Veterinary Student wanting a career change to MD

[DAJ22]

I am currently a student at an ivy league veterinary school. Before applying to vet school, I almost took the MCAT and applied to medical school but already had 500+ hours of veterinary experience, so went that root. After spending two years in the veterinary program, I'm unsatisfied with the type of medicine I'll be practicing.

My motivation for pursuing an MD is based on a family history of seeing how a family member of mine went through a period of extreme emotional trauma and about 2 years of therapy and hospitalization. All I want to do with my life now is be a part of the medical profession that gave my family back what it thought would be lost forever. It sounds really cheesy to say all this, but it has made me realize that I'd only be happy as an MD.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to increase my chances to go to medical school? Assuming my GPA is 3.7 and MCAT is 33+, how much experience would make me competitive? I am a traditional student, so will be mid 20's when I would finish vet school. ANY serious suggestions are appreciated!

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[JJMrK]

I'm confused. Have you taken the MCAT or not?

 

[sarahl86]

I'm confused. Have you taken the MCAT or not?

Looks like a no...she wants to know what she'd need EC-wise to look good with a 3.7/33.

In which case, you don't have any research or clinical work pertaning to human medical treatment. Not that what you're doing now isn't relevant...but is very different than praciticing medicine. You need to get involved in meeting physicians ASAP. Do shadowing and volunteer work. Make sure you've satisfied all prereqs for medical school (since I don't know what you'd need for vet school)

 

[Mobius1985]

A typical med school applicant has about 1.5 years of clinical experience, gained at about 3-4 hours per week where they have face-to-face experience with sick people. This is often covered by doing hospital/clinic/nursing home/hospice care volunteerism, which covers the expectation for community service as well. Physician shadowing is expected by most med schools as well. Typical would be 8-40 hours for each of 2-3 specialties to show you understand what a doc's day to day life is like and that you know what you're getting into. Research experience is included on the applications of 60% who apply. Most have a leadership experience. Many have teaching/mentoring/tutoring experience.

Your vet med degree will be looked on as a very nice EC. You won''t be judged by your graduate GPA, unless it's poor. With an undergrad GPA of 3.7, you'd be competitive with an MCAT of 31, and would be likely to get in somewhere if you apply broadly.

 

[Caprica6]

I wouldn't necessarily say you have to start volunteering/shadowing MDs for the next year and then apply, because you know what, vet med and med are basically the same thing. Are you going to finish you degree, if not I think that would be a red flag to ADCOMMs. And your graduate school GPA is relevent b/c your in vet school. Can you make a good case for wanting to switch fields? If so I think you are okay. If not then you may have to do the volunteering/shadowing just to jump through the hoops.

 

[Stratego]

If you have any volunteer service related to animals, that can be used as community service also, on your med school application.

If you have some research experience, it need not be human-medicine related, or even in the sciences, to qualify.

I agree you need to finish your current program. You will be asked for a letter of reference from your current grad school advisor if you apply before you graduate. If you have enough ECs to apply before your final year, will your classes be flexible enough to allow you to attend interviews in the fall and spring months?

 

[DAJ22]

So I guess the only thing I'm going to have to work on is EC, in terms of things that will take a long time. I have quite a bit of research experience from undergrad and some from vet school. Also, I did a lot of teaching (5 semesters) in terms of TA and lab assistant. To get experience shadowing physicians, does one contact volunteer departments at hospitals? This is all very new to me - any help on how you guys got EC experience would be VERY helpful. Thanks!

 

[Stratego]

To shadow:
you could hit on your personal physician,
or ask a physician you meet in the course of volunteering if you can follow around for a day (worked best for me),
or if there is an undergrad school affiliated with the vet school, contact the premed advisor and see if they have a list of doctors willing to be contacted,
or last and not best: make cold calls from the phone book listings.

 

[DAJ22]

Update to my situation:

I took the MCAT and got a 32R (10V, 11C, 11BS). I'm starting volunteering at my local hospital tomorrow and have spoken with my undergraduate pre-med committee about writing me a recommendation. Also, I'm still planning on finishing vet school and have two professors whom I know very well and I will ask to write recommendations also.

Does anyone have any more suggestions as to how I could increase my chances of getting in? Thanks!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

if you continue doing your shadowing ( 2 to 3 doctors 25 hours each)
and voluntering at a hospital
get 2 letters of recommendation from a doctor
you'll be good..
otherwise i mean
you got like..
2 years to make your application look good
i would also recommend finishing your vet degree..

