Hello All,
I have been having trouble on deciding which path I should take to get into m medicine. Im a 21 year old non traditional student. I enlisted in the army after high school for the school benefits so I wouldn't have any school loans to pay off. Im in the Reserves and got picked up for active reserves. I just completed my first year of my three year tour. After my three years are complete I will have the full post 9/11 GI bill (full tuition paid and monthly BAH for living).
So I'm confused on what I should do because i am really interested in medicine. I researched the Physician Assistant career and MD. I've talked to military docs and PAs. I've considered the army IPAP program where you only need 60 credits to apply and shadow time with a PA. It's a 26 m program I believe and at the end you receive your Masters. I will be considered active duty in school so I will receive full pay and benefits. These seems like a really good choice for my husband and I financially right now.
But going to medical school has always been on my mind. I keep going back to the idea even when I think I have my mind made up. I could get off active duty and use my GI bill so I wouldn't have any undergrad debt and then apply to medical school and the Army HSPS scholarship to eliminate any medical school debt.
I think both careers are great but if i go PA I feel like I will hit a ceiling in my career and will not be able to advance into other things such as various leadership roles, academics, and research. I love the fact that the career is flexible and you are able to switch specialties. If I chose MD/DO I feel like I will be able to do more and be more equipped to handle things. I really love my science classes and I'm the type of person that likes to know everything but that is a long road and its a lot of risks. Medical school is really competitive and there isn't much you can do with a Bachelor's in Biology if your not accepted. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.
I have been having trouble on deciding which path I should take to get into m medicine. Im a 21 year old non traditional student. I enlisted in the army after high school for the school benefits so I wouldn't have any school loans to pay off. Im in the Reserves and got picked up for active reserves. I just completed my first year of my three year tour. After my three years are complete I will have the full post 9/11 GI bill (full tuition paid and monthly BAH for living).
So I'm confused on what I should do because i am really interested in medicine. I researched the Physician Assistant career and MD. I've talked to military docs and PAs. I've considered the army IPAP program where you only need 60 credits to apply and shadow time with a PA. It's a 26 m program I believe and at the end you receive your Masters. I will be considered active duty in school so I will receive full pay and benefits. These seems like a really good choice for my husband and I financially right now.
But going to medical school has always been on my mind. I keep going back to the idea even when I think I have my mind made up. I could get off active duty and use my GI bill so I wouldn't have any undergrad debt and then apply to medical school and the Army HSPS scholarship to eliminate any medical school debt.
I think both careers are great but if i go PA I feel like I will hit a ceiling in my career and will not be able to advance into other things such as various leadership roles, academics, and research. I love the fact that the career is flexible and you are able to switch specialties. If I chose MD/DO I feel like I will be able to do more and be more equipped to handle things. I really love my science classes and I'm the type of person that likes to know everything but that is a long road and its a lot of risks. Medical school is really competitive and there isn't much you can do with a Bachelor's in Biology if your not accepted. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.