Alternative career to medical school?

[skatertudoroga]

I must say that I really do want to become a dr and I have the gpa/mcat but I keep getting rejected and I should hear my last rejection by May15. I don't know whether I will reapply again or not. So please consider this alternative:
Enter usmc as an officer for the minimal 4yr contract and do something that has to do with water, i.e. amphibious assault vehicles. Save up as much money as possible during those 4yrs and buy a midsized yacht as soon as I get out. Then live in that yacht somewhere like Aruba and rent it out and captain it for the people who go on vacation there and want to get to the more secluded islands,etc? I must say my parents would not approve of such a career choice, but I am old enough to be a parent myself by now.

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[cartoondoc]

Yep, sounds like a plan...

 

[GeneCoDoctor86]

Don't give up yet. Take a good look at your application and see what needs to be worked on. Yes GPA and MCAT are very important but you may be lacking in extra activities.

What will happen if this idea you have falls through? Maybe you could think about doing something with your degree?

But don't give up on medical school until you have exhausted all of your options.

 

[christina30]

Have you really looked at your application? Maybe you interview poorly. Maybe your personal statement has some problems that are throwing off ADCOMs - I have heard of PS errors that will totally eliminate the chances of even a 4.0/36 student.

 

[avatarftw]

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[christina30]

How about dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and podiatry if you wish to work in healthcare. If not, you could become a teacher, lawyer, accountant, etc....etc....

Even then - did you apply to DO schools, OP?

 

[Jihad]

Good story bro

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Even then - did you apply to DO schools, OP?

No he was thinking about buying a midsized yacht which costs over 1million bucks..
Either this guy has no clue how much a yacht costs or troll.

 

[skatertudoroga]

Don't give up yet. Take a good look at your application and see what needs to be worked on. Yes GPA and MCAT are very important but you may be lacking in extra activities.

What will happen if this idea you have falls through? Maybe you could think about doing something with your degree?

But don't give up on medical school until you have exhausted all of your options.

I had 3 interviews this season. I kept saying things I did not mean to say or failed to say things I should've said (i.e. if the interview is blind and you fail to mention certain EC's just because, even though you could talk in detail if asked more about them). So I have subpar interpersonal/communications skills. In addition: my EC's are indeed weak. But now that I am finishing my masters program, I've started looking for some jobs either in clinical offices or in research labs, and they wouldn't even reply to my resumes(probably because I have little work experience). I am not particularly thrilled about working in a lab or working as some assistant in a hospital when I want to be the big shot doctor. But I can't even get those entry-level jobs. I am still waiting on the decision for my last interview... But if/when it turns into a rejection, I'll have to decide whether to reapply at all or forget it.

And yes, I am not too thrilled about this alternative. I certainly would not want to spend 20years in the military if my idea falls through... And "fall through" may just mean that I did not save enough money during those 4 years to buy a profit-generating yacht.

 

[docelh]

Doctors are bigshots?

 

[skatertudoroga]

Have you really looked at your application? Maybe you interview poorly. Maybe your personal statement has some problems that are throwing off ADCOMs - I have heard of PS errors that will totally eliminate the chances of even a 4.0/36 student.

Well my mcat is slightly higher than that. I agree I interview poorly and I had 3 interviews. To get those interviews I spent this year in a masters program, spent $40k instead of making money, and I am not getting any younger. Perhaps if I reapply I would get >3 interviews next time, but what if I have 10 interviews and still get rejected?

 

[skatertudoroga]

How about dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and podiatry if you wish to work in healthcare. If not, you could become a teacher, lawyer, accountant, etc....etc....

To address those careers:
-I have no interest in optometry,pharmacy,physical therapy, podiatry after I have invested so much into medicine. I am not one of those people who couldn't get a decent mcat. And while those careers are less intellectual, they definitely require more interpersonal skills than medicine.
-Teaching is cool. But I do not think I would make a good teacher. Low communication skills...
-Lawyer-heard of my low communication skills?
-Accountant->no.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

To address those careers:
-I have no interest in optometry,pharmacy,physical therapy, podiatry after I have invested so much into medicine. I am not one of those people who couldn't get a decent mcat. And while those careers are less intellectual, they definitely require more interpersonal skills than medicine.
-Teaching is cool. But I do not think I would make a good teacher. Low communication skills...
-Lawyer-heard of my low communication skills?
-Accountant->no.

