Realistically speaking...

[rdp027]

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I don’t think this post would belong in “wamc” per se, but rather I’m looking for some insight into what you all think would be the best option. A little about me: Ii went to UC (Cincinnati) for both my BS and MS in criminal justice. My BS was 3.5 and MS was 3.75. I attended Sam bouston for a PhD in criminal justice, and my grades were fine (4.0), but decided to leave halfway through because I’ve always wanted to be a physician, specifically in emergency medicine. I decided to go the cj route because it just felt “right” as my father and grand father were US Marshals and my uncle is a US district attorney. I haven’t taken the MCAT and I don’t have prerequisites yet. More than likely they will be taken at a local cc due to cost. I am 31 years old. I really do want to be a physician, but honestly any position where I can help people in a healthcare setting is fine. This is why I also applied and was accepted into an accelerated BSN. That’s my issue here. Do I take the couple of years to do prerequisites, shadowing, MCAT, etc and take a shot...or do I play the safe route since I am already accepted into a BSN (my backup plan). I’m not oblivious to the fact that people, no matter how hard they try, will never get into medical school (MD or DO). That’s just the nature of the beast. Since I don’t have a science gpa or MCAT to give, I’m not asking for chances here, just thoughts on what you would do if you were in my shoes. Thanks!

 

[Osminog]

I don’t think this post would belong in “wamc” per se, but rather I’m looking for some insight into what you all think would be the best option. A little about me: Ii went to UC (Cincinnati) for both my BS and MS in criminal justice. My BS was 3.5 and MS was 3.75. I attended Sam bouston for a PhD in criminal justice, and my grades were fine (4.0), but decided to leave halfway through because I’ve always wanted to be a physician, specifically in emergency medicine. I decided to go the cj route because it just felt “right” as my father and grand father were US Marshals and my uncle is a US district attorney. I haven’t taken the MCAT and I don’t have prerequisites yet. More than likely they will be taken at a local cc due to cost. I am 31 years old. I really do want to be a physician, but honestly any position where I can help people in a healthcare setting is fine. This is why I also applied and was accepted into an accelerated BSN. That’s my issue here. Do I take the couple of years to do prerequisites, shadowing, MCAT, etc and take a shot...or do I play the safe route since I am already accepted into a BSN (my backup plan). I’m not oblivious to the fact that people, no matter how hard they try, will never get into medical school (MD or DO). That’s just the nature of the beast. Since I don’t have a science gpa or MCAT to give, I’m not asking for chances here, just thoughts on what you would do if you were in my shoes. Thanks!

Have you considered the PA track? You could do two years of fulfilling pre-requisities and gaining clinical experience, then two years of PA school and one year of preceptorship. (I'm assuming you already got a solid GRE score, so you'd have that covered.)

If you follow the MD/DO, you'll only become an attending in your early 40s and you'll have $300K debt that you'd probably be paying off until retirement. Would you be okay with that? If so, then I think the DO track is definitely possible if you do well in your science classes and ace the MCAT. (MD programs generally tend to be less forgiving about pre-reqs taken at CCs and less friendly toward non-trads).

I know that UC and Sam Houston are excellent criminal justice programs, so I have no doubt that you're an intelligent and ambitious person. I wish you the best of luck with whatever path you choose!

 

[W19]

If you want to become a physician, take the prereqs and the MCAT and then apply to med school. Do NOT settle for a back up plan (RN or PA or NP or whatever). I don't know how to put it to be honest. But you will NEVER feel the sense of fulfillment if becoming a physician is what is ultimately in your heart, and I am speaking from experience here.

I tried to do that back up plan thing a few years ago. I became a RN thinking it was good enough since it's the next thing (foolish me) to a physician, and each year I was a RN, I grew discontent. Since I was a RN making ~46k working 2 days (24 hrs/wk) who just started raising a young family, it became more difficult to go to med school even if I did not have that sense of 'fulfillment'. To put it bluntly: I was not happy being a RN. After 4 1/2 years growing discontent, I said f... it! I started taking the prereqs on a part time basis and continue working as a RN. The rest is history.

4th year med student right now going thru the match to become an internist, and I am glad I made that decision to ultimately pursue what I really wanted to do. Not even a physician yet, and I am much more 'happier' as a med student than I was as a RN.

I was around your age when I made that decision. I have a classmate who has a similar story and is also going thru the match to become a surgeon.

 

[de Ribas]

I don’t think this post would belong in “wamc” per se, but rather I’m looking for some insight into what you all think would be the best option. A little about me: Ii went to UC (Cincinnati) for both my BS and MS in criminal justice. My BS was 3.5 and MS was 3.75. I attended Sam bouston for a PhD in criminal justice, and my grades were fine (4.0), but decided to leave halfway through because I’ve always wanted to be a physician, specifically in emergency medicine. I decided to go the cj route because it just felt “right” as my father and grand father were US Marshals and my uncle is a US district attorney. I haven’t taken the MCAT and I don’t have prerequisites yet. More than likely they will be taken at a local cc due to cost. I am 31 years old. I really do want to be a physician, but honestly any position where I can help people in a healthcare setting is fine. This is why I also applied and was accepted into an accelerated BSN. That’s my issue here. Do I take the couple of years to do prerequisites, shadowing, MCAT, etc and take a shot...or do I play the safe route since I am already accepted into a BSN (my backup plan). I’m not oblivious to the fact that people, no matter how hard they try, will never get into medical school (MD or DO). That’s just the nature of the beast. Since I don’t have a science gpa or MCAT to give, I’m not asking for chances here, just thoughts on what you would do if you were in my shoes. Thanks!

Do you have any science courses taken? If not, then you will need 2-3 years at least to take prereqs, EC's and MCAT. So, it will be another 10 years+ before you become a doctor and can start practicing.

There are MSN programs as well for non-nursing people. After that it can take about 3 more years to become NP.

Only you know what you really want to do, how much you can sacrifice, and what will make you happy.

There are people who had done it - it is possible.

How long ago did you leave CJ. That might raise some questions because you left halfway without finishing it.

 

[rdp027]

Do you have any science courses taken? If not, then you will need 2-3 years at least to take prereqs, EC's and MCAT. So, it will be another 10 years+ before you become a doctor and can start practicing.

There are MSN programs as well for non-nursing people. After that it can take about 3 more years to become NP.

Only you know what you really want to do, how much you can sacrifice, and what will make you happy.

There are people who had done it - it is possible.

How long ago did you leave CJ. That might raise some questions because you left halfway without finishing it.

I left in September of this year. I’m willing to sacrifice a whole bunch, but I did also wonder how adcoms would look at leaving a program halfway through it.

As to the other responses, I have not really considered PA school but am well aware that MD is almost all but out of the equation (leaving DO). I am a little concerned that I’d be settling with nursing, so I can’t but agree with that response.

 

[de Ribas]

I left in September of this year. I’m willing to sacrifice a whole bunch, but I did also wonder how adcoms would look at leaving a program halfway through it.

As to the other responses, I have not really considered PA school but am well aware that MD is almost all but out of the equation (leaving DO). I am a little concerned that I’d be settling with nursing, so I can’t but agree with that response.

I don't see why MD is out. You still have a chance. If your BS is 3.5 and you will take at least 30-50 more credits, you have a chance of having high sGPA and at least 3.6 cGPA. The rest depends on MCAT.