Few Questions & Curiosities; also introduction

[t39Charles]

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Hello and good evening everyone,

I just found this forum a couple of minutes ago, as I was searching for "pre-me forums". The reason for my search was that I am a Sophomore at Sacramento City College- a Community College. I came from my home country, Nepal a few years ago in my junior year in high-school and didn't find out about SAT and stuff like that until senior year. So, I decided to join a community college for two years and then transfer to a nice university after that, then work hard to get into pre-med, and hopefully become a doctor. I am never giving up my will to become a doctor. There is a reason behind why I want to become a doctor- especially Oncologist if possible, but I will save that story for another day.

So, the reason why I was searching for forums like this was to communicate with other students in college, pre-med, med school, doctors, etc. to see what they do in their spare time, how much they study, what different are they from me, and basically how to succeed in my goals.

So, while I am already making this thread as my introduction and to ask some questions, I have a few curiosities I would like to be answered if possible by any of you guys, as I assume that every one of you are in a higher educational level than I am.

First of all, what is the ideal age that one becomes a doctor(suppose a oncologist) without any disruptions during the educational career? Do you think I am doing the right thing so far?(I know that there's not much support to that question, but just a surface scratching question.) When should I start reading and preparing for the MCAT and when should I take it? Any tips for me to succeed on the MCAT? By the way, as of now I am on my beginning/introductory Biology class, and a beginning Chemistry class, but I am planning to finish all those necessary classes for transferring to the university I want to transfer - UCD before i do, which according to the counselor will take 1-2 more years for me(hopefully only 1 more year, making it 3 years of this community college, if i take summer classes too).

Anyways, thanks a lot for reading my boring thread, especially taking some time from your busy lives and answering my questions! I hope to get to know you all better in the future. Peace!

 

[N2Medicine]

First of all, what is the ideal age that one becomes a doctor(suppose a oncologist) without any disruptions during the educational career?

I'm assuming you started at your community college around the age of 17-19. If you spend 3 years there, you will be 20-22 before you transfer to a 4-year. Most of the time universities don't tell you that it is nearly impossible to do 2yr CC + 2yr Uni = 4yr degree. It really depends on your university and major though. Since you will probably spend 2-3 years there, you would be anywhere in the range of 21-24 before applying to medical school. You would also take the MCAT somewhere in this age range as well.

Assuming you are accepted to medical school, you would have 4 years of that, so you would be anywhere from 26-28 years old graduating medical school. Since Oncology is a fellowship, you would have to go through about 3 years of an IM residency and then onto an Oncology fellowship. I'd say you would be in your low to mid 30's. I'd say that's typical for an attending.

Do you think I am doing the right thing so far?(I know that there's not much support to that question, but just a surface scratching question.)

Hard to say at this point. Everyone's situation is different and since we don't really know yours, there is no way to accurately predict if you are doing well or not.

When should I start reading and preparing for the MCAT and when should I take it? Any tips for me to succeed on the MCAT?

I have not taken the MCAT, so I do not have any tips on how to succeed on it. There are plenty of threads available on this that will be way more extensive in knowledge than what I would be willing to tell you here. Just search "MCAT Prep" in the search bar. You'll find tons of information.

By the way, as of now I am on my beginning/introductory Biology class, and a beginning Chemistry class, but I am planning to finish all those necessary classes for transferring to the university I want to transfer - UCD before i do, which according to the counselor will take 1-2 more years for me(hopefully only 1 more year, making it 3 years of this community college, if i take summer classes too).

Good Luck!




EDIT: This isn't my 1st post. This is a new account that I started so I could get pre-med out of my member name, since I don't plan on being pre-med forever. I've given advice on this forum before.

 

[t39Charles]

Alright, thanks for all the info., dude. Really appreciate it. By the way, do you mind telling me what you are doing? (pre-med? med school? etc.) What's your major and stuff and where do you live. Just curious to see what your educational level is and to see if you are like me. 🙂

 

[N2Medicine]

Alright, thanks for all the info., dude. Really appreciate it. By the way, do you mind telling me what you are doing? (pre-med? med school? etc.) What's your major and stuff and where do you live. Just curious to see what your educational level is and to see if you are like me. 🙂

I'm a Health Sciences major at university in Tennessee on a pre-medicine course track. My major pretty much consists of watered down first year medical school courses.

I have decent stats as far as GPA goes. I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I'm planning for Summer 2013. As of right now, assuming I get accepted, I will be part of the Class of 2018.

 

[t39Charles]

Alrigt, thanks man. Good luck on your MCAT. Does it seem difficult, easy, time-constricted? Any suggestions for me now, or anything that you wished you could've done when you were in college?