Thinking about Med School

[Mercutio]

Well, my professional life just keeps getting worse. I made only 38% last year of what I made the year before, and no prospects for things getting better.

Going back to school doesn't seem terribly interesting but... My fiance made the most interesting offer. My college GPA was something like a 2.95, which isn't even close to good enough to get into a real medical school in the US... but it's plenty good enough to get me in to one of the medical schools that dot the various nations in the Caribbean - places like Ross Medical School.

Anyway, in my mind, I'm not seeing many drawbacks to doing this. Amy could continue her MD education there.

I can't see any reason to not do this. If nothing else, it's spending three years on a Tropical Island, not worrying about where my next job is coming from.

 

[flagreen]

Hmmm... three years is just for the degree right? Then there's how many more years on interning before you could practice?

 

[Santilli]

Be careful...

Having been really screwed by the policies, and professors, and support groups, at USF law school, I would strongly suggest you read carefully all of the academic requirements, the withdrawl policies, and the general tenor of the school.

If you move down there, and you don't get along with the school, make sure you have the money to get off the island.

gs

 

[CougTek]

Are you asking for reasons not to do it?

If you think your future looks brighter in Medecine, then by all means choose that path. I think no one knows what to do better than you. I hope for you than you do it because medecine passions you, not for the income associated with this profession.

Follow your instinct and whatever you choose, don't look back afterward to think 'What if I would have done otherwise...' That will kill you.


P.S. If you think you won't have a proper internet connection in the Caribbean and that it might limit your involvement here, then it's a no go. We need your contribution here ;-)

 

[Mercutio]

A year of internship + at least one year of residency (for GP/family practice). Neurosurgery is 10+ years in residency. I don't know what I'd do. Something that isn't life-threatening (pathology, dermatology, sports medicine etc) on a daily basis, I suppose.

 

[Santilli]

Why would you want to go to a tropical island(which tropical

island, and forsake your wonderful place near Detroit?

Seriously: check the tuition, the placement rates, the difference in degrees this school offers.

Do your homework.

Lower teir law schools are ok, but I'm not sure the same is true of med schools.

Find out what the tuition is, how you pay it, financial aid avaliable, and let me know.

:wink:




gs

 

[Mercutio]

Yes, I'm looking for reasons not to. It's a pretty extreme decision.

I'd really like to get some stability in my life. I don't really have any. Doctors have a future regardless of anything that happens in life. I'm sure I could be a good doctor. Maybe not something I have a passion for, but I know I can do well.

Plus, I really hate snow and three years without snow would be three very good years indeed.

 

[Santilli]

Get an internship, and get an idea of what you are in for...

Go to a hospital, and ask to follow a doctor you know around.

Do you really want to spend 4-5 years to learn you can't stand the profession?

My girlfriend is currently going through that with family law.

She just isn't tough enough to deal with the bad parts, and is too compasionate to make money at it.

She can't seem to get herself to bill for the hours she spends, trying to comfort, and help her clients, through very hard times.

I like DA work. Will I ever be able to get a job in an office, in an area I would like to work?
With a degree from a lower class school, like USF, or the like, it depends.

See how the Ross degree limits your ability to move around the country, as my CBA law degree limits me for 5 years, to practicing in Kalifornia.

gs

 

[Santilli]

Did I forget the 100k debt part...?

Check on loan rates, and paybacks, etc.

Thanks to MSFT, any income I had from my sort of trust, is gone.

That's caused all kinds of problems.

Father Bill wanted to approve 2% loans for school. Check on that...

gs

 

[Mercutio]

I've actually already done the four years of training for a job I don't really want. In my case it's a BS in Computer Science. The only reason my diploma is hanging up is because it covers a dark spot on the wall. Getting an MD is at least something halfway interesting to talk about.

Tuition is actually less than what Amy pays per-semester for Indiana U - $27k annually compared to $30k, and incredibly cheap housing - can't be worse than what I'm in now.

There's a big old FAQ for Ross specifically. I read it. I'm satisfied. Looks like more of their students are accepted for residency than most schools in the US. It also looks like only two years on an island. Oh well. Two years without snow.

 

[Santilli]

Medical school, like law school, is a run through the...

bastards, with whips, who want to screw you.

Is the end worth the means, and, can you put up with being whipped?

gs

 

[Mercutio]

... and that's different from my previous college experience... how?
Greg, I'm probably more bitter about my time in school than you are about yours.

