Aspiring Surgeon

[Poochofpain]

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Hello SDN! I'm an electrical engineering major who's always wanted to be a surgeon but couldn't justify the cost of medical school. After doing some serious soul searching the past year, I've decided to pursue my dream job. I'm here now to find out if it's just a pipe dream, or if I can make it a reality.

So background. I'm a sophomore at a community college majoring in engineering. Yes, I realize that there is some serious prejudice against CC students but it was the only path available to me. I have easily maintained a 4.0 at the CC, and will be transferring to a four year college next year where I would theoretically complete a BS in Electrical Engineering. My current coursework includes every humanity class I'll need, calculus-based physics 1 & 11, Calculus 1-3, and introduction to circuits.

I realize that maintaining my 4.0 as an engineering student in university would be exceedingly difficult, so I am considering changing my major to Biochem which would allow me to satisfy all of the requisite courses for the MCAT while allowing me the option of pursuing a MD in Chemical Engineering should med school not pan out.

My GPA is the best part of my profile thus far. I have yet to undertake any volunteering work, though I am in the process of applying to various hospitals in my area. I was really interested in working with St. Jude, but the only facility they operate in my state is nearly fifty miles away.

The question here is, what do you think my chances are as a late-to-the-game EC student? I reside in TN, so Vanderbilt would be an in-state option (if I understand correctly). Any input would be helpful 🙂

 

[Goro]

Maintain your excellence and do well on MCAT, as well as get in the necessary ECs.

This book is an excellent resource (shill alert: Dr Hartwig is an old pal of mine)
Med School Rx: Getting In, Getting Through, and Getting On with Doctoring by Walter Hartwig
ISBN-13: 978-1607140627
ISBN-10: 1607140624

Your best chances will always be with your two state schools. Vandy is aiming very high.

Hello SDN! I'm an electrical engineering major who's always wanted to be a surgeon but couldn't justify the cost of medical school. After doing some serious soul searching the past year, I've decided to pursue my dream job. I'm here now to find out if it's just a pipe dream, or if I can make it a reality.

So background. I'm a sophomore at a community college majoring in engineering. Yes, I realize that there is some serious prejudice against CC students but it was the only path available to me. I have easily maintained a 4.0 at the CC, and will be transferring to a four year college next year where I would theoretically complete a BS in Electrical Engineering. My current coursework includes every humanity class I'll need, calculus-based physics 1 & 11, Calculus 1-3, and introduction to circuits.

I realize that maintaining my 4.0 as an engineering student in university would be exceedingly difficult, so I am considering changing my major to Biochem which would allow me to satisfy all of the requisite courses for the MCAT while allowing me the option of pursuing a MD in Chemical Engineering should med school not pan out.

My GPA is the best part of my profile thus far. I have yet to undertake any volunteering work, though I am in the process of applying to various hospitals in my area. I was really interested in working with St. Jude, but the only facility they operate in my state is nearly fifty miles away.

The question here is, what do you think my chances are as a late-to-the-game EC student? I reside in TN, so Vanderbilt would be an in-state option (if I understand correctly). Any input would be helpful 🙂

 

[Poochofpain]

Maintain your excellence and do well on MCAT, as well as get in the necessary ECs.

This book is an excellent resource (shill alert: Dr Hartwig is an old pal of mine)
Med School Rx: Getting In, Getting Through, and Getting On with Doctoring by Walter Hartwig
ISBN-13: 978-1607140627
ISBN-10: 1607140624

Your best chances will always be with your two state schools. Vandy is aiming very high.

I realize that now. I assumed it was a state school, but no. It's private. Do you have an opinion concerning major choice? I'm confident I can keep a competitive GPA taking the Biochem courses, but I do worry about my career prospects if I fail to get into medical school. I'll certainly check the book out.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Doesn't matter how late you are to the game. Keep up the high GPA and excel at the 4 year institution, no matter what you major in. If you have a change of heart and decide medicine isn't for you (quite common and understandable), the engineering degree will make alternative career choices much easier than merely a bachelors in biochem.

Don't worry about ECs right now - keep up your GPA in CC, maintain a high GPA in the 4 year while taking your pre-req classes (you'll have to take bio, chem, orgo, biochem, psych, and some humanities classes etc at some point in addition to math and physics which should be covered by engineering), and then once you're academically stable, start considering exploring your interest in medicine further by doing clinical work, shadowing, volunteering, and doing research.

For what it's worth, I didn't shadow or volunteer until my junior year in college.

 

[Poochofpain]

Doesn't matter how late you are to the game. Keep up the high GPA and excel at the 4 year institution, no matter what you major in. If you have a change of heart and decide medicine isn't for you (quite common and understandable), the engineering degree will make alternative career choices much easier than merely a bachelors in biochem.

Don't worry about ECs right now - keep up your GPA in CC, maintain a high GPA in the 4 year while taking your pre-req classes (you'll have to take bio, chem, orgo, biochem, psych, and some humanities classes etc at some point in addition to math and physics which should be covered by engineering), and then once you're academically stable, start considering exploring your interest in medicine further by doing clinical work, shadowing, volunteering, and doing research.

For what it's worth, I didn't shadow or volunteer until my junior year in college.

The MCAT prereq's are the main reason I'm considering changing my major. I'd need to take an additional year of school just for them, and I risk seriously harming my GPA by taking the upper-level engineering courses. Does it make sense to get the MCAT prereqs first with a bachelor's in biochem, then go back for the engineering courses if I don't make it in? I don't want to ruin my chances at medicine by focusing on a back-up plan.

 

[Goro]

Medical schools do not care what your major or minor is, only that you do well.

I realize that now. I assumed it was a state school, but no. It's private. Do you have an opinion concerning major choice? I'm confident I can keep a competitive GPA taking the Biochem courses, but I do worry about my career prospects if I fail to get into medical school. I'll certainly check the book out.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

option of pursuing a MD in Chemical Engineering should med school not pan out.

I'm trying to figure out what this means?

Keep that GPA high and do as well as you can on the MCAT and you will be fine. Vandy is lofty, as everyone has said.

 

[Poochofpain]

It should also be noted that I have been a part-time student. I've completed just under 50 hours of coursework in two years. Will medical schools look down on my application because of this? I intend on taking at least eleven hours a semester, as well as summer courses once I transfer to the four-year. I will still take around three years to graduate, unless I shoot for 16-18 credit hours a semester. I really don't see being able to maintain a competitive GPA and amass ECs with a 16 hour course load.