How to "Pre-Med"

[PAPrincess2018]

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Hello all. Im a "freshman" student at a local community college. I know 100% that I have my heart set on a career as an advanced practitioner in the medical field. I originally wanted to be a peds or ER PA. I have a few dates within the next few weeks to shadow a local PA.

However Im having second thoughts. Im now leaning toward MD. Im leaning toward this direction for a few reasons. I want to be the "head" on the advanced cases. I would like to be able to practice medicine and have the opportunity to do research and be a medical innovator.

Are these strong enough reasons to want to pursue medical school? Im just concerned that I won't be able to practice medicine the way I please as a PA. I would like to be involved with more of the difficult/specialty cases, instead of general wellness or followups.

My other concern is will I be looked down upon because my gen eds will be completed at a community college?

I am also planning on earning my BSN in undergrad before PA or MD school so I have something to fall back on incase I cannot get into PA or medical school.

Thanks in Advance,
A deeply concerned student

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

My advice to you is to go forward with your plan to shadow a PA but also shadow a few different doctors in differently specialties. PAs and MDs have different responsibilities and a different scope of practice. As a PA, you'd definitely be able to specialize beyond just primary care. But the training that PAs receive is different and there are definitely some limitations to how they can practice. Do your research and back it up with shadowing so that you can actually see the differences!

I wouldn't worry too much about having completed your gen eds at CC. I would just encourage you, if at all possible, to take your prerequisite science courses (for MD or PA) at a 4-year university. CC won't kill your chances for either but a 4-year university is generally considered preferable.

I don't mean to discourage you from having a Plan B (because I think it's always a good idea) but are you actually planning to work as a nurse before you apply to PA or MD programs? Keep in mind that if you do decide on MD, the prerequisites courses have little overlap with the coursework you'd likely be taking to get your BSN. This could end up adding a lot of extra coursework!

 

[neekzg]

As a freshman, it is very natural to not be set on a particular field just yet. I would wait until you shadow both PAs and doctors to make further judgments. It does sound like you might be unsatisfied unless you get to fulfill the role that a doctor does, but you should keep an open mind as you explore these professions. The reasons you listed, imo, are pretty important to considering MD over PA route but how well you do in your courses and the MCAT will often make that decision for you. Your number one job at this point is to find out what it takes for you to succeed academically and try to set yourself up to be a competitive applicant.

You can certainly do your gen eds at a CC, that is no problem. Once you transfer, you do need to take some pre-reqs/maybe some upper div sciences classes to show that you can handle a difficult courseload.

I can tell you now that people on this forum are going to advise against BSN as a pre-med. You should enter a BSN program with the intention of becoming a nurse--NOT as a stepping stone to medicine. You will have to take additional courses outside of your BSN curriculum to apply to med school, and you will be heavily scrutinized for your intentions for becoming a nurse vs. a doctor.

 

[Goro]

This is not a good reason
I want to be the "head" on the advanced cases.

This IS a good reason
I would like to be able to practice medicine

This is a good reason for the research powerhouses, but less so for mission based and state schools. The chances of you actually being able to do both of these things is very low.
and have the opportunity to do research and be a medical innovator.

Are these strong enough reasons to want to pursue medical school?


I recommend a different field. A lot of Medicine is the same thing, but with different spin. Like the diabetic hypertensive patient.
I would like to be involved with more of the difficult/specialty cases, instead of general wellness or followups.

Less of an issue than you think it is.
My other concern is will I be looked down upon because my gen eds will be completed at a community college?

Good idea...it's always good to have a Plan B. Sign of maturity.
I am also planning on earning my BSN in undergrad before PA or MD school so I have something to fall back on incase I cannot get into PA or medical school.