hello! my intro

[tigress]

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Hey guys

So I posted something last night but I decided to go ahead and introduce myself since it looks like I'm in for the long haul and it would help to have some friends in this 🙂

I'm 22, in grad school, a PhD program, first year, and I basically hate it and know I need to be in med school. I have always needed to be in med school, and for a variety of reasons I'm not there now. Anyway, I'm taking the MCAT in April and I'll be applying. My undergrad GPA is 3.68 or something like that, and I expect to do well on the MCAT. I did get a C in first semester of physics, though. But I'll have volunteer experience and research experience (of course, I'm in a PhD program!). My husband goes to Drexel Med, and I think I'd like to go there because I like the curriculum.

Right now I'm struggling with sticking around here for the rest of the year. I don't like it, but I feel like I need to stick around. I'm going to sign up for the Princeton Review course (my hubby and friends say that's the way to go), and I've applied to be in my university's premed hospital volunteer program.

So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! 😉

thanks for listening 🙄

 

[liverotcod]

Welcome to our humble home!

FYI, you might get some pushback if you don't intend to complete your PhD. I believe you are usually required to complete it before matriculation.

 

[stinkycheese]

You should drop out of your PhD program this spring before submitting your AMCAS. IF possible, get a masters' and drop. You can't apply if you're still in the program bc many schools require you to obtain the degree you started out to get if you apply while in a degree-granting program. If you drop out and then apply, you might still get flak for it from some schools who will see you as wishy-washy, but you'll have no obligations to your PhD program since it will have already been a thing of the past by the time you hit submit. I strongly recommend that you get a lab tech job and make sure you're totally separated from your program before going through with AMCAS. With your gpa, you have a great chance at Drexel. Good luck.

 

[tigress]

Thanks guys. I spoke to the dean of admissons at Drexel and he said leaving a PhD program wouldn't be such a big deal, I'd just have to be able to explain it (which of course I would). I wasn't aware of the problem of applying while still in the program, though. I was considering staying for my masters, which I could finish by fall of next year, but I would already be doing AMCAS by then, so I guess that wouldn't work. Oh well, not like I really want to stick around anyway 😛

Oh yeah, who knows about transfering med schools? I would have more of a choice in applying places if my husband could transfer, cuz it'll be his 3rd year when I start. If he couldn't transfer I'm basically here in Philly (which thankfully has tons of schools!)

 

[liverotcod]

Thanks guys. I spoke to the dean of admissons at Drexel and he said leaving a PhD program wouldn't be such a big deal, I'd just have to be able to explain it (which of course I would). I wasn't aware of the problem of applying while still in the program, though. I was considering staying for my masters, which I could finish by fall of next year, but I would already be doing AMCAS by then, so I guess that wouldn't work. Oh well, not like I really want to stick around anyway 😛

Oh yeah, who knows about transfering med schools? I would have more of a choice in applying places if my husband could transfer, cuz it'll be his 3rd year when I start. If he couldn't transfer I'm basically here in Philly (which thankfully has tons of schools!)

That's a tough question. You will in all likelihood have no trouble getting in to a Philadelphia school, assuming you can get 30 on the MCAT. Transferring to a school is probably harder than getting in as a first year. You will also greatly complicate the (already pretty challenging) application process by requiring that both you and your hubby get in to the same school. You *will* get extra consideration because of your husband's status.

 

[stinkycheese]

That's a tough question. You will in all likelihood have no trouble getting in to a Philadelphia school, assuming you can get 30 on the MCAT. Transferring to a school is probably harder than getting in as a first year. You will also greatly complicate the (already pretty challenging) application process by requiring that both you and your hubby get in to the same school. You *will* get extra consideration because of your husband's status.

I agree, I don't think you'll have any problems getting into Drexel, but make sure that you kill the MCAT and express strong interest in their program (which it looks like you are already doing, since you met with the Dean). Sometimes places like Drexel overlook strong candidates, assuming they'll go to a higher-ranked school, so the only thing to be wary of is making sure they know that they are your first choice. You also have a good shot at Temple, Jefferson, and even Penn, provided you bitch-slap the MCAT.

 

[sfbear]

If you can switch to a masters program that and your school is aware of your intentions to leave the program with a masters instead of PhD after two years, you shouldn't have a problem with still being in school while applying. you will most likely have to get a letter stating that they are aware of and have approved the situation though. or you could just leave since you don't like it anyways . . . 🙂

 

[CarlosMielefan]

I'm 22, in grad school, a PhD program, first year, and I basically hate it and know I need to be in med school.:

Dharrrrrling, you should not quit grad school to go to med school. One is not a subsitute for the other. You should seriously evaluate why it is you want to go to medical school. Also, you should realize that PhD work is considered higher than medical school (which is considered an extension of undegraduate work). Doctorate training is more challenging and fulfilling. Why do you "hate" it?

 

[Khenon]

Dharrrrrling, you should not quit grad school to go to med school. One is not a subsitute for the other. You should seriously evaluate why it is you want to go to medical school. Also, you should realize that PhD work is considered higher than medical school (which is considered an extension of undegraduate work). Doctorate training is more challenging and fulfilling. Why do you "hate" it?

Sorry Carlos, but I'm going to have to agree with tigress on this one! 🙂 I absolutely hated my PhD program, and it was mainly because I didn't realize how shockingly different it is than clinical work. I switched to a masters, and moved on too. It wasn't a status thing at all. In fact, I agree with you, that it is very challenging to get a PhD, but if you're not up to the challenge then it's just hard work that doesn't pay off in the end. Oh, and I also realized that I hated every PhD's job that I saw . . . writing grants, figuring out new research projects, competing with everyone . . . it just wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong. I know MD's can do this too, but I will try to find jobs that don't involve all that rigamarole. I just want to be in patient care. I can do without the research and the publish or parish attitude. My guess is tigress is in a similar boat.

