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I am currently a 2nd year at a research university and originally planned to obtain an M.D. degree as a doctor. However, after two years of internships, work, clinical exposure (private practice, hospitalist, and surgical settings), and personal thought, I also have another career choice in mind: optometrist.
I hope that my motives to enter this profession are considered "acceptable," but let me list my concerns:
1. Should I continue with my extracurricular activities if I continue to change career paths to become and optometrist? I do not have any experience of shadowing an optometrist, but I do have a good sense of an idea being a patient for the past 15 years of several optometrists.
2. What are my chances in getting into Optometry if I continue to maintain at least a 3.6 GPA?
3. Because I originally came in as a pre-med student, would I be viewed negatively upon admissions for optometry school?
4. What are some things I should change? What are some things I should keep?
5. I know I do not have a strong GPA to be considered for M.D., but possibly for D.O., but that is not the main concern I have. The rest I will explain below.
Coming into college (without clinical exposure), I was prepared that I would be able to handle a difficult lifestyle of being time-constrained, stressed, and definitely hands-full to assist my patients as a doctor. I have had this dream since the age of 8. However, after a realization (TLR: a close family member past away), I realized that life is a bit too short to possibly carry out this dream.
What I do not want to do is to go to a graduate school and spend the next 10 years of my life without being able to take care of those around me (specifically my mother). I worry for her and that I may not be able to take care of her. By attending optometry school, I shorten my time in school and will be able to take care of her while I sparingly can compared to before. I value my time with her.
Secondly, I would like to make the point, and, honestly speaking, I really care about serving the community. I have been doing so for the past decade through community service.
Third, growing up with a single mother, I find that the lifestyle of an Optometrist suits my needs (well, it is possible as an M.D.). I would like to have enough time to spend it with my future children and family. It is a personal promise of mine to not have my children to go through what I had to go through growing up fatherless.
Regardless of specialty, I know that I would like to have the privilege to assist a person with his or her health issues. Optometry is a profession that I have chosen, because not only does it interests me, I can connect to it very well since I have been treated by wonderful optometrists since the age of 5.
What should I do? Should I consider this new path or continue becoming an M.D.?
I apologize for having a decently long post, but I am just "venting" out my thoughts in hope of some advice and guidance.
Current extracurricular activities: 1. Medical scribe in an M.D.'s clinic 2. Research student for an M.D.'s practice 3. Student Lab Assistant in a Research facility 4. Back-Office Assistant in an M.D.'s clinic 5. Clinical Care Volunteer at a hospital
GPA: 3.657 Cumulative 3.5 Science Major: Biological Sciences
I hope that my motives to enter this profession are considered "acceptable," but let me list my concerns:
1. Should I continue with my extracurricular activities if I continue to change career paths to become and optometrist? I do not have any experience of shadowing an optometrist, but I do have a good sense of an idea being a patient for the past 15 years of several optometrists.
2. What are my chances in getting into Optometry if I continue to maintain at least a 3.6 GPA?
3. Because I originally came in as a pre-med student, would I be viewed negatively upon admissions for optometry school?
4. What are some things I should change? What are some things I should keep?
5. I know I do not have a strong GPA to be considered for M.D., but possibly for D.O., but that is not the main concern I have. The rest I will explain below.
Coming into college (without clinical exposure), I was prepared that I would be able to handle a difficult lifestyle of being time-constrained, stressed, and definitely hands-full to assist my patients as a doctor. I have had this dream since the age of 8. However, after a realization (TLR: a close family member past away), I realized that life is a bit too short to possibly carry out this dream.
What I do not want to do is to go to a graduate school and spend the next 10 years of my life without being able to take care of those around me (specifically my mother). I worry for her and that I may not be able to take care of her. By attending optometry school, I shorten my time in school and will be able to take care of her while I sparingly can compared to before. I value my time with her.
Secondly, I would like to make the point, and, honestly speaking, I really care about serving the community. I have been doing so for the past decade through community service.
Third, growing up with a single mother, I find that the lifestyle of an Optometrist suits my needs (well, it is possible as an M.D.). I would like to have enough time to spend it with my future children and family. It is a personal promise of mine to not have my children to go through what I had to go through growing up fatherless.
Regardless of specialty, I know that I would like to have the privilege to assist a person with his or her health issues. Optometry is a profession that I have chosen, because not only does it interests me, I can connect to it very well since I have been treated by wonderful optometrists since the age of 5.
What should I do? Should I consider this new path or continue becoming an M.D.?
I apologize for having a decently long post, but I am just "venting" out my thoughts in hope of some advice and guidance.
Current extracurricular activities: 1. Medical scribe in an M.D.'s clinic 2. Research student for an M.D.'s practice 3. Student Lab Assistant in a Research facility 4. Back-Office Assistant in an M.D.'s clinic 5. Clinical Care Volunteer at a hospital
GPA: 3.657 Cumulative 3.5 Science Major: Biological Sciences