve peoples quality of life, screw up occassionally and get sued, make a ton of money, and push your kids to go to Harvard Medical.</p>
<p>Or you can get your degree and do something else.</p>
<p>Consider DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) programs also. In some states , most general practioners are DO’s not MD’s. You might also consider a PA (physicians assistant) program. </p>
<p>Goodness – you’ve had a great opportunity to shadow someone for a week. You really got to see what real doctoring is about. And you’re still passionate about it.</p>
<p>Tell the naysayers to go away. Or, at least, tell them that quietly, in your mind; what you tell them in real life might be more mild.</p>
<p>There’s nothing worse than having someone tell you you can’t fulfill your dream. You’re the only one in charge of what you can accomplish. </p>
<p>“You’re the only one in charge of what you can accomplish.”</p>
<p>In a perfect world, this may be true but one must live in the world of reality. It’s one thing to have a dream and go for it. It’s another thing to be so closed minded and stubborn that one refuses to listen to the wise advice of others who may have a more experienced opinion or view on this particular dream. Think of it this way. One may love music but is not capable of becoming a professional musician. One may love writing but lacks the imagination to do it well. One may love building llego robots but does not have the analytical ability to study and become an engineer. One may love to paint but lacks the inner talent. One may love design and woodworking but can’t handle an architecture curriculum. One may love to watch War movies but can’t hack being in the military. </p>
<p>You are in charge of what you can accomplish to a point. If the health field is interesting to the OP, there are numerous opportunities other than only striving to becoming an MD. Sometimes people get so focused on one dream that they close the door on many other wonderful opportunities. Loving an idea is not the same as the reality of living that idea.</p>
<p>OP–by no means am I implying that you are stubborn and closed minded. My intention was to give a different point of view.</p>
<p>“You’re the only one in charge of what you can accomplish.”</p>
<p>If he doesn’t go for his dream, it’s a sure thing that he won’t accomplish it. That’s what I meant. Of course there’s no guarantee. But if a 17- or 18-y.o. can’t aim for what he really wants to do, who should??</p>
<p>Having is a dream wonderful. There comes a point in time however, when the realities of life come into the mix. Here’s another example: A strong big 12 year old playing competitive baseball dreams of playing shortstop for the Yankees. At 16, the same kid is overshadowed by kids that have surpassed him in both stature and talent. No matter how much effort he puts into it, he will never reach the level of these other kids. At 18 and a senior in HS, should this same kid with dreams of playing professional baseball continue dreaming or should he re-evaluate, be open to other opportunities, and find a new way to incorporate his passion with a new dream for the future?</p>
<p>When reality intrudes, people generally see that. You can’t be a supermodel if you’re 5’ 2". You can’t be a baseball player if you don’t have the talent. </p>
<p>But I don’t think the OP is in any position to put his dream away yet! Of course things get changed as time goes on – but why squelsh the dream just now? There’s no reason to.</p>
<p>It’s not about dropping the dream. It’s about going into the situation with a more open mind and being open to explore other avenues. By all means, he should study the sciences since that is his passion. He may also want to consider branching out and exploring related fields. He can continue to work towards achieving his dream but having the desire to fulfill a dream is often times not enough. Things such as finances and ability to excel must be factored in with the desire, ambition, and even luck.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I understand the question. It’s in here somewhere;</p>
<p>“As of right now i think my best option are the residential colleges of state universities (my top choice is the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State). Please has anyone gone through something like this. Are there any better options for me? Advice would be appreciated.”</p>
<p>Are you asking for residential colleges other than Lyman Briggs? </p>
<p>Are you asking if anyone else has been depressed because their parents or counselors don’t believe in them?</p>
<p>Are you asking if you dreams of being a hematologist are realistic?</p>
<p>Later</p>
<p>“…diagnosising of conditions, especially in hematology due to being a patient, as well as helping these people go through a very difficult part of their lives by offering guidance and maybe even relating to them through my condition. Are there any fields other than being a doctor that can allow me to satisfy that desire…”</p>
<p>Medical social work and genetic counselors don’t diagnose, but both came to mind…</p>
<p>My only comment is, I feel kind of bad for people who are extremely focused on a career in medicine, while in High School. There is just so much more to life at this point, and maybe never again. I like the sports analogy, but I don’t think sports careers are the same, because they peak so much earlier…"</p>
<p>Keep your actions, thoughts and dreams set on your ideal and work hard. Find a college that will give you the personal attention you need to succeed and one that’s invested in helping students find their dreams, this can be a small state or private school or a large private/state school. Email admissions and others with your questions. Set up interviews. If you seek your dream and work hard, wherever you end up will be the right place for you!!!</p>
<p>hey im going to msu too! i think you will do great there…and the education isn’t as lowly as most people think. Check out their stats on med school acceptance and factor in the idea that some of your classmates will party and barely scrape by…plus you may not get a chance to intern at the best hospital in the country, but you can do a lot more if you excel b/c you will be over the top for your university! I think you’ll get more chances to shine during college at msu than at a more selective university. And tell your parents you’ll consider other paths in your gen ed classes and see if any interest you while you work for your PRE-MED degree! I have faith!</p>