Engineering --> Medicine: Am I nuts?

[pinetree12]

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I'm 24, currently a MS student in engineering, located in Houston TX. As my non-medical career lays before me I've been getting a that itch more frequently- the itch that tells me that I could be doing better, that I have more to give the world than to build computer apps all day.

I have a 3.75 GPA from a top Ivy, and my graduate GPA will be close to 3.90. My question is how do you know? How do you know if medicine is path you need to take? I'm glad that I have options, but these options feel like golden handcuffs that are trying to convince me not to risk what I have.

My current plan is to volunteer at a hospital or clinic or hospice this summer while I'm working. I will also apply to a post-bacc/non-degree program at U of Houston to start in Fall. If by then I've decided that I want to make the jump then I'll be set to do it.

Am I crazy, or does this actually seem like a plan?

 

[NoTownPreMed]

If you're nuts, then you can just call everyone in the nontrad forum nuts.

 

[pinetree12]

haha I'll take that as a compliment.

Also how does one get shadowing experience? Is cold calling frowned upon?

 

[eteshoe]

haha I'll take that as a compliment.

Also how does one get shadowing experience? Is cold calling frowned upon?

You gotta get started somewhere. If you have friends, family friends, or nice doctors in your social circle you could also start there.

 

[TX_AK]

haha I'll take that as a compliment.

Also how does one get shadowing experience? Is cold calling frowned upon?

Start with your doctor. They also can help you network. If there is a hospital, or a large medical group in your area contact there education department. There usually is v an already established process.

 

[NonTrad16]

Engineering grad (BS+MS), much lower GPA, accepted and happily attending my top choice next year. It'll take many years before I can say "worth it!" with any real meaning, but you're in great shape (stat wise).

If you're volunteering somewhere clinical, I'd use that to start your shadowing outreach. Personally, I get weird asking my own Dr.

Also, start a non clinical service to those in need early on and you'll be ok your way!

 

[Meridian32]

You're not crazy - there are many doctors who are former engineers. I am a former software engineer and current internal medicine resident. Volunteering and shadowing doctors are great ways to start learning about what being a doctor involves. To that, I would add talk to doctors in your network - reach out to your friends from undergrad who went to med school and use your undergrad alumni website to find and e-mail alumni doctors in your area, then buy them coffee or lunch and have them tell you about their work, what they like/dislike about their specialty, etc. Good luck!

 

[amuseddoughnut]

I am also a former engineer, accepted to my top choice and attending in the fall!

My question is how do you know? How do you know if medicine is path you need to take? I'm glad that I have options, but these options feel like golden handcuffs that are trying to convince me not to risk what I have.

The decision making path of "How do you know?" is different for everyone. For me, I thought about it for a long time. I took many career assessments (Birkman, etc). I talked to as many physicians as possible. I talked to friends about it. I probably thought too long. I also tried everything else: several engineering positions, a PhD, an academic research path. I applied to other jobs in other industries and in the process learned a lot about those industries. Nothing else seemed to fulfill that need to be contributing in a tangible way to helping others, while also using my interpersonal skills and interest in science and medicine.

In contrast, when I am in the hospital shadowing, I am alive with energy! I love interacting with patients. I love watching the physician's thought process about coordinating their patients' care.

Am I crazy, or does this actually seem like a plan?

That's a good plan. The clinical shadowing is a big part of applying and a big part of figuring out if this is right for you. Volunteering is a good thing to have on your resume, but you want to get some hours (~30?) of just following around a physician as well. Local universities sometimes have organized methods of getting pre-meds into shadowing, so you could look there if you don't have any more personal leads into a shadowing position.

Shadowing is usually 9 - 5 Monday to Friday though, so it's hard to do this while working, based on my own personal experience of making that work as a non-trad.

 

[Goro]

Your plan is sound. Medicine is a calling and so working around patients will tell you if this is for you.

I'm 24, currently a MS student in engineering, located in Houston TX. As my non-medical career lays before me I've been getting a that itch more frequently- the itch that tells me that I could be doing better, that I have more to give the world than to build computer apps all day.

