Change careers? MD?

[Cowsrcool]

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Hi all! Want to start out by saying I’m not even definitely changing careers just wanted to survey the space a bit. I’ve never ever considered human medicine, but my family keeps telling me I should “take my chances” and pivot to MD/DO programs or even PA instead of DVM. Does anyone even know anyone that has ACTUALLY done this? I know it’s a better ROI but logistically, vet med students haven’t taken the MCAT, haven’t even STUDIED for the MCAT, don’t have human patient care hours/experiences, etc. just to name a few. I see a lot of people on various platforms suggesting this switch but truly, it seems extremely hard. Anyone have any insight to this?

 

[vampyrica]

First thing's first: are you genuinely considering human medicine or are you just doing research because your parents are urging you to?

 

[JaynaAli]

I knew several people in undergrad who swapped from vet focus to human medicine. I even know someone who dropped out of vet school first year (by choice, not failing out) and switched to DO school. My roommate was one of the people who was prevet then decided to try for med school (though after she took the MCAT she decided to go career military in a non-medical role), but I can think of at least four of my pre-vet acquaintances that are doctors or PAs now. This was quite a few years ago (2010-2011ish). Human med doesn’t generally need anywhere the number of experience hours vet programs expect. And sure, you’d need to research and study for the MCAT but that’s not something that’s overly difficult to start to do. It does seem that med admissions are much more stats based from what I’ve seen around SDN.

In general, I’d tell people that if you can see yourself being happy in a field other than vet med, go do that and let animals be your hobby. However, human medicine isn’t without its struggles as well, and a lot of the uncertainty about loans and stuff will still apply to medical school. But at least there’s typically better pay for similar or less debt.

 

[BLOT0411]

So, I’ve had this exact same conversation with myself and so I’ll share my story/perspective.

I had a really rough undergrad because of mental & physical health issues. A physical issue that lead to me choosing motherhood earlier in case of things happening when I got older. However I will say I had a lot of vets that I shadowed that urged me to go into human medicine because they were all miserable because of the standard reasons: burnout, financial, etc. Valid. I looked into both and realized they required much of the same classes, but the experiences are obviously vastly different. I began to shadow MD’s and DVM’s to try and see where I had a passion more. Obviously it was animals.

I applied to vet school for the first time mid-pandemic. I was denied from every single school without interview. When I had my application review from Tufts I was told by an admissions counselor that I could get a masters degree but I probably would still be rejected from vet schools because of my undergrad (which isn’t the worst, it was a 3.2). To say I was disheartened was an understatement. In spite, and also a big part because I loved the program, I obtained my masters at Tufts. Taught at their vet school, but a masters that could very easily be transferred to the human world. I fell in love with the world of infectious diseases, but I had to have a hard talk with myself about where I would go from there. Vet school? Med school? PA? MD vs DO? Etc.

I took the MCAT and did very well, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger in applying and I just didn’t know why. I thought about PA school, opened up the CASPA, but when I got to the essay I couldn’t figure out what to write no matter how much I tried. The passion wasn’t there. Could I find a great medical event from mine or my children’s life to compel an admission board to take a chance on me? I’m sure. But would it be with all of my being? I’m not sure. Financially and with the climate of our country being a PA might have made more sense. Even an MD or DO would be better financially in the long run. But would I be happy? I couldn’t definitively say yes. And I couldn’t justify all the hard work I put in throughout my life this far to simply settle.

All that to say take the time to make the decision that works for you, but truly think about if you could find the heart in whatever you switch to. As a student, mom, and hopeful future vet I know it can seem bleak right now given the climate and uncertainty but remember this is YOUR life not theirs. Debt will be there for both. Payback isn’t guaranteed with either. You have to do what is right for you overall. And hey, YOU took the chance on yourself and YOU got into vet school. The number 2 vet school in the country. You’ll make the right choice for yourself whichever way you go, whether a change in career is the right one or not, but just remember in the darkness that is the climate right now it’s important to find that light that puts a spark in you wherever you can find it for a life decision like this.

 

[oweue]

another thing to consider is the many extra years of training. in vet med you can graduate and immediately have a pretty great salary. MD/DO have to do a residency if they want to practice medicine (i believe). I think if I were to change int human medicine I’d go nursing or PA

 

[RespectTheChemistry]

another thing to consider is the many extra years of training. in vet med you can graduate and immediately have a pretty great salary. MD/DO have to do a residency if they want to practice medicine (i believe). I think if I were to change int human medicine I’d go nursing or PA

Something to be aware of with nursing is that bedside nursing in the hospital can be quite physically taxing with patient transfers. There are ways to have less physically demanding work, but those things tend to pay much less (i.e. clinic nursing or school nursing). If you are in good physical shape with no back problems, it's a great field with a good debt: income ratio. If not, it's something to think about.

