Some Questions...

[enpointe16]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone. I just joined the site yesterday and am so glad I found it, it seems like it's going to be extremely helpful for me. Right now I am entering my senior year of high school and I have a few questions. I would really like to become a pediatric hematologist-oncologist but am just wondering how exactly the process of becoming one works. I know that you have four years undergrad and then four years med school, but after that I was wondering how the whole internship/residency thing works. I'm a bit clueless lol.

Also, as I am entering the whole college application process, do med schools prefer applicants who went to Ivy-League and other prestigious schools than cheaper in-state schools? As much as I would love to attend an Ivy-League school, it's just not realistic for me as I really cannot afford it. I am hoping to get a scholarship for an in-state school that I am looking at, which is nice, but just not as prestigious as other schools.

And when I do enter college, can anyone suggest any majors for me (other than some kind of Pre-Med major)? I was thinking possibly Biology, though I don't know if that would be appropriate or not.

Sorry I have a lot of questions, but I'd really appreciate some feedback. 🙂

 

[speciald]

Don't automatically assume you can't afford the privates and Ivies - many of them have very generous financial aid due to large endowments and may end up costing you less than a public university. Some of them, like Cornell, have a "no loan" policy if your family income is under a certain amount, usually $80-100K. And many of them have pre-med advising and med schools or combination programs. There's a list of colleges that meet guarantee to meet 100% of your need (Cost of Attendance minus Expected Family Contribution) at this site:
http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/payingforcollege/collegesthatmeetneed.htm

Also:
Antioch - OH
Boston College - MA
Bucknell - PA
Campbell - NC
Clarke - IA
Colby - ME
Univ of Virginia
Wake Forest - NC
Hamilton College - NY
UNC Chapel Hill - NC
SUNY-ESF - NY
So Arkansas Univ
Stanford - CA
St Olaf - MN
Talladega - AL
Thomas Aquinas - CA
Union College - NY
Univ of No. Colorado
Univ. of Richmond - VA

Good luck!

 

[Caesar]

Hi everyone. I just joined the site yesterday and am so glad I found it, it seems like it's going to be extremely helpful for me. Right now I am entering my senior year of high school and I have a few questions. I would really like to become a pediatric hematologist-oncologist but am just wondering how exactly the process of becoming one works. I know that you have four years undergrad and then four years med school, but after that I was wondering how the whole internship/residency thing works. I'm a bit clueless lol.

Also, as I am entering the whole college application process, do med schools prefer applicants who went to Ivy-League and other prestigious schools than cheaper in-state schools? As much as I would love to attend an Ivy-League school, it's just not realistic for me as I really cannot afford it. I am hoping to get a scholarship for an in-state school that I am looking at, which is nice, but just not as prestigious as other schools.

And when I do enter college, can anyone suggest any majors for me (other than some kind of Pre-Med major)? I was thinking possibly Biology, though I don't know if that would be appropriate or not.

Sorry I have a lot of questions, but I'd really appreciate some feedback. 🙂

The school you go to for undergrad won't really affect your application too much. Going to a University is probably a bit better than a community college. Going to an Ivy may be helpful for getting into an Ivy med school, but I doubt it. GPA and MCAT matter more. Focus on those no matter where you go. People get into med schools every year from small universities no one has ever heard off.

Majors: Your major really doesn't matter for getting into Med school. Biology, Chemistry are the main ones people go for in the sciences. You really just need to take the classes to do well on the MCAT and meet min requirements for schools (usually Bio 1,2, Gen Chem, Organic chem, MAYBE a semester of biochem, physics 1,2, and an english class).

Ped Hem Onc: Long road for that not sure of the exact path but it is residency and a fellowship. Hopefully someone can get more details for you.

 

[orangeANDgreen]

biochemistry is what im majoring in, i love it so far and it opens up a lot of PhD research opportunities in the future

 

[SocialistMD]

Ok, enpointe16, I'm going to try to make your day because I'm feeling rather nostalgic (I just saw my oldest cousin off to college and I guess I'm feeling a bit reflective on the past 12 years). I'll answer your questions in the order they were asked, and then I'll reprioritize them to make your life better for the next 6 or so years.

The path to becoming a pediatric oncologist goes like this: First, you go to college and then trudge through the four years of med school. Congratulations, you're a doctor! During the last year of med school, you apply for a residency spot. To be a pediatric oncologist, you will apply for a pediatrics residency. This will be the three years of your life that follows med school (the first year of residency is called your intern year or "internship"). During the last year of your residency, you will apply for a hematology-oncology fellowship. This will be the three years following your residency. So, in 14 years from your high school graduation, you will be a pediatric hematologist/oncologist.

