<p>Long story short, I want to become a doctor ultimately but I have a feeling I will regret not choosing to fly. Would double majoring in Pre-Med and Aeronautical science (professional piloting) be too much? Would majoring in to unrelated studies be harmful to my GPA and MCAT studying? The Aeronautical Science degree will land me with a Private Pilot, Private Pilot Instructor, Commercial, Commercial Instructor, Multi Engine rating/instructor. And the program would guarantee me a interview with a regional jet corporation. Not guaranteed a job tho. If med school doesn't work out, I can fall on this. And if med school does work out, I would be able to complete med school and then fly for fun which is my dream. Please guys. Let me know, thanks!</p>
<p>Sounds like a fine plan to me. If flying is your dream, I think you should pursue it. It sounds like there’s a lot of time to be devoted to learning to be a pilot, so I think it would be prudent for you to be concerned about building a competitive premed portfolio of experiences. It might be hard for you to find time for shadowing, clinical work, meaningful volunteer work, research, leadership positions, and other hobbies/clubs if you’re working on your pilot’s license. Applying to med school is MUCH more than GPA and MCAT, so you’ll need to find a way to complete meaningful activities in each of the aforementioned areas in addition to having a high GPA and MCAT score if you’re going to seriously be competitive for a spot at a medical school down the road. </p>
<p>It’s tough. Good luck! I shadowed a doc (cardiothoracic surgeon) who has a pilot’s license and flies his little two-seater prop plane for fun on the weekends. No clue how he accomplished his pilot’s license, but it sure sounds like fun!</p>
<p>"Long story short, I want to become a doctor ultimately but I have a feeling I will regret not choosing to fly. "</p>
<p>-I know MD who used to own plain and was flying it. He got rid of it later. Do not choose, do both. This MD did not go to college to learn how to fly. He did it much later in his life just for fun.</p>
<p>Come on guys! I need more help that that. Please!</p>
<p>
This is just an opinion of one med school student so read it with a grain of salt. DS is now a med school student. When he was in college, both he and I (a parent) were ignorant about what it would be like to be in this career. I once told him that he could have his second interest on the side while he is this career. Now he knows more about the life in this career; he “corrected” me that there will likely no time for that, as it would consume almost all of your time. It is not like that after you are graduated from med school, you will have a plenty of time to pursue something else in the mean time. The extremely time-consuming part, the residency, is just started.</p>
<p>I think he is glad that he had a college life without being too premed-centric though. (However, considering the fact that he was a biology major, he might still have been quite premed centric.)</p>
<p>Not relate to this thread, but it is on the “light” side: He told us that last week the med school he is at asked the cook to cook two lobsters for each student who was receiving some “training” elsewhere. The preclinical life is not that bad after all. (But I heard he needs to work on Sunday, right after that training trip, even when the school is not in session. It is not as “easy going” as in college years because he actually needs to work much more now. I think it will go uphill starting from here.)</p>
<p>I realize that! I am thinking to just stick with medicine and then maybe get a PPL (Private Pilot License) and just fly as an hobby. Thank you</p>
<p>Several years ago when I was in the Air Force, I met several physician/pilots. The ones I met had gone to the Academy then pilot training, then med school. It was unusual, and it may be a different path than you are looking for, but it can be done. I had a friend in the Navy at the time, and he knew one physician/pilot in the Navy.</p>
<p>Actually there is a specific job/employment where you do BOTH careers. Flight surgeon in the Air Force, Navy or Marines. You can do it on your dime or theirs. You do have to time it just right because there is no specific time frame (age-wise) to become a doctor but there is an age limit on becoming a pilot in the service, varies from service to service and can qualify for a waiver depending on the needs of the service.</p>
<p>Your pilot’s rating would not be for a commercial pilot but rather for the fighter squadron you become attached to or the plane you become qualified in, different from Navy to Air Force, difference between a an Air Force fighter pilot and a Naval aviator.</p>
<p>So yes it can be done and if accomplished an extremely wild ride…and in the Marines you are still a marine first.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Kat
assigned to a squadron would mean that you see the pilots’ for their medical needs vs. peds, ob/gyn or anything else…your patients are the pilots you fly with</p>
<p>more info: so you don’t have to go to an academy (but you can, limited spots for grads to go straight to med school from the academy…new rules/policies at the academies for tech degrees but aero counts…but most grads must pick a warfare community), rahter undergrad of your choice, then med school, and then enter osc as a mjaor(air force) through health professions officer candidate school, much less time than regular OCS and then onto flight school before the age of 27…residency is done through the branch of service you picked</p>
<p>"I realize that! I am thinking to just stick with medicine and then maybe get a PPL (Private Pilot License) and just fly as an hobby. Thank you "
-That is exactly what my friend did and then he got rid of his plain. But at least, he has tried. And he was flying, not just having a plain.
My question is who can tell you what to do with your life? Do whatever you want, including getting PPL and buying plain, or buying an island…whatever your heart desires, we are in free country (yet), be open to any opportunities in your life. Sometime it works out and sometime it does not. Reward is greater when one takes a risk though (in most cases).</p>
<p>The rains in Spain fall mainly on the planes?</p>