Help! Is it too late for me to even think about going to medical school?

[FiftyBelow]

I'm fairly close to finishing my BA Political Science and all of a sudden I'm starting to have second thoughts about what I want to do with my life. I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid up until high school. Before University started, I had to make a decision between the science route and social sciences route. I graduated with high 90s in every high school class I took, so my natural abilities weren't biased towards any particular area. While I was leaning towards medicine, I was lacking some self-confidence and didn't think that I could commit myself to a suicidal process that is a medical career.

I decided to try anyway and went into BSc Honors Immunology. However, being a typical lazy first-year student who let himself get distracted, I ended up doing fairly average. Not spectacular, but not terrible. My low confidence got lower, and I left sciences for political sciences.

So 2nd year goes well... so does 3rd. However, during those years everything around me seems to be slowly reigniting my old passion for medicine. I tried to ignore such feelings but they only persisted and got stronger. Every visit to the hospital/clinics, every image of a patient that I see, the news I hear about MSF (I used to dream about working for them) and medical related news, always caught my attention and would linger in my mind.

Here I am, ready to graduate. All of a sudden my guard breaks and I can no longer deny what I'm meant to do. I'm regretting everything that I've done thus far. I feel stupid for not having the cajones and drive to suck it up in first year. While I understood that the road would be tough, I should have rose to the challenge instead of cowering. I admit I totally failed in that respect.

However, I've put that all behind me and I've realized that I'm still 21 years old. Still young enough to make a change. I also realized that if I don't pick a profession that I'm truly passionate about, then I will never be happy. 4 years maturer, I feel like I'm ready to go through the grueling process and sacrifice of becoming a doctor. I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

A preliminary assessment of my competitive qualifications yields that I have a lot of work to do. While I have a majority of the core-requisites for medicine (from first year), I did fairly average in those courses and in one case, O.Chem, I got a C+. Furthermore, my volunteer record is virtually non-existent. As well I'm going to be an Arts graduate competing with science grads.... I do know, however, that I'm ready to put my foot down to amend all of these, no matter how long it will take.

Is it too late for me? Am I out of my mind and just another hopeless doctor-wannabe? Should I just forget about it and choose a more realistic path?

I apologize in advance for this long post, and possible disorganized and messy read. Any advice is helpful, particularly for anyone who has gone through the process.

[flylock shox]

Nothing unrealistic about your ambition of becoming a doctor if you've got the work ethic for it. Better to live the life you want than regret the life you lived.

Good on you if you go for it. You couldn't pay me enough to do that job.

[Cole436]

Check your degree navigator to see how many credits are applicable, I'd guess at least a year would transfer, but med school is beyond competitive; a 3.8 GPA or higher is needed to apply.

[PIMking]

my fiances dermatologist didn't go to medical school until she was 40. So you can go back whenever you feel is right. Remember that it's not a race to finish line.

[FiftyBelow]

Originally Posted by Cole436

Check your degree navigator to see how many credits are applicable, I'd guess at least a year would transfer, but med school is beyond competitive; a 3.8 GPA or higher is needed to apply.

I'm not thinking of transferring. I'm going to graduate first then apply. Often 3.8 is the competitive average. But so far I've seen minimum of 3.0 to 3.7 required to apply, depending on the school and where your present residency is. I wish some of these schools would post their quartile statistics.

[Yanda]

People with the right motivation and drive can do anything they want. If your commited to do what you need to do to achieve your goals, with hard work you will succeed

[Kipper is King]

My cousin studied music well into her late 20s. Now, she's assisting in open-heart surgeries, on the brink of becoming a cardiologist herself. You can totally do it! Good luck!

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Cole436

Check your degree navigator to see how many credits are applicable, I'd guess at least a year would transfer, but med school is beyond competitive; a 3.8 GPA or higher is needed to apply.

3.3 is the U of C min. However, I've been told by a couple of the resident screening staff at the U of C that there's basically nowhere in Canada/US where you can get in under 3.5-3.6. And you need a tonne of extracurricular stuff to make you look good at that GPA.

Anyways, I'd apply. I'm thinking of doing the same once I get out of Engineering, just for kicks. If I get in, awesome. If I don't, well, at least you know you've tried, right?

[ricoFlame]

LOL, you're 21...you'd be the youngest in med school by a couple years, you've got lots of time, your life to this point hasn't bee a waste of time...calm down.

[Adayinthe]

I am assuming you live in Australia.
The admissions process between Australia and Canada are different, so you have to do the research on your end and figure out, education wise, what you need to be considered for admission.

Like everyone else, I wish you nothing but the best in this, and strongly encourage you to follow what you feel.

After 4 years of school I found myself with a marketing degree and absolutely zero desire to use it practically. The knowledge and experience I gained finishing the degree has been valuable, but I am back in school, completing an undergrad in social sciences, where my passion always has been.

Do not deny yourself what you desire.