Are you kidding? Medicine is a purely service career. It's a hundred times more personal then optometry and pharmacy.

 

[skatertudoroga]

Even then - did you apply to DO schools, OP?

I applied to 2 DO schools this season. Late, but I've seen people on SDN who applied later and got interviewed. I applied to the ones that I wanted to attend. Did not even get interviews... Btw, the 2 schools did not require a letter from DO physician(I had a letter from MD) and they did not have secondary essays. But I guess if I applied to DO schools early and widely next year I could just take one by brute force even if I screw up every interview. But I've been completely humiliated this time. And while I am still waiting for this last decision, I know if I just didnt screw up on that interview, I would've been MD2014.

 

[skatertudoroga]

Are you kidding? Medicine is a purely service career. It's a hundred times more personal then optometry and pharmacy.

I don't doubt that you need interpersonal skills in medicine (and I was aiming for emergency medicine, not pathology, because I feel I could acquire some of that throughout 4 years of med school). But diagnosing disease is still a large part of medicine. I've taken a lot of med school classes, and guess what 90% of the time med students learn science. Optometry/Pharmacy is much less science heavy...

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I don't doubt that you need interpersonal skills in medicine (and I was aiming for emergency medicine, not pathology, because I feel I could acquire some of that throughout 4 years of med school). But diagnosing disease is still a large part of medicine. I've taken a lot of med school classes, and guess what 90% of the time med students learn science. Optometry/Pharmacy is much less science heavy...

2 years of science. 5+ years of interpersonal rotations with would ya guess it? People. Pharmacy and optometry are 4 years of straightforward taking classes on pharmacology and functionality of the eye.
And guess what, the science you learn in the first 2 years of med school will play how much role when your in residency? Realistically you'll learn everything you need to know about medicine via residency not the basic sciences.
And emergency medicine. What are you going to just stand there saying nothing when the patient is in front of your eyes needing help. Of course you'll be talking to them, because like anybody that understands the mind, understands you can improve healing by talking to the patient through the pain and giving them some hope.

Your literally aiming for pathology if you have no people skills.

 

[christina30]

I don't doubt that you need interpersonal skills in medicine (and I was aiming for emergency medicine, not pathology, because I feel I could acquire some of that throughout 4 years of med school). But diagnosing disease is still a large part of medicine. I've taken a lot of med school classes, and guess what 90% of the time med students learn science. Optometry/Pharmacy is much less science heavy...

Emergency medicine probably requires more communication/interpersonal skills than any of the other specialties. Wake up.

 

[DP4NB3S301314]

Please don't give up, I'd suggest you work on interview skills. There must be something else other than things you shouldn't say and you say it. Try strengthen your EC and do more mock interview? There are several reasons I personally think you should not give up:

1) You could have a family by now if you were not pick medicine as your career.

2) I don't know your age, however, you have been put in sooo much time and commitment to school.

3) Think about this, you have miss lots of thing in life. You know why you chose this path, if you stop now you get nothing. What I'm saying is you can't go back!!!

4) It seems like you are a prefect person, you want everything is perfect. Like MD or nothing. There was a thread long time ago talked about Harvard or nothing. And s/he make it.


I, myself, have a real life story. I know a teacher, who came U.S. for about 20 years. Funny thing is, he don't have a green card. However, he is a doctor in Physic. So, he was allowed to work in U.S. His son got in UC Davis, but he cannot apply to med school because he got no green card. He was struggling, and applied to Caribbean and got in.

