Need an advice form Anesthesiologists...

[zoner]

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Hi Doctors..

So I have been seriously looking at the field of AA for about two weeks now and wanted to know if you guys all think this is a good career to go into. My stats if I work really work will allow me to go to some sort of MD or DO school, but if I don't get in anywhere next year again, I really don't want to wait another year to strengthen my application by getting more clinical experience which is the biggest downfall of my application. With that said, do you guys think I will regret becoming an AA just because I didn't want to wait another year or two? I am a non trad much older than prob most of you. mid 30s. Money aside, I am talking job satisfaction, challenge and relative freedom and respect.

 

[Idiopathic]

Hi Doctors..

So I have been seriously looking at the field of AA for about two weeks now and wanted to know if you guys all think this is a good career to go into. My stats if I work really work will allow me to go to some sort of MD or DO school, but if I don't get in anywhere next year again, I really don't want to wait another year to strengthen my application by getting more clinical experience which is the biggest downfall of my application. With that said, do you guys think I will regret becoming an AA just because I didn't want to wait another year or two? I am a non trad much older than prob most of you. mid 30s. Money aside, I am talking job satisfaction, challenge and relative freedom and respect.

assuming no trolling - yes, you will regret it, unless you are not fully committed to being a physician and just want "a job". i dont know anything about being an AA, but considering how many people change their minds about specialty, you cant guarantee you will even want to be an anesthesiologist 4-5 years from now.

 

[zoner]

assuming no trolling - yes, you will regret it, unless you are not fully committed to being a physician and just want "a job". i dont know anything about being an AA, but considering how many people change their minds about specialty, you cant guarantee you will even want to be an anesthesiologist 4-5 years from now.

Thanks for that. I was fully committed enough to have changed my career, but not having gotten in anywhere, I am bit down and feeling defeated and started to think maybe it might be nice to have just a job again. But I might be feeling this way for now, so wanted to get some professional advice from people who are actually MD workings with AAs.

Thanks

BTW, why does everyone thinks i am trolling?

 

[yappy]

Describe your stats:

GPA, MCAT, EC's, how did you do in the prereqs?

I would focus on why you were rejected. Many DO schools are not that bad to get in - this is because they dont "average" retakes; but, instead replace the grade. Therefore, you could spend a year retaking classes you did poorly in and getting A's to get a much higher GPA.

The MCAT is even easier to fix as it's only a test that shouldnt take much more than 3-4 months of study to get a competitive score. Many of my friends scored 30+ with decent showing in the prereqs and 3 months of study.

Thanks for that. I was fully committed enough to have changed my career, but not having gotten in anywhere, I am bit down and feeling defeated and started to think maybe it might be nice to have just a job again. But I might be feeling this way for now, so wanted to get some professional advice from people who are actually MD workings with AAs.

Thanks

BTW, why does everyone thinks i am trolling?

 

[BobBarker]

You need to apply to every DO school. You will get in if you focus on refining your interview skills even with lackluster stats.

 

[pgg]

BTW, why does everyone thinks i am trolling?

Usually when people come here and ask questions comparing the AA vs CRNA vs anesthesiologist pathways, they're nurses looking to stir things up. When the rare sincere person comes along, we're just naturally suspicious.

As for which way you should go, AA is a fine career with a bright and expanding future, but if your aspiration is medical school, only you're going to know if you'll be happy as an AA.

 

[BLADEMDA]

Describe your stats:

GPA, MCAT, EC's, how did you do in the prereqs?

I would focus on why you were rejected. Many DO schools are not that bad to get in - this is because they dont "average" retakes; but, instead replace the grade. Therefore, you could spend a year retaking classes you did poorly in and getting A's to get a much higher GPA.

The MCAT is even easier to fix as it's only a test that shouldnt take much more than 3-4 months of study to get a competitive score. Many of my friends scored 30+ with decent showing in the prereqs and 3 months of study.

Yappy is right. What are your stats? Go the "DO" route and you are likely to get in with decent stats.

If you want to be the TEAM LEADER then CRNA School is an inferior choice; Doctors are the leaders in the field of Anesthesiology. Remember, your battle for an Anesthesiology Position isn't over by getting into a DO School it is just beginning. By the time you graduate from DO School getting a spot in this field, any spot, will be quite difficult. Hence, you will need to work your ass off in Medical School to match into this field.

 

[zoner]

Usually when people come here and ask questions comparing the AA vs CRNA vs anesthesiologist pathways, they're nurses looking to stir things up. When the rare sincere person comes along, we're just naturally suspicious.

As for which way you should go, AA is a fine career with a bright and expanding future, but if your aspiration is medical school, only you're going to know if you'll be happy as an AA.

