If not MD, then mid-level?

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Reapply, Mid-level, or Different Field

  • Total voters
    112
  • Poll closed .
postbacpremed87 said:
If you do not get into medical school after your first or second attempt, will you continue to reapply, become a mid-level(PA or NP), or choose a different field.
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I will continue to apply, at least for 2-3 cycles, after which I will probably look into expanding where I am applying to (I am geographically limited, but may uproot and move if I cannot get into any of the 4 schools I can commute to). If I fail this cycle and the next cycle, I will probably study for and re-take the MCAT to try to raise my score and make myself more competitive. If I still cannot get into the local 4 schools, I will have to look at how practical moving would be, and go from there.
 
By the way, I'm sure the answers you're going to get are going to be very very skewed..just because we are on SDN, and most of us are gung-ho neurotic pre-meds who think nothing but becoming an MD.
 
SGU/Ross/AUC FTW!
 
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Reapply. I know I probably won't get in the first time since I'm sitting at a 3.5 right now.
 
I'll say it again, guys- it took me 2 extra years post-grad to get accepted and I couldn't be happier. When people asked me about "back-ups plans" my response was always, "I'll reapply; what else am I going to do? Change my whole personality?!"
 
i wouldn't even reapply if i didn't get in the first time. i made my application the best it could reasonably be. i have other talents and interests that i would love to have pursued. a midlevel sure as hell wouldn't cut it
 
I think after two cycles of being rejected I'll probably go to paramedic school. But that's easy to say when I'm not in that situation. Who knows, I might consider Caribbean if it came to that.
 
If I didn't make it after 2 tries I think I'd probably consider go to PT school and open up a nice practice outside a HSBC :laugh:. Or maybe consider getting a PhD in neurotoxicology >D.
 
CityLights said:
If not MD, then DO 😉.
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Agree, but I guess I'll be the first to come out and say it...if not MD or DO (after say 2ish failed application cycles) then I would DEFINITELY consider mid-level. I work in an ED and the mid-levels have nearly the same responsibilities as the docs (see their own patients, write prescriptions and orders, do most procedures, etc). I'm not sure why they seem to be looked down on in this thread, and becoming a mid-level would certainly not "change my personality" since it would still enable me to work in the medical field which is the goal. Heck, I've even heard a couple of the docs I work with admit that if they had it to do over they would have done PA.

To each his own.
 
I am applying only to DO...Will reapply a second time, if no success...then pharmacy.
 
If I was unsuccessful in applying to medical school this first cycle, I'm not sure if I would have applied to a mid-level program as a backup the second time or waited until a third go-round, but I do think I would have.
 
If I don't get it the first time, I will definitely apply again. If I don't get it the second time, I might apply once more. If I don't get in the third time, it probably means I should re-evaluate my career goals.
 
gettheleadout said:
Uh, the vast majority of mid-level positions can't prescribe in most states. Maybe NP/PA's depending on the location, but the average mid-level in the average clinical setting has much different responsibilities than the physician.
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Sometimes it is about the same which is sucky beause the NP/PA will make so much less. For instance in my ER, an NP runs the Peds ER.

I think that the majority of NP/PA's can prescribe in most states. I fill a roll of Script Rx prescriptions a day for the NP/PA in the ER fast track. The only that isn't prescribed is Methadone which everyone in the ER does not give. Haha!

That being said, if after a couple of cycles of no love from MD/DO schools, I'd probably go PA and start a doctorate degree in history.
 
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I'd probably give it three total tries. Then I'd get a master's in forensics and become a criminalist.
 
StudyShy said:
Sometimes it is about the same which is sucky beause the NP/PA will make so much less. For instance in my ER, an NP runs the Peds ER.

I think that the majority of NP/PA's can prescribe in most states. I fill a roll of Script Rx prescriptions a day for the NP/PA in the ER fast track. The only that isn't prescribed is Methodone which everyone in the ER does not give. Haha!
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Yeah I misinterpreted the post I quoted, thus my deletion.
 
