Please Help...

[U4iA]

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I am re-applying to medical school because I got in to a school far away from my girlfriend. I am applying early decision this time around (I find out if I am accepted Oct. 1 but I'm very confident I will be accepted). During this year I was thinking about getting an MBA. I was an undergrad business major so I was able to place out of a good amount of coursework. I have to take 36 credits this year to graduate and unfortunately all the classes meet at night and on the weekends. I really can't swing the expenses so I looked in to a graduate assistanship that would pay for half of the tuition. I'm right now registered for classes and the graduate assistanship is lined up.

But taking this big of a courseload (normally people are working and only taking one class) and working so much has gotten me slightly afraid. I am interested in business, but I want to practice and deal with patients foremost - medicine is what is most important to me. I know the MBA can bring about useful skills. But I am afraid that exerting myself to complete this program in a year by taking 36 credits and working will really play a toll on me and ultimately cause me to suffer during my first year of medical school. I won't have much of a summer, because medical school will start a couple weeks after I complete the MBA program.

Is it worth it for me to pursue the MBA?

I don't want to waste this year, but I also feel like I could spend some time taking some undergraduate science classes (I've never taken anatomy, biochemistry or genetics as I was a business major for undergrad) or doing something else (possible working).

Thanks for your suggestions.. needless to say I'm in a somewhat confused state and I have to make my decision VERY soon (thank god for SDN). 😀

 

[rgarg3]

U4i1A-

Dude, relax a little. You seemed to be worried about too many things. Face one issue at a time. First off (the most important issue in my opinion) is do you really want the MBA? That question should take precendence over any. I've commented about this before, but I often see too many pre-meds/medicals students obsessed with letters behind their name, without really knowing the signifance. I think before you plan how obtain any degree, you really need to sit down and make sure you want to do it and only you know the answer to that. Personally speaking I'm doing my MBA/MD because I strongly feel that both would greatly contribute to my understanding of health care economics. I see myself in the future doing something related to that field. I suggest you make some goals or some guidelines and see whether the MBA would help you. If so, then pursue the MBA.

As far as timing is concerned, if I were in your position I would definately not try to complete 36 hours while working part time. Look there's a huge difference between obtaining a degree and actually knowing your stuff. You're probably familiar with this joke, but it highlights my point well- "What do they call the person who graduates last in his medical school class? A doctor" Yeah, he/she is a doctor, but it by no standards does that mean the person actually knows his stuff. You know I strongly feel that knowing your stuff is whats most important in life and truely gets you ahead, not these silly letters behind your name. I know for certain that if I were working part time and had to complete 18 hours of graduate work a semester, that I would be skimming by in each class. I probably wouldn't learn much and honestly just get really frustrated. My suggestion take one or two classes. Use this time to relax and make your time in business school valuable. Most students take 5 years to complete both the MD/MBA. And you'll be ahead, since you haven't started medical school. Then after your second or third year of med school, take some time off and finish the rest of the degree. Listen, medicine is a very very long path. For those who want to practice primary care, its about 7 years following undergrad. Whats another 1/2-1 year here or there. There's no rush in life. I don't know how much science you've had and I honestly believe that if you're smart enough to get into medical school, you'll be fine. Experience has taught me that undergraduate science courses will probably help you for the first 2 weeks of medical school and then after that everyones lost, so I don't think taking genetics or science courses will give you much of an edge. Take a few MBA classes, work part time and enjoy life. After second/third year finish it up. Don't worry too much about!! Good luck, and keep us posted..

rgarg3

 

[Primate]

Generally agreed with rgarg3.

One other thought - if you want to practice medicine and want the MBA only as a general "help" in running a practice/administering a hospital, skip it. Now before everyone here howls, let me 'splain. You seem to already have a solid business background at the undergrad level - this is more than most docs as far as formal education for business and will probably serve you just fine if you have any head for business, so less need than the average doc for the MBA. If, after finishing the decade of clinical training, as an attending you find that you're still struggling to apply a capital asset pricing model to the radiology dept.'s latest suite of scanners, perhaps THEN you should get the MBA (after taking a nice long vacation).

If clinical practice isn't really what you're into (though I know that's what your post states), then get the MBA and go to work or the MD/MBA if you want to stay in clinical medicine some and do policy or other types of work for which the MBA isn't a bad degree (although the MPH might make more sense).

All in all, it sounds like your situation is one where, unlike many, the MBA might be somewhat redundant and/or not necessary for your future plans. One certainly doesn't need the dual degree just to help run a private practice.

Best with the decision,
P