RRT to med school

[nev]

I'm going to complete my associate's in respiratory therapy pretty soon. After which, I intend to get my bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy itself (its only 1 year more) and apply to med school. Since I'm in Texas, a I know that UTMB and UTHSCSA have the RRT to BS in respiratory care transition program. These schools are also medical schools. So if I complete my BS from either one, do you think I'd have a slightly higher chance of getting accepted to the school I'm matriculating from?
Thanks a lot
Nev

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[njbmd]

I'm going to complete my associate's in respiratory therapy pretty soon. After which, I intend to get my bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy itself (its only 1 year more) and apply to med school. Since I'm in Texas, a I know that UTMB and UTHSCSA have the RRT to BS in respiratory care transition program. These schools are also medical schools. So if I complete my BS from either one, do you think I'd have a slightly higher chance of getting accepted to the school I'm matriculating from?
Thanks a lot
Nev

It's not going to make much difference that the university from which you ultimately receive your BS has a medical school. Some medical schools tend to slightly favor their university undergraduates (Hopkins and Harvard come to mind) while most medical schools don't care where you obtained your degree as long as you are competitive, meet any state-residency requirements and have completed their school-specific pre-reqs.

I would caution you not to limit yourself to just the Texas medical schools but apply broadly schools outside that state too. The more schools that you apply to, the greater your chances of acceptance so apply to as many schools as you can afford and where you might want to attend.

I was a RRT (pediatric/perinatal specialist) before graduate and medical school. It was great clinical experience and provided the basis for my personal statement. You will have a wealth of experience on from which to draw from.

 

[nev]

It's not going to make much difference that the university from which you ultimately receive your BS has a medical school. Some medical schools tend to slightly favor their university undergraduates (Hopkins and Harvard come to mind) while most medical schools don't care where you obtained your degree as long as you are competitive, meet any state-residency requirements and have completed their school-specific pre-reqs.

I would caution you not to limit yourself to just the Texas medical schools but apply broadly schools outside that state too. The more schools that you apply to, the greater your chances of acceptance so apply to as many schools as you can afford and where you might want to attend.

I was a RRT (pediatric/perinatal specialist) before graduate and medical school. It was great clinical experience and provided the basis for my personal statement. You will have a wealth of experience on from which to draw from.

Thanks for the response NJBMD. Yes, I do intend to apply to a few schools outside Texas but it probably would be mostly DO schools because I beleive that they would be nontrad friendly. One thing which scares me about out of state schools is that usually (now correct me if I'm wrong) only around 10% if their class population are out of state applicants...so I'd have to be really competetive, but it is still worth a try.

One question about clinical experience...One university did mention that a factor for being competetive was "Prior experience in providing health care related services ". Does the clinical rotations during my RRT curriculum count as clinical experience, which would be notable in my personal statement?

Thanks a lot

Nev

 

[njbmd]

There are plenty of schools that are considered "national" schools that attract students from across the nation. Also, don't get hung up on "non-traditional friendly" or not. If you are competitive in terms of your application, you stand a strong chance of acceptance provided you have the pre-reqs.

Some state schools do not accept out of state students (you can research these in the MSAR) but many do. Again, choose a variety of schools that you potentially would attend based on whatever factors that you deem important. Any statistical numbers that you are looking at today were gathered from years before and do not apply to the future. Look at a school's out of state acceptance policy rather than the percentage. If a schools accepts out of state students and you are interested in that school, apply.

Also remember that trends in terms of medical schools change from year to year and that your competition will be the others who apply the same year that you apply. Every medical school is looking for the strongest candidates that show promise of being able to successfully complete a challenging medical school curriculum and practice medicine. Make yourself that strong candidate.

In terms of a clinical rotation in school counting as clinical experience, I would not list this under clinical "experience". As you well know, a clinical rotation is coursework and quite different from employment/volunteering in a clinical field. Once you have completed your coursework, you will have ample time to get some experience.

 

[bellajoy]

I'm curious as to why you would not count clinical rotations as clinical experience?

I'm also an RRT (recent grad, now working). I would consider it clinical experience. Yes, it's not the same as being out of school and working or even working as a student on the floors. But, you do get patient contact, you are there in the hospital interacting with the medical team, and near the end of my ICU rotations, I'd have half of an assignment basically (just with some supervision).

Also, I don't know if you would agree, but I would definitely suggest once out of school to work for a year as a CRT/RRT. If I decide to apply again to med school, I'm going to appreciate all the experience and contacts, for sure.

In terms of a clinical rotation in school counting as clinical experience, I would not list this under clinical "experience". As you well know, a clinical rotation is coursework and quite different from employment/volunteering in a clinical field. Once you have completed your coursework, you will have ample time to get some experience.

 

[njbmd]

I'm curious as to why you would not count clinical rotations as clinical experience?

I'm also an RRT (recent grad, now working). I would consider it clinical experience. Yes, it's not the same as being out of school and working or even working as a student on the floors. But, you do get patient contact, you are there in the hospital interacting with the medical team, and near the end of my ICU rotations, I'd have half of an assignment basically (just with some supervision).

Also, I don't know if you would agree, but I would definitely suggest once out of school to work for a year as a CRT/RRT. If I decide to apply again to med school, I'm going to appreciate all the experience and contacts, for sure.

For just the reason that you state, your clinical rotations are coursework under supervision. While they are in a clinical location, if you list them as coursework, I would not list them as clinical "experience". Your clinical experience should be outside of coursework and not as a requirement for a grade.

A much stronger choice would be something volunteer (not required coursework) that showed your interest in your fellow humans. The whole "experience" factor is not that you have to be physically in a location but that you demonstrate that you have some personal interest (not because you are being graded) in serving your fellow humans. If you did something like "asthma camp" or "smoking cessation coaching", I would consider a better choice over someone whose sole clinical experience was within the confines of required coursework towards a degree.

 

[bellajoy]

For just the reason that you state, your clinical rotations are coursework under supervision. While they are in a clinical location, if you list them as coursework, I would not list them as clinical "experience". Your clinical experience should be outside of coursework and not as a requirement for a grade.

A much stronger choice would be something volunteer (not required coursework) that showed your interest in your fellow humans. The whole "experience" factor is not that you have to be physically in a location but that you demonstrate that you have some personal interest (not because you are being graded) in serving your fellow humans. If you did something like "asthma camp" or "smoking cessation coaching", I would consider a better choice over someone whose sole clinical experience was within the confines of required coursework towards a degree.

I guess that could be true. And, I agree about the asthma camp and smoking cessation stuff. However, I still feel it could be counted. Yeah, someone could just do the bare minimum and still get a decent grade for clinicals (half the time that just involves being there and doing case studies and getting along with preceptors). But, it's also what you get out of it and how much you participate. If someone went above and beyond to see and do more, then it should count somewhat. Seeing patients and taking care of them is a highly important thing.

Besides, what about working as a student. I know I got to do that...with a limited license. Which meant I wasn't being supervised, I did the work, and I got paid. That should count for a lot too.

 

[njbmd]

Besides, what about working as a student. I know I got to do that...with a limited license. Which meant I wasn't being supervised, I did the work, and I got paid. That should count for a lot too.

That would count. You were not "required" to work as part of your program requirements and thus this would be outside your program.