Lawyer seeks counsel

[singularity81]

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Hi everyone. I've been a patent attorney for a few years, but don't enjoy the work. I'm thinking about going to med school because it has always been a desire of mine.

Some background info... I'm 35, not married nor have kids, have a BSEE, MSEE and a JD. I've taken all the prerequisites, except for O-Chem and English (not sure if law school classes may qualify). My plan is to enroll in an MCAT prep course and learn O-Chem on my own, take the test, then only apply to the few schools that don't require prerequisites. Does this sound dumb as it limits my choice of schools (USC, Tulane, etc...)?

 

[SpoiledMilk]

I don't recommend taking the MCAT before finishing your prereqs including O-Chem and esp. Biochemistry. With the AAMC acceptance rate of approx 42%, it will be unwise to limit the number of schools you are going to apply to.

Your law school classes will not count toward the English undergrad requirement because 99.9% MD Adcoms do not consider graduate grades. Get a subscription to the MSAR to check.

While DO Adcoms do take into consideration graduate course grades, I don't believe they will take the law school classes in replacement of the required English class. However, I may be wrong because I am not familiar with the DO application process. Paging @Goro

Do you have any clinical (paid or volunteer) experience that will provide you an understanding of how to deal with sick patients? If not, then I advise you continue to practice law on the side while taking the extra year or two to finish up your prereqs, take the MCAT, and get your ECs in order.

Age will not be an issue...

 

[pastrynerd]

I'm also in the same boat. I don't know if I need to take another English course. I have one English composition course and another "writing course" called French fairy tales through the French dept. however, it was all in English. I wonder if schools will accept that for the English requirement? If you're learning Ochem on your own, I highly recommend "Organic Chemistry as a second language" books.

 

[workaholic181]

You’re really going to hamstring yourself not only for the MCAT but for applying if you don’t take o chem. I would highly advise you take it and Biochem at a local CC. It shouldn’t cost you much and you will be thankful you did. I understand your timeline is important give your age but consider that you’ll be putting matriculation off much longer if you either a) do poorly on MCAT w/o that science back ground or b) don’t get into one of the few schools that doesn’t require them. The schools you listed for example are notorious for getting inundated with apps. Applying to med school is largely a numbers game.

I’d be willing to bet you wont need English, but I would simply call schools and ask.

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone. I've been a patent attorney for a few years, but don't enjoy the work. I'm thinking about going to med school because it has always been a desire of mine.

Some background info... I'm 35, not married nor have kids, have a BSEE, MSEE and a JD. I've taken all the prerequisites, except for O-Chem and English (not sure if law school classes may qualify). My plan is to enroll in an MCAT prep course and learn O-Chem on my own, take the test, then only apply to the few schools that don't require prerequisites. Does this sound dumb as it limits my choice of schools (USC, Tulane, etc...)?

Yes it's dumb. What if you don't get into those schools?

While most schools have pre-reqs anymore, they expect you to have them anyway, as a foundation for handling difficult concepts and a large course load. And frankly, learning a major pre-reqs like Orgo on your own and then taking a high stakes, career deciding exam that will have Orgo on it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I strongly suggest that you volunteer with patients and shadow doctors to see if this is really the thing for you.

 

[Goro]

And just to make sure you get this, at least at my school, we don't consider law school GPAs.

 

[Magus5454]

Hi everyone. I've been a patent attorney for a few years, but don't enjoy the work. I'm thinking about going to med school because it has always been a desire of mine.

Some background info... I'm 35, not married nor have kids, have a BSEE, MSEE and a JD. I've taken all the prerequisites, except for O-Chem and English (not sure if law school classes may qualify). My plan is to enroll in an MCAT prep course and learn O-Chem on my own, take the test, then only apply to the few schools that don't require prerequisites. Does this sound dumb as it limits my choice of schools (USC, Tulane, etc...)?

That's silly. Take the class. Organic is hard enough on its own. Remember. Medicine is like a marathon, not a sprint. Do it right or you're going to be the one dropping out of the race.

Also, I'll be 38 this year and entering my first year of medical school. You aren't too old. Don't rush it and mess up your chances

 

[redfish955]

If your earning anything near 150k a year I would just setup to pay off a practical home and square away retirement over the next ten years, the time you would be in medical school and residency. Then go become a math teacher or something and raise a family. If you go to med school now you will likely be working until your 65-70 instead of 55-60.

 

[singularity81]

Thank you all for your individual feedback. Wish you all well.

 

[redfish955]

You could do pharmacy and I think I would do that over a MBA. 120k a year after three years of school and a forty hour work week. What ever you choose I would set up to retire at fifty eight.

 

[PostDont]

Take Ochem. Then take the MCAT. It will save you time and likely a cycle.