Should I mention that I used to be pre-Optometry?

[Potato!]

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So here's the dilemma...

Since way back when I always wanted to be a doctor (physician), Yada Yada Yada. But then in the last two years I started worrying I couldn't get in to medicine, so I aimed to go into optometry. Last year, I wrote my OAT, applied to schools, interviewed at schools, etc. I was accepted to a couple of schools and was happy. I was scheduled to start optometry this August (2004), but about 2 monthes ago I withdrew my acceptances and finally admited to myself that I have to at least try for med...otherwise I'll always wonder. So I've decided to go a round or two with the admissions processes.

The Questions! Should I relate these experiences in my PS, or will ADCOMs look disfavorably on someone who might "so easily" be swayed from the med path. Reasons I might want to put it in my AMCAS PS/ECs:
1) I spent over 100 hours volunteering with an optometrist. Got lots of patient contact/exposure. Took histories, used equipment, blah, blah, blah
2) I did very well on my OAT test, so I might be able to fit that in somewhere (you know, brag about myself to ADCOMs 🙄 )
3) Did some other volunteer stuff for third world eye care society
4) This experience may have helped shape my desire to go into Medicine

As always candid opinions are appreciated!

 

[dankev]

It is perfectly fine to say that you seriously considered other careers in healthcare, and decided medicine is right for you. Make sure you have hospital experience as well, and not just opto time. As far as your OAT score (whatever that is- and how do you score well on a grain?), probably forget about it. Do well on the MCAT and let that brag for you. Good luck.

 

[thewzdoc]

I wouldn?t worry about expressing this to the adcoms. It still shows diligence and hard work on your part and it is part of healthcare. I wouldn?t say that you were ?easily swayed from the med?.

 

[mentoz]

there must be more reasons why you're choosing to go into medicine besides the fact that if you don't try "[you'd] always wonder" .. you should show a stronger interest and motivation in your PS .. turn a positive spin on this .. the easiest thing for you to have done was continue with optometry, but then you realized that you wanted to go into medicine for X reasons (the "I'll always wonder" bit is not a good reason, imo) .. i don't think mentioning your OAT score will help at all .. you can have a rockin' OAT score and an average MCAT, but the average MCAT will speak more loudly ..


i'm just curious, why do you really want to go into medicine?

 

[Potato!]

I want to go into Medicine for the chicks and the money. That's my cool guy answer ----> 😎

I just wanted to keep my original post relatively short, but the reason I want to go into medicine is not simply because "I'd always wonder if I could get in". Obviously there is a lot more to it. My main reason for wanting to be a physician, and I guess it may sound a little 'wussy', is because that is where I can help the most people. I got really freaked out about optometry, because it seemed like all they ever talked about was how much money they made, and how many patients they could see an hour. Obviously you've got people like this in all professions, but too many of them seemed to be about money. Secondly, in optometry, whenever something interesting did come along, the optometrist I volunteered with would refer the patient out to an ophthamologist, because the patient would take up too much of his time.

It has been said that the bread and butter of optometry is selling glasses and contacts. This builds in an automatic reason for a patient to distrust the advice of their optometrist. The optometrist may suggest the most expensive contact lens, not only because it's the best for the patient, but because he makes the most money from selling it. I'm rambling now though.

The point is that I want to help people, and I think the best way I can do that is by being a physician and a good listener to patients problems.

I guess you guys are right about forgetting about my OAT score. Yah, ideally I rock the MCAT, but it's easier said then done. Thanks!

Ps. No disrespect meant to optometry or optometrist...these are just my limited experiences...