"poet, MD": the trouble with reading too much William Carlos Williams

[johnny pollen]

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Howdy, y'all.

So let's get right down to rusty tacks. I just finished an MFA program in poetry, which is an even less tenable career move than joining the circus. Regardless, I did very well, managed to score a few publications and laurels, learned the intricacies of the trapeze and how to tame a lion, and I escaped with a GPA just shy of 4.0.

During my program, though, I started to work in public health (as an HIV/STD counselor, and now as a public health researcher). Alas and alack, it restimulated my long-repressed fascination with and love of medicine, which I had discarded when I was scared off by calculus in high school.

So I've decided to take the plunge: Whomever willing, I'm starting a post-bacc program at Northwestern in the fall. Moreover, I've got a decent (3.7) undergrad GPA from a pretty elite school, an almost-4.0 in my masters' program, several years working experience in social service and public health -- and, when I finally finish all those science course, a liberal education to be reckoned with.

However, I'm scared that I'm going to have to "explain away" my MFA, like it's an ear rivet, or a drug conviction. I'm glad I did it (so there!): it's "one of those things I'd always wonder about" -- a very expensive thing to wonder about, but a puzzler just the same. And I've become a much stronger reader, and -- aw, hell, who'm I kidding? -- I love poetry and it gave me three years to play artist.

So (finally), my question: does anybody else have those attic-children that they feel they have to explain, minimize, or mitigate? Or am I being goofy in thinking that a master's degree in zee arts is going to make me seem a little...fluffy?

grazie,

john

 

[almost_there]

Some places will absolutely LOVE you for what you've done outside of medicine (looking for diversity, interesting people to fill their class), and other places will turn up their nose.

What you need to demonstrate is that you're serious about and dedicated to medicine -- and that starts with your convincing yourself, and gaining the experience (shadowing, clinical volunteering) to judge that a career in medicine is right for you.

Overall though, it sounds like you have an interesting background that will only help you in the application process, especially since it seems that you have strong academic credentials. Just make sure that you craft a coherent and interesting story out of your journey. 🙂

!

 

[chrisjohn]

Good UG/MFA GPA eh? Get a >30 MCAT and go to a med school of your choosing.

You'll have no problems.

Write your personal statement around how working with HIV patients turned you on to medicine. Be ready to explain at interviews, but it isn't something you need to hide or make any excuses for.

Oh and mention that you're a former pro athlete. 🙂 There have been a few threads about this lately, so please excuse my sarcasm.

 

[almost_there]

So (finally), my question: does anybody else have those attic-children that they feel they have to explain, minimize, or mitigate? Or am I being goofy in thinking that a master's degree in zee arts is going to make me seem a little...fluffy?

For my part, I went to cooking school in Paris after leaving my job as a software engineer, and before I started my pre-med post-bacc. Don't know how it played in places I didn't get interviews, but in places I did (15/23 secondaries), it either didn't come up at all or they couldn't wait to talk to me about my cooking experiences. 🙂 In fact, at one of them (Northwestern), my interviewer suggested that that might be why I got an interview. 🙂

Caveat: I had really strong science credentials, which may have mitigated my "fluffiness".

 

[johnny pollen]

thanks, y'all. i feel a little less like i have to explain away an arts degree (not that there's anything wrong with that).

best,
j

 

[blee]

Your background is fine. Like others have said, some adcoms will find it downright intriguing. This is a good thing! 🙂

Don't worry about explaining a non-science degree to anyone; you clearly enjoyed it, and you have the grades to show for your efforts. Instead, be sure that you won't have to explain a poor science GPA. Jump into your post-bac program and don't look back.

 

[orthogrl]

Not a hindrance. I, too have a fine arts background (BA in Literature and French). I work in a clinical setting and am in the process of completing my needed pre-reqs. I find that if you have something to talk about with your patients besides their chief complaint, it makes them feel so much more at ease. I personally feel it makes us more well-rounded. That "personal connection" can really make a difference for all parties involved. 😉