The fetishization of becoming a doctor in today’s society concerns me.
I have many friends who are doctors at the tail end of their careers (mid-60’s) and they would howl at the idea that physicians have any sort of “independence”. Most of them have seen their collegial practices bought up by large companies, run by non-MD’s, who use metrics (in some cases, faulty metrics) to interfere with patient care. One friend was put “on notice” (this is a doctor in her 60’s, not a 32 year old) for repeatedly referring patients for X-Rays (which net $10 for the practice) vs. MRI’s (which net hundreds of dollars). When she explained to management- for the 5th time- that it was not necessary to do an MRI, she just needed a simple X-ray for diagnostic verification, she was told that she’s not a team player.
OP- there are hundreds of ways to work in medicine that don’t involve medical school. If you have any mathematical aptitude at all, statistics is the field for you. If Covid has taught us anything, it’s that pandemics and global health issues generate billions of datapoints, but there’s a global shortage of people who know how to interpret that data. If you aren’t a math person but want to have a huge impact on large numbers of people, major in psych and get a job recruiting patients (and managing their participation) for a pharma company running clinical trials. These jobs pay really well and are very important. The trial can be well designed- but if the right patients aren’t in the pool, the results won’t be as meaningful. If you don’t like psych, major in sociology and get a job with a large hospital system evaluating their patient population to determine if there are differential outcomes for different demographic groups (and there usually are. Black women have higher rates of post-birth mortality, even after controlling for income and education. Asians are under-medicated for pain.)
My point is- at some point, you will want to get on with your life and career. Take some time to learn about all these neat healthcare fields before you even consider heading out of the US for med school. That is an expensive path without a clear payout…
My daughter just graduated from her med school program in May. Her program was expensive, daunting and difficult given the past 1 ½ of Covid restrictions on her rotations.
Upon entering her program, she had the requisite high scores, high grades, volunteering in a diabetic clinic for medically indigent non English patients, stellar LOR’s and great community involvement.
The issue that concerns me, for you, is that our daughter is not “perfect” and when the going got rough, she had a crutch in a strong support system of family, friends, classmates and coworkers. She needed that support constantly especially with nights where sleep was 3 hour naps. Not full sleep.
During one especially rough rotation, I had to live with her during the week(500 miles from my home), just to clean, cook, have fresh laundry ready, pay her bills, check her alertness, and do whatever it took to keep her going. This happened as my brother also needed my help as he was dying of pancreatic cancer.
You need a strong support system to get you through a medical school program. You need $250,000 minimum, to pay your fees. There are no guarantees. This is why you really do need a back up plan. You are putting in so much effort to “fix” your grades, health, and vitae such that I don’t really think it’s going to work. Think about options.
(Our daughter, and a number of her classmates, had difficulty getting residencies this year and they to wait for the new cycle.). With Covid, the facilities have been conservative in how they choose their residents.
Hi guys! Just wanted to update you guys on what’s going (especially since the thread is super active). I quit the master’s program and was able to get a free refund on the tuition. Unfortunately, it’s too late to start a semester at a 4 yr college so I have to take classes at CC colleges right now. I was thinking let me take some science courses at a CC now and then transfer to a 4 yr CUNY for Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 and Summer 2022. Within these 3 semesters, I want to take at least 30 credits minimum of just science courses and I’m not talking prerequisites since all my prereqs are B’s and C’s, and I heard it really no point in retaking them. Instead, I want to take classes that first-year med schools will take like anatomy and immunology, and pathology. I will apply next year too for the 2023 cycle and I will send in my transcripts as I complete these classes to update them on how I’ve been doing. I will also restart my clinical and volunteer experience again so I can show I’m not just actively taking classes but also taking care of my Ec’s.
As for the messages above, I was on Topomax for so long because my old neurologist refused to follow up appointments. He kept pushing back my appointments for one whole year so I just ended up getting a new neurologist. It’s not like I could’ve just stopped taking the medication because with this medication you need to be titrated off. However, now my migraines are much better managed. I only take a vitamin every day and take sumatriptan when I feel one coming. Stops it right before it even comes! As for the support system, I definitely learned my lesson. My friends and family were all here in nyc so my mental health was not ok up in Syracuse. Not to mention Syracuse is kind of in the middle of nowhere. If it was a big city I’m sure it wouldn’t have been that bad. And also no I did not get any accommodations for my migraines during undergrad. And in medical school, I don’t expect to either. But that doesn’t mean my illness should be a limiting factor in what I do. If I’m willing to put in the time and money to try then why would I let migraines stop me? And even after I thought of doing a master’s like CNA or anesthesiologist assistant so I can keep working in healthcare. The only thing I’m really wondering now is whether I should apply as a non-degree student or a transfer student. I am still eligible for 2 semesters of pell grants if I enroll with a major but if I drop out of the program after taking the classes I want will that matter to medical schools?
Also I did some calculations, with about 30 credits my science gpa becomes 3.1, with 36 credits it becomes 3.2 and with 6 more 3.3 which I think is the lower median for DO’s!
Didn’t you already graduate? The GPA is not the only thing that med schools will look at. They will look at your grades.
Have you looked into post-baccalaureate programs?
To be blunt, I think that unless you take very rigorous versions of the classes you are planning, at a known post-bacc program for instance, not at community college, you don’t have a path to prove you should enter med school.
But you have already taken the prerequisites. So not sure you can do a post-bacc.