 

[DAJ22]

I actually did some shadowing this past summer (total 20 hours with 4 doctors). Also, I'm currently a 3rd year vet student and am looking to apply this next application cycle to enter in Fall '11.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I actually did some shadowing this past summer (total 20 hours with 4 doctors). Also, I'm currently a 3rd year vet student and am looking to apply this next application cycle to enter in Fall '11.

eh.. i hope thats 20 hours each..
but yah.. you should at least have 50 hours total from all your doctors combined..
i could also recommend some research...
and then.. you should be in a very very very good place..

 

[Catalystik]

The OP already has lots of research. I agree that more shadowing than 20 hours would be appreciated by many med schools. Your main weakness will be sparse human clinical experience (?7 months by the time you apply?). I hope this requirement will be modified for you since you have plenty of clinical experience with other mammals.

You'll also need a very good answer for the inevitable "Why MD and not DVM?" that doesn't bash vet med. It is good that your current school knows your plans as you'll probably be asked for a letter from your vet program advisor that confirms your date of completion and assures med schools that you've communicated your plans to your current program.

 

[mdeast]

I actually did some shadowing this past summer (total 20 hours with 4 doctors). Also, I'm currently a 3rd year vet student and am looking to apply this next application cycle to enter in Fall '11.

Why not just drop the vet degree? It's an awful debt builder (before you go into EVEN MORE DEBT in med school). Get a job in research and make some money before entering medicine rather than losing more on a career you don't want.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Why not just drop the vet degree? It's an awful debt builder (before you go into EVEN MORE DEBT in med school). Get a job in research and make some money before entering medicine rather than losing more on a career you don't want.

3 years in and your going to drop a degree?
thats awfully stupid lol.
at least now he can help people and animals lol
but yes..
medical schools would consider her someone who drops out.. thus making her a bad investment for the physican field..

 

[Catalystik]

at least now he can help people and animals lol

Star Trek Trivia: The first doctor serving aboard the Enterprise with Capt Christopher Pike was a DVM (in the novelized version). With a DVM, MD you'd be uniquely qualified to serve aboard the first interstellar vessel seeking out other lifeforms. But (LOL), no, I don't think you should use that reason in your PS for seeking the double degree.

 

[not so calm now]

Star Trek Trivia: The first doctor serving aboard the Enterprise with Capt Christopher Pike was a DVM (in the novelized version). With a DVM, MD you'd be uniquely qualified to serve aboard the first interstellar vessel seeking out other lifeforms. But (LOL), no, I don't think you should use that reason in your PS for seeking the double degree.

This is awesome

IAWTC

 

[dgm]

Just wandered over from the vet forums. I'm in awe of the OP's stamina - I'm only a first year vet student now, but I'm pretty sure that upon finishing this there is no way I could sign up to basically do it allll over again!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Just wandered over from the vet forums. I'm on awe of the OP's stamina - I'm only a first year vet student now, but I'm pretty sure that upon finishing this there is no way I could sign up to basically do it allll over again!

you'd be amazed.. while a vet + MD combo is a bit weird.. its not impossible and its the anatomy basics for most animals are similar to humans so he's got some experience there which will make things a bit easier for him..

i think after people watching j DUB most people on SDN want to attempt pharmacy + MD/DO
might be cool.. the ability to make prescriptions and then dish out the drugs yourself

 

[anxietypeaker]

i am always surprised to see people who are not yet accepted to med school but making strong suggestions about the med school process. In this instance though, i agree with most that was said.

Anyways, i think a dvm/vmd + MD would be great. Particularly in the zoonotic disease realm. the head of the cdc zoonotic realm is a dvm. I think if u spin ur app in that way, it will be even better. dont drop out w/ 1 yr or even 2 yrs left. May hurt ur chance, but will DEFINITELY not help u. A DVM+MD is a great dual degree that very few have. DVM+MD = public health at cdc or research or maybe an ID doc.

Feel free to PM me.

 

[JJMrK]

Update to my situation:

I took the MCAT and got a 32R (10V, 11C, 11BS). I'm starting volunteering at my local hospital tomorrow and have spoken with my undergraduate pre-med committee about writing me a recommendation. Also, I'm still planning on finishing vet school and have two professors whom I know very well and I will ask to write recommendations also.

Does anyone have any more suggestions as to how I could increase my chances of getting in? Thanks!

I think the fact that you'll be finishing your vet degree is a big plus, as it shows continuity and commitment.

 

[AndrewChampagne]

Catalystik is a gem.

 

[anxietypeaker]

Star Trek Trivia: The first doctor serving aboard the Enterprise with Capt Christopher Pike was a DVM (in the novelized version). With a DVM, MD you'd be uniquely qualified to serve aboard the first interstellar vessel seeking out other lifeforms. But (LOL), no, I don't think you should use that reason in your PS for seeking the double degree.

that is a great observation.

MAXIMUM WARP!!!

 

[DAJ22]

I never thought about the whole Star Trek thing...always liked Star Wars better anyway.