Junior in college looking for career move...

[Ephesus]

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Hello:

I attend Stanford University as a physics & mathematics major. I graduated high school at sixteen with a years worth of college credits, and I am now eighteen in my third year of college. Recently, I met a former doctor who is talking to me about becomming a doctor and forgetting about blowing up the world (my goal was to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory as nuclear weapons designer after I get my Ph.D.) -- of course he was being facetious.

I've wanted to be a physicist since eleven, except between my ages of 14 to 16 -- I was then looking at pediatric neurosurgery.

I have a series of questions...

1) Should I stay in school another year, transfer out and get a BS in neuroscience instead? (I've read many graduate level neuroscience books and I enjoy the subject)

2) Do I need to be published in the neuro area to be competitive for med school and residency? (I am currently published in fields of psychology and philosophy; also a few poems published)

3) Should I just finish up my physics & maths degree next year and then go to a post-bac programme such as Harvard Extension School?

4) Are med schools and residency options going to look down on me for young age?

5) I have a ~3.96 GPA right now (B+ in philosophical logic 300 level) but I retook Anthropology 101 to make up my grade of a "F" my first year in college; will this be looked down upon?

6) Do med schools look at GRE scores or just MCATs? (700 verbal, 800 maths)

7) Will me being misdiagnosed with mental disorders put me at a disadvantage? I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, paranoid type, though, I guess my official diagnosis is schizophreniform. I've been off meds ~6 months now and have not had any problems. I am properly diagnosed with high functioning autism, though. I guess it should be mentioned I was able to get a Q clearance (top secret nuclear weapons material), and they told me I wouldn't have a problem getting an SCI when my job description requires it.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

 

[DrBowtie]

Extend your undergrad a year to fit in the pre-reqs and graduate with a physics/math degree.

Take the MCAT (GRE scores might be looked at as an extra but won't be primary).

Some might view your age as a drawback. Do some clinical volunteering/shadowing to help offset this.

GPA is fine.

BTW you might appreciate this: I have been doing research with data coming from SLAC and the BaBar experiment.

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

how old are you? you sound like quite the rennaissance person.
I think there is nothing wrong having multiple affiliations. you'll be fine.

 

[Ephesus]

First, linear accelerators make me very happy ;D

Second, I have all the pre-reqs for med school except organic chem which I can take next year (maybe during the summer at a local community college). Does your advice still stay the same?

Oh, I should have mentioned, I did get a CNA in high school and did a semesters worth of volunteering at a local retirement home.

Chris

 

[Ephesus]

Eighteen.

 

[OctoDoc]

I smell a gunner... 😀

 

[Ephesus]

No idea what that means.

 

[MrDreamWeaver]

Holy ****. You should like a ****en genius. You've already read all the graduate textbooks WHILE you're in school at Stanford? LMAO! WTF??

Nobody cares what you got a B+ in.

CHILL. RELAX. CHILLAX. pop open a beer and bang a broad. participate in the good life.

CHAAAAAAAA

 

[OctoDoc]

No idea what that means.

 

[Ephesus]

Ugh, I don't drink and I'm asexual. Yeah, I have a lot of free time, homework doesn't take up much time and I like to enrich my brain to get a deeper understanding of life...

 

[NapeSpikes]

Since no one brought it up, don't mention the mental disorder misdiagnosis if it doesn't play into your decision to pursue medicine. It shouldn't be a factor, so don't spotlight it.

 

[NapeSpikes]

Ugh.. I'm asexual.

That's too much. Are you serious?

 

[Ephesus]

Well, won't they found out since I'm in the Disabilities Office at Stanford? It'll be on my app...

Yeah, I'm serious.

 

[ND2005]

I smell a gunner... 😀

I smell a troll...

 

[notdeadyet]

Ephesus:

You sound like a bright kid and I think you'll do fine with whatever you pursue. But just to clarify, it sounds like you're switching majors. I'd watch using terms like "switching careers" when you pursue applying to medical school. It's a term usually used for folks who've established careers, which is kinda hard to do as an 18 year old college student.

Follow your heart and you'll do fine.

 

[CTSballer11]

The kid is a troll. Everyone stop being so gullible.

 

[MN81]

Thanks in advance.

