How looks like studying in MD program

[johnsm]

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Hello everyone,

I am 35+ olds and considering career changes to medical doctor. I have two young kids so I can easily expect I could not spend much time with them during long years course. This is one of the major concern to me, so I am wondering if anyone can give some general ideas about how looks like studying in MD program.

1) How looks like daily course? Have to study later evening?

2) How about weekend? Is it really weekend or have to study?

3) Any break time between semaster?

4) If I want to be a family doctor, how long does it take in intern/residency program? Any pays during this time?


Thank a lot!!!

 

[deuist]

If you are worried about the amount of time that you'll spend with your children, I know that Yale and a few other schools are going to part-time prgrams with people like you in mind.

To answer question #4: You will get paid during residency. I think that training for family medicine takes four years.

 

[supereagles]

I am sorry for picking on you but damn 😱 you need to proof read or maybe this is some kind of a joke 😕

Assuming you are for real, I would say it is very possible for you to survive and even excel in med school. Your interest in family practice would definitely make your life a lot easier.

Hello everyone,

I am 35+ olds and considering career changes to medical doctor. I have two young kids so I can easily expect I could not spend much time with them during long years course. This is one of the major concern to me, so I am wondering if anyone can give some general ideas about how looks like studying in MD program.

1) How looks like daily course? Have to study later evening?

2) How about weekend? Is it really weekend or have to study?

3) Any break time between semaster?

4) If I want to be a family doctor, how long does it take in intern/residency program? Any pays during this time?


Thank a lot!!!

 

[fun8stuff]

I am sorry for picking on you but damn 😱 you need to proof read or maybe this is some kind of a joke 😕

Assuming you are for real, I would say it is very possible for you to survive and even excel in med school. Your interest in family practice would definitely make your life a lot easier.

i think that english is their second language...

 

[beanbean]

Hello everyone,

I am 35+ olds and considering career changes to medical doctor. I have two young kids so I can easily expect I could not spend much time with them during long years course. This is one of the major concern to me, so I am wondering if anyone can give some general ideas about how looks like studying in MD program.

1) How looks like daily course? Have to study later evening?

Depends on the school. Some schools have lectures 8-5, while other lecture 8-12. At most schools lecture attendance is not mandatory, so you can study at home. My school offers mp3 files and powerpoint slides from the lectures on the course website, so it is possible to review lectures on your own time. I have 3 young children and have found enough time to study to pass all of my classes. Different med schools offer different methods of grading. My school is pass/fail which is wonderful. Not having grades or honors removes much of the pressure.
2) How about weekend? Is it really weekend or have to study?

I usually only study on weekends right before exams. I try to keep the other weekends as family time
3) Any break time between semaster?

There is usually about a 2 week break around Christmas/New Years. Between youy first and second year there is a break for the summer. After second year you must take the first part of your USMLE board exam and after that you should have a couple of weeks before starting rotations. Third year is monthly clinical rotations with a short Christmas break. Fourth year offers a bit of time off from rotations for electives and interviewing. 4) If I want to be a family doctor, how long does it take in intern/residency program? Any pays during this time?

Family practice requires a 3 year residency after graduating med school. Pay is about $40-42,000 per year during this time.


Thank a lot!!!

Hope this helps!

 

[sunnyjohn]

i think that english is their second language...

I thought the same thing.

 

[TruTrooper]

Hello everyone,

I am 35+ olds and considering career changes to medical doctor. I have two young kids so I can easily expect I could not spend much time with them during long years course. This is one of the major concern to me, so I am wondering if anyone can give some general ideas about how looks like studying in MD program.

1) How looks like daily course? Have to study later evening?

2) How about weekend? Is it really weekend or have to study?

3) Any break time between semaster?

4) If I want to be a family doctor, how long does it take in intern/residency program? Any pays during this time?


Thank a lot!!!

Please consider this:

I assume you already have an established career. You are risking going into debt when you are already beyond half-way to your life-expectancy and you are about to devote a great chunk of what's left of your years to a very demanding and rigorous academic program and it will be quite a few years before you are finally making good money and you are going to have to feed and clothe those growing kids of yours. There simply won't be enough time to really be the family man that you would like to be during med school. "Sacrifice" is the theme in med school.



Now, I don't want to detour you from your dream because what is the point of anything if you can't pursue your dream? But medical school is a commitment that is hard to describe in words and it becomes, at the very least, "your SECOND family" and some times even more demanding than your first one.