 

[Santilli]

Mercutio: Love you baby, but, go into it with your eyes open

Nothing is more vicious, then upper level academics.
Be what they want you to be, know what that is, lie to them, and screw em after you leave.

GS

 

[DrunkenBastard]

Just check that whatever degree you get will be recognised in the USA (that's if you are going back there)

 

[Mercutio]

Not a problem. The second half of the training is conducted at teaching hospitals in the US. Students at Ross, at least, do pretty well on their boards, too.

 

[Cliptin]

If you shoot for dermatology or what ever it is that deals with skin cancer, you could move to Oz.

 

[time]

Mercutio, you need to decide if this decision is purely financial or whether you like people enough to stick your hand up their ass (or whatever).

If you are being honest with yourself and truly see youreslf as a doctor, then I think you should go for it. Professional futures in IT look fairly grim.

Yes, you could move to Oz, but you'd want to get that specialization first. Unlike IT workers, specialist medical practicioners in Australia still make good money, although nowhere near what their upmarket counterparts in the US do.

 

[The Giver]

Whatever you do avoid Proctology. It's nothing but one A--hole after another in that specialty. :nono:





Ok.. so it's a real bad joke. But at least it's on topic?

 

[Santilli]

Flat out lied too

Mercutio:
Keep in mind that USF Law School advertized the school as a Christian-Catholic school.

The exact reverse is the situation, with an entire faculty that pretty much despises the Catholic Church, and has had wars with the jesuit priests that run the regular school.

I saw behavior out of law professors that was so abusive, and against the Catholic traditions, and teachings, that it makes me sick to think about it.

The first writing class was about a black guy that wanted to change his name to the n word.

And the next had something to do with a law suit filed against a priest for sexual abuse, or some such crap.

That teacher is no longer at that school.

His excuse was, "Well I'm gay too."

So that made it alright, and rosy, and PC...


Anyway, be careful, do extensive review, and, remember, that little tropical island may not afford the protection of a US Constitution, and laws.

gs

 

[Prof.Wizard]

As a med student just let me tell you that it's a really brave "thought" (I'm not saying decision yet)...

How old are you? Well, it doesn't matter, but bear in mind that as you grow you want less and less to sit on a desk to learn preclinical (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, etc.) stuff... And you are in the US fella, you need to pass USMLEs and shit like that... no easy stuff for the faint-hearted.

BTW, I wanna become a neurosurgeon. The official (ACGME) residency is five years after PGY-1... This is 6 years excluding the fellowship (if you actually go on and do it). Most good residencies in the US durate 7 years though.
It's 6 years in the EU too (UEMS)... Well, as I said, the minimum...

Calculate some $250000-300000 per year after 10 years in private practice. For medium performance. :wink:

 

[Mercutio]

My fiance is in her second year of med school now. She taught A&P to undergrads while she was attaining her masters, and I helped set up lesson plans and did dry runs through her labs. I'm good for Microbiology (helped Amy study all through her degree. Go on, ask me about gram-positive spore-forming heliotrophes) and Organic Chem, too - hell, I tutored Amy through Organic (she hates chemistry) when she was an undergrad.

In short, I hold no fear in the life sciences.

You can look at the "how old are you thread", can't you?

I haven't made up my mind yet, either. Amy does a TON of work to stay where she is (she's second in her class of forty students). I'm sure it's worth it, though.

 

[Santilli]

your call...

I have no doubt you can do it, and, medicine is really about helping people. In the time I have known you, through this forum, you have more then gone out of your way to help and aid others. It's clear you enjoy doing this with computers.

How do you think you would feel doing this with something that could help save, or extend life?

I think it's a perfect match, and I have no doubt you have the intelligence, and will, to finish, and accomplish your goal.

DO IT!!!

GS

 

[Prof.Wizard]

My doubts weren't about your intelligence or skills, Mercutio, they were about your will... if you believe you're strong to resist the loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong path of the medical school (especially felt in the first and last year) then you can survive...

I just hope you do the right choice cause I've seen many colleagues dropping...

And if you need advice or suggestions regarding the neurosciences field just write me a mail... I know almost everything regarding this stuff! 8)

 

[time]

I think Mercutio is planning on using credit from his BSc towards his medical degree.

So he's not looking down the barrel of 5 or 6 years, just 2.

 

[Prof.Wizard]

I don't think you can do that. Afterall, in the United States all medical students do have a BS/BA when applying to a med school, right?

Med school should be at least 5 years. I think 4 years is too little in the USA. But then again, who can prove that American med graduates are not the best? :-?