Chris

To tell you the truth, I don't think you have memorized enough graduate level textbooks to get into medical school.

Sorry. 👎

 

[juiceman311]

What kind of toilet paper do you use?

 

[jebus]

Recently, I met a former doctor who is talking to me about becomming a doctor and forgetting about blowing up the world (my goal was to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory as nuclear weapons designer after I get my Ph.D.) -- of course he was being facetious.

I say continue this. He's a former doctor for a reason. If you want to see explosions then medicine will never sate your appetite. I have friends whose parents work at LANL. They have a lot of toilets in their house. With all the sex you're not having, you'll have plenty of time to can blow those up, too.
Think about it.

 

[Flopotomist]

Ugh, I don't drink and I'm asexual.

Maybe you are gay. Get drunk with a hot guy and see if you are tempted to try anything.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Troll alert, troll alert.

Am I the only one that's gonna call BS on this one? "I have a 3.96 in atrophysics from stanford...but I'm lame cuz I've only published poems, short novels and self-help books in several languages..I'm also a nurse and am only 16...and donated my second brain to science, after inventing a procedure to transplant it..."

 

[Ephesus]

I say continue this. He's a former doctor for a reason. If you want to see explosions then medicine will never sate your appetite. I have friends whose parents work at LANL. They have a lot of toilets in their house. With all the sex you're not having, you'll have plenty of time to can blow those up, too.
Think about it.

He's only a former doctor because he developed a disease which would not let him continue working...

 

[Ephesus]

Maybe you are gay. Get drunk with a hot guy and see if you are tempted to try anything.

I already know I'm bisexual. I just don't have the desire or the feelings.

 

[Ephesus]

Troll alert, troll alert.

Am I the only one that's gonna call BS on this one? "I have a 3.96 in atrophysics from stanford...but I'm lame cuz I've only published poems, short novels and self-help books in several languages..I'm also a nurse and am only 16...and donated my second brain to science, after inventing a procedure to transplant it..."

Alright, I've listened to a lot of this crap, so far; ad hoc, ad hom.

Astrophysics has nothing to do with nucleaer weapons.

Did I ever say I was lame? I don't know any other language -- I can't learn other languages.

If you aren't going to help, don't post.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

I am properly diagnosed with high functioning autism, though. I guess it should be mentioned I was able to get a Q clearance (top secret nuclear weapons material), and they told me I wouldn't have a problem getting an SCI when my job description requires it.

Have you read that book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"? You sound like the protagonist to me. Very good book if you have't read it. I would seriously question whether you will be able to make a good physician. You might be a great research scientist, but being a physician requires the ability to connect with one's patients, to know and understand how they might feel with respect to their medical care. If you're unable to connect with people, you're going to sink like a rock in 3rd and 4th year rotations and eventually residency. While that is standard for autistic individuals, people might have a really tough time seeing where you're coming from and dismiss you as cold; your peers may also have a tough time with you. Don't underestimate the vast social component in medicine.

Why not consider an MD/PhD -- academic medicine (since you say you are so fascinated with neuroscience) could be a good field for you.

In any case, go for the "career change" post-bac option (as opposed to the "strengthen candidacy" post-bac option), take the MCAT, and by all means apply. However, be realistic when it comes to interview time. You will have to show them your stuff.

A few things, not sure if Stanford replaces the F with the A (I think it does based on how you've described your GPA), but when applying, the F will simply be averaged with the A by the application service. No big deal anyway, you seem to take tests well.

"maths", "programme"? Are you British? 🙂

 

[ND2005]

Are you British? 🙂

I've always pictured trolls as more German than British.

 

[kirexhana]

I already know I'm bisexual. I just don't have the desire or the feelings.

an asexual bisexual... doesn't that make you like... quasi-sexual?

 

[Ephesus]

I've never read the book. I'll put it on my Amazon list...

I seem to do alright in social situations now. I was a wreck until about two years ago. Dunno what changed, but I'm on no longer on any medications, including benzos; I also do not attend therapy anymore. I haven't used any supports in schools or universities since I was sixteen when I was declassified from Special Education. The biggest problem I have is picking up on jokes.