What I'm trying to say in this story, you shouldn't really give up. Many immigrants (non-citizen) still apply every year and make it. I bet you are a citizen and I believe you have much better chances than non-citizens. I believe citizenship holder have advantage over immigrants because med admission wouldn't know whether you still server this country after graduate. I mean if you are a citizen, you'll be more likely work in U.S.

I hope my words somehow help your decision. Still, you have decide yourself.


Lastly, forgive my grammar. I'm an immigrant, new this country.


Best wishes

 

[apumic]

I don't doubt that you need interpersonal skills in medicine (and I was aiming for emergency medicine, not pathology, because I feel I could acquire some of that throughout 4 years of med school). But diagnosing disease is still a large part of medicine. I've taken a lot of med school classes, and guess what 90% of the time med students learn science. Optometry/Pharmacy is much less science heavy...

Honestly, OP, EM is one field where poor interpersonal skills would sink you faster than most. EDs tend to be pretty toxic places to begin with, so a doc w/ bad personal interpersonal skills and poor communication is likely to only make things worse. Additionally, the ED is a place where quick, effective communication is paramount. If you're not a good communicator, pts may end up dying as a result of your inability to communicate quickly and effectively with your nursing staff and/or with your pts (e.g., communicating instructions for them to do at home or getting them to cooperate and actually do what you asked them to do once they leave).

Additionally, to be entirely honest, from your comments above, it seems as though your attitudes don't really fit that of a future physician (IMO from talking with many of the physicians I work with and family/family friends). If you said similar things (or gave a similar vibe) at an interview, I could certainly see why an interviewer might mark the "do not recommend" box.

To address those careers:
-I have no interest in optometry,pharmacy,physical therapy, podiatry after I have invested so much into medicine. I am not one of those people who couldn't get a decent mcat. And while those careers are less intellectual, they definitely require more interpersonal skills than medicine.
-Teaching is cool. But I do not think I would make a good teacher. Low communication skills...
-Lawyer-heard of my low communication skills?
-Accountant->no.

BTW... communication skills necessary for a Lawyer ≤ those needed for a physician...just sayin' (both definitely need them but I'd definitely say a physician needs to be a better communicator in stressful conditions, whereas a lawyer often needs to be more charismatic and good w/ language than simply a good communicator).

I don't doubt that you need interpersonal skills in medicine (and I was aiming for emergency medicine, not pathology, because I feel I could acquire some of that throughout 4 years of med school). But diagnosing disease is still a large part of medicine. I've taken a lot of med school classes, and guess what 90% of the time med students learn science. Optometry/Pharmacy is much less science heavy...

Yes...as an M-1 or M-2, they do. Those are called the basic science years for a reason... (although many schools use standardized pts for clinical labs even in the first two years these days). After year 2, the next 6-8+ years of your training (as well as your entire career) is much more about your interpersonal skills than your basic sciences.

 

[Perrotfish]

Honestly, OP, EM is one field where poor interpersonal skills would sink you faster than most. EDs tend to be pretty toxic places to begin with, so a doc w/ bad personal interpersonal skills and poor communication is likely to only make things worse. Additionally, the ED is a place where quick, effective communication is paramount. If you're not a good communicator, pts may end up dying as a result of your inability to communicate quickly and effectively with your nursing staff and/or with your pts (e.g., communicating instructions for them to do at home or getting them to cooperate and actually do what you asked them to do once they leave).

Additionally, to be entirely honest, from your comments above, it seems as though your attitudes don't really fit that of a future physician (IMO from talking with many of the physicians I work with and family/family friends). If you said similar things (or gave a similar vibe) at an interview, I could certainly see why an interviewer might mark the "do not recommend" box.



BTW... communication skills necessary for a Lawyer ≤ those needed for a physician...just sayin' (both definitely need them but I'd definitely say a physician needs to be a better communicator in stressful conditions, whereas a lawyer often needs to be more charismatic and good w/ language than simply a good communicator).



Yes...as an M-1 or M-2, they do. Those are called the basic science years for a reason... (although many schools use standardized pts for clinical labs even in the first two years these days). After year 2, the next 6-8+ years of your training (as well as your entire career) is much more about your interpersonal skills than your basic sciences.

