anyone else applying to top schools yet want to avoid the academic fields

[drphilisnotadoc]

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just wondering if anyone else in the same boat....

i have a great application. but, i feel with the top 10/25 schools they want docs that transcend into "leaders". i do have very strong leadership during my undergrad, and do plan on doing the best I can during med school and residency, but I do not want to become so engaged in the medical field past residency.

I guess I have a biased opinion. My dads an orthopedic surgeon, mom does vascular surgery. Long story short, they were never really around while I was growing up...

Don't get me wrong, I am willingly to work really hard in med school for derm/radiology, etc. But after that, it's just like "leave me alone" kind of feeling. I'd like to go to work at 9 get out at 5, and not think about my work after work. I just really value other things in life like family.

 

[alexandertg6]

just wondering if anyone else in the same boat....

i have a great application. but, i feel with the top 10/25 schools they want docs that transcend into "leaders". i do have very strong leadership during my undergrad, and do plan on doing the best I can during med school and residency, but I do not want to become so engaged in the medical field past residency.

I guess I have a biased opinion. My dads an orthopedic surgeon, mom does vascular surgery. Long story short, they were never really around while I was growing up...

Don't get me wrong, I am willingly to work really hard in med school for derm/radiology, etc. But after that, it's just like "leave me alone" kind of feeling. I'd like to go to work at 9 get out at 5, and not think about my work after work. I just really value other things in life like family.

Thats fine, but it might not be in your best interest to attend a top program. It may be beneficial to be a "big fish in a small pond" so to speak than go to a top 20 school where everyone is aiming for that #1 spot. I think the entire point of going to a top program (because it is a top program rather than exceptions of its close to home etc) is usually to end up in academia.

 

[Autarkeia]

Thats fine, but it might not be in your best interest to attend a top program. It may be beneficial to be a "big fish in a small pond" so to speak than go to a top 20 school where everyone is aiming for that #1 spot. I think the entire point of going to a top program (because it is a top program rather than exceptions of its close to home etc) is usually to end up in academia.

Second. At some time, you have to resist the push to "go with the flow". If you don't do that when selecting medical schools, what makes you think you'll do it when matching, or after residency? You suggest you're willing to adopt an uncommon stance, yet you're applying to top schools because...?

 

[NKChemEng]

That brings up a question I've been having. I'm not yet too close to applying, but I'm thinking about it continuously as motivation to keep working through my countless problem sets

I kind of put "applying/getting in" to a top 10/20 school as my end goal the whole time, just because I feel that I should aim the highest I can even it it is not realistic. Coming from an engineering background (lots of biomed research) I really want to go into orthopedics, but I know that it's a super competitive specialty.

So here is my question. Let's make the assumption (albeit a grand one) that I'll end up as a med student. I have no interest in doing academic medicine as of right now. Does it matter which school I attend for specialties? If I don't go to a top 20 program that hinders me from doing academic research, and I'm fine with that, but would it hold me back from going into my specialty of choice?

Sorry to hijack thread, but I feel it's relevant and a lot of people might have this question.

tl;dr: Want to specialize, no academic medicine interest. Does it matter what school?

 

[theseeker4]

just wondering if anyone else in the same boat....

i have a great application. but, i feel with the top 10/25 schools they want docs that transcend into "leaders". i do have very strong leadership during my undergrad, and do plan on doing the best I can during med school and residency, but I do not want to become so engaged in the medical field past residency.

I guess I have a biased opinion. My dads an orthopedic surgeon, mom does vascular surgery. Long story short, they were never really around while I was growing up...

Don't get me wrong, I am willingly to work really hard in med school for derm/radiology, etc. But after that, it's just like "leave me alone" kind of feeling. I'd like to go to work at 9 get out at 5, and not think about my work after work. I just really value other things in life like family.

If you are set on a 9 to 5 job, I am not sure being a physician is the best choice....even the best and brightest undergrad students can't guarantee they will match into a "lifestyle" specialty, so if you won't be willing to put in the hours necessary if you don't match into something that is 9 to 5, you may want to reconsider.....

