Do I have a shot anywhere?

[Careerchange82]

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Hi All - I'm thirty years old and will receive my Bach degree in accounting In spring with a GPA of 3.0. I currently work as a staff accountant . Late in the game I realized this is not what I want to do with my life and really want to pursue my dream of becoming a psychiatrist. The reason I am finally get my degree at thirty and haven't pursed what I always wanted to do is because I had my first son at seventeen and was a single mom and purchased my home at 21. I needed to work and accounting at the time seemed like a good idea because I can always find a job as an accountant. I have two kids and realized after working in an office for 13 years, I'm not happy and I know I can offer allot in this field. Through my life experiences and drive, I have allot of insight to offer. This is the short version of my story. The question is do I have a shot at all of getting into a part time post doc program anywhere in philadelphia? Should I start volunteering ASAP? If yes, any recommendations of where to apply and volunteer?

 

[chayo234]

Hi All - I'm thirty years old and will receive my Bach degree in accounting In spring with a GPA of 3.0. I currently work as a staff accountant . Late in the game I realized this is not what I want to do with my life and really want to pursue my dream of becoming a psychiatrist. The reason I am finally get my degree at thirty and haven't pursed what I always wanted to do is because I had my first son at seventeen and was a single mom and purchased my home at 21. I needed to work and accounting at the time seemed like a good idea because I can always find a job as an accountant. I have two kids and realized after working in an office for 13 years, I'm not happy and I know I can offer allot in this field. Through my life experiences and drive, I have allot of insight to offer. This is the short version of my story. The question is do I have a shot at all of getting into a part time post doc program anywhere in philadelphia? Should I start volunteering ASAP? If yes, any recommendations of where to apply and volunteer?

From the volunteering part, I am guessing you don't have any medical exposure?

How do you know you want to become a psychiatrist without any medical exposure? For that matter, how do you know you won't back out of becoming a doctor when it will probably take 10+ years of intense academics/low-rung positions?

I would keep the accounting job and volunteer at medical centers to make sure this is a commitment you want to pursue. Once that step is realized, everything else will fall in place, long as you are secure financially. I can't imagine doing my SMP while having to take care of a family or a job. It will be an extremely arduous road where any slip-ups will not only destroy your chances of entering medicine, but will put you into debt with nothing to show.

It is easy to apply at any location. Visit any nearby hospital website and they should have an application there or call them directly and ask about how to apply. There are several steps/clearances you have to go across and it usually takes a month or two to start volunteering but it will be a very rewarding experience if medicine is the correct path for you.

By volunteering, you might also learn there are other meaningful ways to feel rewarded without having to pursue medicine. Wish you the very best!

 

[WorldChanger36]

From the volunteering part, I am guessing you don't have any medical exposure?

How do you know you want to become a psychiatrist without any medical exposure? For that matter, how do you know you won't back out of becoming a doctor when it will probably take 10+ years of intense academics/low-rung positions?

I would keep the accounting job and volunteer at medical centers to make sure this is a commitment you want to pursue. Once that step is realized, everything else will fall in place, long as you are secure financially. I can't imagine doing my SMP while having to take care of a family or a job. It will be an extremely arduous road where any slip-ups will not only destroy your chances of entering medicine, but will put you into debt with nothing to show.

It is easy to apply at any location. Visit any nearby hospital website and they should have an application there or call them directly and ask about how to apply. There are several steps/clearances you have to go across and it usually takes a month or two to start volunteering but it will be a very rewarding experience if medicine is the correct path for you.

By volunteering, you might also learn there are other meaningful ways to feel rewarded without having to pursue medicine. Wish you the very best!

This is good advice👍. If after doing some volunteer work and see the inside of medicine and you still want to do it consider a strongly linked post bacc program, not an SMP. Formal post baccs are made for career changers and very often if you do well in the program and the MCAT you can go to their or whatever med school they are linked to. Make sure this is what you want... Medicine is a painful difficult road of life and death. Oh and it is a ton of work too...