- Joined
- Aug 20, 2017
- Messages
- 7
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Hi guys. If you have a minute and enjoy opining on people's life choices, I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether I should go to medical school.
Personal background--my parents are academic scientists and I grew up in a town where the largest employer was a teaching hospital. I was around doctors and their families a lot, and always had it in mind as a potential path. I went to a good liberal arts college where I majored in things I liked but don't want to pursue and just finished my coursework at a top law school. In law school I experienced a shock that basically led me to collapse after my first year (bf left me--I know. Hey, I was upset). As I recovered and got more in touch with my values, I wanted to change paths. (It's also been quite difficult emotionally so I'm not sure how much that's distorted things or whether it's permanently changed my feelings about law.) I realized I was more driven by nurturing than prestige or money and missed science, which I had done a bit in college. My school was wonderful in a lot of ways but I am tired of not knowing what fork to use or how to talk about Israel like I got my Ph.D. in its history over the dinner table. I want to do something where it is enough to be humane, smart, competent, and you can be very successful as someone who gets good independent results and doesn't see rank.
Factors--
- I will be a bit old. Not super old, but a bit old. I'm about 29 now. I can take the MCAT and take the 3 courses I need this coming year, then apply, meaning I will start at about 31. Worried about having a social life in a new place, having kids in my 30s.
- Need to take 3 courses--Bio II + orgo sequence. My science GPA was about 3.8 if I'm remembering right, 3.8something. What is best way to do this, assuming I get a job doing something in a major city for next 2 years? Would there be a benefit to taking more classes than I need if I do well in them?
- What jobs should I be looking at? I was thinking health policy? Can I work at a firm for the money or will that look weird on apps?
- I'm already in huge debt. If I go to med school, I am thinking either state school or military scholarship. Any thoughts or other ideas? Honestly I still am kind of a prestige *****.
- Want to travel and work with ppl in need. What is the best way to do this as a doctor?
Personal background--my parents are academic scientists and I grew up in a town where the largest employer was a teaching hospital. I was around doctors and their families a lot, and always had it in mind as a potential path. I went to a good liberal arts college where I majored in things I liked but don't want to pursue and just finished my coursework at a top law school. In law school I experienced a shock that basically led me to collapse after my first year (bf left me--I know. Hey, I was upset). As I recovered and got more in touch with my values, I wanted to change paths. (It's also been quite difficult emotionally so I'm not sure how much that's distorted things or whether it's permanently changed my feelings about law.) I realized I was more driven by nurturing than prestige or money and missed science, which I had done a bit in college. My school was wonderful in a lot of ways but I am tired of not knowing what fork to use or how to talk about Israel like I got my Ph.D. in its history over the dinner table. I want to do something where it is enough to be humane, smart, competent, and you can be very successful as someone who gets good independent results and doesn't see rank.
Factors--
- I will be a bit old. Not super old, but a bit old. I'm about 29 now. I can take the MCAT and take the 3 courses I need this coming year, then apply, meaning I will start at about 31. Worried about having a social life in a new place, having kids in my 30s.
- Need to take 3 courses--Bio II + orgo sequence. My science GPA was about 3.8 if I'm remembering right, 3.8something. What is best way to do this, assuming I get a job doing something in a major city for next 2 years? Would there be a benefit to taking more classes than I need if I do well in them?
- What jobs should I be looking at? I was thinking health policy? Can I work at a firm for the money or will that look weird on apps?
- I'm already in huge debt. If I go to med school, I am thinking either state school or military scholarship. Any thoughts or other ideas? Honestly I still am kind of a prestige *****.
- Want to travel and work with ppl in need. What is the best way to do this as a doctor?
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