I have a 3.75 GPA from a top Ivy, and my graduate GPA will be close to 3.90. My question is how do you know? How do you know if medicine is path you need to take? I'm glad that I have options, but these options feel like golden handcuffs that are trying to convince me not to risk what I have.

My current plan is to volunteer at a hospital or clinic or hospice this summer while I'm working. I will also apply to a post-bacc/non-degree program at U of Houston to start in Fall. If by then I've decided that I want to make the jump then I'll be set to do it.

Am I crazy, or does this actually seem like a plan?

 

[pinetree12]

How acceptable is it to take prereqs after submitting your application? I knoew TMDSAS says that "required coursework must be completed before OR by the time of enrollment into the medical school," which makes me think there is some leeway.

I mean, I still need to take all the bio classes/labs and biochem, which I will do before applying (and likely before the MCAT as well because it'll be on the test). But I also need to take what I consider fluff classes- stat, english, and 2 physics labs. How ok would it be to just take those after sending in my application? Taking into account that I will have graduated with an MS in engineering, about 4 peer-reviewed papers, and hundreds of hours working in an actual engineering lab, I feel that I will have already proven my proficiency in english and physics labs.

 

[NonTrad16]

You can put "anticipated/in progress courses" on Amcas (no transcript will be needed). I took a psych course and intro chemistry (long story) and no one said anything. If you're accepted to a school you'll potentially have outstanding requirements; failing to satisfy the requirements could allow the school to revoke your acceptance.

Be aware that schools do take the requirements seriously (possibly ridiculously so). As I said above, I retook a first year chemistry course because I had 2/3 quarters of chemistry in undergraduate. Despite organic, biochem, and a masters with intense chemistry, I still needed to take a freshman chemistry course for a handful of schools. Similarly, another school would have required additional English coursework. I won't be attending any of those schools!

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

Imagine the next 7+ years with no income, unreasonable amounts of debt piling up, extremely abbreviated social life, few or many failed relationships, on the gamble that you MIGHT be happier in your low to mid 30s when you can finally start working again, only it's not 40 hrs a week, no call, no emergencies, and you don't work for other engineers or people half as smart and dedicated as you were.

Maybe give your new career a little more time, you're only 24. If you need to "give of yourself", there are plenty of volunteer opportunities, fun ones too, all over the world if that's your thing.

 

[pinetree12]

Yeah it's a real concern. I will be working for the next year while volunteering/shadowing, and I should have a much better idea if this makes sense for me.

It's funny I always thought that being a doctor would be a way to avoid working for someone half as smart as me haha.

 

[aurevoir0711]

How acceptable is it to take prereqs after submitting your application? I knoew TMDSAS says that "required coursework must be completed before OR by the time of...

Also a nontrad here with engineering background in BS/MS from a top 10 engineering school in the nation. My GPAs are comparable to yours, although mine shows the opposite trend (higher undergrad, lower grad). Have you seen or taken a practice MCAT exam? I think you are underestimating the MCAT a lot. I also did before I committed myself to do a post-bac program at a state school. The MCAT is not easy for engineering students because they usually do not have much biology background and most engineers do not like rote memorization, which is needed in some aspects of bio. I would strongly recommend to take at least a year's worth of bio before studying for the MCAT.

Also, unless you are a natural reader, CARS will not be an easy walk either. There is a reason why pre-med students often panic about the MCAT (they are all brilliant people) and the experienced advisers recommending you to take the MCAT only when you think you are ready. Unfortunately, strong foundation layers come from fulfilling the pre-reqs (and learning the materials thoroughly by earning an A), so please take them before you apply.

 

[tiff]

Being a non-traditional grad myself, all I know is that it's a long journey to medical school. Just taking that initiative to do the numerous requirements needed shows that you are in it for the long haul. Truly, the best advice anyone can give you is to just listen to your gut. I think you know, you might just be afraid to take the leap. You won't regret trying, but you might regret NOT trying.

Oh! And you're not nuts! You just want to make a greater impact in this world. And that's just the type of person that would make a great physician. 😉

So, good luck! You've got this.

