I am looking into going into medicine as a career change.
The standard way for non-trads seems to be going to a SMP or a Post Bacc, try to get all A's, then take the MCAT. And in your free time, do as many ECs as possible.
The thing is, debt just seems to get out of control for that alone.
Someone suggested that I could possible do all the Pre-Med/Post-Bac work while in the military. Since I already got my bachelors of science in Electrical Engineering, I know I could enter the military as an officer and not really have to see battle (which is not my plan).
Theoretically, I could try to do something medical related while in the military and (somehow) take the pre-med courses there too.
Has anyone here taken a route of serving in the military while getting your pre-meds done, getting your EC's in, and getting help paying your college bills? Whats it like? The goods, the bads, the uglies?
Thanks
Dr. Midlife you knew I would end up chiming in here! Anyhow, I've lived the OP's "dream" so I will give my 2 cents. And I apologize for jumping in so late but being that I've lived this for the past 5 years I will throw my opinion in.
Doing all pre-med/post-bac work is not all that feasible...well to a degree. You may be able to do one or two courses at a time while living the life of a sailor, soldier or marine but what does that really show adcoms? I tried this, even took classes at a top-tier university with a special deal they afforded me because I was active duty Navy and you know what the response on this was? "That's nice but we want to see you continue to handle a full load of classes and if your work schedule does not permit then perhaps you should wait...unless of course you're taking them out of leisure." Now I took classes to sort of help when I took the MCAT on active duty and was able to explain that rationale with my decent score so they actually liked that part. But the MCAT on active duty was a life-ending process (meaning I didn't have one outside of work and MCAT).
Next...I cannot speak much for Army but Navy and Marine Officers generally tend to work pretty long hours (meaning 12-14 hour days) so again getting classes in is next to impossible unless you are able to get a desk job, but even then you won't be allowed to do full-time class work. On top of the fact that if you join the military you will do some sort of deployment unless you join the Coast Guard (and I can't speak on that for lack of knowledge...maybe they do?)...who do you think leads the troops/sailors?
My big point being...if you do decide to join and I'm not saying don't (I do think it's an honorable thing to do), you will in essence put your medical dreams on hold for X years...and from what I'm reading the IRR Army is pulling people left and right so that's another thought to add in there when you're done with active duty (Navy IRR isn't taking people like that, officer-wise, so that could be a bright side). My dreams since I graduated with my bachelors have been in limbo waiting to be revitalized.
Now for the good (since I gave the bad and ugly). You have a ridiculous amount of opportunities for EC's. It is on you to seek them out but military volunteering opportunities aren't hard to come by, shadowing is easy to find, leadership looks great and your resume can grow 4 pages long. So yes, the EC part of AMCAS will be full if you choose to but just like in undergrad it's on you to stand up take charge.
Debt...there are a lot of different programs, a few in the military and numerous by state if you're military to help reduce debt, education loans, etc. The military is a good way to reduce this but remember it comes with a big cost. The GI Bill is now open to officers, BUT you must serve 3 years past your commitment which for most is 4-5 years active. This isn't the case for enlisted (3 years total). Tuition Assistance (they pay for classes) is also great but Navy won't let you use it once you're within 2 years of the end of your obligation. Rules change for enlisted (again). If this is your primary concern it is easy to find out the rules for all of the branches and do a comparison of all the programs and find out if this is a deal maker. Also HPSP exists (but is not much easier to apply to if you're on active duty) along with USUHS as military sources of med school relief and education.
So I used ROTC to pay for UG degree. Served 4 years active officer in Navy. Took MCAT on active duty...good score. But wasn't able to maintain much of a course load when I was in the middle of the ocean. I approached 3 different adcom's and was told the same thing....use my time in to work on the EC's I can fit in my schedule in my off time. I was told by one that the Navy took care of my EC's (I'm not following that so much...but you get the idea) and to focus on school when I could handle a full load to take care of pre-req's/upper-level science courses. And here I am doing just that...hopefully only 1 year removed from the path Dr. Midlife has taken. Would I do it all over again...absolutely. I might tweak a few things but my path through the Navy has given me experiences that will make me a better physician and I can say with confidence that medicine is what I want to absolutely do with my life after being in a career-field that I loathed every day. I have several friends that did the straight shot route and they don't like being doctors...it happens.
Whatever you choose use your friends, family and even SDN as your sounding board and hopefully you will make the decision that is right for you.
Best wishes...
... Good luck!
