OD considering MD

[Tasteestuff]

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First post.

OD considering MD
I am an optometrist who recently regained the sight After 2 years of post-op and pre-op settings with ophthalmology group, I feel that my calling is pediatric ophthalmology.

I am little ashamed that I found this out so late but never too late.

My question is how does med. school view other professionals applying to MD program?? Favorable or not? I understand that there are some animosity btw MD and OD at the moment due to ODs wanting to perform surgery.

I have been preparing myself for MCAT but do you think that Med. school will consider my OD school grades as well as undergrad? Or just undergrad.??

Any particular schools that would look favorably upon this/ school that would not?? Any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated.

One good thing is that I was paid very well working as OD so I won't have to get any LOANS.

Final question, do you think you will have time for a part-time job during first couple of years of Med. school? I would love to work as OD first 2 yrs of med.school to supplement my income.

Thanks in advance

 

[vtrain]

No need to be ashamed. Ppl change and interests change. I didn't realize that I wanted to pursue an MD until my fourth year of optometry school. During the interview trail, the admissions committee members were relatively favourable with the switch mainly because I had a legitamate reason. For me, it was that my interests and perspective of patient care had changed. Plus, I had the intense desire to pursue surgical training. For the most part I don't think the animosity exists on a one-to-one level as it does say on the political front. Plus, those that interivew, aren't probably not going to be ophthalmologists and could really care less about the whole OD vs MD debate. This turf battle, never came up at any of my interviews. As for grades, they looked at both OD and ugrad grades. I have no idea which they focused on more but I suspect it was my OD grades since it was more recent and the level of study was higher and more indicative of med school courses.
As for the partime job - Im currently working once a week at a private practice, so it is doable, but I cant imagine being able to work more than 15-20-hrs a week - med school it too demanding (unless you have a photographic memory or are incredibly bright). It is almost impossible to work during your clinical years.
Also, just keep in mind one more thing: there will be many days where youll be thinking to yourself why did you give up being an optometrist. Seeing my opto friends in practice, having a good, steady, income, working decent hours and basically having a good quality of life can wear you down and question if it's all worth it when you're stuck in the library at 1 am on a friday night studying lipid metabolism. I still question if I made the right choice. Think hard before you want to go down this path and make sure it's worth it to you. Good luck

First post.

OD considering MD
I am an optometrist who recently regained the sight After 2 years of post-op and pre-op settings with ophthalmology group, I feel that my calling is pediatric ophthalmology.

I am little ashamed that I found this out so late but never too late.

My question is how does med. school view other professionals applying to MD program?? Favorable or not? I understand that there are some animosity btw MD and OD at the moment due to ODs wanting to perform surgery.

I have been preparing myself for MCAT but do you think that Med. school will consider my OD school grades as well as undergrad? Or just undergrad.??

Any particular schools that would look favorably upon this/ school that would not?? Any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated.

One good thing is that I was paid very well working as OD so I won't have to get any LOANS.

Final question, do you think you will have time for a part-time job during first couple of years of Med. school? I would love to work as OD first 2 yrs of med.school to supplement my income.

Thanks in advance

 

[DrMom]

Duplicate thread, so closing. Please feel free to contribute to the open one in pre-allo.