I think I can deal with the people; I seem to get along with my professors great now, and most of my peers. I think what I am going to do is switch to neuroscience, get the BS from either Skidmore, St Lawrence, or University of Pittsburgh (maybe a BS/MS combined), take the MCATs, if I do well, and get a spot at med school, I'll go. If not, I'll look at Ph.D. options.

They change your grade to the higher grade when calculating GPAs.

I prefer to use British orthographical affectations. I wasn't born in the States, but I lived here just about my whole life. Long story, and for another thread...

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

I've never read the book. I'll put it on my Amazon list...

I seem to do alright in social situations now. I was a wreck until about two years ago. Dunno what changed, but I'm on no longer on any medications, including benzos; I also do not attend therapy anymore. I haven't used any supports in schools or universities since I was sixteen when I was declassified from Special Education. The biggest problem I have is picking up on jokes.

I think I can deal with the people; I seem to get along with my professors great now, and most of my peers. I think what I am going to do is switch to neuroscience, get the BS from either Skidmore, St Lawrence, or University of Pittsburgh (maybe a BS/MS combined), take the MCATs, if I do well, and get a spot at med school, I'll go. If not, I'll look at Ph.D. options.

They change your grade to the higher grade when calculating GPAs.

I prefer to use British orthographical affectations. I wasn't born in the States, but I lived here just about my whole life. Long story, and for another thread...

Why do you want to change majors or get a second bachelors? The one you have will be fine. Physical science majors actually do slightly better than others when it comes to acceptance percentages....and most of what you learn in a neuroscience major, while of personal interest, will be completely superfluous to your medical education and career as a physician.


p.s. I was joking in my last post. I know that astrophysics is not nuclear phsyics, just like I know the difference between CNA's and nurses, and the fact that you don't have two brains. It's called hyperbole .

 

[Ephesus]

Well, if I finish my education next year, I'll finish with two bachelors: physics & mathematics. I just thought neuroscience graduates would do better getting into med schools and the residency programme I am looking at now...

Yeah, I have trouble getting jokes, especially online.

 

[DoctorPardi]

Don't take organic at a community college take it at stanford!

 

[anon-y-mouse]

I predict you'll do amazingly well on the MCAT. I have a good friend with Asperger's who took it with me, and his score was just one point below mine, but he studied for about 1/4 the amount I did (and our scores were 99's). It's just the nature of your gift. I'm probably going to get flamed for this one, but it's a fairly easy test if you're a good thinker and have a decent fundus of information (a lot of it is passage-based and hence you'll have a lot of information to help you answer the questions). Obviously you'll smoke the physics section.

I don't think you should get a second BS unless it's from a school known for neuroscience. You're going to be bored out of your mind if you take neuro at a place which isn't really a name brand for the subject. Furthermore, undergraduate neuroscience courses are fairly perfunctory until you get to the senior-level courses... but even then, you have to cut through the first- and second-year fat to get to them. Pinker is now at Harvard, and he's a great guy to work with if you're interested in that sort of thing. MIT has a great Brain + Cog Sci program as well. Why not get a master's, concurrently with a postbac? I'm sure you could work something out with Harvard Extension.

Getting along with professors and peers is one thing, but remember that it's not all Stanford/Ivy league educated individuals you'll be treating as a physician. Why don't you volunteer in a clinical setting so that you know what you're getting yourself into. "Clinical exposure" (however nebulous that idea is) is a sine qua non of medical school admissions.

Oh, and for sure read the book.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

Well, if I finish my education next year, I'll finish with two bachelors: physics & mathematics. I just thought neuroscience graduates would do better getting into med schools and the residency programme I am looking at now...

Admissions is an entirely different from residency... if you complete the standard requirements (gpa, mcat, research, clinical involvement, extra currics, personal statement, letters of recommendation) then you'll get a spot. As for neurosurgery residencies -- research is going to be paramount. They don't necessarily value what you KNOW (i.e. given a background in neuroscience), but furthermore value your creativity as a researcher... as someone who can pull in research money and prestige for the institution and contribute to the field. Oh, and USMLE scores are very important as well. You should worry about getting IN to medical school, and then once you're in, you can start worrying about residency and research down the line. Investigate the MD/PhD/MSTP option as well.

