Medicine - Should I Or Shouldn't I????

[rkirsch]

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am in a quandary... and I know this is a long one but bear with me… 🙁

Here’s my situation...

I graduated in 04’ in Zoology and Physiology with minors in Business and Theatre. My GPA was about a 3.4. (Not too fly). My Pre-Med package isn’t too shabby- includes research, (one in sperm physiology and motility!! Loved it!) extra-curricular activities- (I was active) – chief editor of the student magazine, Mortar Board, president of a gazillion things, honors program, study-abroad, certified nursing assistant (worked in hospitals), shadowed physicians, my professors were great and I know I will get stellar recommendations and I went to the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at Yale. (Yes, I am URM- (who the hell comes up with these acronyms???) I am black female!)

BUT I did not do well in my senior year - got C's in Both Organic Chem., Genetics and Physiology. What the *&^%!*% happened? Fell sick, a divorce happened (caveat: do not get married during your freshman year when you are 18 and really stupid!!!)

I know, I know, it gets better…I needed a break from school and I wasn’t going to spend another second in a lab counting sperm so I figured what the hell! And decided get an MBA! Maybe work for a year… well that year is over… and here I am still deciding if I should still go to medical school.

I’m turning 26 soon. I am an analyst and I make close to 100K a year…. I don’t hate my job but it is not really inspiring (except when I’m reading posts on SDN). But then again I could skip the medical thing and the residency and be making over 200K in 5-7 years except I am apprehensive that I might be freaking bored, unchallenged and an alcoholic…(might be too late for that last one…) by the time I am 35…

Please tell me what would you do?

R

 

[Uncle_Tbag]

Seems like the main worry for you is your senior year grades?

If that's the case, take the MCAT, send out tons of apps, and see what happens. It doesn't sound like money is an issue for you, so there's not much to lose. You either get rejected and keep your fat-paycheck job, or get accepted - then decide whether to matriculate or not.

 

[chocomorsel]

am in a quandary... and I know this is a long one but bear with me… 🙁

Here’s my situation...

I graduated in 04’ in Zoology and Physiology with minors in Business and Theatre. My GPA was about a 3.4. (Not too fly). My Pre-Med package isn’t too shabby- includes research, (one in sperm physiology and motility!! Loved it!) extra-curricular activities- (I was active) – chief editor of the student magazine, Mortar Board, president of a gazillion things, honors program, study-abroad, certified nursing assistant (worked in hospitals), shadowed physicians, my professors were great and I know I will get stellar recommendations and I went to the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at Yale. (Yes, I am URM- (who the hell comes up with these acronyms???) I am black female!)

BUT I did not do well in my senior year - got C's in Both Organic Chem., Genetics and Physiology. What the *&^%!*% happened? Fell sick, a divorce happened (caveat: do not get married during your freshman year when you are 18 and really stupid!!!)

I know, I know, it gets better…I needed a break from school and I wasn’t going to spend another second in a lab counting sperm so I figured what the hell! And decided get an MBA! Maybe work for a year… well that year is over… and here I am still deciding if I should still go to medical school.

I’m turning 26 soon. I am an analyst and I make close to 100K a year…. I don’t hate my job but it is not really inspiring (except when I’m reading posts on SDN). But then again I could skip the medical thing and the residency and be making over 200K in 5-7 years except I am apprehensive that I might be freaking bored, unchallenged and an alcoholic…(might be too late for that last one…) by the time I am 35…

Please tell me what would you do?

R

Follow your heart. I believe that you've already subconsciously made up your mind as seen in the last paragraph. Anyway, money isn't everything. I mean we all want a decent paycheck otherwise I don't think we'd be busting our asses the way we do and ending up in all this debt for nothing. If medicine is what you've always wanted to do, if reading this board makes your blood rush, then go for it. Yes, it's gonna suck going back to being broke for a while, but it's only temporary. I was a nurse before I started medical school at 25. Thought I couldn't handle another four years of school. But after working in nursing for a few years realized that I wasn't happy and that was not gonna change. Sure the money was good, the hours great, but I hated my coworkers and sometimes my job. So anyway, it's never too late if that's what you are thinking. It's what I love about this country. You can go back to school even if you are on medicare. Anyway, just my two cents. Hope it helps. Oh, and as far as the grades, I don't think with the rest of your CV they look bad. Admissions committees usually look at the whole person and not just the academics. It all balances out, especially for non traditional students.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

...includes research, (one in sperm physiology and motility!! Loved it!)...I am black female!...

Is that what they call it these days? I knew several girls in college who received an MRS degree due to the quality of their research...

On a serious note, I'd only leave my current profession/earnings if I was 100% decided on medicine. It'd suck (no pun intended) to leave your current job (which sounds like a good deal) to find out you aren't that keen on medicine either.

 

[rkirsch]

Forgive my ignorance but what an MRS degree?

Is that what they call it these days? I knew several girls in college who received an MRS degree due to the quality of their research...

On a serious note, I'd only leave my current profession/earnings if I was 100% decided on medicine. It'd suck (no pun intended) to leave your current job (which sounds like a good deal) to find out you aren't that keen on medicine either.

 

[skypilot]

Forgive my ignorance but what an MRS degree?

A Mrs. degree is when you go from being a Miss or a Ms. to being a Mrs.

 

[deuist]

Forgive my ignorance but what an MRS degree?

A woman who goes to college for the sake of meeting a man and getting married; happens quite a bit at higher ranked universities. You could even call the elementary education department House Wife U.

 

[dreamsicle]

Just think carefully about it. - Is being uninspired by your current job your only reason for going to medical school? There are many exciting and rewarding careers as I'm sure you realize.