Personally, I felt I had to go through medical school because I simply couldn't imagine myself doing any thing else in the world for the rest of my life besides practicing medicine. If you feel this way at 35, then by all means, go chase your dream but if you have another dream that is just as enticing and less demanding, don't blow it off just yet.

 

[Kazema]

Check out "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Kotter. The author is an anthropologist who left a tenured position at somewhere (I want to say Harvard) to go to medical school at the age of 35.

 

[doc05]

If you speak English as well as you write, you will have a difficult time communicating with your patients. I would also assume you'd have some trouble with the reading.

Hello everyone,

I am 35+ olds and considering career changes to medical doctor. I have two young kids so I can easily expect I could not spend much time with them during long years course. This is one of the major concern to me, so I am wondering if anyone can give some general ideas about how looks like studying in MD program.

1) How looks like daily course? Have to study later evening?

2) How about weekend? Is it really weekend or have to study?

3) Any break time between semaster?

4) If I want to be a family doctor, how long does it take in intern/residency program? Any pays during this time?


Thank a lot!!!

 

[Paws]

Well, yes the English grammar isn't so hot but that aside I say investigate it, weigh your options and then listen to your gut and ask yourself: when I am 70 and I look back over my life, what do I want to see?

Considering we only get one shot at life, and no do-overs at all, then I say if you're willing to do what it will take at your point in your life - then go for it. But think it through, strategize and be willing to be bold where you have to. It might feel scary but then, what about a life you don't want and a hole burning itself through your soul. Achieving a great dream is a wonderful - and priceless - feeling.

👍

 

[beanbean]

There are plenty of successful med students who are older, have families and have left other careers. It is a personal decision to be made by you and your family. There is also a Nontradional Student FOrum here on SDN where you might wish to read about other people's experiences with medical school and a family.

 

[TripleDegree]

Hello everyone,

I am 35+ olds and considering career changes to medical doctor. I have two young kids so I can easily expect I could not spend much time with them during long years course. This is one of the major concern to me, so I am wondering if anyone can give some general ideas about how looks like studying in MD program.

1) How looks like daily course? Have to study later evening?

2) How about weekend? Is it really weekend or have to study?

3) Any break time between semaster?

4) If I want to be a family doctor, how long does it take in intern/residency program? Any pays during this time?


Thank a lot!!!

Not to sound discouraging, but I think you're going to be nailed on the MCAT Verbal. And schools put a lot of emphasis on that particular section.

 

[TripleDegree]

i think that english is their second language...

Second? Sounds more like the twentieth....

 

[TripleDegree]

Check out "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Kotter. The author is an anthropologist who left a tenured position at somewhere (I want to say Harvard) to go to medical school at the age of 35.

Now that was one hell of a good book....

 

[ishaninatte]

Wow, you all are pretty tolerant of EFL speakers, aren't you.

 

[cali7925]

Get the book, "Getting into Medical School" by Kenneth Iserson...it will help you, very good book. You can also try to speak to the premed counselor at your school. Talk to as many people as you can, contact medical schools in your area and ask to speak to "nontraditional" students....dont be shy, get the info.

As for all you dinguses on this forum F*** off!! I dont know how you pompous bast**** get of judging this man and his ability to perform based on half a paragraph. Many ESL candidates end up rockin your asses on the USMLE but have a harder time gettin residencies simply b/c of the quotas, visa restrictions etc....i'd like to see you all go to the country that speaks whatever second language you know....they'd probably think you were borderline insane/******ed and stick you in an institute

Verbal scores are impt, but not an entire package....u're experiences from a second country will enable you to relate to patients from similiar backgrounds; experiences some of these other cocks****** dont have....my friend was an ESL candidate, got in with a 5 verbal, he's kicking med school in the ass!

As for the family sacrifice, it will be great. Med school is intense so you must really weigh the pros and cons according to your own situation...nobody can make this decision for you and with the limited information we have about you, I dont even think you should consider our advises as pertinent to u're decision.

Work hard and be sincere to your patients and you can be the best doc. Good luck in your pursuit of medicine....i think it will be a fulfilling career....i say weigh your options but dont let arrogant idiots discourage you...we only have one life to live, live how u want to.

Best of luck!

 

[thackl]

It's not that much of a problem. The kids see plenty of me, except for test weeks. Don't let anyone scare you away.

 

[tigershark]

Wow, you all are pretty tolerant of EFL speakers, aren't you.

It doesnt matter how smart you are or how dedicated you are to your patients, if you cant communicate you will be a crappy doctor. It is irrelevant if it's because you are just stupid or english is your second language.

