Advisor got me all discouraged

[acethecomeback]

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Hey guys, I'm looking for some non-traditional encouragement but a solid dose of realism wouldn't hurt either.

I've only recently decided to pursue med school after realizing that nursing isn't the right fit for me. I don't have an undergrad degree yet.
Basically, my first time around GPA was a 3.0 ish, that was many years ago. Then a 3.5 on some misc gen ed coursework. For my nursing program (BSN-level), I've had a 4.0 for the last 5 semesters, including A&P and microbiology, and I haven't taken any of the med school science pre-reqs yet.
Basically, the med school admissions advisor I just saw told me I'd need to do a special master's to be competitive. I know that wouldn't be the end of the world, but I feel like if I can get solid grades in the pre-reqs and a competitive MCAT, would that really not be enough?
She also asked me a bunch of questions about why not NP, why not DPT, why not PA? Fair enough questions, but it just felt like she was trying to talk me out of it without actually saying so. So now I'm wondering if I'm stupid to give up a sure thing with finishing the nursing program and just getting a master's in nursing. I just don't think the way the nursing model expects.

Thoughts?

 

[Save a life]

I basically had people (advisors, physicians, and even family) attempt to discourage me all along the way. It's a hard, long road and they were just trying to make sure it's what I really wanted.

For you, no one can say for sure until you get your grades for prereqs and your MCAT score. It will also depend on where you apply, if you're okay with DO then it won't be as difficult.

 

[Ad2b]

Ignore most advisors unless they sit on adcom of that particular school because:

1. most don't have a clue about any school but their own
2. most don't take the time to get a clue
3. see #1

A friend of mine was told to give up on med school despite the very fancy GPA from a very prestigious university because of AGE. Individual was accepted (allo), matriculated, and is doing very well. However, I don't believe that individual applied to *that* particular school.

 

[acethecomeback]

Thanks! You guys are great.

 

[Goro]

Personally, I think the best route to med school is by aceing a SMP (and MCAT). It's high risk, but reward.

Just aceing the pre-reqs, and MCAT? That might work for your state MD school, and some others. And all DO schools.

Unfortunately, nursing school coursework isn't considered as rigorous by med school adcoms. And I personally know this because my wife used to teach nursing students.

While most pre-med advisors have the brains of a flea, yours was doing due diligence and giving decent advice.

Hey guys, I'm looking for some non-traditional encouragement but a solid dose of realism wouldn't hurt either.

I've only recently decided to pursue med school after realizing that nursing isn't the right fit for me. I don't have an undergrad degree yet.
Basically, my first time around GPA was a 3.08, that was 8yrs ago. Then a 3.5 on some misc gen ed coursework. For my nursing program (BSN-level), I've had a 4.0 for the last 5 semesters, including A&P and microbiology, and I haven't taken any of the med school science pre-reqs yet.
Basically, the med school admissions advisor I just saw told me I'd need to do a special master's to be competitive. I know that wouldn't be the end of the world, but I feel like if I can get solid grades in the pre-reqs and a competitive MCAT, would that really not be enough?
She also asked me a bunch of questions about why not NP, why not DPT, why not PA? Fair enough questions, but it just felt like she was trying to talk me out of it without actually saying so. So now I'm wondering if I'm stupid to give up a sure thing with finishing the nursing program and just getting a master's in nursing. I just don't think the way the nursing model expects. I want more.

Thoughts?

 

[acethecomeback]

@Goro thanks for your input. Since you seem to have insight on nursing education as well, maybe you have thoughts on this: I told the advisor that I started thinking about med school when my pathophysiology and pharmacology professor (who was an NP) kept telling me she wasn't sure or that I didn't need to know that in response to many of my questions. A close friend in med school, on the other hand, always had an answer. This has happened with other instructors too since then, and I think the bottom line is that I want something deeper than the nursing model can give me, even at higher levels. I don't think it's that my instructors didn't want to give me their time, it just feels like there's only so much an NP without any basic science foundation (my nursing school doesn't require anything other than A&P) can conceptually grasp. It's all systems level. That's not necessarily bad depending on the kind of care you're giving, but I want to know more, and I'm willing to put in the effort. Does it seem like I have misconceptions about the depth of the APRN role? Or about the additional depth of knowledge med school would give me?

 

[Goro]

I think that you're on the right track and your thirst for knowledge is a good stepping stone.

@Goro thanks for your input. Since you seem to have insight on nursing education as well, maybe you have thoughts on this: I told the advisor that I started thinking about med school when my pathophysiology and pharmacology professor (who was an NP) kept telling me she wasn't sure or that I didn't need to know that in response to many of my questions. A close friend in med school, on the other hand, always had an answer. When I told the advisor about that, her response was that my professor should have answered my questions, that "education is king" even if I don't need to know. But this has happened with other instructors too since then, and I think the bottom line is that I want something deeper than the nursing model can give me, even at higher levels. I don't think it's that my instructors didn't want to give me their time, it just feels like there's only so much an NP without any basic science foundation (my nursing school doesn't require anything other than A&P) can conceptually grasp. It's all systems level. That's not necessarily bad depending on the kind of care you're giving, but I want to know more, and I'm willing to put in the effort. Does it seem like I have misconceptions about the depth of the APRN role? Or about the additional depth of knowledge med school would give me?