 

[Medicalrose]

You're not crazy - there are many doctors who are former engineers. I am a former software engineer and current internal medicine resident. Volunteering and shadowing doctors are great ways to start learning about what being a doctor involves. To that, I would add talk to doctors in your network - reach out to your friends from undergrad who went to med school and use your undergrad alumni website to find and e-mail alumni doctors in your area, then buy them coffee or lunch and have them tell you about their work, what they like/dislike about their specialty, etc. Good luck!

You're not crazy - there are many doctors who are former engineers. I am a former software engineer and current internal medicine resident. Volunteering and shadowing doctors are great ways to start learning about what being a doctor involves. To that, I would add talk to doctors in your network - reach out to your friends from undergrad who went to med school and use your undergrad alumni website to find and e-mail alumni doctors in your area, then buy them coffee or lunch and have them tell you about their work, what they like/dislike about their specialty, etc. Good luck!

I haven't encountered a Doctor who is a former engineer in community. I am also an engineer (ME)who wants to study medicine hopefully by next year. I hope I can meet in med school same situation as mine who has also engineering as undergrad. God bless to us aspiring doctors or doctors who are engineers.

 

[ndt7485]

It's good to see so many other engineers making a switch as well. I graduated from my AE BS almost a decade ago, and now nearing the end of my MS, but starting to realize that engineering is not something I would want to do for the rest of my career. I definitely know how you feel about making a bigger impact in my community.

It's really intimidating for me, as my stats are nowhere nearly everyone else's (~3.4gpa, but I still need to take most of the required science classes). I'm taking small steps at a time (taking a&p right now to get my feet wet before I take ochem in the fall) . I've also been volunteering for months now at a retirement home and I see that the elderly in my town is really underserved in the medical field.

I know the roads ahead will be difficult, and I wish the best luck to everyone.

 

[petomed]

Another engineer here (MS ME). About a year ago I was able to land a shadowing experience at a local emergency department. Day 1 my shadow doc and team work on a guy and truly save his life right then and there. Details aside, this was the singular turning point for me. I've been volunteering at an ED and fulfilling prereq's/MCAT prep ever since. With no one in my family in medicine, it took 26 years to gain this insight.

How do you know? Forget about the work a doctor does, who wouldn't want to help people all day long? Who wouldn't want to spend their 9-5 performing critical lifesaving surgery? Or being the person that diagnosed a treatable illness? These are the obvious and rewarding parts of the job. The real question is are you able to justify the self sacrifice of 80+ hr/wk during med school + residency and likely 60+ hrs/wk for the rest of your working life? Would you be more motivated or devastated after watching a child not come back from cardiac arrest? Can you keep your head when getting a history from the blatantly negligent parent of a morbidly obese 7 yr old? Have you really lived to know what you may be giving up? Will you choose marriage or medicine if they're both on the line?

Hate to answer your question with so many questions but these are few things I've thought about when answering the 'how do you know' question. Only you will know, articulating why is unique for everyone.

 

[ladygatorfl]

I'm in the engineer transitioning to MD club as well (go us!). Graduated with my BS in AE/ME in 2005, MS in AE 2007. After working in engineering for 10 years behind a computer not getting the fulfillment I want I'm joining the several others above me on the same path. I started in January knocking out pre-reqs and am now one only semester of pre-reqs left, MCAT in the spring and things truly get real!

As far as shadowing, I've found a physician to shadow through volunteering. I started volunteering at the local hospital ED last year as one way to see if it truly is someplace I would want to spend time. After regularly seeing one of the ED docs regularly I asked him for shadowing opportunity and will be doing that soon. Otherwise, plan to reach out to other physicians through the same hospital and try my luck.

The work life is definitely going to be worse and I'm giving up a lot of comfort work-life balance wise, and that definitely is something to consider. As an engineer you'd have flexibility for leave (plus/minus depending on your employer), a good amount of leave if travel/vacation is important, 40-50 hr work weeks, no residency, no call (unless in few circumstances but it's no where near a physician call load) and a really really good salary. You'll give that up (or leave that) for 4 years of loans, at least 3 years of residency and then depending on specialty a lesser work-life balance.

It might be worth working a little while in engineering while you take the pre-reqs, get some volunteering/shadowing, then you have something to compare to make sure it is indeed what you want to do if there's any doubt.

