Hello, everyone. I'm new to the forums, so please bear with me; if I'm posting in an inappropriate location, please just let me know before setting me on fire 
I think my ultimate goal of this post is to find others that have been in my current position/similar position at one time, and I'd like to hear personal experiences, advice, etc. from those individuals who are in (or have completed) medical school.
So, my situation is this:
I didn't do well in high school -- not because I wasn't capable, but because my head was in the clouds and I didn't do any of the work. (When I randomly decided to do the work, I'd get A's; prior to high school I was put into a number of advanced classes/programs, as well... just to support what I mean by the fact that I truly was capable of doing well if I'd have tried a little.)
Sadly, I settled for an HSED. I'm now 29, and I just began college for the first time last year. Right now, I am not in medical school or even in an undergrad program; I'm currently enrolled in the (Associate's degree) Radiography program at a tech school. I am also married and my husband is in school as well (for water treatment). However, ever since I began, I have become increasingly hungry to do more than what I'm going for, and I have thought a lot about how nice it would have been not only to have done better in high school -- but also to have started earlier -- and gone to be a doctor.
I have had A's in every class so far, and this semester am continuing to get A's (have a 4.0) I'm currently in a biochemistry class (which was unnecessary to my program, I took it because I wanted to) and anatomy. Obviously, I understand that A's aren't everything, but I suppose for me, it really makes me think about how I really dropped the ball for many years by not living up to my potential.
Anyway, last week, my anatomy professor pulled me aside and basically encouraged me to do more with myself, unless my heart was truly set on Rad Tech. He told me that he believes I would be more than capable of medical school. And, ever since, I can't stop thinking about it...
I would really love to pursue medicine, but I'm concerned about a number of things -- the biggest concern is that just a little over a year's worth of tech school certainly doesn't seem like enough for me to gauge my capability to (intellectually) handle med school. I'm not sure how easy or difficult the classes I have completed thus far really are, at least in comparison to the courses at a university. Basically, I don't know if the A's that I have earned were much easier to achieve than if I would have been taking the classes at a university. I don't want to get in over my head thinking "Oh, I got this!", spend a lot more money for my education, and then come to find out that I struggle to do well. Perhaps I'm not giving myself enough credit, but I just want to be realistic with myself, too. I want to make the best decision for me (and my husband). I understand that no one can really do that for me, except for me -- but what I would appreciate is any insight to how difficult the courses at a university are in comparison to a tech school.
Then, of course, I'm worried that my poor performance in high school will come back to haunt me. My age is of slight concern, but I don't think it's the biggest disadvantage I'd have by any means.
Is there anyone wandering the forums here that have had a similar history? From the opinion of those of you who have experienced medical school, based off what you know and have experienced with how competitive it is to get into medical school... do I have a chance in heck, or are the chances slim to none for someone with my history? I'm completely OK with brutal honesty. That's what I'm here for: truth.
If I determine that med school is a realistic option... I'm also curious how married folks in med school manage to keep their relationships strong during the often long days away from each other and endless studying throughout the years of med school/residency?
Any/all information, experience, insight, advice, etc. is GREATLY appreciated...and thank any and everyone who actually read my long-winded post.
I think my ultimate goal of this post is to find others that have been in my current position/similar position at one time, and I'd like to hear personal experiences, advice, etc. from those individuals who are in (or have completed) medical school.
So, my situation is this:
I didn't do well in high school -- not because I wasn't capable, but because my head was in the clouds and I didn't do any of the work. (When I randomly decided to do the work, I'd get A's; prior to high school I was put into a number of advanced classes/programs, as well... just to support what I mean by the fact that I truly was capable of doing well if I'd have tried a little.)
Sadly, I settled for an HSED. I'm now 29, and I just began college for the first time last year. Right now, I am not in medical school or even in an undergrad program; I'm currently enrolled in the (Associate's degree) Radiography program at a tech school. I am also married and my husband is in school as well (for water treatment). However, ever since I began, I have become increasingly hungry to do more than what I'm going for, and I have thought a lot about how nice it would have been not only to have done better in high school -- but also to have started earlier -- and gone to be a doctor.
I have had A's in every class so far, and this semester am continuing to get A's (have a 4.0) I'm currently in a biochemistry class (which was unnecessary to my program, I took it because I wanted to) and anatomy. Obviously, I understand that A's aren't everything, but I suppose for me, it really makes me think about how I really dropped the ball for many years by not living up to my potential.
Anyway, last week, my anatomy professor pulled me aside and basically encouraged me to do more with myself, unless my heart was truly set on Rad Tech. He told me that he believes I would be more than capable of medical school. And, ever since, I can't stop thinking about it...
I would really love to pursue medicine, but I'm concerned about a number of things -- the biggest concern is that just a little over a year's worth of tech school certainly doesn't seem like enough for me to gauge my capability to (intellectually) handle med school. I'm not sure how easy or difficult the classes I have completed thus far really are, at least in comparison to the courses at a university. Basically, I don't know if the A's that I have earned were much easier to achieve than if I would have been taking the classes at a university. I don't want to get in over my head thinking "Oh, I got this!", spend a lot more money for my education, and then come to find out that I struggle to do well. Perhaps I'm not giving myself enough credit, but I just want to be realistic with myself, too. I want to make the best decision for me (and my husband). I understand that no one can really do that for me, except for me -- but what I would appreciate is any insight to how difficult the courses at a university are in comparison to a tech school.
Then, of course, I'm worried that my poor performance in high school will come back to haunt me. My age is of slight concern, but I don't think it's the biggest disadvantage I'd have by any means.
Is there anyone wandering the forums here that have had a similar history? From the opinion of those of you who have experienced medical school, based off what you know and have experienced with how competitive it is to get into medical school... do I have a chance in heck, or are the chances slim to none for someone with my history? I'm completely OK with brutal honesty. That's what I'm here for: truth.
If I determine that med school is a realistic option... I'm also curious how married folks in med school manage to keep their relationships strong during the often long days away from each other and endless studying throughout the years of med school/residency?
Any/all information, experience, insight, advice, etc. is GREATLY appreciated...and thank any and everyone who actually read my long-winded post.
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