Need to figure things out

[Icantplayspades]

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Currently in Pharmacy school but I see that Medical school is still my passion. I don't know how to proceed from here. I'm willing to do an SMP, retake the MCAT or whatever I need to do to compete but I need to make a move. I'm just utterly confused.

 

[CricB4Tube]

What was your weakness in your medical school application? If it was your MCAT, obviously study and retake. If it was GPA, take more classes and improve. If it's clinical experience, go shadow (difficult with COVID) or get a job in healthcare like EMT/ER tech, scribe, etc.
What exactly are you confused about?

 

[Icantplayspades]

What was your weakness in your medical school application? If it was your MCAT, obviously study and retake. If it was GPA, take more classes and improve. If it's clinical experience, go shadow (difficult with COVID) or get a job in healthcare like EMT/ER tech, scribe, etc.
What exactly are you confused about?

The REAL world is nowhere near that simple. When I leave Pharmacy, how will I live? You don't just DO anything. That's like saying JUST apply and go to med school.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Wow, someone disliked my post!

 

[CricB4Tube]

Wow, someone disliked my post! Like I care. I'm not some spoiled White 20 year old and my world is completely different than yours.

So you post zero details on your personal circumstances yet want advice specifically tailored to your situation? In the REAL world, a lot of us aren't "white 20 year olds" and have our own personal challenges but we find a way to overcome them which is how we get acceptances and start our journey in medicine. Maybe you should take some time to mature and figure things out like everyone else did. The privileged have an easier time getting in, but there are plenty of paths for the disadvantaged too.

 

[southernhope1]

I'm not some spoiled White 20 year old and my world is completely different than yours.

I'm not this either....so here's what I believe @CricB4Tube is getting at....you're in pharmacy school now but it sounds like your heart is still calling out for medical school. The question now would become what is stopping you from starting the med school journey? Money? (that's legit and many here are in alignment) Was it previous stats/scores? (there are things you could still do about that). A sense that you've already invested too much time in pharmacy and it's too late to switch?

This is like the old joke...how do you eat an elephant? Answer: One spoonful at a time. There are ways out of anything...you just need to have the drive to get there.

 

[deleted889094]

The REAL world is nowhere near that simple. When I leave Pharmacy, how will I live? You don't just DO anything. That's like saying JUST apply and go to med school.

I don't think they meant "What exactly are you confused about?" in a condescebding way. I think they were just genuinely asking what your confusion is. Although I can see how it could be read that way

 

[Icantplayspades]

I'm sorry for my previous posts. I'm just so dissatisfied with everything right now. Would finishing Pharmacy school and then applying to medical school make sense? I'm all for following my dreams but I just don't see another way. Has anyone taken this path? What should I know?

 

[deleted889094]

I'm sorry for my previous posts. I'm just so dissatisfied with everything right now. Would finishing Pharmacy school and then applying to medical school make sense? I'm all for following my dreams but I just don't see another way. Has anyone taken this path? What should I know?

TBH, given what you've said and your previous posts in other threads, I think it would be long and difficult to get there. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably stick with pharmacy. Pharm is cool, I would do it if I couldn't do medicine. And you'll make good money too. Just my take on it. If you're intent on med school, though, I don't know enough to advise you well.

 

[Icantplayspades]

TBH, given what you've said and your previous posts in other threads, I think it would be long and difficult to get there. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably stick with pharmacy. Pharm is cool, I would do it if I couldn't do medicine. And you'll make good money too. Just my take on it. If you're intent on med school, though, I don't know enough to advise you well.

Why would it be long and difficult? Couldn't I just finish Pharmacy school and apply to Medical school?

Thanks

 

[Angus Avagadro]

The PharmD degree and the maturity from working for awhile will be an asset on your app. I personally like non trads and the maturity and leadership they bring to the class. Our class President was a pharmacist. It will be a longer more expensive road no doubt, but it can be done. Without knowing your stats, I can't offer any academic advice. Working in a hospital will help with clinical experience. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Why would it be long and difficult? Couldn't I just finish Pharmacy school and apply to Medical school?

Thanks

Yes, if you are a competetive applicant. Without knowing undergrad grades, course pre reqs, mcat, research, shadowing and clinical experience, no one is going to say just apply.

 

[Icantplayspades]

The PharmD degree and the maturity from working for awhile will be an asset on your app. I personally like non trads and the maturity and leadership they bring to the class. Our class President was a pharmacist. It will be a longer more expensive road no doubt, but it can be done. Without knowing your stats, I can't offer any academic advice. Working in a hospital will help with clinical experience. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and best wishes!

