A Soldier's Questions on Becoming a Doctor

[WDMedic]

Hi, Everyone!
This is my first post on SDN, though I would've posted much sooner had I had internet in the last 6 months. I am a 68W (Healthcare Specialist AKA Combat Medic) currently deployed in Afghanistan. I am fresh out of high school, and have yet to start any college. I was deployed immediately out of training.

My question, although I understand it is more like a cry for help, is this: What can I do as a soldier to become a more competitive pre-medical applicant in the coming years?

I am supposedly stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and plan to attend Campbell University's Extended Campus location at Bragg. I chose this as an opportunity to dodge going to the local community colleges, and Campbell is very military-friendly, from what I hear. Is it worth doing this, or will medical schools view this as equally as they view students that come from community college backgrounds?

Also, I would like to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, or NCSU upon leaving the army, as I'm sure I won't quite have my bachelor's degree in the next 3 years while working a job in the military. I haven't had the opportunity to do much research on these two schools yet, so if anyone has any knowledge on them, it would be much appreciated. Thanks all 🙂

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[DrOMG]

I would volunteer as much as you can. It not only will benefit your med school application, but will also help when it comes time to putting packages together for awards. Two birds one stone.

I would take classes part-time (obvious one). I was able to knock out about 50 credits going to school part-time while I was in.

I would also make use of the clinic/hospital facilities when you get back to base. I wish I had used my connections to gain more shadowing hours while I was down in Tucson. When I got out and moved back home to VA I found it really hard to find doctors who will allow me to shadow. If I was in Tucson I know I wouldn't have any issues because I knew most of the providers in the clinic on base.

Other than that, do your best in school to keep your GPA up, but don't go crazy with classes! You will have time and a GI Bill to focus on school more when you are out. You don't want to overload and end up with a crappy GPA just because you was trying to get ahead of the game. At the same time, take advantage of the tuition assistance.

Thanks for your service! 😉

Just a note, I AM prior military.. Air Force 4N0

 

[Doctor Strange]

This is just my personal opinion, but I think medical military experience is a huge asset to an applicant. It says a lot about your character and would be a fantastic complement to a good transcript. Consider your deployment an experience in itself and get as much out of it as you can. It would make for a great personal statement, in my opinion. A lot of people can study their butts off and get good grades, but it really takes another level of dedication to throw yourself into a military setting.

 

[mvenus929]

This is just my personal opinion, but I think medical military experience is a huge asset to an applicant. It says a lot about your character and would be a fantastic complement to a good transcript. Consider your deployment an experience in itself and get as much out of it as you can. It would make for a great personal statement, in my opinion. A lot of people can study their butts off and get good grades, but it really takes another level of dedication to throw yourself into a military setting.

This. There are lots of people in my class in the military, but all except two joined after med school started as a way to pay for med school. The two that didn't do that joined because they attended the Air Force Academy. (I should point out, however, that I do know two people who were in the military for a while, then went back to college and eventually on to medical school).

Someone who joined the military right out of high school, then managed to be in the military and try to get a college education is super impressive, and I wouldn't disregard that experience.

Talk to the physicians you work with, get a feel for why you want to become a doctor and what you plan on doing for a career (back to the military, or civilian?). Volunteering is never a bad thing if you have time. If you're able to find something you enjoy outside of work and school, run with it. Half the process is about showing that you're passionate about something.

 

[Praefectus]

You have something unique that sets you apart from everybody else with a medical military experience. Take that and run with it. For UNC, they really like North Carolina residents. I'm not sure how state residency would work for you, but I'd look into that as well. God bless, sir.

 

[Cannon]

Take 1-2 classes while active duty that are basic enough to get transfered to a major university and would be required as general education credits at most major universities (english, history, literature). During your final year in the military, take the calculus series. GET ALL A's! Shouldn't be too hard with only 1 or 2 classes at a time.

Then, get into a school. I'd actually recommend a community college for 1 year to get your AA (require for transfer to some major universities, plus easier to maintain high GPA). Take Biology and Chemistry this year.

Transfer to major university, major in biology. Take organic chem and required sophomore level bio classes your junior year. Also, try to get in some basic research. Then take Physics and upper level bio classes your senior year. MAINTAIN HIGH GPA. Maybe volunteer.

You're priorities are to A) complete required classes for med school, B) keep cumulative and science GPA's above 3.5 (at least), C) that's it.

Your medical experience will be good enough that you won't need to shadow or have clinical time. Your military experience will be good enough to not require additional volunteering.

This is (basically) what I did, but I wasn't medical military, just regular. I had to acquire clinical time.

 

[Lil Mick]

Thank you for your service!

You'll probably have a good amount of clincal work/shadowing in health care... as a 68W (have a few friends who were 68Ws in Iraq--most schools were pretty impressed with their experience). For me, I tried to get involved in leadership and service, as well, when I was offered those opportunities (in ROTC, it was leading extra training days and professional development nights).

Keep your grades up when you do take courses (which will help when you transfer), but don't worry if you have to withdraw or take them at several universities (med schools are pretty understanding about that, especially ones in the South) because you've been transfered to another base.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more 🙂

 

[Old Grunt]

Hi, Everyone!
This is my first post on SDN, though I would've posted much sooner had I had internet in the last 6 months. I am a 68W (Healthcare Specialist AKA Combat Medic) currently deployed in Afghanistan. I am fresh out of high school, and have yet to start any college. I was deployed immediately out of training.

My question, although I understand it is more like a cry for help, is this: What can I do as a soldier to become a more competitive pre-medical applicant in the coming years?

I am supposedly stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and plan to attend Campbell University's Extended Campus location at Bragg. I chose this as an opportunity to dodge going to the local community colleges, and Campbell is very military-friendly, from what I hear. Is it worth doing this, or will medical schools view this as equally as they view students that come from community college backgrounds?