 

[medicine1]

am in a quandary... and I know this is a long one but bear with me… 🙁

Here’s my situation...

I graduated in 04’ in Zoology and Physiology with minors in Business and Theatre. My GPA was about a 3.4. (Not too fly). My Pre-Med package isn’t too shabby- includes research, (one in sperm physiology and motility!! Loved it!) extra-curricular activities- (I was active) – chief editor of the student magazine, Mortar Board, president of a gazillion things, honors program, study-abroad, certified nursing assistant (worked in hospitals), shadowed physicians, my professors were great and I know I will get stellar recommendations and I went to the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at Yale. (Yes, I am URM- (who the hell comes up with these acronyms???) I am black female!)

BUT I did not do well in my senior year - got C's in Both Organic Chem., Genetics and Physiology. What the *&^%!*% happened? Fell sick, a divorce happened (caveat: do not get married during your freshman year when you are 18 and really stupid!!!)

I know, I know, it gets better…I needed a break from school and I wasn’t going to spend another second in a lab counting sperm so I figured what the hell! And decided get an MBA! Maybe work for a year… well that year is over… and here I am still deciding if I should still go to medical school.

I’m turning 26 soon. I am an analyst and I make close to 100K a year…. I don’t hate my job but it is not really inspiring (except when I’m reading posts on SDN). But then again I could skip the medical thing and the residency and be making over 200K in 5-7 years except I am apprehensive that I might be freaking bored, unchallenged and an alcoholic…(might be too late for that last one…) by the time I am 35…

Please tell me what would you do?

R

If you know what is good for you, you should stick with what you are doing.
Self reflect and search your heart for the answer. Do you really know who you are? And do you really know what you want to do with your life? Weigh all the pros and cons, and then make your decision. If you really want to be a physician, and you work hard enough, you can make it happen.

 

[Law2Doc]

Seems like the main worry for you is your senior year grades?

If that's the case, take the MCAT, send out tons of apps, and see what happens. It doesn't sound like money is an issue for you, so there's not much to lose. You either get rejected and keep your fat-paycheck job, or get accepted - then decide whether to matriculate or not.

Not sure the MCAT is the next step. You want to show upward trends, not a bad slate of sciences senior year. Thus the thing to do would be to find someplace you can retake those courses and maybe one or two other ones, to show a current ability in the sciences. THEN take the MCAT.
Although your post suggests an awareness of this, I would point out that if you are already around six digits, and assuming conservative raises and bonuses and interest over time, it is pretty safe to say that you will probably never catch up in terms of income if you take the time and incurred the debt involved in doing the med school path. So make sure it's really a career you are interested in and excites you.

 

[George_Clooney]

If you know what is good for you, you should stick with what you are doing.
Self reflect and search your heart for the answer. Do you really know who you are? And do you really know what you want to do with your life? Weigh all the pros and cons, and then make your decision. If you really want to be a physician, and you work hard enough, you can make it happen.

Yeah, if you are not sure it is what you want, then it probably isn't yet.

Also, I wouldn't sweat the senior year grades too much. I imagine going through a divorce is a pretty prickly situation and time consuming too. I am sure some schools will cut you some slack if everything else is solid.

 

[peppy]

I agree with those who say the senior grades aren't a dealbreaker.
I guess the main thing I would suggest is to think carefully about if you can see yourself being happy doing any other careers. As you realize, med school is a very long road. In some ways it's not nearly as bad as I feared it would be when I was a pre-med (in fact, this first year really flew by much faster than I thought it would), but it's certainly a lot of work.
I am fairly happy about med school most days, but I think a big part of that is because I can't imagine myself doing anything else that I'd find so rewarding and interesting.
You might want to consider if some alternative career (such as becoming a Physician Assistant) might be just as rewarding for you without so many years of schooling/residency.
If you come to the conclusion that, no, being a doc is what you really want, go for it. You sound like an intelligent and ambitious person, so I'm quite certain you can do it if you really want it. 🙂

 

[rkirsch]

I am not sure I would bring up a divorce in an interview....would I? Can I? Should I?

Yeah, if you are not sure it is what you want, then it probably isn't yet.

Also, I wouldn't sweat the senior year grades too much. I imagine going through a divorce is a pretty prickly situation and time consuming too. I am sure some schools will cut you some slack if everything else is solid.

 

[rkirsch]

Peppy,

Thanks for the advice...

I agree with those who say the senior grades aren't a dealbreaker.
I guess the main thing I would suggest is to think carefully about if you can see yourself being happy doing any other careers. As you realize, med school is a very long road. In some ways it's not nearly as bad as I feared it would be when I was a pre-med (in fact, this first year really flew by much faster than I thought it would), but it's certainly a lot of work.
I am fairly happy about med school most days, but I think a big part of that is because I can't imagine myself doing anything else that I'd find so rewarding and interesting.
You might want to consider if some alternative career (such as becoming a Physician Assistant) might be just as rewarding for you without so many years of schooling/residency.
If you come to the conclusion that, no, being a doc is what you really want, go for it. You sound like an intelligent and ambitious person, so I'm quite certain you can do it if you really want it. 🙂

 

[Callogician]

As an African American female with an MBA, I think that you are pretty much a guaranteed admit to at least one Allopathic US school if you can get a 27+ on the MCAT (don't bother responding to tell me that this claim is politically incorrect).

I agree with Law2doc, but I think that you should do some legitimate medical volunteering to...

1) Weigh your interest in medicine
2) Have something to put on your app that explains your interest in medicine

 

[DrMom]

moving to pre-allo