Does what I am doing make sense (RD + MD)?

[Jgreen44]

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Hi all,

This is my first post here, so be gentle ( ; I completed undergrad in 2015 with a BS in Dietetics. Due to a very large hole I dug for myself the first two years, by the time of graduation I was left with a 3.05 overall GPA but with a decent upward trend. My intention all along was to become a registered dietitian but as the internships are fairly competitive I didn't even bother applying with my stats. I worked the past year as a dietetic technician in a hospital and now have 1,000+ hours of HCE.

Through some persistence and connections I got myself into Master's of Dietetics and combined dietetic internship program for this fall that will end in 2 years. By the end of the program I will have 1,400 supervised practice hours as in RD including in acute clinical care, pediatrics, oncology, community nutrition, etc. Additionally I will have some research done and be eligible to sit for the RD exam.

Recently my thoughts have changed and after much research, thinking, and discussion I am committed to med school as my end goal. Due to the pre-reqs for dietetics being all survey courses, i'll need to do a full post-bac, that will most likely be do-it yourself. I've written out a plan where I should be able to get all the classes done using the last semester of my program, and then will have to take classes fulltime for the summer and academic year after the completion of my masters. Additionally I am currently volunteering in the infusion area of the hospital cancer center and have made connections with MD's in several different areas of medicine to potentially start shadowing.

I guess my intention of this post is either reassurance thar what I'm doing will help me in the long run, or if im wasting my time and it would be much more logical to be doing my post-bac right now and completely forego the MS and RD certification. In my head it makes sense and I'm the kind of person that feels the need to prove myself and finish the program, but I am curious if SDNers with the experience and knowledge think it's going to offer substantial benefits for my application or not.

Thanks!

 

[cabinbuilder]

Not really sure what a masters in RD will really help you with in the long run unless you are looking to deal with eating disorders as a physician? I think in the grander scheme as a physician it doesn't add much meat to the application table. On the flip side if you don't get into medical school what will your back up plan be and will that extra degree time be advantageous?

 

[Jgreen44]

Not really sure what a masters in RD will really help you with in the long run unless you are looking to deal with eating disorders as a physician? I think in the grander scheme as a physician it doesn't add much meat to the application table. On the flip side if you don't get into medical school what will your back up plan be and will that extra degree time be advantageous?

Thanks for the reply! I think i was aiming more at asking whether what i was doing is advantageous towards actually getting into medical school not so much what it's going to add to my ability to practice medicine. Also good question, if i don't get accepted anywhere my first time that isn't going to put me out of the game, and in that year between i don't think working as an RD would be a terrible back up plan/layover.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I don't see how it would be an advantage. Half the folks I went to medical school with had a masters degree. It doesn't really get your foot in the door any easier.

 

[BT-228]

I think if you plan to pursue a primary care oriented role, the RD can help you apply effective nutritional therapies and health education. There is a movement within the medical field that emphasizes a more holistic approach to the current specialization of medicine. Check out Lifestyle Medicine, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and nutritionfacts.org.

To me your plan sounds fine and by being a RD, you can also work part-time while pursuing your postbac to raise your GPA.

Disclaimer: I'm a nontraditional reapplicant, so I might be missing something that med students, adcoms, and physicians may have better insight about.

 

[Jgreen44]

I don't see how it would be an advantage. Half the folks I went to medical school with had a masters degree. It doesn't really get your foot in the door any easier.

Completely valid. Just something else to put on my application and try and separate myself after stats comparisons. If anything i thought the anecdotal experience from the program would help in my interviews and writing a PS.

 

[precisiongraphic]

I just wrote a similar response for the RN to MD here http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...the-right-path-where-to-go-from-here.1218828/

I think if you're sure that you want an MD, I'd finish the RD, get licensed and then get a full-time or part-time job and finish your pre-reqs for Medical school. Then, perhaps, do the Master's program before you apply and/or while you are waiting the long, full year that MD admissions takes. You are correct that an RD job with or without an MS is a great Plan B if you don't get into med school on the first try. As others said, a masters doesn't make you stand out but it gives you a focus.

I think the RD perspective will help you write a strong Personal Statement and give you things to relate to as you interview. Don't forget shadowing and volunteering while you wait.

 

[IMG-MBChB]

I would finish your MS and get your certification. There are thousands of med students who come from backgrounds other than pre-med. However, med schools will want to see that you've at least finished or accomplished what you started - to see that you are capable of following through with med school too.