 

[theseeker4]

That brings up a question I've been having. I'm not yet too close to applying, but I'm thinking about it continuously as motivation to keep working through my countless problem sets

I kind of put "applying/getting in" to a top 10/20 school as my end goal the whole time, just because I feel that I should aim the highest I can even it it is not realistic. Coming from an engineering background (lots of biomed research) I really want to go into orthopedics, but I know that it's a super competitive specialty.

So here is my question. Let's make the assumption (albeit a grand one) that I'll end up as a med student. I have no interest in doing academic medicine as of right now. Does it matter which school I attend for specialties? If I don't go to a top 20 program that hinders me from doing academic research, and I'm fine with that, but would it hold me back from going into my specialty of choice?

Sorry to hijack thread, but I feel it's relevant and a lot of people might have this question.

tl;dr: Want to specialize, no academic medicine interest. Does it matter what school?

Look at the match lists of the schools you are interested in. If they have a good number of students each year who make it into your specialty(s) of choice, there is no reason to think going there will hinder you. That said, if you are looking at a top program within your specialty, school choice may have a significant influence on your chances.

 

[dbeast]

I vote for you to go to the top school... Once you get in, nobody's going to force you to do research if you don't want to (except Stanford). But if you change your mind, the option will be available. I was in your shoes last year, ended up at a top school even though I was totally averse to research, and now some really special opportunties have basically fallen into my lap and I'm starting to come around on the whole academic thing... Still not sold on it, but I like that I *could* if I wanted to.

 

[reynoldsnumber]

That brings up a question I've been having. I'm not yet too close to applying, but I'm thinking about it continuously as motivation to keep working through my countless problem sets

I kind of put "applying/getting in" to a top 10/20 school as my end goal the whole time, just because I feel that I should aim the highest I can even it it is not realistic. Coming from an engineering background (lots of biomed research) I really want to go into orthopedics, but I know that it's a super competitive specialty.

So here is my question. Let's make the assumption (albeit a grand one) that I'll end up as a med student. I have no interest in doing academic medicine as of right now. Does it matter which school I attend for specialties? If I don't go to a top 20 program that hinders me from doing academic research, and I'm fine with that, but would it hold me back from going into my specialty of choice?

Sorry to hijack thread, but I feel it's relevant and a lot of people might have this question.

tl;dr: Want to specialize, no academic medicine interest. Does it matter what school?

I don't get it, you're in a major (assuming your name is your major) that is regarded as one of the most difficult engineering disciplines. You could have a great career without ever pursuing medicine.

Is ChemE your back up plan?

 

[Kickback]

OP: The top ranked academic medical schools per US News & World are essentially ranked by the research money that they rake in. From what I have gathered from the mission statements of many of those schools, the goal is not just to graduate competent physician, but to also graduate individuals who push the envelope of healthcare, whether it be through research (basic, clinical) or policy-making/administration, or medical education. Pushing the envelope will requires a large time commitment.

By your PS and interview, I'm guessing these schools may recognize what you want in medicine and weed you out. They're just looking for a different kind of person. As has been mentioned in other threads, your choice of US medical school (for the most part) will not limit your clinical career.

I don't get it, you're in a major (assuming your name is your major) that is regarded as one of the most difficult engineering disciplines. You could have a great career without ever pursuing medicine.

Is ChemE your back up plan?

It's my major, and my backup plan as well. Financially, ChemE is probably a better choice with $70k-ish starting salaries; we had someone who graduated last year that had a $120K starting salary + a $15K signing bonus with a big oil company. I did an 8-month long internship at a company and although it was a great experience, I'm positive I would regret not going into medicine for a number of different reasons. Either way I know I'll have a fulfilling career.

 

[reynoldsnumber]

OP:
It's my major, and my backup plan as well. Financially, ChemE is probably a better choice with $70k-ish starting salaries; we had someone who graduated last year that had a $120K starting salary + a $15K signing bonus with a big oil company. I did an 8-month long internship at a company and although it was a great experience, I'm positive I would regret not going into medicine for a number of different reasons. Either way I know I'll have a fulfilling career.