Now, let's examine the Ivy League question. I, too, had the financial problem in trying to go to an Ivy League school (Columbia, to be exact; nothing sounded better to a young man from a small north Texas town than living in NYC). Basically, I got in, but couldn't afford to go and my parents wouldn't let me take out loans to go. I ended up going to a state school in a different state, one where I could get in-state tuition because my dad lived there. At the end of college, I had zero debt and an admission to medical school. I am very greatful to my parents for their wisdom. Sure, it would have been very cool to go to Columbia, but it was even nicer to not have that debt. I guess the point of my little story is that it is possible to go to a state school and get into med school. So, does going to an Ivy help? That is the eternal debate, particularly on SDN. I'm of the opinion that if you work hard enough you can overcome anything, and I would rather get somewhere on my own merit and know I earned it rather than riding on the laurels of others (be it a person or the name of a school) and I know far more physicians who did not go to Ivies than those who did.

Lastly (although this should be first), let's discuss your major. To get into med school, there are certain required courses in math, chemistry, biology and physics. Other than that, your major doesn't really matter. I'd recommend you major in something you enjoy, be it a science or a more liberal art. (1) You want to do something that will allow you to be successful and doing something you enjoy will do that. College is a magical and wonderful place filled with majors in fields you never even knew existed. Find your passion and run with it because (2) you may decide you don't want to be a pediatric hematologist/oncologist (or even a physician), and you don't want to have a degree that steers you to a career you won't enjoy.

Best of luck, and enjoy the next 5 years.

 

[enpointe16]

speciald- Thanks a bunch. Actually, I'm was already planning on applying to a few of the schools on that list. But really, it depends on who give me the best financial aid package (not including loans). I guess I'll find out in a few months with whatever acceptance letters I get and will just make the decision from there.
Caesar- Thanks. Yeah, I wasn't planning on going to a community college. Just a state school. Ooh, I've heard nightmare stories about organic chem. Is it really that bad?
orangeANDgreen- I'll look into that...
SocialistMD- Wow, thank you so much!! That helped a ton! Fourteen years, that seems like such a long time. And I never realized there were so many steps to becoming a physician (the whole internship-residency-fellowship). I guess it's worth it in the end if it's something you really want to get into. I feel relieved knowing I don't have to be pressured to go to an Ivy or some other extremely prestigious school that I know isn't practical for me. I do work very hard in school now, and will do so in college as well. And thanks for the advice about the majors. Biology is something that interests me very, very much so I'm thinking I'll probably end up majoring in that. And like you said, in case for some reason I end up changing my mind regarding careers (though I really do want to be a ped hem/onc) I can use it for possibly some kind of career in medical research or something along those lines. The medical field truly does interest me.

Thank you all very, very much! =]
One more thing, though. I heard that everyone in med school has to take a gross anatomy class and to be honest, the thought of dissecting a cadaver really terrifies me! As a doctor, is there some kind of way to...desensitize yourself, almost, to things like that?

 

[Caesar]

speciald- Thanks a bunch. Actually, I'm was already planning on applying to a few of the schools on that list. But really, it depends on who give me the best financial aid package (not including loans). I guess I'll find out in a few months with whatever acceptance letters I get and will just make the decision from there.
Caesar- Thanks. Yeah, I wasn't planning on going to a community college. Just a state school. Ooh, I've heard nightmare stories about organic chem. Is it really that bad?
orangeANDgreen- I'll look into that...
SocialistMD- Wow, thank you so much!! That helped a ton! Fourteen years, that seems like such a long time. And I never realized there were so many steps to becoming a physician (the whole internship-residency-fellowship). I guess it's worth it in the end if it's something you really want to get into. I feel relieved knowing I don't have to be pressured to go to an Ivy or some other extremely prestigious school that I know isn't practical for me. I do work very hard in school now, and will do so in college as well. And thanks for the advice about the majors. Biology is something that interests me very, very much so I'm thinking I'll probably end up majoring in that. And like you said, in case for some reason I end up changing my mind regarding careers (though I really do want to be a ped hem/onc) I can use it for possibly some kind of career in medical research or something along those lines. The medical field truly does interest me.

Thank you all very, very much! =]
One more thing, though. I heard that everyone in med school has to take a gross anatomy class and to be honest, the thought of dissecting a cadaver really terrifies me! As a doctor, is there some kind of way to...desensitize yourself, almost, to things like that?

I don't think Organic chem is all that bad. It just depends on how you learn it really.

Gross is required. You'll get used to it. In my junior year of high school we visited a cadaver lab for my physiology class. I haven't done gross myself but I have dissected numerous organisms and you just get used to it. Maybe some of the Med Students or Docs can comment more about it.

 

[eagle34]

I don't think Organic chem is all that bad. It just depends on how you learn it really.

Gross is required. You'll get used to it. In my junior year of high school we visited a cadaver lab for my physiology class. I haven't done gross myself but I have dissected numerous organisms and you just get used to it. Maybe some of the Med Students or Docs can comment more about it.

Gross anatomy is required, and you usually take it your first year (first semester, most likely). During our anatomy orientation, the course director told us that about 2-3% of med students faint during the first anatomy lab. However, they get used to it.