 

[Ephesus]

>I predict you'll do amazingly well on the MCAT. I have a good friend with Asperger's who took it with me, and his score was just one point below mine, but he studied for about 1/4 the amount I did (and our scores were 99's). It's just the nature of your gift. I'm probably going to get flamed for this one, but it's a fairly easy test if you're a good thinker and have a decent fundus of information (a lot of it is passage-based and hence you'll have a lot of information to help you answer the questions). Obviously you'll smoke the physics section.

I did do quite well on the SAT I and SAT II tests. I dare not share my scores though, I learned my lesson once by posting what I thought was relevant facts.. I am wondering if there is some sort of positive correlation of the SATs and the MCATS. I figure as long as you treat undergrad like you treated high school to get the high SATs it should correlate nicely?

I read about the MIT Brain & Cognitive Sciences programme. I believe I e-mailed the director there to ask him some questions about my specific case. I also called admissions, but never heard anything back from them. I *really* don't like the phone, so I am not sure if I should call again..

>Why not get a master's, concurrently with a postbac? I'm sure you could work something out with Harvard Extension.

Isn't the masters degrees at HES Masters of Liberal Arts in X? I don't really want a liberal arts masters, but more of a science based programme. RPI is comming to mind..

>Getting along with professors and peers is one thing, but remember that it's not all Stanford/Ivy league educated individuals you'll be treating as a physician. Why don't you volunteer in a clinical setting so that you know what you're getting yourself into. "Clinical exposure" (however nebulous that idea is) is a sine qua non of medical school admissions.

I have gotten some exposure. Between 14-16 I actually volunteered my summers at a camp for people with emotional and learning disabilities. It was ironic I was volunteering there, but thoroughly enjoyed it, except for one experience. I got two e-mails back from neurosurgeons and one made specific reference that I would not be able to get clinical experience until a med student because of the HIPPA laws.

>As for neurosurgery residencies -- research is going to be paramount.

Which is why I was wondering if I should get a neuroscience bachelors and get some papers published as an undergrad...

>Investigate the MD/PhD/MSTP option as well.

If you do a Ph.D./MD option, are you given a stipend and is med school paid? My Uncle may be paying for med school (haven't talked to him yet about it), but if he's not, I would prefer to get a lowered tuition rather than paying ~50k/year.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Ephesus]

Oh, yes, why shouldn't I take organic chem at community college if they offer it?

 

[DrBowtie]

Oh, yes, why shouldn't I take organic chem at community college if they offer it?

B/C community college is a big downgrade from Stanford.

 

[fpr85]

Oh, yes, why shouldn't I take organic chem at community college if they offer it?

Because med schools usually look down on advanced science courses taken at community colleges. Some won't even accept the credit for certain courses if taken at a CC.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

> I figure as long as you treat undergrad like you treated high school to get the high SATs it should correlate nicely?

The correlation is not really there by and large... although for me, the scores correlated exactly. The tests are vastly different, but obviously test-taking principles are the same.

> I believe I e-mailed the director there to ask him some questions about my specific case.

Simpler questions are easier to deal with than long, drawn out ones with full background... e-mail them again?

> Isn't the masters degrees at HES Masters of Liberal Arts in X?

What's in a name? Yes, it is an "ALM" or whatever, but it's not strictly "liberal arts".

> I have gotten some exposure. Between 14-16 I actually volunteered my summers at a camp for people with emotional and learning disabilities. It was ironic I was volunteering there, but thoroughly enjoyed it, except for one experience.

Your experience there is almost irrelevant for admissions purposes. You need more recent experience, anyway... working not necessarily with doctors, but with patients, in the wards, anything. Almost every good hospital has good volunteer opportunities. Why don't you talk to a Stanford premed? Surely all those HumBio concentrators have some experience with Stanford's hospital, etc. Clinical experiences can take on all sorts of forms. You can volunteer in your local hospital's neurosurgery ICU (if they have one), where you'd interact with nurses, families, patients, doctors, in all sorts of roles. You need more than just perfunctory experience... medicine is both academic and "social". Email more physicians -- many physicians are amenable to shadowing, and tons of people on this board have successfully shadowed physicians.

> Which is why I was wondering if I should get a neuroscience bachelors and get some papers published as an undergrad...

