MPH vs. AMSNY post bacc

[trunxkam45]

Hi there,

I am currently enrolled in an MPH program for the fall. Throughout undergrad to now I have entertained the thought of medical school. My cgpa and MCAT weren't too stellar and I didn't get into any of the schools I applied to. (For the record, I've also been published, have solid LORs, and am currently working as a cadaveric lab/simulated OR coordinator training spine surgeons)

I decided an MPH would be more up my alley considering I am quite interested in global public health, especially vector borne diseases. This degree will likely take me 2 years to complete. Given where I currently am, I am giving thought to either:
1. Starting the post bacc program when my load is presumably lighter so I have less of a gap for med school.
2. Take care of the MPH first and explore different career opportunities first. After all, even though a medical degree is in a similar vein and would compliment the MPH, it is a big commitment to make and I should be certain.

I'm just a bit concerned that as a 23 year old, I won't be a full fledged attending until about 34-35?(If I go as a generalist)

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[DrMidlife]

I am currently enrolled in an MPH program for the fall. Throughout undergrad to now I have entertained the thought of medical school. My cgpa and MCAT weren't too stellar and I didn't get into any of the schools I applied to. (For the record, I've also been published, have solid LORs, and am currently working as a cadaveric lab/simulated OR coordinator training spine surgeons)
I decided an MPH would be more up my alley considering I am quite interested in global public health, especially vector borne diseases. This degree will likely take me 2 years to complete. Given where I currently am, I am giving thought to either:
1. Starting the post bacc program when my load is presumably lighter so I have less of a gap for med school.
2. Take care of the MPH first and explore different career opportunities first. After all, even though a medical degree is in a similar vein and would compliment the MPH, it is a big commitment to make and I should be certain.

There's nothing wrong with doing an MPH because you want to do an MPH, but an MPH won't get you into med school, certainly not with low stats. If med school is still a goal, then cgpa/sgpa & MCAT have to be addressed. See the nine million conversations in this forum about how to plan a GPA comeback. If you haven't done everything you possibly can to get a good MCAT score (31+ is average, so good is better than 31) then you should be planning a retake.

How much shadowing and clinical volunteering have you done? If you're not spending a lot of time in a clinical (not training) setting, you probably won't make progress on finding out if medicine is for you. Get yourself in an environment where you have access to a wide variety of physicians from lots of different backgrounds, at lots of different stages of their careers - maybe you need to ask "why did you choose to be a physician?" 100 times before you find the person who answers in a way that resonates for you.

I'm just a bit concerned that as a 23 year old, I won't be a full fledged attending until about 34-35?(If I go as a generalist)

OK, so what are you expecting you'd be doing at 34-35 if you don't go to med school? Why is it interesting to you to worry about this? Average first year med student age is about 24. You'll have first year classmates who are over 40.

The best advice I've yet heard is this: if there's any career you'd be happy in other than medicine, for the love of all that's holy do the other thing. Medicine is ridiculously long in training and short in relaxation opportunities - if you don't want it really, really bad, then don't do it.

Best of luck to you.

 

[trunxkam45]

Yea I'm not using my MPH to get into med school. I would like more exposure in Public Health first before deciding whether or not I want an MD/DO as well. But I'm wondering if I should overlap one of my MPH years with postbacc..? I don't really want to sacrifice one for the other. I have no desire to be a barely adequate doc. I would prefer to be in a commanding position, no matter what field I go into. And PhDs are long and too specialized for me.

I have volunteered at a hospital and have also worked at several long term care facilities. The MCAT was frustrating. I committed four months to gearing up for that test. I used Kaplan and was studying pretty much all day every day. Kaplan and AAMC Practice tests showed that I was quite strong in physical sci and verbal while somewhat weaker in bio. But when I took the actual test my score was flipped around and I get a 10 BS 7 PS 7 V. I retook it and paid special attention to physical sci but I ended up with a 4 BS 7 PS 9 V. Seems like a crap shoot no matter how hard I study.

 

[DrMidlife]

But when I took the actual test my score was flipped around and I get a 10 BS 7 PS 7 V. I retook it and paid special attention to physical sci but I ended up with a 4 BS 7 PS 9 V. Seems like a crap shoot no matter how hard I study.

In my view that's all the information you need to make a career decision.

Best of luck to you.

 

[deleted248403]

I took the actual test my score was flipped around and I get a 10 BS 7 PS 7 V. I retook it and paid special attention to physical sci but I ended up with a 4 BS 7 PS 9 V. Seems like a crap shoot no matter how hard I study.

In my view that's all the information you need to make a career decision.

Best of luck to you.

Agreed with Midlife....

An MPH isn't solving this one on any level - whether it be MD or DO; If you want medicine, you are going to the Carib as you currently stand