Chances?

[Curious428]

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Hello all,

I am a BSN major considering going back once I graduate to get become a DO or and MD.
I calculated my expected GPA if i continue with my average grades it will be about a 3.5 gpa, including the prerequisites science courses.
I normally get As on everything but calculated my GPA to get mainly Bs on the sciences with that expected GPA as a worst case scenario.

I have no idea on how I ll do on the MCAT and that test honestly freaks me out the most. I plan on investing on a review course.

Hopefully, I will get all the sciences out of the way in the next 2 years and have at least one year exp as an RN.

What are my chances of getting into MD school? I really want to go into surgery.
I have read/ heard that there is no difference in residency matches with MD vs DO but would like to hear opinions considering my objective is surgery..

Thanks for the input!

Still debating if I should just be come an NP or CRNA because it won't eat my life away.

But the debate still lingers because I have always been inclined to becoming a physician. Last year I saw my first open heart surgery and fell in love with the OR. I can't describe it.

 

[QofQuimica]

No one can tell you your chances without a real GPA and an MCAT score. Your state of residence and the soft aspects of your app matter too, including having a convincing explanation for why the switch.

When do you graduate? Assuming you're close to finishing, I suggest that you focus on acing your nursing classes (or at close to it as possible) for now. Get your degree, find a job as a nurse (maybe a scrub nurse?), and work for a year or two. See how you like nursing. Spend some time shadowing both physicians and NPs/CRNAs. If you decide that you still want to be a physician after 1-2 years of full time work as a nurse (and after adequate time shadowing various advanced practitioners/physicians), then you can work on completing any missing prereqs and preparing for the MCAT. But first things first: keep those grades up and finish your BSN.

 

[Curious428]

Yes, I agree, I am not being formal as to why I am really considering the switch. Of course I would have more reasoning/ examples to admissions as to why I would be switching.
Just presenting a hypothetical situation that I think I could pull off.

However, who knows how I will actually do on prereqs and etc.

Just trying to plan ahead/ debate scenarios.

Thank you for the input.

 

[Rocketdog]

Great advice Dr. QofQuimica!

OP: Sounds like you are "thinking" about the life of a Doctor and, like most, may think the life of a Physician is X. The truth is there are many TYPES of Physicians with different levels of "involvement" in their patients lives. Some work 8-5 M-F and some work 100 hour work weeks. There are Doctors who work overnights and some only work 2 to 3 days a week during the day. Some do research and patient care, some only do one, or the other. You may want to consider being a PA, NP, Podiatrist, dentist, Chiropractor, Surgical 1st Assistant, Surgical Nurse, Pathology Assistant (Masters in Pathology), Medical Anthropologist. There are several attractive professional healthcare careers outside being a Doctor that require specialized education and licensing.

I'd do a lot of research and see if your lifestyle situation can support the rigors of a medical education. Things to consider are: marriage, children, pets, income (financing), mortgage or rental costs, emotional stability, academic excellence, your reasons to become a Dr in the 1st place (which will be your motivation during Med Sch) GPA/grades, MCAT score, strengths, weakness, long and short term goals.

IF you are still willing to meet the challenge of a professional medical education, and willing to make sacrifice to attain your goal of e becoming a Physician....then welcome to the "club".....we are all in this together.

Robert
(AKA Rcoketdog)

 

[allojay]

QofQuimica hit it right on the head. Don't do too much at once. Take it a step at a time. First, do well in your nursing classes. After the nursing stuff is out the way, you can focus on medical school stuff. I personally was like you, but I learned the hard way.

I took some pre-med classes during my BSN curriculum and still kept a high GPA. But once I became an RN, things got tougher. Keep in mind that you have to orient as a new nurse for 3-6 months, and also take mandatory classes (hospital orientation, CPR, acls) during that period, which can interfere with studying for the MCAT and preparing med school apps. Also, you're going to be adjusting to the RN life (and realize that what you learned in nursing school is not even close to the amount of things you need to know to do a great job on the floors), which takes a HUGE mental toll. I remember working full time over nights and going to class full time, and I was barely awake in my classes. It was torture but I happened to do well. What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't do too much. Go step by step and don't rush the process. Plan ahead and all will go well.