Thanks for the input! If I finish Pharmacy at age 32 and can start medical school by 34, would I be considered "old"? I'm interested in a surgical speciality but, despite what is said, I know age becomes a factor. That's why I was pondering leaving Pharmacy school.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Yes, if you are a competetive applicant. Without knowing undergrad grades, course pre reqs, mcat, research, shadowing and clinical experience, no one is going to say just apply.

Took a few courses prior to Pharmacy School and GPA was approx 3.4. I'm doing very well in Pharmacy School but I've heard this is looked at in a different manner (not considered Science, which I think is absurb but I don't call the shots).

 

[deleted889094]

Why would it be long and difficult? Couldn't I just finish Pharmacy school and apply to Medical school?

Thanks

I consider doing pharmacy school and then medical school long and difficult lol

What was your MCAT? And did you apply DO?

 

[Goro]

Currently in Pharmacy school but I see that Medical school is still my passion. I don't know how to proceed from here. I'm willing to do an SMP, retake the MCAT or whatever I need to do to compete but I need to make a move. I'm just utterly confused.

Finish pharm school first.

Then develop an app with Ecs that show that you're running TO Medicine, not merely running away from Pharm.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

34 is older, but not old. A math factor comes into play now, i.e., ROI, return on investment. Start med school at 34. 4 yrs med school, 5 yr min for gen surgery, 2 more for a fellowship. So, say start practicing at 45. Can you make enough money to pay off cost of education and say125k salary of pharmacist for 11yrs over a 10 ye period? That's 1.4 mil plus student loans. Yes, doable, but at a cost. Only you can decide if its worth it.

 

[Icantplayspades]

I consider doing pharmacy school and then medical school long and difficult lol

What was your MCAT? And did you apply DO?

Between 500-505. I didn't apply DO.

 

[Icantplayspades]

34 is older, but not old. A math factor comes into play now, i.e., ROI, return on investment. Start med school at 34. 4 yrs med school, 5 yr min for gen surgery, 2 more for a fellowship. So, say start practicing at 45. Can you make enough money to pay off cost of education and say125k salary of pharmacist for 11yrs over a 10 ye period? That's 1.4 mil plus student loans. Yes, doable, but at a cost. Only you can decide if its worth it.

I understand the finances at hand but I just know I'd be more fulfilled with a career in medicine. I am more than willing to loss some income to be fulfilled with what I do.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Finish pharm school first.

Then develop an app with Ecs that show that you're running TO Medicine, not merely running away from Pharm.

Upon finishing Pharmacy School I planned to work as a Pharmacist for a few years. What kind of ECs would be beneficial?

 

[Goro]

Upon finishing Pharmacy School I planned to work as a Pharmacist for a few years. What kind of ECs would be beneficial?

Here's the deal: You need to show AdComs that you know what you're getting into, and show off your altruistic, humanistic side. We need to know that you're going to like being around sick or injured people for the next 40 years.

Here's another way of looking at it: would you buy a new car without test driving it? Buy a new suit or dress without trying it on??

We're also not looking for merely for good medical students, we're looking for people who will make good doctors, and 4.0 GPA robots are a dime-a-dozen.

I've seen plenty of posts here from high GPA/high MCAT candidates who were rejected because they had little patient contact experience.

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

Service need not be "unique"; it can be anything that helps people unable to help themselves and that is outside of a patient-care setting. If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients.

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you.

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching literacy or ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, mentoring immigrant/refugee adults, being a friendly visitor to shut-ins, adaptive sports program coach or Special Olympics.

 

[Icantplayspades]

I just have one more question: would applying between P3 and P4 be advantageous? My program has a lot of clinical experinece and volunteering included so I could reapply between P3 and P4 assuming I do well on the MCAT.

 

[Goro]

I just have one more question: would applying between P3 and P4 be advantageous? My program has a lot of clinical experinece and volunteering included so I could reapply between P3 and P4 assuming I do well on the MCAT.

The worry is that you'll bail on med school like you did on Pharm. Finish what you started.

 

[Icantplayspades]

The worry is that you'll bail on med school like you did on Pharm. Finish what you started.

I would graduate after applying between P3 and P4. This would just allow me to transition more seamlessly. I would have all the experience I outlined and would almost be done when I applied.

 

[deleted889094]

I would graduate after applying between P3 and P4. This would just allow me to transition more seamlessly. I would have all the experience I outlined and would almost be done when I applied.

The point is you're applying right out of pharm school which makes it clear you're bailing on it. It shows you're discontent and looking for the next thing, which could reasonably be a concern for med schools.