 

[tigress]

Dharrrrrling, you should not quit grad school to go to med school. One is not a subsitute for the other. You should seriously evaluate why it is you want to go to medical school. Also, you should realize that PhD work is considered higher than medical school (which is considered an extension of undegraduate work). Doctorate training is more challenging and fulfilling. Why do you "hate" it?

What makes you think I haven't seriously evaluated it? Who are you to tell me what is more fulfilling? The fact that one is not a substitute for the other is EXACTLY why I'm not happy. And no, I don't want your advice (and don't call me darling)

 

[tigress]

Sorry Carlos, but I'm going to have to agree with tigress on this one! 🙂 I absolutely hated my PhD program, and it was mainly because I didn't realize how shockingly different it is than clinical work. I switched to a masters, and moved on too. It wasn't a status thing at all. In fact, I agree with you, that it is very challenging to get a PhD, but if you're not up to the challenge then it's just hard work that doesn't pay off in the end. Oh, and I also realized that I hated every PhD's job that I saw . . . writing grants, figuring out new research projects, competing with everyone . . . it just wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong. I know MD's can do this too, but I will try to find jobs that don't involve all that rigamarole. I just want to be in patient care. I can do without the research and the publish or parish attitude. My guess is tigress is in a similar boat.

Thanks Khenon 🙂 (and I didn't mean to respond so harshly, Carlos, but yeah...I know what I'm doing as well as the next person). I thought I would be happy with "just" a PhD, I thought it would be easier, for lots of personal reasons I felt it was the better move for me, but I love medicine, and I hate the culture of research, the competition and the grants, etc., just like you said Khenon. I guess the research I did undergrad never prepared me for this whole culture and attitude, and I realize now that nothing is a substitute for medicine, which is actually and truly my calling (I know, that sounds cheesy, but it's true 😛 )

 

[Khenon]

Thanks Khenon 🙂 (and I didn't mean to respond so harshly, Carlos, but yeah...I know what I'm doing as well as the next person). I thought I would be happy with "just" a PhD, I thought it would be easier, for lots of personal reasons I felt it was the better move for me, but I love medicine, and I hate the culture of research, the competition and the grants, etc., just like you said Khenon. I guess the research I did undergrad never prepared me for this whole culture and attitude, and I realize now that nothing is a substitute for medicine, which is actually and truly my calling (I know, that sounds cheesy, but it's true 😛 )

Our personal statements are probably going to be identical! Yeah, I know what you mean with thinking the PhD will be easier, and more realistic (I'm a single mother). But when I got in there, I was just miserable, wasn't doing anything I enjoyed, and couldn't wait to get out. I finished my MS last August and am a tech at the Mayo clinic now. I like my job okay, but I know I need to become a doctor. Medicine and patient care has always sparked my interest, when I've been able to get some exposure, so now I'm going for it. Good luck to you. And be careful with your PhD advisor/program. I can't use my thesis advisor (I stayed in the same lab, just switched to a masters), because of bad blood due to me switching. I'm confident that's a black mark on my app. Take care.

 

[VPDcurt]

What makes you think I haven't seriously evaluated it? Who are you to tell me what is more fulfilling? The fact that one is not a substitute for the other is EXACTLY why I'm not happy. And no, I don't want your advice (and don't call me darling)

Good stuff Tigress. I'm sure you've evaluated the situation as much as you need to (it definitely sounds like it). I am finishing up a Master's while applying (I didn't do to well my first year in college so I am trying to make up for that with grad school). I am not a big fan of the work either, and while it didn't change my mind or anything, it just reinforced the fact that I want to go to med school. Good luck and welcome aboard.

 

[CarlosMielefan]

What makes you think I haven't seriously evaluated it? Who are you to tell me what is more fulfilling? The fact that one is not a substitute for the other is EXACTLY why I'm not happy. And no, I don't want your advice (and don't call me darling)

haha. Don't get your head all caught up in your trousers... or however the expression goes. I was just suggesting that you've only had one year of it. It gets better, research does. The first year blues are perfectly natural. I was merely suggesting that you should consider that many people in doctorate programs feel rather depressed their first year, and then the sun shines, and the papers roll in, and you become a god in your own right. That is what I meant, Dharrrr.... ooops, sorry.

 

[CarlosMielefan]

And no, I don't want your advice

I am shocked you'd say this last bit. People post on here for the exact reason of getting advice. But if you must be rude....

 

[tigress]

I am shocked you'd say this last bit. People post on here for the exact reason of getting advice. But if you must be rude....

Sorry, I apologized earlier. I was a bit taken aback by your comments.

 

[CarleneM]

Hi Tigress,
Welcome!

I understand where you are coming from, at least to a degree. I thought I was going to go to grad school to get a PhD in clinical psychology and was taking time off between undergrad and grad. i work in a psychiatry department and within three months of working there, i knew i needed to go to medical school. i got to see psychologists and psychiatrists at varying stages of their careers, from resident or post-doc fellow to chiefs and training directors and it became quite clear that for me, med school was the way to go. My co-worker, who has the same job as me, came to the exact opposite conclusion and is now in clinical psych grad school. You really need to figure out which is right for you and its good you've done that now before you get too much further along in a path you don't like. Interviewers so far have seemed very understanding about the switching gears and like to see that you know what you are getting yourself into especially compared to other viable paths.

-CarleneM