You can publish papers as a masters student as well!

> If you do a Ph.D./MD option, are you given a stipend and is med school paid?

Yes to both.

 

[Ephesus]

> I figure as long as you treat undergrad like you treated high school to get the high SATs it should correlate nicely?

The correlation is not really there by and large... although for me, the scores correlated exactly. The tests are vastly different, but obviously test-taking principles are the same.

I am surprised. I figured if you were as diligent in college as in high school, taking all the advanced courses, etc.. you shoud do the on the MCATS and SAT.

> I believe I e-mailed the director there to ask him some questions about my specific case.

Simpler questions are easier to deal with than long, drawn out ones with full background... e-mail them again?

Not a bad idea; I'll write up a draft after this post.

> Isn't the masters degrees at HES Masters of Liberal Arts in X?

What's in a name? Yes, it is an "ALM" or whatever, but it's not strictly "liberal arts".

My pride. ; )

> I have gotten some exposure. Between 14-16 I actually volunteered my summers at a camp for people with emotional and learning disabilities. It was ironic I was volunteering there, but thoroughly enjoyed it, except for one experience.

>Almost every good hospital has good volunteer opportunities.

/checks...I just sent an e-mail to the Junior Volunteer director. The programme is for people younger than me, so I am going to see if he can forward my request somewhere else. I don't drive, so I'd have to be at the local hospital when I get home.

>Why don't you talk to a Stanford premed? Surely all those HumBio concentrators have some experience with Stanford's hospital, etc.

Good idea!

>Clinical experiences can take on all sorts of forms. You can volunteer in your local hospital's neurosurgery ICU (if they have one),

I know my local hospital doesn't have a neurosurgery ICU. They have two neurosurgeons on staff, but I hear they don't do much...

>where you'd interact with nurses, families, patients, doctors, in all sorts of roles.

This would be quite nice.

>many physicians are amenable to shadowing, and tons of people on this board have successfully shadowed physicians.

What about the HIPPA laws?

> Which is why I was wondering if I should get a neuroscience bachelors and get some papers published as an undergrad...

You can publish papers as a masters student as well!

From an e-mail from a neurosurgeon:

...So in a nutshell, you need high grades, great board scores,
and great recommendations from neurosurgical department chairs. PhD and
Masters degrees can help make you look better but my advice is to get
through med school ASAP because neurosurgical residency is long and
arduous. If you have to spend extra time for your application to residency,
it is best to do so after med school so that neurosurgeons can see you work
as an MD....

> If you do a Ph.D./MD option, are you given a stipend and is med school paid?

Yes to both.

Hmm, that's nice. What schools have this as an option? Are they more competitive? Also, if you get your Ph.D./M.D. do you have to stay in the academic sector or can you work at a private hospital? Meaning, do you owe something back to where you got the degrees from?

Re: organic chem; I would take it at a community college over the summer if its offered, but since everyone recommends against it, I'll just wait. Do you need organic chem for the MCATS?

 

[Ephesus]

Because med schools usually look down on advanced science courses taken at community colleges. Some won't even accept the credit for certain courses if taken at a CC.

Just a question for you: do work at Hanger? I got my ACL brace from there...

 

[anon-y-mouse]

> What about the HIPPA laws?

My hospital had me sign some confidentiality agreement... I think this is how most people get around HIPAA. Keep trying to find someone to shadow.

...So in a nutshell, you need high grades, great board scores,
and great recommendations from neurosurgical department chairs. PhD and
Masters degrees can help make you look better but my advice is to get
through med school ASAP because neurosurgical residency is long and
arduous. If you have to spend extra time for your application to residency,
it is best to do so after med school so that neurosurgeons can see you work
as an MD....

Yeah, see? Don't get that second bachelors, or even necessarily go for another degree -- it'll take too long, and you'll find you will have already learnt the necessary information in a medical school neuroscience course. Get those premed requirements out of the way as fast as possible and finish up med school... IF you for sure want to become a physician. Yes, the MS or PhD is a great addition, but I would argue that the majority of neurosurgeons don't have them.

> Hmm, that's nice. What schools have this as an option? Are they more competitive? Also, if you get your Ph.D./M.D. do you have to stay in the academic sector or can you work at a private hospital? Meaning, do you owe something back to where you got the degrees from?