Smart plan, if you can stick with it and earn good grades, you will have a lot of wide open doors - I know I did.

 

[Autarkeia]

So here is my question. Let's make the assumption (albeit a grand one) that I'll end up as a med student. I have no interest in doing academic medicine as of right now. Does it matter which school I attend for specialties? If I don't go to a top 20 program that hinders me from doing academic research, and I'm fine with that, but would it hold me back from going into my specialty of choice?

No, it really will not. You can match into any specialty from an school. Just look at the physician CVs at any clinical hospital.

However, the more elite the medical school., the more residencies consider you. So it does give you a better shot at elite residencies. But again, that is more important for physicians who want to practice in an academic environment. If you're planning on private practice, a residency is a residency is a residency.

If you have no interest in research, why would you apply to a place like Yale which requires an original thesis from all medical students? People make the strangest choices when they encounter celebrity, be it a rock star, movie actor, or ivy league school...

 

[sibitrum]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that even at most top research schools the majority of students don't go into academic medicine.

 

[NickNaylor]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that even at most top research schools the majority of students don't go into academic medicine.

Most people in general aren't going into academic medicine. That said, I'd bet that a larger proportion of students from the top 10 enter academics than your average state school.

 

[Law2Doc]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that even at most top research schools the majority of students don't go into academic medicine.

True. I see nothing wrong with going to a big name med school even if your goal isn't academic medicine. Each school offers a lot of different things, and you need to figure out what is the best fit for you. Even if you don't care about academics or research, an emphasis on PBL, or a school affiliated with a hospital with strengths in something not found everywhere, like optho or derm, might be important. location might be important to you. Accessible faculty might be important to you. Mandatory lecture vs self study time might matter to you. So pick the school based on criteria that matter to you the most.

That being said, I agree with the above poster who suggested that folks looking for a 9 to 5 job might be making a very serious mistake considering medicine. You will be spending more time than that in med school and residency, and in general as reimbursements go down hours have gone up. It's unlikely that you will find the flexibility you seek. The average in this field is about a 60 hour week, and usually not by choice -- that's what the job entails.

 

[NKChemEng]

No, it really will not. You can match into any specialty from an school. Just look at the physician CVs at any clinical hospital.

However, the more elite the medical school., the more residencies consider you. So it does give you a better shot at elite residencies. But again, that is more important for physicians who want to practice in an academic environment. If you're planning on private practice, a residency is a residency is a residency.

If you have no interest in research, why would you apply to a place like Yale which requires an original thesis from all medical students? People make the strangest choices when they encounter celebrity, be it a rock star, movie actor, or ivy league school...

Interesting. I do have interest in research, but I'm just trying to avoid an MD/PhD route as I'm looking for something very clinically heavy.

 

[NKChemEng]

I don't get it, you're in a major (assuming your name is your major) that is regarded as one of the most difficult engineering disciplines. You could have a great career without ever pursuing medicine.

Is ChemE your back up plan?

I guess it sort of could be considered as a back-up, but I don't see myself doing anything other than medicine. I would reapply if I didn't get in first before considering a career in engineering. The reason I'm doing ChemE is because it is challenging, and I find what I'm learning to be more rewarding than what I was doing when I was a Chemistry/Biochemistry undecided.

 

[LizzyM]

Do keep in mind that some of the more competitive specialties want to see that an applicant has done research in that area (ortho, derm, etc). So a top research school will have more opportunities for research in a related field than a school that is geared toward producing primary care docs for the region and that is not catering to the ambitious medical student who needs to do research.

 

[NKChemEng]

Do keep in mind that some of the more competitive specialties want to see that an applicant has done research in that area (ortho, derm, etc). So a top research school will have more opportunities for research in a related field than a school that is geared toward producing primary care docs for the region and that is not catering to the ambitious medical student who needs to do research.

Never thought about it that way. Thanks LizzyM!