Post-Bac Crisis--Please reassure

[graciegreen]

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In 2 weeks I'll move to a new city and start Post-Bac work at SFSU. I'm super excited and super terrified (I'm assuming this is normal--can someone confirm?). I have no experience in the health care field (I've been in publishing and music and everything opposite hospitals and doctors for about a decade). I feel old (25) and am not sure if nursing is the way to go, though it doesn't look like nursing school could happen even within the next year. Has anyone gone into Post-Bac "to see", basically, I've always dreamed of being a doctor, working for MSF or something, but never thought I could do it. Over the past year I thought I'll try, now I'm not sure--nurse, doctor, or back to editing books. And should I just throw myself into it--volunteering, are there jobs I could get as an pre-med that would help, and will the crisis subside?

 

[Phil Anthropist]

I think it would be normal to be both excited and terrified (even though I'm not a career-changer).

It's okay that you don't have experience in health care and the fact that you have worked in another field (as opposed to being a premed brain-washed into going to med school) may in fact be an advantage in some respects.

25 is really not that old 🙂

If you've dreamed of being a doctor, then I say go for it. Sure, you could be nervous and maybe even a little hesitant or doubtful of your abilities at this point...But if this is something you've dreamed of doing, you'll regret it if you never try. So I think it's okay that you're going into a post-bac "to see."

I think you should get your feet wet with some health-related exposure. In my experience, volunteering can be boring (clerical work) or not enough to know that you want to be a *doctor* (talking to patients). If I had the time (I don't think I do), I would have done EMT. That's something where you can get some engaging, hands-on experience. I would also suggest shadowing physicians. You may even want to consider a healthcare internship of some sort. I know there are some schools that have non-paid internships that are basically shadowing experiences (sorry, I don't know about the California area). That may be something to look into with your school's premed office or the local hospitals. I knew someone at my old school who was *not* a premed, but decided to do this shadowing internship through the school (Emergency Department I think). Originally I think she was poli-sci. But she loved the internship so much that she changed from political science to biology in her junior year and is now pursuing medicine. So if I were you, I would definitely look into getting healthcare exposure of some sort (and something more involved than clerical work, talking to patients, etc.). I think a little apprehension and feelings of "crisis" is only normal. Once you see medicine first-hand, your feelings of terror and doubt may turn into passion and determination. 🙂

GO FOR IT! 😀

 

[junebuguf]

First off...Phil...man, I love your posts. You're like the bard of this forum.

To answer the OP: you're definetly not too old. I'm 25, granted I'm now a year and a half into the post-bacc game, but theres really point of no return. I think its great that you're trying to figure out if you really want to pursue medicine first. Its really not as glamorous as it seems from afar, but a lot more rewarding. If you want to be a doctor, don't waste time trying to become a nurse. The courses for nursing involve very different classes and will not really help for med school admissions. Just take the basic pre-reqs, volunteer at a hospital (to be around medicine and get a feel for it). If you have good grades from undergrad, just take the MCAT and apply. If not, consider additional science coursework or a Masters program.

PS Being in other (non-science) fields will actually help you tremendously when you apply because admissions committees love seeing that.

 

[nico05]

Over the past year I thought I'll try, now I'm not sure--nurse, doctor, or back to editing books. And should I just throw myself into it--volunteering, are there jobs I could get as an pre-med that would help, and will the crisis subside?

Hey I was there and I got through that first stage of worry and feeling incompetent. Everything that you are feeling is completely normal...believe me. It takes some time to adjust, it takes some soul searching to know for sure, and even after all of that, you still may not be sure, but you'll be more confident. I am also 25 and now, I am about 16 credits into a second degree and I'll tell you what everyone has told me; first you are by no means old, second, if its what you want (you'll know soon enough) it's well worth it, 25 or 35, it doesn't matter, third, now is the time to try, you dont want to look back ten years from now and say I should've...hang in there and do everything you can to succeed, you'll make it. Best of luck 👍

 

[r_salis]

