Critique my plan

[Medic2MD4me]

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Ok all, new poster here on the forum. I have been seriously considering the idea of medical school for some time now. After a brutal break up with the girlfriend, I'm ready to move on and persue medicine. I've been a paramedic for a couple years now. I've actually just been offered a position with DC Fire EMS to start in Sept. BUT, if I take it, I'll be stuck in that position and I really feel I can do more than that.

I have a BS in Health Policy Management from Providence College with an gpa of 3.65. I have 2 years of paid clinical experience as ER Tech and Medic and several months on a vollie rescue squad. I don't have any of the pre-reqs, except for statistics.

My new plan is to apply to Harvard ext school to start in the fall(the courses are VERY inexpensive and I can still work full-time and take 2 courses a semester) I'd be finished in spring of 2011 and I'll be 28 years old at that point.

Upon completion, take the MCAT and begin applying to med schools without English or Calculus requirements. Having to take those prereqs would add another year onto my pre-med studies. 4 years later at age 32 I'll be starting a residency, which I consider the start of a 30+ year career!

Tell me its worth it? Or offer me advice. I don't have much of a support system in place right now, or money, and need some solid guidance. Thank you!

 

[Krisss17]

Ok all, new poster here on the forum. I have been seriously considering the idea of medical school for some time now. After a brutal break up with the girlfriend, I'm ready to move on and persue medicine. I've been a paramedic for a couple years now. I've actually just been offered a position with DC Fire EMS to start in Sept. BUT, if I take it, I'll be stuck in that position and I really feel I can do more than that.

I have a BS in Health Policy Management from Providence College with an gpa of 3.65. I have 2 years of paid clinical experience as ER Tech and Medic and several months on a vollie rescue squad. I don't have any of the pre-reqs, except for statistics.

My new plan is to apply to Harvard ext school to start in the fall(the courses are VERY inexpensive and I can still work full-time and take 2 courses a semester) I'd be finished in spring of 2011 and I'll be 28 years old at that point.

Upon completion, take the MCAT and begin applying to med schools without English or Calculus requirements. Having to take those prereqs would add another year onto my pre-med studies. 4 years later at age 32 I'll be starting a residency, which I consider the start of a 30+ year career!

Tell me its worth it? Or offer me advice. I don't have much of a support system in place right now, or money, and need some solid guidance. Thank you!

You write that you already have your BS...didn't you have to take any English and math courses? Calculus isn't as much a requirement...it is pretty much depending on the med school, although they do like to see that you have taken some math classes (algebra and trigonometry). Unless you are planning on taking an engineering based physics (which you don't need to do to fill the physics prereq) class. It is always good to see what prereqs are required for your prereqs, that will give you an idea of what you need.

It's definitely not an easy decision, I can see that. If you shut your eyes and looked forward 10 years...where do you see yourself? Do you really see yourself becoming a doctor? Then you need to push ahead. If you are not sure, 26 is still relatively young...you can try DC FD for a couple of years and still have over 30+ years in your medical career if that is still what you want.

Best of luck to you

 

[Octagonecology]

Yeah, it will be worth it. I left the fire service after 6 years to go into medicine and am starting med school in August. I'm not trying to knock the EMS side but what you can do patient care wise is basically trivial. I found it to be more of a blue collar position and knew I could do so much more....much as you said.

If you have a degree I can promise you that you already have the English requirement and as she said, very few med schools require Calc. Stay away from it as there is a very good chance you will not be able to understand the TA's broken English. At least that was my experience.

Be sure to get a job in Boston that does not have a 24 on 48 off or similar platoon schedule as you will have an almost impossible time attending classes as they are on regular repeating days. Good luck.

Oh and btw I will be finishing at residency at age 43. So what? I would have been 43 anyway right?

 

[Medic2MD4me]

You write that you already have your BS...didn't you have to take any English and math courses?

Met an english proficiency requirement and tested out of having to take any english classes.

Took math business analysis, statistics, and geographical information systems to satisfy my math requirement.