Also, I would like to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, or NCSU upon leaving the army, as I'm sure I won't quite have my bachelor's degree in the next 3 years while working a job in the military. I haven't had the opportunity to do much research on these two schools yet, so if anyone has any knowledge on them, it would be much appreciated. Thanks all 🙂

Most people on this forum will have no clue about what you are doing, and thus, might give you bad advice. So, I'd limit the advice to people who have been in a similar situation with respect to military service.

For perspective, I was an 11A and was in Afghanistan (Paktika Province) for a year as the BN Recon PL and then S5. After I left the Army, I went back to college to do the med school requirements and just graduated from med school.

Currently, you should focus on doing your job and staying safe. Your military service, especially since you have been in the combat zone, will be well received. The trick will be articulating Army speak into civilian language in your application. Don't assume people will understand it. They won't. For instance, I completed Ranger School. Everyone in the Army knows what that means. However, I struggled on my application (both for med school and residency) to explain what ranger school was.

On your application, focus on leadership positions and emphasize the number of soldiers and dollar amount of equipment and individuals honors (I.e. "soldier of the quarter" or EFMB/CMB, MSMs, ARCOM) and find a mentor to write a letter of recommendation for you that can articulate what you did. I'd ask an officer (I.e. your PL or CO if you think they will write a good letter for you) since people place emphasis on rank, and I'd obtain it at the end of your deployment when it will be fresh in everyone's minds. The best would be a doctor, if any of them know you. If you are a line medic, I'd ask your infantry PL to write a letter. Have them write it as Medical School specific and emphasize why they think you will be a good physician and store it away until you apply. When you do apply, you can track that person down and ask them to re-send the letter. Don't wait until you are applying. I made this mistake, and your letter will be less impressive.

When you apply, you will need to be able to articulate why you want to be a physician and tie in your service. You have a leg up on this since your MOS is healthcare related. You don't need to jump through some of the usual pre-med hoops like "volunteering" which is typically glorified candy striping that pre-Meds go through (me included since I was infantry) so they can say they have been exposed to health care and like it.

As for the college stuff, I don't have a lot of experience with this. Make sure if you are doing stuff through the army, that it will transfer to UNC or NCSU. Also, keep in mind that you need to take the coursework at a location and in a manner that will set you up for success on the MCAT.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[WDMedic]

A huge thanks to everyone for the answers! This is an awesome wealth of information. One more quick question, would it be a smart move to obtain an AA as to avoid taking many med school requirements via distance learning/community college or is that a huge issue?

Old Grunt- Thank you especially for your reply, it's helping enormously. I'll be returning home soon so I have been taking more and more interest into beginning college. That's incredible that you graduated ranger school, I hope to do so sometime in my career. I have been awarded the CMB, an ARCOM, and a few of the standard "thanks for deploying" medals. I plan to earn the EFMB upon returning to home. Hopefully some of that will stand out on my application, as USUHS would be my first choice at medical schools, should I be able to pick one.

 

[Thego2guy]

I can't add much solid advice beyond what has already been said, but I would like to thank you for your service man. Politics, money, emotions, and all other crap aside, it means a lot that there are people protecting us and sacrificing their own luxuries (not that medicine is any different in that respect, seeing how it is geared toward helping people as much as possible). So good luck to you!

 

[ur2l8]

Thank-you for your service. Check out the military medicine sub forum under the physician/resident sub forum. There should be good advice there.

Good luck! Safe travels.

 

[DoesntMatter]

Most people on this forum will have no clue about what you are doing, and thus, might give you bad advice. So, I'd limit the advice to people who have been in a similar situation with respect to military service.

For perspective, I was an 11A and was in Afghanistan (Paktika Province) for a year as the BN Recon PL and then S5. After I left the Army, I went back to college to do the med school requirements and just graduated from med school.

Currently, you should focus on doing your job and staying safe. Your military service, especially since you have been in the combat zone, will be well received. The trick will be articulating Army speak into civilian language in your application. Don't assume people will understand it. They won't. For instance, I completed Ranger School. Everyone in the Army knows what that means. However, I struggled on my application (both for med school and residency) to explain what ranger school was.

On your application, focus on leadership positions and emphasize the number of soldiers and dollar amount of equipment and individuals honors (I.e. "soldier of the quarter" or EFMB/CMB, MSMs, ARCOM) and find a mentor to write a letter of recommendation for you that can articulate what you did. I'd ask an officer (I.e. your PL or CO if you think they will write a good letter for you) since people place emphasis on rank, and I'd obtain it at the end of your deployment when it will be fresh in everyone's minds. The best would be a doctor, if any of them know you. If you are a line medic, I'd ask your infantry PL to write a letter. Have them write it as Medical School specific and emphasize why they think you will be a good physician and store it away until you apply. When you do apply, you can track that person down and ask them to re-send the letter. Don't wait until you are applying. I made this mistake, and your letter will be less impressive.

When you apply, you will need to be able to articulate why you want to be a physician and tie in your service. You have a leg up on this since your MOS is healthcare related. You don't need to jump through some of the usual pre-med hoops like "volunteering" which is typically glorified candy striping that pre-Meds go through (me included since I was infantry) so they can say they have been exposed to health care and like it.

As for the college stuff, I don't have a lot of experience with this. Make sure if you are doing stuff through the army, that it will transfer to UNC or NCSU. Also, keep in mind that you need to take the coursework at a location and in a manner that will set you up for success on the MCAT.

Good luck and stay safe.

Excellent response.

 

[LizzyM]

Could everyone just pause a moment rather than replying to this thread.... the OP has not checked in to SDN since June 20, 2012. 🙁