In 2 weeks I'll move to a new city and start Post-Bac work at SFSU. I'm super excited and super terrified (I'm assuming this is normal--can someone confirm?). I have no experience in the health care field (I've been in publishing and music and everything opposite hospitals and doctors for about a decade). I feel old (25) and am not sure if nursing is the way to go, though it doesn't look like nursing school could happen even within the next year. Has anyone gone into Post-Bac "to see", basically, I've always dreamed of being a doctor, working for MSF or something, but never thought I could do it. Over the past year I thought I'll try, now I'm not sure--nurse, doctor, or back to editing books. And should I just throw myself into it--volunteering, are there jobs I could get as an pre-med that would help, and will the crisis subside?

It's completely normal to feel both excited and terrified at such a huge change! You're making two huge changes, going back to school *and* moving to a new city -- either of those things is huge on its own.

I went back to school at 35, quitting a 12-year career as a software engineer to become an optometrist. Leaving my job was terrifying, because I wasn't even sure I could hack the pre-req classes after having been out of school for so long. I took things one semester at a time, thinking if I could take 10 credits successfully in a semester, then I could take 14 the next, and so on, until I found myself in optometry school.

The first thing you should do is congratulate yourself on having the courage to make such a huge change in your life -- so many people get themselves locked unhappily into their lives and are afraid (or just unable) to go in a different direction. Secondly, talk to as many people as you can -- doctors, nurses, etc. -- and learn as much as you can about the profession you want to go into. And thirdly, throw yourself into school like it is your new job!

Good luck! 😀

 

[cammy1313]

At the risk of sounding cliche, there is no such thing as too old. I'm 25 and it took me 4 years and 3 application cylces (post undergrad) to get into medical school. I've know I've wanted to to be a physician my whole life but have no regrets about having taken time off to grow, mature, and experience things I would otherwise not have. Also, I think my mother is a true testament to not letting age stop her from pursuing her interests. She is 52 with an M.D. but is currently in her second year of law school!

 

[NorCalGirl]

In 2 weeks I'll move to a new city and start Post-Bac work at SFSU. I'm super excited and super terrified (I'm assuming this is normal--can someone confirm?). I have no experience in the health care field (I've been in publishing and music and everything opposite hospitals and doctors for about a decade). I feel old (25) and am not sure if nursing is the way to go, though it doesn't look like nursing school could happen even within the next year. Has anyone gone into Post-Bac "to see", basically, I've always dreamed of being a doctor, working for MSF or something, but never thought I could do it. Over the past year I thought I'll try, now I'm not sure--nurse, doctor, or back to editing books. And should I just throw myself into it--volunteering, are there jobs I could get as an pre-med that would help, and will the crisis subside?

It might help to go out and talk to various health care professionals (since you're not sure if you want to try nursing vs. medicine, etc) about their careers. I did some Post-Bac work at SFSU and many of my classmates were in their late 20's and applying to med school so it's not late at all! You're lucky to be moving to a great city with soooo many resources. There are tons of free clinics and hospitals where you could volunteer/shadow health care professionals. You might also want to check out the programs at UCSF aside from the med school. They have a Nurse Practitioner program, midwifery program, sooo many choices in addition to medicine. Go check it out and talk to folks! Good luck! 🙂

 

[ygreenst]

Don't be too worried -- SFSU is a friendly place with lots of older post-bacc's. The classes are relatively small, and the professors are cool, plus SF is the best city in the country🙂 If you are looking for a good volunteer activity, the SF General ER volunteer program is really popular with the post-bacc's -- I worked there for a few months and it'll definitely give you an idea about what you're getting into. Good luck!

 

[LADoc00]

Medicine isnt that great, its a living. I cringe when I hear people say theyve always dreamt of being a physician...It is WAY overrated, trust me. I live in a studio apartment and drive a beater Honda. My friends who went into finance have a house and 2 kids, Im single. I work 80/hrs a week for less than what a locksmith gets paid....and being a locksmith is like 2 months of tradeschool!

