non-trad nursing major turned doctor wannabe needs advice

[psycho-matic]

So, I got my BS in Biology and had toyed on and off with the idea of going to med school and being a doctor. I'm 26 and convincned myself that I was too told to go to med school. Instead I applied to nursing school and got into a good BSN program. 6 months into the program, I have realized that I absolutely want to become a physician. I've never had such clarity about what I want to do with my career, and I'm content with going to medical school in my late 20's/early 30's. Quite simply, I find nursing education to be limited, superficial, and unsatisfying, and it will never be fufilling for me. I want to study medicine. So, I have two options:

1. Complete the BSN program, then take a year to finish med school prereqs and apply. We're looking at August 2012 entry. I will be 29.
2. Take a year off from the nursing program after May, sit for LPN exam. Spend next year completing prereqs and apply, while supporting myself working as an LPN. Entry in August 2011. I will be 28. If I don't get in, finish last year of nursing school and apply again.

I'm leaning toward the 2nd option, but am wondering what your opinions are and if you have any advice. I wonder how not finishg nursing school might look when applying to med school, but then I do already have the BS in Biology, and maybe they can see I had a change of heart. My BSN program and the med school I would be applying to are part of the same state university. Thanks in advance.

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[sgtbrushes]

Med schools do look down on programs that are started, but not finished. Are you attending a very curriculum-specific "nursing program" at your school, or are you just seeking a second B.S. and happen to be taking nursing classes? If you are "in a program," it could look bad to quit. One year difference won't be a huge difference, plus the RN gives you the opportunity to supplement your income in the summers of med school, or if you don't get in your first cycle.

 

[sindadel]

I know people who got in to med school after completing a couple of years of nursing. How many prereqs do you need to finish and are you sure it'll take a whole year?

 

[ArkansasRanger]

If I were you I'd finish the BSN program and squeeze in any premed coursework when/if possible. Once you get the RN credential you'll have so much mobility that it should be rather easy for you to work and obtain what premed prereqs you lack. You're in a pretty good position to do this.

I also think that your reasons for wanting to leaving nursing and move on to doctoring are sound, and you have proof and experience to back that up.

 

[blueflower77]

Wow, I think it turns out that you're like my evil twin! 🙂 lol (Well, you know, I don't mean 'evil' but a twin. I think you're even the same age as me!).

I'm actually in a slightly different but almost the same situation. I graduated with a BA in Biology and just graduated with a BSN. I'm 26. After I finished my bio degree (because I was an international student) I couldn't apply to med school (another super long story) so I chose to apply to grad school for a nurse practitioner degree (it's a 3-year program that gives you your temp RN and then your Masters). I HATED it. I disliked it so much that I transferred out of it into an undergrad program. I always knew I wanted to pursue a field in medicine and being in nurse practitioner classes solidified that. I would never be able to get the visa status I want as an NP so I switched into undergrad. To make a long story short, I did not finish the NP program, but I finished the BSN.

I spoke with an admissions counselor about my switching back and forth and here is what he said. Granted my reasons are very different from yours and they are well aware of visa status and etc, but he didn't say anything about not finishing my NP program (which makes me think it didn't earn me any points in his book) but my finishing the BSN with good grades really made him happy. He was happy to know I finished it. He didn't say anything specifically about it, which could be interpreted many different ways, but my advice to you would be to finish SOMETHING. Don't drop it and quit. Either get your LPN or BSN. I would tend to agree with most people here. I know it may seen daunting to you to HAVE to finish something you don't want to, but I've been in your shoes - I HAD to finish my BSN (it took me 3 years) but I made the most out of it, had very good grades and all I did was study and have a good job and I must say I do enjoy. I know the feeling, you just have to worth through it and know why you're doing it. It's expensive, but let's not go that route. We're talking goals here. 😀

After you finish (or while you're taking classes, if you can) (I'm assuming like me, you have all your prereqs finished as part of your Bio degree) study for the MCAT. I know on here they all say only do 3 months and I agree with that - definitely don't stretch it, but I would start refreshing the material in your head at least a little bit. Or study for the MCAT and take it while you're in school. If you can. The most important goal for you right now should be to get a great GPA. Use nursing to your advantage. And I know that nursing classes are not considered as science classes but a GPA is still an overall GPA. Graduate with honors and it will only help you. (Plus you'll have a great-paying job!).

In addition, something I was told by a close family friend who is on anadmissions committee at a school in his state is how you present your application as a former nurse/LPN. He said that he has seen many nurses who did well in school, well on the mcat, have great req letters and they come to the interview and then they bitch and moan about how terrible nursing is, how terrible and mean doctors are and etc. He says that if he sees that he usually asks, so what DO you like about your profession? He says that most people say "oh, nothing, that's why I'm here." He says that if someone says that it's an immediate red flag because it shows ambiguity and dissatisfaction that is unrelated to the field of nursing or medicine. That to him, is usually an indication a person is simply unhappy - doing whatever it is they're doing - medicine, engineering, whatever.