Well, that's the sort of reason why I raised my question here due to the fact that you guys probably know more about AA job/life satisfaction than I will ever find out by shadowing one or two. I mean do you guys ever think that, damn, maybe I should have gone AA route and saved myself all that debt, time and hard work when AA work can be just as rewarding and satisfying. My only reservation is that fact that as an AA I will ALWAYS have to work under someone else so never being able to become my own boss no matter how long and hard I work. Am I mistaken here to think that somehow doctors are the ultimate boss? I am assuming that there are very annoying things that MD s have to deal with on a daily basis that AA would not.

I am also in the process of questioning that aspiration as something that may not really work out for me or something that I am aiming too high for not much of a return if I can get a lot back by becoming an AA.

BTW, my stats are bit above DO school, but liiiiiiiiitle bit below MD school. I don't have any bias against DO btw, I actually embrace it wholeheartedly.

sGPA (postbac) 4.0
cGPA 3.7
mcat 30
2 yrs research with presentations and possible paper at the begging of next year if everything goes well
150hr volunteer interesting work at the local hospital
1 year community service
various jobs

p.s. also, my other concern is how narrow AA training is. It is only about Anesthesia and nothing else. So somehow in the future if that skill set isn't necessary or become common, than, AA career will not be all that great.

 

[partydoc]

BTW, my stats are bit above DO school, but liiiiiiiiitle bit below MD school. I don't have any bias against DO btw, I actually embrace it wholeheartedly.

sGPA (postbac) 4.0
cGPA 3.7
mcat 30
2 yrs research with presentations and possible paper at the begging of next year if everything goes well
150hr volunteer interesting work at the local hospital
1 year community service
various jobs

You are a solid candidate for allopathic schools. Just apply very broadly and to DO schools too. I know plenty of people who have gotten in with worse mcats and gpas (myself included).

 

[Idiopathic]

so maybe you need to think about modifiable factors that could help you be successful next application cycle. (interview behavior, personal statement, etc.) i think that with ALL THE WORK you have done in order to be a physician, you will be unhappy if you settle for a different health-related discipline. if you become a chemist or math teacher, it probably wont be as big of a deal, but if you become an AA, and are good at it, its very likely you will have some regret. it may not be enough regret to make you want to do residency in your 40s with a potentially unstable job market, but still something to consider.

 

[zoner]

so maybe you need to think about modifiable factors that could help you be successful next application cycle. (interview behavior, personal statement, etc.) i think that with ALL THE WORK you have done in order to be a physician, you will be unhappy if you settle for a different health-related discipline. if you become a chemist or math teacher, it probably wont be as big of a deal, but if you become an AA, and are good at it, its very likely you will have some regret. it may not be enough regret to make you want to do residency in your 40s with a potentially unstable job market, but still something to consider.

that's funny that you say that because no matter what I am going to be in my forties when I start my residency

 

[Idiopathic]

that's funny that you say that because no matter what I am going to be in my forties when I start my residency

well you mentioned being mid 30s, the math sort of did itself

 

[imfrankie]

" My only reservation is that fact that as an AA I will ALWAYS have to work under someone else so never being able to become my own boss no matter how long and hard I work. Am I mistaken here to think that somehow doctors are the ultimate boss? I am assuming that there are very annoying things that MD s have to deal with on a daily basis that AA would not."

My impression is that you'll always have a boss either way. Anesthesia is an "extremely beholden-to-others" profession. That is one of the challenges, trying to do best by the patient, satisfy the demands of people and institutions in power (who are often less concerned about the patient), while looking out for yourself. It is a challenge, and the rewards are arguably commensurate. But you'll always have a boss, IMHO. No matter how good you are clinically as an anesthesiologist, you won't have such a unique advantage and corner on "the market" that you alone call the shots.

 

[BLADEMDA]

" My only reservation is that fact that as an AA I will ALWAYS have to work under someone else so never being able to become my own boss no matter how long and hard I work. Am I mistaken here to think that somehow doctors are the ultimate boss? I am assuming that there are very annoying things that MD s have to deal with on a daily basis that AA would not."

My impression is that you'll always have a boss either way. Anesthesia is an "extremely beholden-to-others" profession. That is one of the challenges, trying to do best by the patient, satisfy the demands of people and institutions in power (who are often less concerned about the patient), while looking out for yourself. It is a challenge, and the rewards are arguably commensurate. But you'll always have a boss, IMHO. No matter how good you are clinically as an anesthesiologist, you won't have such a unique advantage and corner on "the market" that you alone call the shots.

If you mean a Boss "Politically" then yes. But, Boss Clinically then no. I call the shots on the type of anesthesia for the patient. Surgeon posts 'LMA' I do a SCB if I think it is appropriate. Surgeon posts "spinal" I do a LPB and Sciatic Block if appropriate.