Alright, honestly I don't think that interpersonal skills are as big a part of medicine as your making them out to be. Interpersonal skills are not about communicating clearly, that's just basic english Language skills. I promise you anyone who can deal with the MCAT can manage at least that much. Interpersonal skills are about building a trusting relationship with those around you through a combination of verbal and non-verbal signals. They are absolutely vital for law, business, or sales, where you income is directly proportional to the trust your customers, employees, and coworkers have in you.. They are NOT necessary for customer service jobs: whether that job be Medicine, Pharmacy, or working at McDonalds. It's not that you're not dealing with people, but rather that you have a very small amount of time per person and no one expects more out of you than "take two and call me in the morning" or "would you like fries with that?". No one needs or expects you to gush, and you probably don't have time to if you want to.

There are exceptions, of course. Basically, the more often you have repeat customers and the longer their appointment times the more interpersonal skills you'd need. In Family medicine you might build a relationship with a patient over the course of decades. In Oncology you have extemely long appointments and you need to be a constant source of empathy. In EM, though, well I honestly think you could get by with very little in the way of warm and fuzzy interpersonal bonding. Also most of Internal medicine, almost all of surgery... etc. Actually I think pathologists probably have one of the jobs that requires the most in the way of social skills: rather than getting a fresh patient every few minutes they spend their time interacting with coworkers, coworkers they will see day after day after day.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[rxlea]

I don't doubt that you need interpersonal skills in medicine (and I was aiming for emergency medicine, not pathology, because I feel I could acquire some of that throughout 4 years of med school). But diagnosing disease is still a large part of medicine. I've taken a lot of med school classes, and guess what 90% of the time med students learn science. Optometry/Pharmacy is much less science heavy...

False. It is definitely about science- pharmacology, biochemistry, pharmacokinetics, immunology/hematology, to name a few...those are science courses, are they not?

Are you kidding? Medicine is a purely service career. It's a hundred times more personal then optometry and pharmacy.

Not necessarily...depends on the sector. Community and ambulatory care can be very personal. Perhaps not so much in the hospital sector, though.

 

[skatertudoroga]

Thanks for the info! I agree with all your points. Except for a clarification I need to make. I did not get any waitlists. 3 interviews and 2 rejections and still waiting for 1 more... I am attending a smp program, doing well academically. If I get this 3rd rejection, I can't even think of a premed job or a job in my major(guess what i was premed) that I could get right now. I mean I looked at some research tech jobs and most have a requirement of "prior lab experience, 2yr commitment,etc", so I sent my cv/resume to the few labs that did not have such requirements and even they wouldn't reply. Even sent inquiries to some doctor offices for some entry level clinical work and still no reply.

As for your points:
1) I did not know that usmc now had oversupply. I last looked at USMC a year ago when I was being rejected the 1st time around(though I was still much older than a regular applicant) and I guess it has changed since. I do remember that NYPD had a 1year wait back then.
2,3) See above.
4) I might try to argue some of these points. But I see your point. I guess even if there was no problem getting a job, I would still have a good chance to fail in the military, to never get a profit-generating boat in Aruba. A boat or whatever is really something I would like to have as a hobby. I would not look forward to going fishing when it rains... So I agree, military is not a good alternative.

But then I have no idea what I am going to do once I get this last rejection. Nobody wants me.

I was in a similar situation, and also planning to go to USMC OCS in case my second application cycle didnt work out. A few things:

1) The USMC recently overdid it with officer contracts, so actually you're likely to be waiting upwards of a year to get a spot at OCS, and then assuming you make it through another 6 months of unpaid leave until you can start TBS and get on with your career. So unless you're planning to go enlisted (which doesn't pay very well) you might as well reapply

2) Since you're on a few of waitlists, have you looked into Tulane's ACP program? (click on courses and program, then on 'anatomy certification program'). It's a program exclusively for people who were waitlisted at a medical school, and 95% of their matriculants continue on to the Tulane school of medicine the following year. There is no interview, and in terms of interpersonal skills you will mostly be judged on your ability to not offend anyone. If your problem is that you're a jackass that might not help, but if you're just sort of akward it might be a good way for you to get in.

