other careers...

Started by r3kapur
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
R

r3kapur

Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hi all,

So I'm thinking medicine won't work out for me. After writing the MCAT twice I still have a low verbal score, and feel it's a big X in my application to canadian schools. Don't think I'll cut it in the US and don't want to go abroad.

So, since I have a good GPA I'm starting to look into other careers. Is there anybody out there who isn't a physician? What career paths have you taken if you were once wanting to go into medicine? I enjoy working with people and after getting a BSc in biochemistry, really feel I enjoy applied work much more than labwork or the study of micromolecular processes. From what I have experienced, I have enjoyed any work that involved direct interaction with other people. I love a challenge, seek variation and diversity in my career.

I'm just trying to see what else out there so I can start to get on the bandwagon since graduation is approaching...

I've considered healthcare law, optometry, and public health. Anybody have any insight into these fields?
 
Originally posted by r3kapur
Hi all,

So I'm thinking medicine won't work out for me. After writing the MCAT twice I still have a low verbal score, and feel it's a big X in my application to canadian schools. Don't think I'll cut it in the US and don't want to go abroad.

So, since I have a good GPA I'm starting to look into other careers. Is there anybody out there who isn't a physician? What career paths have you taken if you were once wanting to go into medicine? I enjoy working with people and after getting a BSc in biochemistry, really feel I enjoy applied work much more than labwork or the study of micromolecular processes. From what I have experienced, I have enjoyed any work that involved direct interaction with other people. I love a challenge, seek variation and diversity in my career.

I'm just trying to see what else out there so I can start to get on the bandwagon since graduation is approaching...

I've considered healthcare law, optometry, and public health. Anybody have any insight into these fields?
Click to expand...


Hi r3kapur,

I still wouldn't give up on medicine if it is truly what you want to do. If you are looking into options which will allow you to engage in clinical practice, you could look into a physician assistant or nursing/nurse practitioner program. These programs produce clinicians that are similar, if not better than, primary care/family practice physicians.

I got a master's degree in public health, and it was an interest generated by an undergraduate course that I took during my sophomore year of college. Public health pretty much involves any and everything related to protecting the health and well-being of all people. It is a great field is your interest is in addressing issues of health/health care on a more global level. This area is so extensive and all-encompassing that I can't tell you exactly what you could do, so check out the Public Health Employment Connection (PHEC) for more information about specific jobs in this vast area (http://www.sph.emory.edu, go to "student services" sidebar, and then PHEC).

For information on Optometry, check out http://www.aaopt.org/.

Best of luck to you.
 
Thanks for the info.

I have had a chance to look at websites in the past... but I feel like I'll get more info. from finding out from people who are personally in the fields, or have completed the education... rather than what the American Optometric Association has to say about the field.

I'm not trying to insult your advice, I do appreciate it. And I thank you for giving me some of your personal insight. Anybody else?
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
you gotta reach deep into your soul and find out whether medicine is REALLY what you want to do... hey... the way i look at it.... you only took it twice.... after i failed the second time (4 and 5 respectively on verbal), i was ready to take the MCAT twice a year until I die~! It just brought more fire from within me. It's just a little encouragement from a fellow Canadian...... i got a 10 on my third one... how about that for a motivation? don't give up, man!!!!!
 
Originally posted by r3kapur

I'm not trying to insult your advice, I do appreciate it. And I thank you for giving me some of your personal insight. Anybody else?
Click to expand...

No problem 🙁... I think I'll live.. no more websites...

I am doing a public health research fellowship right now. You can PM or e-mail me and I can let you know what I am doing (versus what the websites say).
 
I started out as a pre-optometry student because it is an appealing occupation. Fixing people's vision can change their lives! Optometrists do work better hours than medical doctors and the schooling is not as long, and the pay isn't bad.

However, after doing some job shadowing with a few different optometrists over the summer (2002), I decided it wasn't my thing. I wanted to do more than just work WITH the eye. It seemed kinda of boring to me, "What looks better, Slide A or B... C or D" all day long! Not very much variety.

