Doing it all in the same city

[jess0117]

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I am 30 with two small children. I've been kicking myself for ten years for not applying to med school, and I've been seriously considering going back, now that my child-making days are over. Realistically, I wouldn't be entering medical school until I'm 34 or 35, when the girls are starting elementary school and I've had a chance to take the MCATs and a few pre-reqs.

Problem is, my husband's job is unique to this city, and as our family's primary wage-earner, he needs to stay here. We're also loathe to pack up the girls and move them around once they've settled into a school district. Me commuting from another city is probably not a realistic option.

So. Can I swing medical school and residency in the same city? We live in St. Louis, so it's not the boonies but not a major market either. Assuming I get into WashU or SLU, I'm primarily concerned about incurring med school debt, then not being able to secure a residency position here in town. What happens if I don't match? It sounds like the scramble gives me even less control over my geographic landing place. And taking a year off and reapplying sounds nerve-wracking as an almost-40 with six figures of debt. I can't find much information for what happens in a situation like this.

I'd probably be an average med student. I test well and memorize easily but I'd also be preoccupied enough with family that I wouldn't be the world's most competitive residency candidate. I don't want to do surgery or be a rock star. I just want to be a doctor.

What are my options? Do I have any? Any help or wisdom would be much appreciated.

 

[Deekle]

Statistically speaking your odds depend on too many factors to give an accurate answer. I would count on having to be a geo-bachelorette for at least a part if not all of your medical training. If your SO can't deal with that then you need to be ok with giving up on the med school plans or potentially causing a rift in the homelife.

I'm currently living away from wife and kids (4.5 hr drive) to attend med school. There are some more folks in my class who's spouses are in other states for grad school/residency etc..

You've got to be willing to be flexible, and your family has to be willing as well.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

 

[DrMidlife]

St. Louis is close to lots and lots of options for med school and residency. There's no shortage of opportunity. Missouri has a bunch of DO schools as well. As for the cost of med school, you can't honestly talk about saving money on med school as long as you're talking about private schools - make the public schools your focus if you want to keep debt down.

You won't be anywhere near the oldest in your class. There will be other married students with kids.

You say you'll be an average med student, but let's be sure you understand how difficult it is to get into med school. The typical med school gets 5000 apps for 150 seats. Average GPA for accepted students is 3.6, average MCAT is 31+. WUStL is one of the 3 most difficult schools to get into, and their averages are quite a bit higher.

If you were an average student before, such as a 3.0-ish GPA, then you have to do a great deal more than just take some prereqs and just take the MCAT. If your previous undergrad GPA was above 3.6, then great, rock on. If taking care of your family is more important than getting A's and getting a 31+ on the MCAT, then just focus on DO schools so that you can sleep at night.

As you're planning this out, keep in mind that applying early, as close to June 1 as possible, is a major asset. That means you need to be looking at an MCAT date in April, May at the latest. This collides with most prereq completion plans.

Best of luck to you.

 

[jess0117]

Thanks for the replies. I actually don't mind being in a different city as my SO, but I'm not sure I'm willing to be that far from my kids. And I'm also looking at Mizzou, thanks for stressing the importance of the state school.

To address the concerns: I have a 3.7 from a top 20 university, double major in Bio Sci and Chem. I graduated in the top 1/3 of my law school class at WashU while getting a masters in Biology at night. I know I'm not a shoo-in and my resume certainly has some weak spots that need work, but I think I have a decent base.

My question is more directed to post-graduation. It sounds like it'd be extraordinarily risky to say I need to do everything in one city, incurring debt on the front end and risking not having a residency/job at the end. Am I reading things right?

 

[DrMidlife]

No, not extraordinarily risky, if you aren't prioritizing a really competitive specialty.

You can start researching residencies by location, any time you like. Google FREIDA. I'd bet there are around 100 internal medicine spots in StL proper alone, for starters.

The higher your stats, the more choices you have. What we're used to around here is the 2.5 GPA father of 8 insisting on Neurosurg in a one hospital, one med school town. By contrast, you're set up to succeed.

Best of luck to you.