Plans on hold...depressed?!?!?

[makingmd]

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Following the release of MCAT scores my plans to be a doctor are on hold. As a non-trad I have jumped through some of the same hoops all of you have. The night classes for years on end, the working multiple jobs to pay for classes and books. The time unemployed to study. Not acheiving any career goals because you are striving for something bigger. Well, now I sit, unfulfilled. My 'plans' for the past 5 years and all of my hard work derailed. I know it is not going to be an easy road once I get there, but at least I will still be working toward something. I see some of my friends working unfulfilling jobs, but making 2 or 3 x as much as I am. At least they are financially secure. I don't want to get stuck in this cycle of having to work to pay my bills and look back 5-10 years from now having gotten no closer to my dream. I guess I am just looking for some direction. Anyone feeling the same way right now? What do you plan to do?

Thanks, in advance for any input.

 

[Sarikate]

Your MCAT scores may not be as bad as you think. I remember feeling the same way after I got mine - a 24R with nasty 5 in the PS - but still went and applied to allopathic schools. Managed to get four interviews but no acceptances. I was devastated, not sure if I could do it again, thought about being a nurse practitioner. Then after a long illness, some soul-searching, and two years, I applied to osteopathic programs. What I've heard back so far is nothing but interview invitations, and I'm confident I'll get in somewhere this year. This is a long, hard road and you have to really want it. Depending on your scores, you might want to go ahead and apply. Look at osteopathic programs too - they are pretty fantastic.

I'm working in social services more than 40 hours a week and all of my friends are in the same field except for the lawyers/docs I graduated from college with five years ago. I don't compare myself to them - it's not about the money. You've probably had some neat adventures up till now, anyway.

 

[floatingsponge]

<<At least they are financially secure. I don't want to get stuck in this cycle of having to work to pay my bills and look back 5-10 years from now having gotten no closer to my dream. I guess I am just looking for some direction.>>

Financially secure or not is a state of mind. You need to define a PLAN. Something like, I will put in all my effort in the next 3 years to get into medical school. If you get in this year, then first goal achieved. If not then spend the next year or two to strengthen what you are weak and try again. If you don't achieve in something like 3 tries then have a backup plan to go something that is less of a MD or DO, something like a Physician Assistant (PA), etc. Once the plan is defined then set out to EXECUTE it. It is a race against YOURSELF. Don't worry about your friends and what they do.

If plan doesn't work then at least you have tried. Remember the backup plan if all failed.

The way I execute my plan is to focus 100% efforts to make it work. I don't do it part time. Taking too long is demoralizing and you lose your focus.

 

[Zyeist]

Having a plan will help greatly with keeping your focus. It'l help keep you on track as to where you're at. When you feel yourself losing focus from the grind of it all, it helps to be able to check yourself and answer where in your plan you are, what part of your plan you're engaged in, what's the objective, and what's coming up after that.

This is about you, what you see yourself being happy waking up everyday doing for the rest of your professional life.

 

[D. coli]

Following the release of MCAT scores my plans to be a doctor are on hold....

Dear Sir/Madam,
You have just terrified me. What do you mean by the aforequoted statement? I've been checking regularly (took the MCAT in August) and have yet to see the score.

Advice: Think of how much better life WILL be.. I am 28 as well and ungainfully employed. Similar story really. Just keep doing what needs to be done to get there.

DO schools aren't an unreasonable option.

 

[QofQuimica]

Dear Sir/Madam,
You have just terrified me. What do you mean by the aforequoted statement? I've been checking regularly (took the MCAT in August) and have yet to see the score.

Advice: Think of how much better life WILL be.. I am 28 as well and ungainfully employed. Similar story really. Just keep doing what needs to be done to get there.

DO schools aren't an unreasonable option.

Scores haven't been released yet for the August test. Either the OP took the test in April, or s/he's just starting to think about Plan B early.

OP, what exactly ARE your goals? I think if we knew more about where you want to be and where you are, we'd be in a better position to offer you useful advice about how to get there.

 

[jophe]

Very good posts! It is truly a race against yourself.👍

 

[makingmd]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I appreciate all of your different view points and advice.

DO NOT FLIP OUT - I took the APRIL MCAT. Sorry I should have been more sensitive to the post MCAT mind as I know it all too well. Nope we got our scores about 7pm PT June 19th and I am just now coming to grips enough to post. Sorry if I startled anyone. From what I hear you August MCATers are 10 days and counting.

At little more about me - I am 28. I thought I had a plan. Or I do have a plan - it is just on hold. My plan was to go to night school until I finished my pre-reqs (5 years) while studying for the MCAT, volunteering and shadowing & still supporting myself. What I didn't have was a backup plan because I don't want to do anything else. If I had a backup plan I would have gone at it full force and be regretting it right now. (Kind or like our high divorce rate. I think ppl make back up plans or think what if before hand so they already have all of that worked out and are ready for divorce before they get married. Maybe if there was no back up plan they would need to stick out Plan A barring abuse etc. or course). I would be interested in going DO. In fact it is more my mentality and style. I didn't even think my score would have been competitive there. So, to tie it all up. I accomplished a good deal of my goal. I have worked longer for something then I ever have for anything else and, in my eyes succeeded. I graduated with a 3.0 after having brought up a 2.5 from a bad year. Following my pre-req courses I am now looking at a 3.5. I interned for 2 years in surgery, labor and delivery, NICU etc. I have had so many opportunities I would never have seen otherwise. I have observed 7 births in one day 2 vaginal, 2 C-sect (1 set triplets and 1 set twins), still births and mothers almost succumb to birthing (a 19 year old having a necessary hysterectomy after her first child). I have called codes and comforted families. I have witnessed modern medicine bordering on miracles. I have seen MRSA take a foot and a tongue amputation of an HIV/AIDS/HEP pt. I have stood by the side of a joking patient as he had bilateral hip surgery. Was he drugged yes, but hysterical down to asking the staff exactly how small his penis must be since it was so cold in the darn OR. Yup, cut open on both sides and that was his concern. I have tearfully watched drug addicted babies go through withdrawal and then go home with their 'guardians'. Not sure which part was sadder. I guess I just wanted to stress that I am not one of those ppl that decided yesterday I wanted to be a doctor, applied and wondered why I didn't get in. I did almost take the MCAT in 2001 on a whim without any pre-reqs. Glad I didn't although my score increase I am sure would have been shocking. Everything has been planned and timed. My balming the MCAT was not part of the plan. I guess I just realized what I need to focus on. Not the test, but what is holding me back from mastering the test. Which is why I am still on hold. There are unknowns and important things on the line. I am not willing to rock the boat just yet.

Thank you all for your support and insight. Again. Much appreciated!! You guys ROCK!!!