What is the outlook for Pod?

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Here is my situation:


One of my good friends got accepted a few months ago to Scholl's in Chicago where I happen to be from.

He has been bugging me for the last few months about podiatry and raving about how its not extremely competitive the get in and you make a LOT of money.

I don't doubt this, my question is: How does the future look for this profession. I'd rather hear it from the horse's mouth than from a friend will nothing but dollar signs in his eyes.

I personally am Pre-PT, but am always open to new suggestions. I would still need to take O chem. 1 and 2, and another General Bio class, along with taking the MCAT.
Honestly this is a bit overwhelming to me.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

And would I have a chance?

I have a 3.75 gpa, but like I said, I still need to take some rough classes.

 

[gsrimport]

Some schools are more competitive than others. You have a good GPA and if you have above a 3.0 in your science gpa, you have a decent chance at getting into a podiatry school. As for the outlook, it is very good just like all the other health professions since there are always a lack of doctors.

If one is doing it for the money and have no idea what podiatry is really about, there is a high probability that one will not graduate. It is really difficult and the first two years are not that much different than your traditional medical school. The drop out rate is pretty high.

It may even be wise to get a masters or take as many science courses you can in your undergraduate like anatomy, physiology or biochemistry in addition to the pre-reqs to prepare.

 

[krabmas]

the outlook is good if you like what you are doing.

Shadow some pods, visit the school. see if you like it. if you don't like it then you have nothing to worry about and stay with PT.

If you like it then apply and see what happens.

the money is not garunteed unless you work hard and know your stuff.

 

[cool_vkb]

It may even be wise to get a masters or take as many science courses you can in your undergraduate like anatomy, physiology or biochemistry in addition to the pre-reqs to prepare.

I agree with you that med school or pod school is hard but i dont think one needs to finish Masters or take as many science courses in undergrad in order to suceed and learn the med school materials/subjects.

Except for this SUPER GREAT COUNTRY and i really dont understand why they have this policy😕 but i dont have any problem with this. every country has their own rules and we have to obey it . nearly everywhere in world people enter Med school right after high school with no higher level science backgrounds, when they are 17 or 18 and finish their med school in 6yrs when they are 23 or 24yrs. They do good and many infact end up in USA competing with US medical grads in USMLEs and getting good residencies. So i think taking higherlevel science courses in undergrad and Masters all this is more of a convenience than a necessity.Bcoz whole world is suceeding here on high school basis in med schools.One shud just have an interest to learn. That drop out rate is more of a result of the personal incompetence or parties or unable to take the stress.

No doubt, if one already has good background in Anatmoy or Physio or Biochem , he might really excel those classes. But its not like if a guy who hasnt taken these classes will flunk out in med school.

And even in countries where medical schools who accept Students after their bachelors like some schools in australia. They dont require any science pre-reqs. all one has to do is finish their BS (irrespective of major and no science classes) and write their admission test which is like our SAT or ACT (apptitude test) and start med school.

 

[krabmas]

I agree with you that med school or pod school is hard but i dont think one needs to finish Masters or take as many science courses in undergrad in order to suceed and learn the med school materials/subjects.

Except for this SUPER GREAT COUNTRY and i really dont understand why they have this policy😕 but i dont have any problem with this. every country has their own rules and we have to obey it . nearly everywhere in world people enter Med school right after high school with no higher level science backgrounds, when they are 17 or 18 and finish their med school in 6yrs when they are 23 or 24yrs. They do good and many infact end up in USA competing with US medical grads in USMLEs and getting good residencies. So i think taking higherlevel science courses in undergrad and Masters all this is more of a convenience than a necessity.Bcoz whole world is suceeding here on high school basis in med schools.One shud just have an interest to learn. That drop out rate is more of a result of the personal incompetence or parties or unable to take the stress.

No doubt, if one already has good background in Anatmoy or Physio or Biochem , he might really excel those classes. But its not like if a guy who hasnt taken these classes will flunk out in med school.

And even in countries where medical schools who accept Students after their bachelors like some schools in australia. They dont require any science pre-reqs. all one has to do is finish their BS (irrespective of major and no science classes) and write their admission test which is like our SAT or ACT (apptitude test) and start med school.

Not all, but many of these countries weed out students before high school. THey take tests that determine the rest of their lives (maybe not india where you say they pay extra money to get into med school w/ poor scores) after these tests the ones with high scores can choose to take a more academic path and the others take a technical or other path. Not everyone has the same opportunity for college like in the US. SO that is part of the reason why they can go straight to Med school. Also, have you been to high school in the US? Some are phenomenal and most others are not even average. Many students in the US take education for granted, do not want to learn and this transpires into college and after. Since the academic climate is different here the rules are different as well.

And I think the advice given was for the particular poster who has not excelled thus far.

 

[jonwill]

They do good and many infact end up in USA competing with US medical grads in USMLEs and getting good residencies. So i think taking higherlevel science courses in undergrad and Masters all this is more of a convenience than a necessity.

WHAT? FMG's (foreign medical graduates) actually do very poorly in the US match for residency. Statistics show that MOST FMG's end up competing for the less competitive and less desired residencies. Foreign students that attend US medical schools are another story but they must adhere to the medical school requirements (college, MCAT, etc).

Where are you getting your info?

 

[mrw0927]

I think a great way to learn about podiatry and to actucally see what it is like, is to attend one of the week-long internship programs that some of the schools offer-- I know Ohio and Temple have them. I did the one at Ohio and spent a week shadowing third and fourth year students and spent time at the clinic and hospital. There were some people in my group who were not even sure what podiatry was before they came, and I found it to be a good experience.

