Chances considering previous career?

[MamaVis]

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Hello everyone,

First, let me say thank you to everyone who participates in this wonderful resource.

I am wondering what you all think about my chances of getting into a DO or MD program, (preferably in NY), being a non-trad with family and a "complicated" transcript (more than one institution).

Science GPA: 3.51, overall: 3.67. Just started studying for the MCAT and am averaging 30 on the few full practice exams that I have self-administered. Still have 6-7 months to review. Lots of clinical hours, but mostly based in the capacity of my previous field.

My "complicating factor" is that I have completed a doctorate and residency in naturopathic medicine. I'm afraid that this can be a very political thing, and I don't really want to be on one side or another. I love what I learned, but feel the need for additional training to reach my own potential. Do you think this will be a negative, positive (in that I have a professional license, been in a clinical setting, and have sat for national science and clinical exams), or neutral?

Thank you for any advice.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hello everyone,

First, let me say thank you to everyone who participates in this wonderful resource.

I am wondering what you all think about my chances of getting into a DO or MD program, (preferably in NY), being a non-trad with family and a "complicated" transcript (more than one institution).

Science GPA: 3.51, overall: 3.67. Just started studying for the MCAT and am averaging 30 on the few full practice exams that I have self-administered. Still have 6-7 months to review. Lots of clinical hours, but mostly based in the capacity of my previous field.

My "complicating factor" is that I have completed a doctorate and residency in naturopathic medicine. I'm afraid that this can be a very political thing, and I don't really want to be on one side or another. I love what I learned, but feel the need for additional training to reach my own potential. Do you think this will be a negative, positive (in that I have a professional license, been in a clinical setting, and have sat for national science and clinical exams), or neutral?

Thank you for any advice.

Adcoms will care about your UG grades and MCAT score more than they will care about your grad degree in terms of determining your qualification for medical school. So it's not like everything hinges on your doctorate. However, I think the subjective reaction to it will be what you make it. You could go into your apps and your interviews being defensive and confrontational, which would not help your cause. Or, you can be open-minded and inclusive. CAM is hugely popular even in the allo world these days, and what you said about liking what you do so far but wanting additional training (i.e., integrative med) would probably resonate well with a lot of adcoms if the rest of your app is up to par.

Even though you already have clinical experience doing naturopathic med, you should still spend some time hanging out with doctors and ideally get to know one well enough where you can ask him/her to write you a letter of recommendation. Best of luck. 🙂

 

[EdLongshanks]

My "complicating factor" is that I have completed a doctorate and residency in naturopathic medicine. I'm afraid that this can be a very political thing, and I don't really want to be on one side or another. I love what I learned, but feel the need for additional training to reach my own potential. Do you think this will be a negative, positive (in that I have a professional license, been in a clinical setting, and have sat for national science and clinical exams), or neutral?

Thank you for any advice.

You're right that this is all very political. Nevertheless ( or maybe because of that) I have to chime in with a question.

Is a doctorate in naturopathy accredited? I've only met a couple of naturopathic "doctors" and I was unimpressed, to say the least.

I hope that you meet a few adcomms who don't have my attitude. When you meet the ones who do, you won't have to be confrontational, they'll supply all of confrontation needed.

I would apply to a lot of schools, just to overcome the anti-naturopathic bigots like me.

 

[ruraldocmom]

That's awesome! What an amazing Doctor you will be with that background--and how much you can integrate and teach others... can you go to med school with me, please? pretty please? 🙂

I agree with what Q of Quimica said about not being defensive/ confrontational. Even if you want to change the way medical professionals interact with naturopathic medicine, you may not want to admit that in the interview. I would focus on "I want to do a little more than the Naturopathic training allows me" or something along that line of thought. And some MD shadowing is probably wise.

But seriously, what an amazing background! Adcomms would be crazy not to consider that kind of education/training and advantage for medical school. Good luck to you!

...And now I'm looking up naturopathic schools for myself...

 

[EdLongshanks]

...And now I'm looking up naturopathic schools for myself...

You do know that naturopathy kills people, don't you? I have some friends in the graveyard myself.

And, yes, I know that real doctors kill people too - but when they do so, it is through the failure of the medical system, not through its success.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I would apply to a lot of schools, just to overcome the anti-naturopathic bigots like me.

+1

Best of luck OP; I respect that you're growing beyond your current career. You'll face a good bit of dismissal of your graduate work, but I think you know what areas of your story up to now make sense to accentuate, and which should be less-emphasized. Apply broadly, with a 3.5/30 you'll get an acceptance somewhere regardless of what you're doing now career-wise.

 

[ruraldocmom]

Ed, I'm very sorry that you lost friends this way.

My experiences with naturopathy have been very different.

I believe that often, unecessary conventional medical intervention leads to complications that might have been avoided. I know this to be particularly true through each of my own very different experiences of childbirth.

However, I also recognize that appropriate conventional medical intervention saves lives. Babies lives, in fact.

With proper education, I think a doctor would know when each kind of treatment is appropriate and when they can be complementary.

I should say... most of my volunteer medical experience and both of my childbirth experiences were in Berkeley, CA, so I've obviously had more exposure and um, bias in that direction than one would normally find.

Anyway, from my personal & volunteer experience, I've seen the effectiveness of naturopathy & conventional medicine firsthand--so I would disagree that it always has negative outcomes.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Ed, I'm very sorry that you lost friends this way.

My experiences with naturopathy have been very different.

I believe that often, unecessary conventional medical intervention leads to complications that might have been avoided. I know this to be particularly true through each of my own very different experiences of childbirth.

However, I also recognize that appropriate conventional medical intervention saves lives. Babies lives, in fact.

With proper education, I think a doctor would know when each kind of treatment is appropriate and when they can be complementary.

I should say... most of my volunteer medical experience and both of my childbirth experiences were in Berkeley, CA, so I've obviously had more exposure and um, bias in that direction than one would normally find.

Anyway, from my personal & volunteer experience, I've seen the effectiveness of naturopathy & conventional medicine firsthand--so I would disagree that it always has negative outcomes.

As the OP so delicately put it. This is a political issue. I'll shut up now. The value for the OP is to confirm what he already knew. There are some people inside and outside of the medical field who will view his previous experience with hostility and some people who will not.

 

[DrMidlife]

My "complicating factor" is that I have completed a doctorate and residency in naturopathic medicine. I'm afraid that this can be a very political thing, and I don't really want to be on one side or another. I love what I learned, but feel the need for additional training to reach my own potential. Do you think this will be a negative, positive (in that I have a professional license, been in a clinical setting, and have sat for national science and clinical exams), or neutral?

A year or two ago we had a former acupuncturist, I think he was trained in China, trying for med school. There was a long discussion around this, so I recommend searching for it.

In your shoes I'd start working on your personal statement for med school right away. In that essay you're effectively marketing yourself as a product. How is your background as an ND going to help make you a good MD, or is that a weak connection to you? How do you know what being an MD entails, and can you speak intelligently and insightfully about why being an MD appeals to you? Can you do this with and without bringing up your ND experience? Can you work towards an essay that will bring naysayers on board, willing to fight for you over other candidates?

This essay is your collateral when you approach mentors & faculty recommenders. Get feedback on whether you've presented a credible & compelling story. This sets you up to be able to push your narrative in interviews. Your ND background can make you or break you, so investing in a story *you* believe is key, imho.

Best of luck to you.