 

[lightnk102]

i'm a career changer. financial consulting --> medicine.

don't listen to the naysayers, i've been on that "greener" side of the fence, and trust me, it isn't all that. I'm 24 (and incidentally, went to a post-bacc SMP with cammy), and applying to med school right now.

to put it to you plainly - it isn't going to be all roses. it's going to be hard, you're going to wake up some mornings and wonder what the hell you're doing here, and there are going to be moments of doubt (check out the non-trad forum). my moments of doubt happen at the grocery store when i realize i can no longer afford to buy organic. but you'll also have these glorious moments of utter confidence that this is what you want (mine happened on the pediatrics floor when a kid vomited on my lap, and somehow - i didn't care!). ultimately - there is no career like medicine, in which you can truly say that every hour at the office is well spent. there is no career like medicine in which, on your deathbed, you can genuinely believe that you've made something of your time here. and there is no career like medicine in which you have so much flexibility to make it what you want (private practice if you have the entrepreneurial itch, administration if you decide patient contact isn't for you, public health policy if you want to become involved in law-making, underserved areas if you want to contribute to society, etc.).

what's important to remember is that your extra experiences are important. don't discount those. you've actually lived. coming from another career, you have the assurance that your'e "choosing" medicine, instead of the other way around.

 

[ockhamsRzr]

lightnk102,

That's a really good post and is very much the way I feel too. However, the post from LAdoc00 is also something we will all feel.

As a 34 year old career-changer (with the house, wife and two kids) starting Harvard post-bacc this summer or fall, I'm pretty sure that the next several years of this pursuit will be right in between your post and LAdoc's.

Good luck, and to the OP, I too feel the same thrill and dread as you...you are hardly alone.

OckhamsRzr

 

[LADoc00]

i'm a career changer. financial consulting --> medicine.

don't listen to the naysayers, i've been on that "greener" side of the fence, and trust me, it isn't all that.

Are you starting a "which side of the fence has crappier grass debate" with me?

Well, lets see, a med student classmate of mine lept off a building, another resident I knew blew his brains out in an ortho fellowship and to top it off, a good friend in my residency lept off a bridge. Saw 2 residents committed to the psych ward and their state lic. revoked. Yeah, this rocks! I was in the military and didnt see that degree of causalities.

 

[lightnk102]

I'm not denying that medical school will be hard (I did BU's SMP program and took first year med courses, so I already have an idea of what I'm getting myself into. No naivete or idealiism here). I'm sure there are kids who kill themselves in med school just like there are cubicle dwellers who come into work one day with a gun and shoot everyone.

There's crazies in every profession.

And just so you know - half my friends remaining in finance now snort coke. Not exactly a better alternative. Part of making it through is knowing what your own limits are. What's nice about med school is that you can always fall back on just passing if you can't gun for the top scores. You'll still be a doctor, but you'll be in a less competitive specialty. In finance, your paycheck and rent are directly linked to your ability to perform, and they also have an "up or out" policy, where if you don't get promoted, you're fired. The stakes tend to run much higher in those cases. Med schools tend to make sure you don't fail out. If you look at the attrition rate for finance and the attrition rate for med school, you'll find that it's a lot lower for med school students. Just for comparison, I quit after one year. It's been about two years since I started, and half my training group has left (voluntarily).

I'm sorry the experience has been so difficult for you. Perhaps some other field would have provided a more positive experience. But take it from someone who's been there - finance and business are not where you want to find it.

 

[Singing Devil]

Are you starting a "which side of the fence has crappier grass debate" with me?

Well, lets see, a med student classmate of mine lept off a building, another resident I knew blew his brains out in an ortho fellowship and to top it off, a good friend in my residency lept off a bridge. Saw 2 residents committed to the psych ward and their state lic. revoked. Yeah, this rocks! I was in the military and didnt see that degree of causalities.