3) Getting waitlisted at 3/3 interviews does not mean you're hopelessly unlikeable. There's a lot of luck involved here, schools interview a lot more applicants than they take, and if you look at each interview as a coin flip (which you should) coming up tails 3 times is not exactly at the outer limits of random chance.

4) Amphibious assault is arguably the single hardest job to get as an officer, it would take a 20 year career in the Marines to buy a 'mid-sized' yacht, and I pity the junior officer who trys to get by without interpersonal skills. If your NCOs don't eat you alive you will likely finish you career with 4 years of experience as a supply officer (or even worse, an adjunct) and very little in the way of savings.

So, in conclusion: buck the f--k up, reapply, and get the military out of your system though Navy HPSP like the rest of us.

 

[Oncoloman]

Even then - did you apply to DO schools, OP?

Yea...seriously apply to DO!!! or even for PharmD! just don't give up until every last medical professional school tells you that they will never take you. Don't give up an opportunity on a good career.

 

[Frazier]

To address those careers:
-I have no interest in optometry,pharmacy,physical therapy, podiatry... while those careers are less intellectual, they definitely require more interpersonal skills than medicine.

lolzzz

 

[christina30]

I applied to 2 DO schools this season. Late, but I've seen people on SDN who applied later and got interviewed. I applied to the ones that I wanted to attend. Did not even get interviews... Btw, the 2 schools did not require a letter from DO physician(I had a letter from MD) and they did not have secondary essays. But I guess if I applied to DO schools early and widely next year I could just take one by brute force even if I screw up every interview. But I've been completely humiliated this time. And while I am still waiting for this last decision, I know if I just didnt screw up on that interview, I would've been MD2014.

Your idea that DO schools will take you even if you mess up the interview is pretty freaking stupid.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

How about dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and podiatry if you wish to work in healthcare. If not, you could become a teacher, lawyer, accountant, etc....etc....

Butcher, Baker, or Candlestick Maker

 

[rxlea]

You think all of those other careers are less intellectual? Hahaha wow. Some of you pre meds crack me up.

Arkansasranger, there is always truck driving school...

 

[ArkansasRanger]

You think all of those other careers are less intellectual? Hahaha wow. Some of you pre meds crack me up.

Arkansasranger, there is always truck driving school...

Yeah, I don't have the perception to back one of those bad boys up though, lol. Maybe the OP does. I'm thinking more along the lines of being manager at Taco Hell. Bending tacos is a pretty good skill. Just how do they do it without them breaking? lol 😉

 

[rxlea]

Yeah, I don't have the perception to back one of those bad boys up though, lol. Maybe the OP does. I'm thinking more along the lines of being manager at Taco Hell. Bending tacos is a pretty good skill. Just how do they do it without them breaking? lol 😉

I heard that there might be a lot of openings for taco benders in the near future, but it might just be a rumor 🙄

 

[JoshUNCW]

I heard that there might be a lot of openings for taco benders in the near future, but it might just be a rumor 🙄

Do you have any idea how competitive it is to get a taco bending position. I mean jeese, it's not dental school. Not just anyone can do it 😀.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Do you have any idea how competitive it is to get a taco bending position. I mean jeese, it's not dental school. Not just anyone can do it 😀.

I figured, for the allopathic medical school reject, taco bending is about on par with D.O. school. 🙄











































JK. I have nothing at all against DOs. I intend to apply to osteopathic schools.

 

[skatertudoroga]

After doing more thinking I've decided that if i get my last rejection now I will reapply again. I know that even my parents might not support this. They told me last year to go to caribbean instead of smp. But is there any way to get any meaningful job right now that I graduate in early June? Or should I just fill out those secondaries and watch tv all day?