OP, make sure you are really passionate about human med before switching. Graduate level human med options (PA, MD/DO, etc.) have high debt loads too. The problem is that you are left with nothing else you could do with that very expensive PA or MD/DO degree if you burn out. You have to pay all that debt even if it doesn't work out and you do something else. It's not a job you should go into if you aren't passionate about it and 100% sure you want to do it for the work itself and not for the other advantages (pay, etc.). It can be soul-crushing work if you don't love it.

 

[katiemcat]

College roommates all went human med (one in med school, one is a PA) and I went vet med. My PA friend is probably the happiest career wise. She has amazing work life balance, income, and is in the specialty of her choice. My med school friend got in her first try to a great school with less experience and a low-mid GPA. Our experience IN school is pretty comparable. Med school residency is kind of insane in that you get what you get - but she isn’t aiming for anything too competitive. There are similar concerns for burnout - but not for debt. Regardless she is very happy with her choices. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I gave human med a chance (but the grass is always greener?) If you have interest beyond the suggestion of others I’d recommend exploring it. I think another draw of human med is there will always be a job for you.

 

[pp9]

Hi all! Want to start out by saying I’m not even definitely changing careers just wanted to survey the space a bit. I’ve never ever considered human medicine, but my family keeps telling me I should “take my chances” and pivot to MD/DO programs or even PA instead of DVM. Does anyone even know anyone that has ACTUALLY done this? I know it’s a better ROI but logistically, vet med students haven’t taken the MCAT, haven’t even STUDIED for the MCAT, don’t have human patient care hours/experiences, etc. just to name a few. I see a lot of people on various platforms suggesting this switch but truly, it seems extremely hard. Anyone have any insight to this?

I agree with what everyone has said here, but something I'll add (you've already touched on it): A competitive vet school applicant is typically not going to be a competitive med school applicant and vice versa. The prereqs usually overlap quite well, but that's about it. Med schools want higher stats and different experiences, and I think research is more important as well? And yeah, the MCAT. I'd estimate that 50% of the premeds I knew in undergrad were weeded out by the MCAT. Most didn't even bother applying once they got their scores back, and never bothered retaking and either went the nurse or PA route. If you wanted to switch, you'd probably need 1-2 gap years just to figure out the experience part, +/- repeat any courses with grades that were questionable for vet school but a no-go for med school. Not to say that should prevent anyone from changing paths, but it's just more hurdles.

I think it depends on how passionate you are about it. I know someone who completed law school and practiced as a lawyer, then went to med school (I think he either didn't finish, or graduated but never practiced), and then was in my vet school class and is now in a neuro residency. I also know someone who actually got into vet school, declined the acceptance, and is currently a PA. So although the first example is rather extreme, people change careers all the time to do something they're more passionate about. It's just much easier to do it before you've invested years and $$$ into a career(s..) that you no longer want to be in.

 

[battie]

If I knew then what I know now, I would have become an ultrasonography technician, particularly prenatal. The prenatal ultrasonographers at my local hospitals make 50-60/hr with a bachelor's degree. My undergrad had a program where you did two years within the bio department, then transferred to the large state university with medical programs in one of the major metropolitan areas to finish the degree. They did this for ultrasonographers, nurses, etc. I graduated from undergrad without debt, and probably still would have going this route; even if I didn't, my debt would have been 10-20k max. The math would have been 50-60/hr (100-120k/year-ish) w/ 20k in debt vs 75/hr w/ (currently) 105k in debt.

There's way more to human medicine than MD, DO, PA, BSN.

Not saying that I don't like being a vet or have any regrets. I generally don't. But I'm in a stressful place with my loans no longer being moved into SAVE since I submitted my app in January. Even if the DOE goes away and federal student loans stop being a thing (unlikely in my opinion, but a possibility), you can become an ultrasonographer on the cheap and have a pretty good life.

 

[battie]

I know someone who completed law school and practiced as a lawyer, then went to med school (I think he either didn't finish, or graduated but never practiced), and then was in my vet school class and is now in a neuro residency.

He was my neuro resident during my fourth year. So he should be out by now I think. Regardless, one of the best residents I had that year.

 

[Cowsrcool]

Thank you everyone so much for the kind words and information. It was just a thought I had in passing and wanted to explore. I spoke today with one of my colleagues at my master’s institution who is a DVM /PHD and he really enlightened me on this path. I know vet school is what I am meant to do. I would not be happy elsewhere. His words were really what I needed to hear today