What a second, three med students/residents you've known have killed themselves, and two others have been committed? I've been in/around medicine for five years (three in a major medical center, two in school), and haven't heard of that sort of thing once, let alone five times. Are you the Jessica Fletcher/Angela Lansbury of medicine (you know, everywhere she goes someone gets murdered)? Seriously, you can't be proposing that medicine is this damaging to people psychologically as a general rule. It sounds like you've known a lot of whack jobs, not that medicine is a crazy profession. If you hate it so much, why don't you quit? Declare bankruptcy on your loans, and join a commune, or become a plumber, or go teach biology at a private high school. I'm sure you'll be much happier, because it sounds like you absolutely hate medicine. just a thought.

 

[Grinder]

graciegreen, I had those feelings myself! I graduated from an Aeronautical University with a BS in Air Traffic Management. I had a great interest in aviation and wanted to become a airline pilot, so I got my commercial pilot license and flew about 300hrs of flight time(single-prop). But I realized I didn't want to sit in a cockpit all my life! So now I'm in the post-bach program, one more semester to go and studying hard for MCATS! My friends are all with regional airlines now but I'm still driving my broke-ass to school hoping that in 2006 I'll be attending a medical school 🙂

 

[menten]

graciegreen, I am 33 with a 9 and a 10 year old, and will be starting next fall. It has been tough at times, no doubt. I was an art major as an undergrad, but came to medicine through personal experiences with illness / was a healthcare surrogate for someone terminally ill. I have spent years doing editing/ working for a publisher too - what a coincidence! I think some of the advice listed above is excellent - definitely volunteer and/or shadow. You'll know shortly if this is something you want to do . I volunteered in an ER and in an oncology unit, and shadowed a family practitioner while in school. I did the post bacc work informally (no set program). I would suggest taking more than just the basic requirements, though. I think that genetics, biochem, and possibly micro would really help you out on the MCAT and with the admissions process, but that's just my opinion. I wish you all the best of luck and PM me ant time if you have any questions/ want to talk.

 

[LADoc00]

I'm sure you'll be much happier, because it sounds like you absolutely hate medicine. just a thought.

You cant declare bankruptcy on government edu loans by the way.

Nope, I really have no other skills so Im stuck. Why dont prostitutes just quit and get a normal job? why doesnt that guy begging change get a real job? Why are you asking this idiotic question?

No, Im here to bitch and moan because basically thats my outlet. Medicine is going downhill fast, be aware. The joy is being completely sucked out of it.

The funny thing is I remember my attending in med school yelling at this med student about how if he didnt want to be there why doesnt he just leave, then he went jumped off a building...so he did leave in a sense.

 

[lightnk102]

You cant declare bankruptcy on government edu loans by the way.

Nope, I really have no other skills so Im stuck. Why dont prostitutes just quit and get a normal job? why doesnt that guy begging change get a real job? Why are you asking this idiotic question?

No, Im here to bitch and moan because basically thats my outlet. Medicine is going downhill fast, be aware. The joy is being completely sucked out of it.

The funny thing is I remember my attending in med school yelling at this med student about how if he didnt want to be there why doesnt he just leave, then he went jumped off a building...so he did leave in a sense.

actually, plenty of MD's don't practice medicine. Many work in consulting firms or for VC's (venture capital firms). And theyr'e usually paid pretty well. there are definitely options out there if you're willing to take them. each year, there are a few students who come out of med school and choose not to practice. talk to your alma mater medical institution, and they should be able to direct you the right way.

 

[Singing Devil]

You cant declare bankruptcy on government edu loans by the way.

Actually, you can, it just takes some real convincing that paying them would cause you extreme hardship. How to do that (which is, admittedly, quite difficult) and other options to refinance, defer, etc. are detailed in the following links:

http://www.lawyers.com/lawyers/A~1002149~LDS/BANKRUPTCY+STUDENT+LOANS.html

http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/...3F6/catID/2E00F7A7-E208-4858-BD0B8308A4D30D8A

 

[kaikai128]

At the risk of sounding cliche, there is no such thing as too old. I'm 25 and it took me 4 years and 3 application cylces (post undergrad) to get into medical school. I've know I've wanted to to be a physician my whole life but have no regrets about having taken time off to grow, mature, and experience things I would otherwise not have. Also, I think my mother is a true testament to not letting age stop her from pursuing her interests. She is 52 with an M.D. but is currently in her second year of law school!