I'd say almost all top 50 schools have MD/PhD programs. They're also called Medical Scientist / Physician Scientist Training programs (sponsored by the NIH). Yes, they are supremely more competitive, and you have to demonstrate a decent amount of science research (1-2 papers), and be committed to "academic medicine" in general. I am sure you can make a case. It looks like you are interested in the field for the intellectual challenge, rather than the financial (or other?) rewards, so that would probably be up your alley. You don't "owe" anything to those institutions, but they'd probably hope you'd become a paper-producing powerhouse capable of pulling in research dollars... or at least an ingenious neurosurgeon inventing and perfecting creative surgical techniques / publishing.

Yes, you most certainly need orgo for the MCAT. (orgo, general chemistry, physics (mechanics + e&m), basic biology... and upper level biology/physiology can't hurt). Pick up an MCAT prep book or check out www.mcatpearls.com (an open / free initiative) to see what's on it.

 

[Ephesus]

> What about the HIPPA laws?

My hospital had me sign some confidentiality agreement... I think this is how most people get around HIPAA. Keep trying to find someone to shadow.

I'll see what they say tomorrow.

>Yeah, see? Don't get that second bachelor's, or even necessarily go for another degree -- it'll take too long, and you'll find you will have already learnt the necessary information in a medical school neuroscience course.

That is true. The only reason I am dual majoring now in physics & maths is because when you complete a physics degree you do 75% of the maths degree.

> Hmm, that's nice. What schools have this as an option? Are they more competitive? Also, if you get your Ph.D./M.D. do you have to stay in the academic sector or can you work at a private hospital? Meaning, do you owe something back to where you got the degrees from?

I'd say almost all top 50 schools have MD/PhD programs. They're also called Medical Scientist / Physician Scientist Training programs (sponsored by the NIH). Yes, they are supremely more competitive, and you have to demonstrate a decent amount of science research (1-2 papers), and be committed to "academic medicine" in general. I am sure you can make a case.

I need to be published before I go?

>It looks like you are interested in the field for the intellectual challenge, rather than the financial (or other?) rewards,

Money doesn't mean much to me. I'm in it for other reasons. I actually, once I am making enough plan to open up a free clinic, hire a GP and a nurse, and let people who can't afford health care have a GP, and I'll do what I can as a doctor there, as well.

>so that would probably be up your alley. You don't "owe" anything to those institutions, but they'd probably hope you'd become a paper-producing powerhouse capable of pulling in research dollars... or at least an ingenious neurosurgeon inventing and perfecting creative surgical techniques / publishing.

'At least', heh.

>Yes, you most certainly need orgo for the MCAT. (orgo, general chemistry, physics (mechanics + e&m), basic biology... and upper level biology/physiology can't hurt). Pick up an MCAT prep book or check out www.mcatpearls.com (an open / free initiative) to see what's on it.

Hmmm, this might be troublesome for me going to med school in Fall 2007. May have to delay a year, now...

 

[anon-y-mouse]

What pre-reqs are you missing?

At the very least, you will need a year of chem w/ lab, a year of bio, year of physics w/ lab (you have this for sure), year of orgo, w/ lab.


> I need to be published before I go?

Yes, you will need to be published in order to be accepted into an MD/PhD program. It shows your track record of getting somewhere with original research -- they're not going to take a chance with someone who is "going to" publish. This is not the case with "plain" MD programs, although having research experience in a lab is somewhat important in getting admitted to a good school.

> open up a free clinic, hire a GP and a nurse, and let people who can't afford health care have a GP, and I'll do what I can as a doctor there, as well.

That's actually really benevolent of you -- Why don't you capitalize on this to gain experience?(and increase your medical school candidacy) Find a free clinic in Palo Alto (hah) or in your hometown, and volunteer there, help them out with anything you can. If you're spurned by one clinic, try another one. Just google to find one, or ask your local hospitals or planned parenthood about them. Keep in mind that even though you're interested in neurosurgery, you need not embark on that path till you get to med school, and can start your neuro research when you're there... that is, you are perfectly reasonable in "doing whatever it takes" to get to med school, and then going all out for neurosurgery afterwards.