TheMightySmiter said:
I think after two cycles of being rejected I'll probably go to paramedic school. But that's easy to say when I'm not in that situation. Who knows, I might consider Caribbean if it came to that.
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Nothing against paramedic as a career, but I work as an EMT part time and if you're going for med-school you probably wouldn't be happy as a medic long term. The hours are crazy, there is some bad attitudes, and the lifting (note increasing overweight and obese population) causes many to have to change fields. It seems like many of the folks that do it know it's temporary.

I guess if I don't get in this cycle (YIKES) I'll go back to teaching, then maybe apply once more or look into PA or PT programs.
 
sapalee said:
Nothing against paramedic as a career, but I work as an EMT part time and if you're going for med-school you probably wouldn't be happy as a medic long term. The hours are crazy, there is some bad attitudes, and the lifting (note increasing overweight and obese population) causes many to have to change fields. It seems like many of the folks that do it know it's temporary.

I guess if I don't get in this cycle (YIKES) I'll go back to teaching, then maybe apply once more or look into PA or PT programs.
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Medics don't make a lot of money at all. You would be hard pressed just to pay the bills. 🙁
 
RavishingB said:
I'd probably give it three total tries. Then I'd get a master's in forensics and become a criminalist.
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I have a masters in forensics and not a single person from my class of 30 got a job in forensics. Nobody really wants masters level criminalists sadly. Or you could just get a masters in forensics and then go to med school! :idea:
 
StudyShy said:
Medics don't make a lot of money at all. You would be hard pressed just to pay the bills. 🙁
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The top jobs pay well (near 6 figures). It just takes awhile to get there so you are mostly right.
 
Get an NP, and fight for the same rights as doctors 🙄 Eventually I'll be head of a hospital with my DNP.
 
I'd probably try and reapply once, but it's more likely that I'd go back to school to get a Ph.D and go into some snooty, head-in-the-clouds research university. 😀 That or the Pharmacology industry.

Honestly, right now my dreams are divided between becoming a physician and a professor. Either way I'll be happy.
 
50 Cent: Get Rich Or Die Tryin'.

Me: Get MD Or Die Tryin'.
 
I'll apply MD only the first round, MD/DO the second (hopefully there won't be a second), and then look at PhD programs. Epidemiology would be interesting.
 
I feel like "I failed the first time ergo I should give up" kind of attitude means there was no commitment there in the first place. I haven't started applying yet but if I fail my first time around, I'm probably going to re-apply at least 2 more times.
 
I wanted to remain in this field. So I guess apply 3-4 times, then mid level for sure.
Applying 4 times will hit me hard financially though...not much i can do with a biol degree..
 
I'd try to become a diplomat if I didn't get in.
 
After two failed attempts I would try for dental school----> residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery
 
MrBananaGrabber said:
After two failed attempts I would try for dental school----> residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery
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I was thinking about dental as a "safety" (not rly since it is still hard to get into dental school). it just doesnt feel the same.
At least you still have a chance of going to med school after a few year working as a PAs. I dont think you have a chance at medicine after u applied to dental school.
 
It's way too early to say, but if I didn't get in the first time, I'd like to try something unrelated to medicine and just explore other things for a year or two. Then reapply.
 
I'd probably just sell Runescape gold for the rest of my life after getting rejected a couple of times.
 
Mithril said:
I'd probably just sell Runescape gold for the rest of my life after getting rejected a couple of times.
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How good has the pay gotten? I used to play that game in middleschool/highschool and ultimately sold my account for $1,500.

Anyway, if I can't get into a medical school after two tries, I would probably become concerned with my competency for that field and as a future doctor so I'd switch to a research career.
 
After a second unsuccessful cycle, I'll try to get a PhD. Then I can drive crappy cars and wear stupid bowties.
 
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