MY AVATAR!!!!

 

[junebuguf]

Are you starting a "which side of the fence has crappier grass debate" with me?

Well, lets see, a med student classmate of mine lept off a building, another resident I knew blew his brains out in an ortho fellowship and to top it off, a good friend in my residency lept off a bridge. Saw 2 residents committed to the psych ward and their state lic. revoked. Yeah, this rocks! I was in the military and didnt see that degree of causalities.

If you're arguing which side of the fence has more crabgrass, and you're comparing medicine to the military.....well, thats a lot of crabgrass and no sod. Just a thought.

 

[jav316]

thats exciting. i'm the same age as you and applied to nursing school this year. after i sent my application in, i had second thinking thoughts about medical school. now i'm pretty convinced this is the way i want to do. i'm trying to sort through what the best options are for and what type of postbac progra i should do. when did you apply into the cali program? i didn't realize you could start in the spring semester. by the way are you going to school in state?

In 2 weeks I'll move to a new city and start Post-Bac work at SFSU. I'm super excited and super terrified (I'm assuming this is normal--can someone confirm?). I have no experience in the health care field (I've been in publishing and music and everything opposite hospitals and doctors for about a decade). I feel old (25) and am not sure if nursing is the way to go, though it doesn't look like nursing school could happen even within the next year. Has anyone gone into Post-Bac "to see", basically, I've always dreamed of being a doctor, working for MSF or something, but never thought I could do it. Over the past year I thought I'll try, now I'm not sure--nurse, doctor, or back to editing books. And should I just throw myself into it--volunteering, are there jobs I could get as an pre-med that would help, and will the crisis subside?

 

[brotherbloat]

I am now 27 and started a post-bacc the day after I turned 26. I chose to go to a more informal post-bacc, at a 4-year liberal arts college that had somewhat of a program in place, but you took all your classes with regular undergrads and could go at your own pace. It took me awhile to figure out how it worked, who the easiet profs would be, etc. I, too, come from a liberal arts background (book publishing as well) and left a whole other career to do medicine.

I did some volunteering that was useless during the year I did my post-bacc. I took 3 science classes each semester. This was after not having taken science since I was 18. I only have orgo 2 left, which I will finish this summer. I also took one upper level bio, in addition to gen bio, gen physics, etc.

After I took the August MCAT (which I do not recommend) I started a job at a hosptial, as a clinical research assistant in the operating room. I make about $14 per hour after taxes, and my job is pretty cush, meaning I have lots of time to study for the April MCAT, which I am re-taking.

I highly recommend that you think about getting a medical job to help you see the more realistic side of medicine. Those pointless volunteer jobs where you file papers at the hosptial are so worthless.

-BB

 

[Trismegistus4]

After I took the August MCAT (which I do not recommend) I started a job at a hosptial, as a clinical research assistant in the operating room. I make about $14 per hour after taxes, and my job is pretty cush, meaning I have lots of time to study for the April MCAT, which I am re-taking.

brotherbloat, how did you get that job? Did you already have some kind of qualification, or were they willing to hire you with no experience? I ask because I'd like to get a medically-related job but don't really know where to start.

 

[JMC_MarineCorps]

Are you starting a "which side of the fence has crappier grass debate" with me?

Well, lets see, a med student classmate of mine lept off a building, another resident I knew blew his brains out in an ortho fellowship and to top it off, a good friend in my residency lept off a bridge. Saw 2 residents committed to the psych ward and their state lic. revoked. Yeah, this rocks! I was in the military and didnt see that degree of causalities.

Dude, you are such a downer! We should hang out some time if you live in LA. I bet you have some stories.