Need some advice/direction

[bpigz]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forums and just recently started combing through threads on here and I thought this would be a great place to ask for some direction.

Anyways, here's my situation. I'll make it as short as possible.

Military runs in my family. From when I was a little kid that was what I deadset on doing. Right after graduating from high school, I went to enlist in the Air Force for EOD. My recruiter called me and said I was turned down because of my heart condition, which I will get into.

At that point I was at a loss of what I should do. I enrolled in community college and even despite good grades (straight A's), I left halfway through the semester because I still had no clue why I was there. So I ended up taing a year "off" and worked full-time hoping I would figure out what I want to do with myself. There always was that thought in the back of my mind of becoming a cardiologist due to my heart condition, but I never thought I would be able to pursue that goal because I am no academic genius by any means, espescially in math. Now, I didn't do bad in high school. I did get honors here and there, but I knew if I pushed myself more I would've been able to do way better.

Now, I am enrolled for a college class starting in July at CC and will be scheduling classes for the fall semester at the same CC. I was planning on transferring to PSU for there Physical Therapy Assistant program for next fall, but in recent months I have had this burning desire to buckle down and try to go all the way to med school. I do have a natural want to help people, being as I am a volunteer firefighter/emt. But, that is not the main reason why I want to pursue that path.

I've known about my bicuspid aortic valve, dextrocardia and PFO since I was 3. Going into 9th grade at my yearly check-up they found my aortic root was dilated and as of two years ago it still remains stable around 4.1cm (thank God). This started an obsession with finding out everything I could about each one. Reading research on it, studies, live conferences, etc... I would also love to provide the level of care and knowledge that my current cardiologist does to me.

I have this new passion about what I would like to do, but I just don't know if I will be able to academically. I had to be tutored in math in high school, but still was able to come out with a B- in Trig my last year. I don't know if I would be able to handle Calculus and all of those math courses. Also, I know I will pull off good grades this year. It's just a matter of not kowing what to do after that when I want to transfer.

I apologize for the long post! If anyone had a similar experience I would love to hear about it. Any advice/direction would be of help! I just want to know what I can expect, suggestions on what I should do after this fall and if it is worth the risk.

Thank You!

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I have this new passion about what I would like to do, but I just don't know if I will be able to academically. I had to be tutored in math in high school, but still was able to come out with a B- in Trig my last year. I don't know if I would be able to handle Calculus and all of those math courses. Also, I know I will pull off good grades this year. It's just a matter of not kowing what to do after that when I want to transfer.

I apologize for the long post! If anyone had a similar experience I would love to hear about it. Any advice/direction would be of help! I just want to know what I can expect, suggestions on what I should do after this fall and if it is worth the risk.

Thank You!

1. Welcome! Stay a while and look around. If you think medicine is something you may want to pursue, this forum will prove invaluable.
2. Take p.r.n.: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=532079
3. Luckily for you, math courses really aren't required for pursuing medicine, with two exceptions. Calculus and statistics. You'll need to take one course of each (most likely) to be able to apply as broadly as possible. You'll most likely need to take a prereq or two prior to Calc 1 as well, e.g. linear algebra or college algebra, maybe trig, depending on your ugrad institution's requirements. You will lose nothing by pursuing the initial prereqs that would put you in a place to pursue medicine, as I would imagine PT programs require many similar courses (I'm out of my element talking about PT reqs, caveat emptor.)

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

OP, it will not hurt you to get your PTA degree and also take all the necessary pre-reqs. Most people do not get into med school ASAP after college, so it is good to have a job that will give you come clinical experience while your apps are going through etc. The other thing about math, physics. Physics is an application of calculus and or advanced algebra. In order to do well in physics (required pre-req at many places, and is on the MCAT) it behooves you to get a tutor and be proficient in math. You aren't required to take the physics for physics/science majors at most schools, so the algebra based physics is usually good enough, as is the 'lower level' calculus... either way, try your best... and good luck!

 

[Mindscrew]

Hi and Welcome!

The best advice is what ever you do, is to get the best grades. That will give you all the options down the road!

 

[bpigz]

Thanks for the link Pons. Reading those threads made me more confident in pursuing it.

OP, it will not hurt you to get your PTA degree and also take all the necessary pre-reqs. Most people do not get into med school ASAP after college, so it is good to have a job that will give you come clinical experience while your apps are going through etc. The other thing about math, physics. Physics is an application of calculus and or advanced algebra. In order to do well in physics (required pre-req at many places, and is on the MCAT) it behooves you to get a tutor and be proficient in math. You aren't required to take the physics for physics/science majors at most schools, so the algebra based physics is usually good enough, as is the 'lower level' calculus... either way, try your best... and good luck!

I've thought about just getting an A.S. in PTA and pursuing a B.S. in a science related field, since it also is of strong interest to me. Is that what most applicants do major wise?

 

[bpigz]

I apologize for the double post. When I was reading the course curriculum for the program I would like to transfer into later, it has a option between choosing a combo of Intro Physics 1&2 or General Physics 1&2. Every medical school requirement I read says it requires two semesters or one year of Physics with a lab. Does Introductory Physics count towards that?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I apologize for the double post. When I was reading the course curriculum for the program I would like to transfer into later, it has a option between choosing a combo of Intro Physics 1&2 or General Physics 1&2. Every medical school requirement I read says it requires two semesters or one year of Physics with a lab. Does Introductory Physics count towards that?

Does the course description of the Intro courses say something to the effect of "this is course is meant for non-science majors"? If not, you should be fine taking the intro course (which I be is just the non-calc based physics sequence.) Just be careful that it's not for non-science majors.

 

[bpigz]

It doesn't specifically state it's for non-science majors. The description for Introductory Physics 1 states that it is "Not intended for students specializing in physics and chemistry."

54.111 Introductory Physics I (4) - Presents an approach to selected topics such as mechanics, heat, kinetic theory, molecular theory of gases, wave motion and sound. Not intended for students specializing in physics or chemistry. Six hours per week: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory

54.112 Introductory Physics II (4) - Studies electricity, magnetism, light, relativity, quantum and atomic theory, structure of matter, nuclear physics and particle physics. Continuation of 54.111. Six hours per week: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. Prerequisite: 54.111 or consent of instructor.

 

[EdLongshanks]

It doesn't specifically state it's for non-science majors. The description for Introductory Physics 1 states that it is "Not intended for students specializing in physics and chemistry."

This is often called "non-calculus-based" physics. You will find many of your classmates are pre-med.

 

[bpigz]

So, it would fulfill the Physics requirements unless stated otherwise?

 

[EdLongshanks]

So, it would fulfill the Physics requirements unless stated otherwise?

Yes, I took algebra based physics and no one complained.

 

[clausewitz2]

Only drawback is having to remember a bunch of formulas rather than being taught about where they came from in the first place (and thus being able to derive them as needed), but if your math is weak anyway, it will probably just easier to brute force the equations you need. Regardless, for MCAT purposes, remembering the general form of the equation seems much more important than remembering every detail (i.e. knowing if this increases by such and such a factor, that will decrease by such and such a factor).