Just curious..........

[ReblRose]

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Hi, I have been wandering around this site for what seems like forever. Thought I'd post to get some feedback and advice.

I am 36 yrs old, with a family, full time job as an RN, and also in my 3rd of 6 semester program for my MSN. Thing is, all my life I have wanted to be a physician. A cardiologist to be specific. I work in CCU now and the cardiac system has always amazed me. But like many others, life happened and I went into nursing.

I have a 3.5 undergrad and a 4.0 graduate GPA. I have Physics I & II and Org Chem I & II left for pre reqs for med school.

How realistic would it be for me to continue to pursue my dream of med school? I work at a hospital now that has an amazing med school, and many of the physicians that I work with have told me to go for it. My boys are both teenagers. Hubby says that whatever I want to do, he will support it.

Other than how realistic is it, where do I start??

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

Your stats and life experiences sound good and with the kids leaving the nest soon, why not? You've been around doctors long enough to know if it's for you or not. Just my 2 cents... 👍

 

[Pretty POHA]

If you don't already have something BETTER to do, then you should do what makes you happy! If you're already close (closer than when you started) and you have nothing to inhibit/ prohibit your choice to continue, then do!!

It's not like you can succeed TOO much or learn TOO much...
Follow your heart!

 

[QofQuimica]

Start by finishing the pre-reqs, then study for and take the MCAT. If you don't volunteer, you should start doing that as well. Do you want to stay at your school? You can apply ED if you know that is the school that you definitely want to attend. Even if you don't, you should still contact someone in the admissions office there and see if they'd be willing to talk to you about how you can strengthen your app. I have found that their office staff are very nice and super helpful whenever I have had a question, so I think they would probably be glad to give you some tips. Hope this helps. 🙂

 

[little_late_MD]

I don't know how many hours a week you are on-shift now, but make sure that you think about the enormous time committment that both medical school and then actually practicing medicine as a doctor entail. I don't know how old your children are, but there is a good likelihood that you will miss one or two significant moments in their lives pursuing your goal. It will also put a great deal of stress on your marraige. It won't get any better for quite some time either. Remember that even when you finally do get hired somewhere, you're the low man on the totem pole, and the crap shifts belong to you. I'm not trying to be negative, just giving you things to add to your decision making calculus.

However, medicine isn't like other career choices. It truly is a calling. If you feel that this is what you will make you, then you have no real choice but to go for it. Your family will stand by you, and whether or not you succeed, you will never look back and wish that you chosen the other path. Tough decisions make good men great.

Where should you start? I think you already have.

 

[ReblRose]

Thanks so much for the replies!


This is something that I have been thinking about for a very long time. I bought an MCAT book back in the spring and have been reading through it since then. Even got one "A strategic approach to get into Med School".

I dont have a problem with the time involved. I have always been the type to work more than scheduled, or offered to work for someone. (60-70 hrs/wk) I only recently cut down my hours when I went began my Master's program. My boys are 16 and 14, so they will be leaving home sooner than I care to realize.

Again, thank you all for the replies, Im going to break out my books again!