I'll give you a couple of quotes from our anatomy site, some general things about anatomy and lab:

[FONT=arial,helvetica]"Gross Anatomy is the quintessential medical school course and most of you will not have an experience like this again. .
[FONT=arial,helvetica]What to wear? I recommend scrubs that can be thrown away at the end of the course or washed (not in your personal machine.) You can wear any clothes you wish to lab but please avoid wool (traps the formaldehyde odor). No open toed shoes or shorts! Keep in mind the lab can be very chilly (but then again some days it warms up) so if you are bothered by the temperature you may want to keep a long-sleeved shirt handy. You must wear safety glasses when in the lab (they don't have to be the organic chem goggle type).
.[FONT=arial,helvetica]SMELL of lab? How bad is it and what to do about it? Most students agree the smell is not great, but not terrible. Those really troubled by the odor often try rubbing a Vicks vapor rub solution on the upper lip. Vicks is a strong smell, but preferable to formaldehyde for some. Some students elect to wear dust masks over their mouth and nose. "

So, as you can see, there are some students troubled by the smell, and some troubled by the whole process. There's also an important line between seeing your cadaver as just a means to learn vs humanizing the cadaver. Sometimes, certain cadaver characteristics remind the student of an older relative, which makes it even tougher. Still, I think that most students get used to seeing the cadaver as a very important means to learn while at the same time remembering that you are dissecting a person who donated his/her body for a very important cause.

Still, don't worry about anatomy right now. As you get more experience in medicine during college, I think the idea will become less unreal to you. Also, if there's a chance, try to visit an anatomy lab just to see what it's like.
.

 

[ylrebmik]

Hi everyone. I just joined the site yesterday and am so glad I found it, it seems like it's going to be extremely helpful for me. Right now I am entering my senior year of high school and I have a few questions. I would really like to become a pediatric hematologist-oncologist but am just wondering how exactly the process of becoming one works. I know that you have four years undergrad and then four years med school, but after that I was wondering how the whole internship/residency thing works. I'm a bit clueless lol.

Also, as I am entering the whole college application process, do med schools prefer applicants who went to Ivy-League and other prestigious schools than cheaper in-state schools? As much as I would love to attend an Ivy-League school, it's just not realistic for me as I really cannot afford it. I am hoping to get a scholarship for an in-state school that I am looking at, which is nice, but just not as prestigious as other schools.

And when I do enter college, can anyone suggest any majors for me (other than some kind of Pre-Med major)? I was thinking possibly Biology, though I don't know if that would be appropriate or not.

Sorry I have a lot of questions, but I'd really appreciate some feedback. 🙂

I think everyone answered your questions pretty well but I'm entering my senior year as well. There were a lot of out of state schools I was considering but looking at how much debt I would be in after vet school I have decided to go to a state school or a heavy loaded financial package at this private school in state. I know it's the GPA matters, not the name of the school.

 

[DonkeyD]

We just started gross anatomy this week, it's really not bad. Nobody fainted, including me.

Just remember that this person gave their body to further your education. Respect that gift and you can't go wrong. After that it's just another way to learn and a threshold that only a select few can walk through.

Also, don't get totally wrapped up in one specific specialty. Pediatric heme/onc sounds pretty sweet but don't set your sights on one spot this early in the game. I can tell you ped onc has some very happy times and some devastatingly sad ones. Med schools also don't really like it when pre-meds start talking about fellowships. Even at the application stage you have very little clue what you're getting into and it's ridiculous to make assumptions about your career 7+ years down the line. You're in high school, you need to think about getting in...NOT about fellowships.

Right now you should make sure you enjoy caring for your fellow man (volunteering), make sure you enjoy the practice of medicine (shadowing), and mastering the academic stuff (good grades, research if that's your thing).

Undergrad at an ivy is not essential to med school admissions. I went to a large state university and got in just fine.

 

[enpointe16]

DonkeyD- That's a really good way to look at things, thanks! Yeah, of course, me becoming a ped hem/onc is obviously not set in stone or anything and who knows, my interests may change. It's just something that stuck out at me and took my interest. But yeah, I do have a lot of years in front of me and was basically just curious as to how everything works and such. Again, though, thanks so much!

 

[deleted74029]

Is this what a gross anatomy lab looks like? If so, I didn't know the cadavers looked so........"fresh."

 

[Depakote]

Is this what a gross anatomy lab looks like? If so, I didn't know the cadavers looked so........"fresh."

Generally no. The cadavers have a more preserved look to them. Also (at least at my school), the heads are shaved and the dissections are much more methodical. You spend a lot more time on a single area before proceeding on to the next.

If you want a more accurate representation, check out the university of Michigan's Anatomy site:
http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/

 

[SocialistMD]

Generally no. The cadavers have a more preserved look to them. Also (at least at my school), the heads are shaved and the dissections are much more methodical. You spend a lot more time on a single area before proceeding on to the next.

You also don't use pruning shears to dissect.

Besides, that cadaver doesn't even look real to me.

 

[Depakote]

You also don't use pruning shears to dissect.

Besides, that cadaver doesn't even look real to me.

I was thinking the same thing on the second point (also, you might have 1 person in your class of 150 that needs to wear a mask).

You'll need to break out the shop tools (bone-saw, hack saw, chisel, etc) at a few points during the dissection, so the shears aren't a huge stretch, esp for the rib cage, but the whole setup seems off.