Best of luck, it's going to be a long hard road, but you're far from nuts!!

 

[DBC03]

Former engineer from top ivy as well (no where near as good a GPA, though). I met an engineer who transitioned after 20 years in engineering. I always knew I wanted out, but I wasn't set on which way to go when I left. I stuck it out as long as possible, but I knew I needed to be working with people. I did have one full year of non-profit work and three years of counseling, so I had an idea about what it would be like to work with people. As many above have said, there's something so different about working with people. I feel alive now. I really struggled through engineering. I've found quite a few notebooks where I wrote about how I needed to get out. It just wasn't the right time until now.

You're still young and recently out of school so your pre-reqs that you did take will likely hold up. I found that as a 35-year old (now 36), some schools won't take some classes (like physics). At this point I have crossed those off my list because physics has been my life for the past 11 years and I couldn't fit it in last year.

First, I recommend shadowing and volunteering. I started volunteering at the hospital doing patient rounding. That gave me a very good idea of what it would be like to work with patients who are not thrilled about being in the hospital. I shadowed a few doctors, but didn't really understand where I fit in until I found a doctor who let me shadow for three months. It was very clear that this was where I needed to be.

When I made the decision to try this out, I started taking post-bac classes. I took Orgo 1 & 2 over the summer at school over 2 hours from my house. I stayed with family during hte week and then went home to see my husband on the weekend. I was so afraid I'd fail, but I got the highest grade in both classes and moved on to two biology courses and biochemistry. I did just as well in those and then took biochem 2 during the spring while studying for the MCAT. True to engineering form, I did not do all that well in CARS, but scored in the 99th percentile regardless. If you think like an engineer, you can do the MCAT. You absolutely must have a very firm understanding of biochemistry, so I recommend two semesters of advanced biochem instead of just one general biochemistry class.

All of this hinges on doing knowing you want to do it. You don't have to be sure when you start the journey, but you want to be sure - and know WHY you're sure - when you start the application process.

Good luck!

 

[Medicalrose]

Former engineer from top ivy as well (no where near as good a GPA, though). I met an engineer who transitioned after 20 years in engineering. I always knew I wanted out, but I wasn't set on which way to go when I left. I stuck it out as long as possible, but I knew I needed to be working with people. I did have one full year of non-profit work and three years of counseling, so I had an idea about what it would be like to work with people. As many above have said, there's something so different about working with people. I feel alive now. I really struggled through engineering. I've found quite a few notebooks where I wrote about how I needed to get out. It just wasn't the right time until now.

You're still young and recently out of school so your pre-reqs that you did take will likely hold up. I found that as a 35-year old (now 36), some schools won't take some classes (like physics). At this point I have crossed those off my list because physics has been my life for the past 11 years and I couldn't fit it in last year.

First, I recommend shadowing and volunteering. I started volunteering at the hospital doing patient rounding. That gave me a very good idea of what it would be like to work with patients who are not thrilled about being in the hospital. I shadowed a few doctors, but didn't really understand where I fit in until I found a doctor who let me shadow for three months. It was very clear that this was where I needed to be.

When I made the decision to try this out, I started taking post-bac classes. I took Orgo 1 & 2 over the summer at school over 2 hours from my house. I stayed with family during hte week and then went home to see my husband on the weekend. I was so afraid I'd fail, but I got the highest grade in both classes and moved on to two biology courses and biochemistry. I did just as well in those and then took biochem 2 during the spring while studying for the MCAT. True to engineering form, I did not do all that well in CARS, but scored in the 99th percentile regardless. If you think like an engineer, you can do the MCAT. You absolutely must have a very firm understanding of biochemistry, so I recommend two semesters of advanced biochem instead of just one general biochemistry class.

All of this hinges on doing knowing you want to do it. You don't have to be sure when you start the journey, but you want to be sure - and know WHY you're sure - when you start the application process.

Good luck!

It's nice to hear that you have a 99% in MCAT. This October, I will take NMAT(in my country). In my country, no need to take pre requisites(unless required by school) as long as your a BS/AB graduate. For now, I am just preparing/ having my self review for NMAT. Hurray for Engineers who wants to be a doctor.