You need to talk to someone- maybe admissions at a med school you are interested in. I think you need an honest assessment before devoting all this time and money on what may be an unrealistic course.
You can explain the migraines, but you stayed in school.
Also, the episodic treatment may not hold up. You may need a daily med to handle the stresses of school.
I wish I could remember the title of the book I read by a cardiologist who is miserable in his job. He does not feel autonomous at all. Insurance companies and paperwork rule. Try to find some negative books to read!!
It is hard to understand your fixation on becoming a doctor and I am wondering if it comes from family and concerns about status-? Good luck!
I did contact NY Medical College, SUNY Downstate, and NYIT DO School of Medicine. All three said either a post bacc or I can just take upper-level science courses. NYIT DO school actually told me to do either a linkage program like their own or to just take a lot of upper-division sciences that first-year medical schools take. That way they know I can handle the course load. And I do take CO Q 10 daily. I barely get migraines now maybe once a month if I’m stressed then twice a month. It’s not really episodic. And I actually decided to become a doctor after working 3 years as a medical assistant. My family is actually ok with whatever I do lol they just want me to be happy and stable in life. I did explain in a previous message why exactly. My grandma died of medical malpractice and my mom just got diagnosed with cancer. All of my life experiences really just drove me towards medicine. And I really wanna help immigrant families and underprivileged families get healthcare. I noticed language barriers and prejudice while growing up so I hope to change that if I ever get the chance to be a physician myself. And in terms of rigorous courses, the CC is only for this semester. I want to take courses like immunology, histology, pathology, etc. Classes that rival that of a first-year med student. And yeah I’ve already completed all my pre reqs with B’s and C’s. Thats why I’m not retaking them either. I’m thinking to just do more of a DIY post bacc and choose the classes myself. Its also cheaper than way. I will spend money but if I have a cheaper option I’m going to take it.
Yes, I work part-time as an SAT and AP Biology tutor. I live with my parents so I don’t really have to pay rent but my education expenses I will take care of. Whether it be loans or something else. I’m only going to work one day a week so I can focus on classes. I’m also going to start volunteering or shadowing again. My job pays me 25 an hour so it won’t be too bad but I might have to take out loans. Unless I apply as a transfer student, take 3 semesters of the pell grants I have left then drop out of the college after just taking the classes I want. That way I really don’t have to pay anything.
I am applying next year to med school for the 2023 cycle. So while 'm actively taking classes I will send them my updated transcripts as I do good. So by Fall 2022 I will send in my last updated transcript and by Spring 2023 I should start to hear back. If I get rejected then I will just do a masters in another healthcare field like anesthesiologist assistant. I still want to work in healthcare.
Update: none of the CC’s are offering the classes I want :/. I’m going to have to wait until next semester. So between Spring 2022, Summer 2022, and Fall 2022, I can take about 30-36 credits which will make a science GPA 2.8-2.9. and a cumulative GPA of 3.2. This semester I will probably do some volunteering and shadowing while also studying for the MCAT. My goal is at least 510+. This DIY postbac will probably cost me around 16-20k but that’s a lot better than 70k for a masters that I was only doing for med school. And I will work these couple months too to save up some money.
OP, I have to be honest with you. With your cumulative GPA and SGPA, there is no way you will be accepted to any med school. Other posters have given you advice on alternative medical careers, please consider them.
Here’s the AAMC actual data grid for acceptances based upon GPA/MCAT. I disagree that their odds are zero, esp with a lot of volunteering and a legitimate reason for the backstory.
I can’t say it’s a sure thing either - no one can. It’s up to the OP if they want to give it a try. If so, yes, get more shadowing/volunteering in - more medical experience of any type (including job), and when you can do it, NOT at a community college, add some higher level courses to show you can handle the coursework.
ETA Medical lad tells me that those who enter with lower stats that he’s familiar with, there’s a story detailing why and what has changed. Right out of college itself, it’s pretty much a zero chance.
This makes we wonder about homecare. There are some patients who are not able to get out of their home to a doctor’s office. There are both nurses and nurse’s aides who care for these patients in their homes. This is an area where there are lots of jobs and there is a real need. It offers a level of autonomy that you do not get in a hospital setting.
I do not know if you can get into nursing school with your GPA, but it seems more likely than medical school. I do think that being a nurse’s aide / home health aide should be possible. This is a way to really help the patients who need the help.
I understand that money is an issue and have no idea if a post-bacc is affordable, but it might give you some benefit n terms of getting into the medical school at the college or university where the post-bacc is offered.
I still think a community college RN or BA to RN path might work for you and eventually you would gain the autonomy you want. I worked in Appalachia with RN midwives who were primary care for whole communities.
With your practical experience as an MA you might have a chance at community college nursing programs, especially if you take, say, courses in premed chemistry and do well.
Those are not jobs for a person with a degree. And the pay stinks. The OP can do better. She knows the odds and wants to give it a try. Good for her! And good luck!
Thanks :’). I know the chances are slim to none. I just need to get my foot through the door tbh. Even if I cant get in, my cgpa and sgpa will be high enough for a chance at other healthcare fields. With over 2000 direct patient hours, volunteering, clubs, LORs, and some basic research, it would break my heart if I don’t at least give it my all and try. Money will come back. But my the regret that I will have for not trying will never go away.
oh wells I will just have to get loans and pay whatever I make from working part time.