 

[ArkansasRanger]

After doing more thinking I've decided that if i get my last rejection now I will reapply again. I know that even my parents might not support this. They told me last year to go to caribbean instead of smp. But is there any way to get any meaningful job right now that I graduate in early June? Or should I just fill out those secondaries and watch tv all day?

Jobs are tight everywhere. I went through 75 applications to hire the last position I had to fill before I quit and go back to school full-time. Irony, eh? I've got my back to school job lined up though. You probably shouldn't wait around for something career worthy rather get something to pay the bills and chillax. Whatever job you get don't mention "Oh, I'm just sitting around until med school takes me then I'm outta here!" You probably have a career-useless degree. That's ok. I do too. It'll just make getting the jobs you think you want more difficult. Happy hunting.

Btw,


WOO HOO 1,000th Post!!!!! 😀

I'd like to thank all the SDNers. We've all got similar goals. Perservere. I think I spelled that right. Haven't seen it in print in a long time. Buckle down, people. We're in it for the long fight. I'd especially like to thank Q of Quimica. She could've probably banned me a long time ago, lol.

 

[QofQuimica]

I'd especially like to thank Q of Quimica. She could've probably banned me a long time ago, lol.

Watch out, I still might ban you one of these days.

OP, I have to say that the Marine Corps could be a good move for you if you're tough enough to stick it out. A bit of discipline and teamwork experience couldn't hurt.

 

[skatertudoroga]

Watch out, I still might ban you one of these days.

OP, I have to say that the Marine Corps could be a good move for you if you're tough enough to stick it out. A bit of discipline and teamwork experience couldn't hurt.

Haha. Haven't you noticed that I already quit that idea?

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Haha. Haven't you noticed that I already quit that idea?

You just wanted to blow stuff up didn't you? It's ok. I totally see the appeal. Had I been able to do what I wanted (fly Apaches in the army) I would've gone to ROTC and done that, but once again red-green colorblindness gives me the old shaft.

 

[skatertudoroga]

You just wanted to blow stuff up didn't you? It's ok. I totally see the appeal. Had I been able to do what I wanted (fly Apaches in the army) I would've gone to ROTC and done that, but once again red-green colorblindness gives me the old shaft.

I got cross-eye which prevents me from flying helicopters profesionally. No, I had some grand plans.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I got cross-eye which prevents me from flying helicopters profesionally. No, I had some grand plans.

You do know thats fixable right?

 

[Playa]

I must say that I really do want to become a dr and I have the gpa/mcat but I keep getting rejected and I should hear my last rejection by May15. I don't know whether I will reapply again or not. So please consider this alternative:
Enter usmc as an officer for the minimal 4yr contract and do something that has to do with water, i.e. amphibious assault vehicles. Save up as much money as possible during those 4yrs and buy a midsized yacht as soon as I get out. Then live in that yacht somewhere like Aruba and rent it out and captain it for the people who go on vacation there and want to get to the more secluded islands,etc? I must say my parents would not approve of such a career choice, but I am old enough to be a parent myself by now.

I must say that's a pretty appealing job right there, yachts are fun. If your really that bad off and you want to be a doc so bad and your sure that you will get rejected by all your other schools, you could always go Carrib MD, its also a great location to jumpstart your yacht company. But don't do anything stupid like going DO or pharmacy and other bs if your heart is set on being an MD.

 

[Playa]

Watch out, I still might ban you one of these days.

OP, I have to say that the Marine Corps could be a good move for you if you're tough enough to stick it out. A bit of discipline and teamwork experience couldn't hurt.

Yea OP, the only alternative to getting discipline and teamwork is to join the Marine Corps and get some shrapnel in your @$$. Or you could save yourself from that, do something else you actually like for a year, then apply again.

 

[QofQuimica]

Yea OP, the only alternative to getting discipline and teamwork is to join the Marine Corps and get some shrapnel in your @$$. Or you could save yourself from that, do something else you actually like for a year, then apply again.

Dude, read his OP; it was his idea, not mine.