Surgeon says case is an emergency I document increased risk of "full stomach" and proceed.

CRNAs/AAs may have some input but rarely make the Clinical decision as boss.

 

[RT2MD]

Well, that's the sort of reason why I raised my question here due to the fact that you guys probably know more about AA job/life satisfaction than I will ever find out by shadowing one or two. I mean do you guys ever think that, damn, maybe I should have gone AA route and saved myself all that debt, time and hard work when AA work can be just as rewarding and satisfying. My only reservation is that fact that as an AA I will ALWAYS have to work under someone else so never being able to become my own boss no matter how long and hard I work. Am I mistaken here to think that somehow doctors are the ultimate boss? I am assuming that there are very annoying things that MD s have to deal with on a daily basis that AA would not.

I am also in the process of questioning that aspiration as something that may not really work out for me or something that I am aiming too high for not much of a return if I can get a lot back by becoming an AA.

BTW, my stats are bit above DO school, but liiiiiiiiitle bit below MD school. I don't have any bias against DO btw, I actually embrace it wholeheartedly.

sGPA (postbac) 4.0
cGPA 3.7
mcat 30
2 yrs research with presentations and possible paper at the begging of next year if everything goes well
150hr volunteer interesting work at the local hospital
1 year community service
various jobs

p.s. also, my other concern is how narrow AA training is. It is only about Anesthesia and nothing else. So somehow in the future if that skill set isn't necessary or become common, than, AA career will not be all that great.

As usual, lots of good advice already given by people way more experienced than I. Here is my 2 cents: I have been interested in anesthesia for 8 years now. I live in a city with an AA program and was really looking at doing that vs. medical school. I ended up deciding that medical school was "right" for me and I put all of my efforts into that. I was 30 when I started medical school and haven't regretted my decision once. I have bored this forum many times with my story, if you would like to know any particulars feel free to PM me.

I will tell you that, overall, your stats are better than mine. I was able to get into an allopathic school (the only one I applied to due to geographical restrictions). How many programs were you applying to? How many times have you applied? In my opinion, if you really want to be a physician, you will not be happy in any kind of midlevel position... but that's just my opinion, only you know for sure. If you really want to be a physician, I have no doubt in my mind that you can make it happen with the information that you posted above... now if you were a raging A-hole in real life, then maybe not... but you don't seem like one!

Best of luck in your future decision, I know from experience that it is a very stressful one to make... but nobody has a crystal ball to predict the future... you just have to do what feels right. Always willing to offer further information via PM.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

BTW, my stats are bit above DO school, but liiiiiiiiitle bit below MD school. I don't have any bias against DO btw, I actually embrace it wholeheartedly.

sGPA (postbac) 4.0
cGPA 3.7
mcat 30
2 yrs research with presentations and possible paper at the begging of next year if everything goes well
150hr volunteer interesting work at the local hospital
1 year community service
various jobs

p.s. also, my other concern is how narrow AA training is. It is only about Anesthesia and nothing else. So somehow in the future if that skill set isn't necessary or become common, than, AA career will not be all that great.

Just to note here - I wouldn't necessarily say your stats are "above DO school". Ok, maybe above the posted averages of certain DO schools...but the averages of some others have increased dramatically recently. Elsewhere on sdn, I just learned that we at UMDNJ-SOM waitlisted somebody with a 3.42 and a 32R. I myself was accepted 3 cycles ago with a 3.63 and a 31. Some people in the class had better stats than this. (Could I have gone MD? Possibly, but I ran out of money for apps and got complete at too few places to really find out.) My point here is that the whole med school admissions game has gotten radically more difficult in recent years...obviously go MD if possible, there will be advantages to it for sure but don't feel like you've screwed the pooch for anesthesiology if you go DO. Some of the better, more established DO schools have incoming MCAT scores of nearly 30 at this point.

 

[zoner]

Just to note here - I wouldn't necessarily say your stats are "above DO school". Ok, maybe above the posted averages of certain DO schools...but the averages of some others have increased dramatically recently. Elsewhere on sdn, I just learned that we at UMDNJ-SOM waitlisted somebody with a 3.42 and a 32R. I myself was accepted 3 cycles ago with a 3.63 and a 31. Some people in the class had better stats than this. (Could I have gone MD? Possibly, but I ran out of money for apps and got complete at too few places to really find out.) My point here is that the whole med school admissions game has gotten radically more difficult in recent years...obviously go MD if possible, there will be advantages to it for sure but don't feel like you've screwed the pooch for anesthesiology if you go DO. Some of the better, more established DO schools have incoming MCAT scores of nearly 30 at this point.

Yes, I am not doubting that at all, heck, people get wait listed with 40 mcat all the time i hear,