> Hmmm, this might be troublesome for me going to med school in Fall 2007. May have to delay a year, now

Well, the average entering age at most medical schools is about 24, so I don't think you should be worrying too much about that. Make a solid plan of when you're going to take the prerequisite premed courses, and when you'll take the MCAT, and when/where you're going to get all your clinical/research experience and 3 letters of recommendation.

 

[Ephesus]

>What pre-reqs are you missing?

At the very least, you will need a year of chem w/ lab, a year of bio, year of physics w/ lab (you have this for sure), year of orgo, w/ lab.

Organic chem and a semester of Biology. Well...are med schools going to take AP credits? I got 5's on the Calc AB and BC exams, but of course I've taken advanced calc once I got into college...

I took the AP Biology and got only a 4. Also, the Chem course was AP, too(5). Oh, and my first year of physics was AP with labs (5). But, I've, of course taken advanced physics courses with labs since.

My point is: are med schools going to care about it being AP? If they do, do they only accept a certain score? (Most undergrads accept 3s, the elite ones are 4s) If they care, will they waive it if you've taken advanced courses in physics or maths after the required year of calc and the required year of physics?

If I am clear on the AP, I just need a semester of bio and a semester of organic chem...

> I need to be published before I go?

Yes, you will need to be published in order to be accepted into an MD/PhD program. It shows your track record of getting somewhere with original research -- they're not going to take a chance with someone who is "going to" publish. This is not the case with "plain" MD programs, although having research experience in a lab is somewhat important in getting admitted to a good school.

So, that would be a good reason to get a neuroscience degree (at least add it on)? Research, plus getting all my premed requirements in...

> open up a free clinic, hire a GP and a nurse, and let people who can't afford health care have a GP, and I'll do what I can as a doctor there, as well.

That's actually really benevolent of you

As long as I can make 20k/year and be debt free, I'm happy. I've been around money my whole life, I certainly don't want to live in it my whole life.

>Why don't you capitalize on this to gain experience?(and increase your medical school candidacy) Find a free clinic in Palo Alto (hah) or in your hometown, and volunteer there, help them out with anything you can. If you're spurned by one clinic, try another one. Just google to find one, or ask your local hospitals or planned parenthood about them. Keep in mind that even though you're interested in neurosurgery, you need not embark on that path till you get to med school, and can start your neuro research when you're there... that is, you are perfectly reasonable in "doing whatever it takes" to get to med school, and then going all out for neurosurgery afterwards.

Not a bad idea. I can only think of one free clinic, and that's a behavioural health clinic. Not interested in working there, heh. I'll call the hospital tomorrow in my hometown and ask.

> Hmmm, this might be troublesome for me going to med school in Fall 2007. May have to delay a year, now

Well, the average entering age at most medical schools is about 24, so I don't think you should be worrying too much about that. Make a solid plan of when you're going to take the prerequisite premed courses, and when you'll take the MCAT, and when/where you're going to get all your clinical/research experience and 3 letters of recommendation.

Yeah, but that's no fun to be normal, lol. ; )

 

[alexhaxton]

If this is all real, you seem kind of lonely.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

Ok, well, you may have some work cut out ahead for you. The 4 in AP bio doesn't bode too well for your bio knowledge. Also, top med schools (HMS comes to mind) don't accept AP credit. The advanced physics courses with labs should take care of the physics requirements.

You definitely need to take stock... it's going to take quite a long time to become a neurosurgeon.

Go to the pre-med advising office and set up an appointment, and come out of the meeting with a solid academic plan.

 

[potato51]

Getting published isn't a requirement to get into MD/PhD programs. They give you an edge for sure, but plenty have gained admissions without publications. What matters is the quality of your research (and you as the scientist) and research LOR's. Go to the Physician-Scientist forum and ask accepted applicants.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

Getting published isn't a requirement to get into MD/PhD programs. Plenty have gained admissions without publications. Go to the Physician-Scientist forum and ask accepted applicants.

Really? News to me, thanks. 🙂

 

[dz88]

anon-y-mouse, what did you get on your MCAT, if you don't mind me asking.

 

[fpr85]

Just a question for you: do work at Hanger? I got my ACL brace from there...

Yes. What do you have, the Donjoy ACL Legend brace?