 

[MiguelSanchez]

If you speak English as well as you write, you will have a difficult time communicating with your patients. I would also assume you'd have some trouble with the reading.

Not if he is Hispanic and plans to work in family medicine in an underserved area...

 

[johnsm]

Thanks guys for sharing your thoughts and experiences. What a great prospective doctors you are detecting my problem.

Yes, as many of you noticed, English is my second language and I am having crazy and fun times during the MCAT preparation. Through this study, I plan to evaluate my academic abilities myself and use it for my final decision.

My whole point here is that I want to get some better idea about the MD program itself from the student's point.

Can I imagine MD student play baseball game weekly in their community? Can I imagine MD student is going to summer camping with kids week long? How do you spend weekend normally?


I am still not clear though how long it takes in intern/residency for being family doctor.

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[beastmaster]

Yes, as many of you noticed, English is my second language and I am having crazy and fun times during the MCAT preparation. Through this study, I plan to evaluate my academic abilities myself and use it for my final decision.

Good luck.

Can I imagine MD student play baseball game weekly in their community?

Yes

Can I imagine MD student is going to summer camping with kids week long?

Yes.

I am still not clear though how long it takes in intern/residency for being family doctor.

medical school = 4 years
residency for family doctor = extra 3 years

 

[AJM]

Thanks guys for sharing your thoughts and experiences. What a great prospective doctors you are detecting my problem.

Yes, as many of you noticed, English is my second language and I am having crazy and fun times during the MCAT preparation. Through this study, I plan to evaluate my academic abilities myself and use it for my final decision.

My whole point here is that I want to get some better idea about the MD program itself from the student's point.

Can I imagine MD student play baseball game weekly in their community? Can I imagine MD student is going to summer camping with kids week long? How do you spend weekend normally?


I am still not clear though how long it takes in intern/residency for being family doctor.

Thanks again everyone!!!

I know that you're worried about how much time you'll have in med school, but in reality it's not med school you should worry about -- it's residency. If you plan well, you'll have time in med school to do things with your kids, go on vacations, etc. In residency you'll be working a lot more hours, will have to take call, and therefore will be at work many nights and weekends. Summer vacations would be hard -- many programs don't want their residents to take vacation duing the summer, since it's the beginning of the year for them. Family medicine is an easier residency than many other specialties, but you'll still be working a lot of hours.

 

[TripleDegree]

Verbal scores are impt, but not an entire package....u're experiences from a second country will enable you to relate to patients from similiar backgrounds; experiences .....


I dont even think you should consider our advises as pertinent to u're decision.

Not surprising to see why you're so riled...... 😀

 

[PreMedAdAG]

I feel like I had to say somethere here to those who can't let the language thing rest. Seriously, you really need to consider getting a life. Just because someone doesn't speak English very well, doesn't mean that they are incapable of being a fantastic physician. I hope to God that this future physician is somewhere in my vicinity when I encounter a patient who only speaks his/her language. Have some sensitivity and realize our differences make us diverse. This is always a positive thing!!

So, I don't mean to rip on anyone, but I mean........ really.... do you have that much time on your hand that you have to just tear someone apart because their grammar was a little off?

 

[chameleonknight]

Another thing to keep in mind is that it varies by school. Some schools have programs that are PBL based or mostly self-study that don't require as much class time. More traditional programs may have you in class from 8-5 every day! Also, the expectations and the attitudes of the professors is key. I have friends at Tulane and at OU; all of them are having a better med school experience than me. So, if you are really serious about this, try to befriend someone at the schools you are interested in. Get some info beyond the vague "it's not so bad."

Bottom line: it's tough, but certainly possible

 

[G0S2]

Check out "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Kotter. The author is an anthropologist who left a tenured position at somewhere (I want to say Harvard) to go to medical school at the age of 35.

Melvin Konner.

 

[Kazema]

Melvin Konner.

Hahah whoops.

Welcome back...your dreams were your ticket out...

 

[G0S2]

Hahah whoops.

Welcome back...your dreams were your ticket out...

😕

 

[Mediculous]

😕

It's the theme song from the TV show "Welcome Back, Kotter"

 

[Flopotomist]

I just thought I would point out the interesting fact that many people jumped on the OP for his relatively poor grammar as an indication of his inability to communicate - yet we all seemed to understand his questions perfectly. Sounds like he was able to communicate just fine.

If English is indeed the OPs second language (as I suspect it is) what a great ASSET it will be as a physician to be able to communicate in TWO languages fluently - how many people have this ability? Yes, the English will sound a bit "foreign," but it will hardly prevent communication.

If this is your dream - go for it!