 

[cool_vkb]

WHAT? FMG's (foreign medical graduates) actually do very poorly in the US match for residency. Statistics show that MOST FMG's end up competing for the less competitive and less desired residencies. Foreign students that attend US medical schools are another story but they must adhere to the medical school requirements (college, MCAT, etc).

Where are you getting your info?

Yeah man you are right, but its not that bad as many of us think. I use to think the same abt FMGs but a guy showed me this websites iam giving below. So yeah ofcourse they underperform and dont end up in higher specialities but at the end of the day they get their licenses and are able to practice same as US MDs.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/10275.html
(IMGs in each speciality)

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/211.html
(IMG facts)

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1550.html
(Total percentage of IMGS by country in USA)

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/tables/table2_06.pdf
Number of IMGs applicants and number of selected. Its like if 100 apply, atleast 50 do get in.

Now for a guy who wants to become an average MD, he can avoid the lenghty process of US education system (4 yrs undergrad, extra hard MCAT, then 4 yrs med school and those interviews,etc) and think of going to India or Phillipines and pay for his Medical School like $20000-40000, get his MD. and come back and get a residency in some average speciality. Ofcourse the path is no way as easy as US medical system. It will be really unfair if they are treated equally bcoz US medical school selection is like 10000 times more tougher than Foreign Schools. So yeah US med grads shud always have greater advantage over FMGs. I personally dont favor some FMGs bcoz some attended Private Medical schools in India paying huge donations rather getting high marks and ending up. But even those candidtaes pass USMLE man and do residencies along with US med grads.

But i was speaking in terms of Med school education that people in other countries join after High school and are succesfully graduating in their respective countries and practicing there. Ofcourse every country has their own Standards and as Krambas pointed out, may be the US high school system is designed differently than outside schools and thats why they have that 90 credit pre-med.

 

[cool_vkb]

Also, have you been to high school in the US? Some are phenomenal and most others are not even average. Many students in the US take education for granted, do not want to learn and this transpires into college and after. Since the academic climate is different here the rules are different as well.

And I think the advice given was for the particular poster who has not excelled thus far.

Unfortunately i never had the oppurtunity to attend US high school. i really wanted to attend one. When i came to USA, i saw that American Pie movie series first time. and i was very impressed by seeing those high school parties and prom,etc. Coming from a conservative country India, it was like tooo much for me. So i really wanted to go. but unfortunately never got the chance of attending here.🙁 and going to Prom. 🙁

So i really dont know how they teach and etc. Since you attended here, i guess u r right. And i said in my post. Every country has their own law and rules which they deisgn based on needs. So may be it is for that reason here Med school is after 4 yrs.

 

[SAFOOT]

You have to understand however that although the school system in the US is much more behind in the K-12. On most decathlons other countries totally outrank the US students, which is true. However there is a flip when it comes to education after high school. The US outranks just about any other nation at this level, so although it maybe true high school education isn't that great, college and beyond creates respectable the professionals are thats something to consider.

 

[cool_vkb]

You have to understand however that although the school system in the US is much more behind in the K-12. On most decathlons other countries totally outrank the US students, which is true. However there is a flip when it comes to education after high school. The US outranks just about any other nation at this level, so although it maybe true high school education isn't that great, college and beyond creates respectable the professionals are thats something to consider.

There is no doubt abt it man! I agree with you 100%. US education rocks. The research oppurtunities u get here are unmatchable. God bless America!, tats why u see so many people coming to study here and i hope Pod schools also rocks.👍

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

You have to understand however that although the school system in the US is much more behind in the K-12. On most decathlons other countries totally outrank the US students, which is true. However there is a flip when it comes to education after high school. The US outranks just about any other nation at this level, so although it maybe true high school education isn't that great, college and beyond creates respectable the professionals are thats something to consider.

This is b/c the USA feels that they must educate everyone. Other countries allow students that have no interest in shool to leave. Look at soccer, students that are great at soccer go to "development schools" not regular K-12.

I'm big on letting the tools quit school and only educating those who want it.

 

[cool_vkb]

This is b/c the USA feels that they must educate everyone. Other countries allow students that have no interest in shool to leave. Look at soccer, students that are great at soccer go to "development schools" not regular K-12.

I'm big on letting the tools quit school and only educating those who want it.

thats true. back home in India. We dont have Periods like GYM, MUSIC or Schools so actively participating in Sports. No Sir! No way.

May be some rich schools have it. but a majority of schools have evolved into specialized academies there. After 10th grade, the students usually join those academies depending where he wants to go like Medicine, Engineering, Civil Services or Armed Forces. And believe me there is nothing worse than being there. We get up at 6am for special classes and sleep at 11pm. And this should go unmentioned that IN SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES, OUR TEACHERS CAN RASISE HAND ON US AND GIVE US PUNSIHMENTS IF WE SCORE LOW ON TESTS believe me, Even in our final year at High School, our Physics sir used to ask us Formulaes in Class and if someone failed to answer he used to hit with a wooden stick on our hands and sometime Slap us. I wanted to apply for Med school there. So after my 10th i concentrated on pre-med and there was a special school just dedicated for students to enter medicine. Whole day is just spent of Physics, Chemistry,Biology and some time is given for English. Nothing else. Thats why when i came here. I felt like i came in paradaise. My cousins were like enjoying their lives here in high school.