FunFacts2023
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- Joined
- Feb 7, 2023
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I've dived deep into the forum for about half a year now, thanks for all the info and sharing. I thought maybe I can post my background and seek some advice.
Background:
Plan:
Quitting my job to take all prerequisites starting 23 Fall at Rice (or another university in Houston cause that's my partner's job location), aiming for applying 2 years later. In the meantime shadow + volunteer as much as I can. Also plan to get trained and qualified as EMT / Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Not so sure about research, since my science education is not enough. But I have excellent digital modeling and illustrating skills + ability to write simple code/ run simple machine learning, so maybe I will still have a chance.
Questions:
My own little thoughts:
Strangely I found being an Architect sometimes is similar to being a doctor (in my observation), tell me if I am wrong 😉
I realized I wrote too much, appreciate your reading! Please let me know if you think I stand a chance at MD school, I really enjoy working with my hands so being a surgeon is my dream, but I am open to suggestions.
Background:
- Education: Bachelor of Architecture (5y GPA 3.77) + Master of Architecture (GPA 3.64)+ Master of Computer Science (GPA 3.83)
- Employment and Family: Being an Architect for 5+years, Married with kids, LGBTQ, First-generation college student
- Prerequisite Class: Need to basically take all prerequisites
- MCAT: Haven't taken any, but aim to start studying for MCAT as I take the prerequisites
- Shadowing/ Clinic/ Volunteering: No shadowing but prepare to get, no Clinic also plan to get, Use to volunteer in the very rural areas to help build houses and develop the village infrastructure + teach, stopped after starting working, plan to get more volunteering work
Plan:
Quitting my job to take all prerequisites starting 23 Fall at Rice (or another university in Houston cause that's my partner's job location), aiming for applying 2 years later. In the meantime shadow + volunteer as much as I can. Also plan to get trained and qualified as EMT / Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Not so sure about research, since my science education is not enough. But I have excellent digital modeling and illustrating skills + ability to write simple code/ run simple machine learning, so maybe I will still have a chance.
Questions:
- Is the opportunity cost too much? My current job does pay 100k/y. I want to quit because of a traumatizing incident connected close to the industry + I feel I can achieve more than 100k. I still love doing what I do, but I can no longer picture myself spending more years in this industry.
- Is any other school recommendation other than Rice? I tried to find a post-bacc program but really find none. We have family and kids now, so Houston is all I can do. Rice is expensive but I do want to prove I can get A-level grades from a top school. Plus I want to get some counselor advice from Rice, I am sure they sent dozens of students to Baylor each year...
- What other activity I can actively engage in? I do want to make sure this is something I want to do for the rest of my life. I thought for months about my decision of career changing and did a lot of research: talking to people, reading books, and watching Youtuber Doctors and Medical Students. Also talked with every doctor I met in life. I want to make sure I would like to be a doctor. Apart from shadowing/ volunteering / maybe getting an assistant job at a clinic, what else I can do to get better exposure to the truth of a healthcare career?
- Should I only apply within Texas or try other schools as well? I understand as a Texas resident, an instate application might be slightly more beneficial for me. I absolutely love Texas and its climate. That being said, me and my partner had studied and worked for years (5-10y) in NYC so lots of friends and connections there. She is very fond of NYC and might want to move back later. The other factor is (pardon me for my ignorance)... as an LGBTQ, I am not so sure if Texas schools would be prone to not accept me (since I did hear some unfriendly comments about LGBTQ). I of course want to study and practice in a place me and my family feel safe. So far Houston has been very diverse but I am not sure about other places...
- Any other advice? I want to make myself useful and give care to people in need. This calling partly comes from my natural characteristic, and partly comes from my traumatized experience. Work plays an important part in my life, I would like to love my job if I can. This is a big change, so I am actively seeking for any advice you would give.
My own little thoughts:
Strangely I found being an Architect sometimes is similar to being a doctor (in my observation), tell me if I am wrong 😉
Having to make a decision based on multiple resources that are fast changing and might not be true
Constantly have to consult other disciplines and heavily rely on teamwork (I love being on a team)
Sometimes have to make decisions/ take actions in a short time under huge pressure
If screwed up, the cost is huge. (If a building is poorly designed, it would take even more money to remove or fix it)
Can never truly know if a judgment call is fully right or not and have to live with the uncertainty
Constantly learning new things, and you have to learn new things...
Crazy hours... dedication to the work, aiming for a higher purpose
Most of the time not doing anything fun, just always coordinating and documenting and trapped by regulations
I realized I wrote too much, appreciate your reading! Please let me know if you think I stand a chance at MD school, I really enjoy working with my hands so being a surgeon is my dream, but I am open to suggestions.
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