But for some people, this is enough for them. Just working with people and helping them out is enough. Optometry is less competitive than medicine. You would have to take the OAT (pronounced O-AT), but it isn't bad. The only thing I would be afraid of is opticians taking away business. With the laws the way they are in the US, opticians can do a lot of the things a OD can, so you may want to read up on this.

Optometry can be very rewarding though. My Optometrist owns 4 clinics in my area and has a huge house on lake michigan. I'm sure he makes more than the avg doc and he works 30 to 35 hrs a week. Given, he has been in business for 20+ yrs.

If I were you, I would do some research and shadow an O.D> to find out more. Good Luck to you.
 
hey don't just give up!! remember numbers aren't everything. I know you want impressive numbers and all, but I would not let that stop me from applying. medicine probably is for you, but b/c you received a low score on VR you syched yourself into thinking thats its not for you. come on man you owe yourself more than that!!! now get off the low horse and raise your head up and go for it!!!!!!😍 😍 😍 😍 p.s. consider your other assets (EC's LOR's and gpa experience extra-curric) as I see it the interviews are all about the WHOLE picture🙂
 
I would still go for medicine. Check out Osteopathic Medicine which tends to look past the numbers (usually 3.4-3.5 GPA and 24-28 MCAT can get you in compared to the 3.5-3.6 GPA and 27-31 MCAT for allopathic). www.aacom.org

Also, I would consider law school or an MBA. Both of which can open many doors in healthcare leadership and healthcare law. These degrees are very much focused on application of skills, leadership and analytic thought. I would check them out.

Good luck.

Normalforce
 
I appreciate everyone's advice.

It's not that I'm giving up. I'd prefer not to. But I just don't see what writing the MCAT again will do. Being a canadian, applying to the US I am already at a disadvantage. I would write the MCAT again, but I honestly thought I had it this year. Which makes me fear I'm just no good at it. From those I read who improve, it always seems like there was something lacking the first time. But, this time around I thought I had it down. So a 7 in VR seems pretty pitiful (eng is my first language).

3.84 GPA, and 28Q this time (29O last time). I dunno. I just don't know if it's worth all the money, time and effort. People always say there are those "special cases" but it makes me feel like it's such a long shot. I am dedicated to going for it, but sometimes feel like it's time to just sit back... realize my shortcomings... and move on to become successful at something else.
 
i'm not sure if it's a long shot with a 28/29.

But, since you are asking for other career choices. Have you thought about teaching? For me, it is naturally what i'd be doing if not medical school. It's just, for me, another place i see myself (and because i've done so much tutoring).

Sonya
 
Wow, brother, let me share my story with you:

I too got discouraged and gave up on med school, 7 years ago. And I have done a lot of interesting things since then, it's true. But I'm back applying again, 7 years later. Don't you be like me!

Take some English classes, man. One more year of school won't kill you. Take a couple of electives like "the history of critical theory" or "feminist discourse since 1900" and you will read some dense stuff and learn how to parse it. It's a skill like any other, and can definitely be learned.

And 28/29 with a 3.84 ain't too shabby, either. I'm canadian too, and i guess it depends on where you live, but most provinces have extreme preferences for their residents, and you don't have to be superman to get in. Where are you?

Anyway, if you wanted to be a doctor enough to get this far, don't quit. Find a way.

And if it takes several years to get in, you can get another degree. My personal plan is to start nursing school next fall if I don't get in to med school, and re-apply every year. If I do that for 5 years (this year plus 4 for the BN) and STILL don't get in, at least I'll be a nurse. And honestly, if I could do the same thing but instead of nursing go physiotherapy or PA, I would, but in my small town there's only a nursing program, and I can't just pick up and leave without good reason (i.e. med school) because I have a family and a house here. But consider applying to another program like PA or something, and start if you don't get in. I don't see how more medical education and experience could possibly make you less qualified.

Jess
 
You must log in or register to reply here.