Now that you're IN the field, you really need to identify exact reasons why you want to leave nursing/LPN etc to truly show that you are a HAPPY person just NOT satisfied with your work (philosophy of nursing, type of care you do). Don't go into politics b/w docs and nurses, don't go into caddy things nurses do to each other (assuming you know what they are already being so early in the game) and stuff like that. I know it may seem obvious but he told me that most people get comfortable and lose themselves in the conversation and then all that trash comes out. He said that as a physician married to an RN he is well aware of all of that. That should be left unsaid.

Anyways, I know you weren't asking about interviews or anything like that, but I was hoping to give you an idea that it's ok to ask stuff like this on this forum, but don't necessary come to the admissions people and ask them that. Be careful how to ask because you would be by far not the first nurse to apply or the last and unfortunately having something nursing-related in your application, in a small unidentifiable way, puts you in a different unique "NURSING" category where I kind of wish I wasn't. But you just have to use it to your advantage.

Good luck with everything!

 

[Tekar]

So, I got my BS in Biology and had toyed on and off with the idea of going to med school and being a doctor. I'm 26 and convincned myself that I was too told to go to med school. Instead I applied to nursing school and got into a good BSN program. 6 months into the program, I have realized that I absolutely want to become a physician. I've never had such clarity about what I want to do with my career, and I'm content with going to medical school in my late 20's/early 30's. Quite simply, I find nursing education to be limited, superficial, and unsatisfying, and it will never be fufilling for me. I want to study medicine. So, I have two options:

1. Complete the BSN program, then take a year to finish med school prereqs and apply. We're looking at August 2012 entry. I will be 29.
2. Take a year off from the nursing program after May, sit for LPN exam. Spend next year completing prereqs and apply, while supporting myself working as an LPN. Entry in August 2011. I will be 28. If I don't get in, finish last year of nursing school and apply again.

I'm leaning toward the 2nd option, but am wondering what your opinions are and if you have any advice. I wonder how not finishg nursing school might look when applying to med school, but then I do already have the BS in Biology, and maybe they can see I had a change of heart. My BSN program and the med school I would be applying to are part of the same state university. Thanks in advance.

Complete the BSN, take the pre-reqs at the same time and use your first paragraph as part of your personal statement - minus the negative nursing stuff.

Oh ya, I"m 32, married and have an 11 and 4 year old. Age is a state of mind

 

[psycho-matic]

Complete the BSN, take the pre-reqs at the same time and use your first paragraph as part of your personal statement - minus the negative nursing stuff.

Oh ya, I"m 32, married and have an 11 and 4 year old. Age is a state of mind

Course and clinical times are completely incompatable with taking organic chemistry however I could probably squeeze in Calculus.

 

[Tekar]

Course and clinical times are completely incompatable with taking organic chemistry however I could probably squeeze in Calculus.

I slept the O-Chem 2 working nights and going to class in between - got a C, but that class is a pain in he ass logistically it seems whereever it may be found. Calculus would be good to help the mathematical conceptual understanding, which I find that you would use in medicine, not so much directly, but kinda like having a good pair of shoes, it just helps

 

[agirl]

deleted.

So, I got my BS in Biology and had toyed on and off with the idea of going to med school and being a doctor. I'm 26 and convincned myself that I was too told to go to med school. Instead I applied to nursing school and got into a good BSN program. 6 months into the program, I have realized that I absolutely want to become a physician. I've never had such clarity about what I want to do with my career, and I'm content with going to medical school in my late 20's/early 30's. Quite simply, I find nursing education to be limited, superficial, and unsatisfying, and it will never be fufilling for me. I want to study medicine. So, I have two options:

1. Complete the BSN program, then take a year to finish med school prereqs and apply. We're looking at August 2012 entry. I will be 29.
2. Take a year off from the nursing program after May, sit for LPN exam. Spend next year completing prereqs and apply, while supporting myself working as an LPN. Entry in August 2011. I will be 28. If I don't get in, finish last year of nursing school and apply again.

I'm leaning toward the 2nd option, but am wondering what your opinions are and if you have any advice. I wonder how not finishg nursing school might look when applying to med school, but then I do already have the BS in Biology, and maybe they can see I had a change of heart. My BSN program and the med school I would be applying to are part of the same state university. Thanks in advance.

 

[psycho-matic]

why do you need another full year to finish your prerequisites with a BS in Biology? If you could leave in good term with the school and sit for LPN exam, it should be a superb idea given all of you said. LPN in home care makes substantial amount of $$, Plenty of cases=flexible schedule to choose from, a great way to work and study at the same time.
I think the notion once you start a program you better finish applies to graduate school, otherwise, what am I gonna do as "second degree for biology", I just registered to get my classes done. 😛
well, it could be different for nursing school though, I would call up medical schools to find out. They will understand your desire and dilema.

It will take me a year because I need to finish 2 semesters of organic. Yes, I had to take it to get my bio degree. But I got a C first semester, D the 2nd. I know I can do better. I need to redo the entire sequence though instead of jumping in the 2nd semester and learn it right this time. I will need to work full time during the summer so that's not practical taking it in summer school.