[Hockey_Girl]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

A preliminary assessment of my competitive qualifications yields that I have a lot of work to do. While I have a majority of the core-requisites for medicine (from first year), I did fairly average in those courses and in one case, O.Chem, I got a C+. Furthermore, my volunteer record is virtually non-existent. As well I'm going to be an Arts graduate competing with science grads.... I do know, however, that I'm ready to put my foot down to amend all of these, no matter how long it will take.

Don't quote me on this, but I think some medical schools do not favor any particular degree, just as long as you have the prerequisites.

I'm not sure where you would like to go for medical school and this might not apply to you, but I heard that some Arts students have done better on the MCAT than Science students. This is probably because a large part of the MCAT is reading comprehension, and Arts students are typically better at that than Science students. Of course, it is obviously better if you have a good understanding of the material.

For these reasons, I wouldn't worry about competing with Science grads.

Also, I think it's awesome that you are actually taking the time to figure out what you want to do.

If medicine is what you really want to go into, I say go for it!

[NuclearFart]

Do you consider yourself too young because you can be in med school right after high school in Australia?

In North America you need at least 2 years undergrad in something, but the overwhelming majority of entrants have at least completed an undergrad degree, and maybe just under half of those have additional graduate degrees, while the average age wavers around 24-27ish. Most med schools also seem to have a token old fart (45+), so you're not even close to being too old. As for your non-science background, schools like McMaster actually tend to like those kinds of people.

If you truly want to pursue it, there's always options. Tenacity seems to be the most rewarded trait in this regard, as most entrants had already applied at least once before acceptance. Failing that there are plenty of non-North American "med schools" that will gladly take your money as well, but recognize that you will have a very hard time entering the North American graduate medical system if that's your ultimate goal.

[wooohooo]

You're still young but just know you're at the beginning of a very long journey. You really have to have your heart in it.

Most schools looks at 1. GPA 2. MCAT 3. Extracurricular.

There are schools that favor more GPA for example UA, or more round student/mature student (UC). So you need to look at what they look at but in reality, all schools need a high GPA (above 3.5) and high MCAT and extracurricular activities.

So try to raise your pre-reqs as they count as double (prereq average and total gpa) and get a solid MCAT score. Also for extracurricular they like people that have leadership skills, so if you're the president of some club you get points for that. Volunteer at the hospital, shadow a doctor and a really good one is do research for a professor and try to get published. Huge points there.

So after that, you're pretty much set to have an interview and then that in itself is another story.

If you have a lot of money, go to school in Ireland, Australia or the States. The only difficulty in coming back is getting a residency but if you're okay with working in some small tiny town with 300 people you should be okay. Again it's really how committed you are.

PM me if you have anymore questions or ask them here

[wooohooo]

I should also add that whether you did your degree in sciences or arts doesn't matter too much. In fact some schools like that because you have interests in something else. Just make sure you get good marks in your prereqs.

[FiftyBelow]

Thanks for the input so far, everyone. They are very encouraging. For the record, I'm not actually from Australia. I was there for exchange, but I'm back in Vancouver (forgot to change my location). First and foremost, I would prefer to a medical school education in North America. I'll probably try some Australian schools as well.

I admit, it seems ridiculous hearing a 21 year old semi-freaking out... but knowing full well the admission process and the typical admitted applicants, I'm quite sure that I'm more of an outlier. I have some friends who have either gone through the process or have been recently accepted. Not surprisingly, they all match the 3.8-4.0 GPA, nearly perfect MCAT score, science grad, and impressive extracurricular, demographic. All of these people are entering or have entered med at 21/22.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

Thanks for the input so far, everyone. They are very encouraging. For the record, I'm not actually from Australia. I was there for exchange, but I'm back in Vancouver (forgot to change my location). First and foremost, I would prefer to a medical school education in North America. I'll probably try some Australian schools as well.

I admit, it seems ridiculous hearing a 21 year old semi-freaking out... but knowing full well the admission process and the typical admitted applicants, I'm quite sure that I'm more of an outlier. I have some friends who have either gone through the process or have been recently accepted. Not surprisingly, they all match the 3.8-4.0 GPA, nearly perfect MCAT score, science grad, and impressive extracurricular, demographic. All of these people are entering or have entered med at 21/22.

If you look at any medical class there's a diverse class of students. You have anyone from getting in second year to people in their 40's. Even if you get in when you're young doesn't mean you're mature enough to handle the rigors of medical school. Getting into your specialty is also very difficult and things like plastics, derm are very very hard to get into and you really need to show you're in the 99th percentile. Often the more 'mature' students will get matched with the more difficult specialties IMO.

[Caged Great]

Don't worry about it whatsoever. Even if you were 25, you could easily do it as well. No big deal.

Have fun with all the studying.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

I've realized that I'm still 21 years old.

As of a few years ago, the average age of a 1st year med student at UBC was 26.

Honestly, when I saw the thread title, I was expecting you to be in your mid-30s.

[robocop]

A: 21 is super super young and means nothing. You thinking you're too old at 21 is almost comical, not to be insulting, just to snap you out of it. I had a buddy who toured as a musician until he was 32 then went to med school, my aunt just became a lawyer at 45. A buddy from high school who is 27 just started his second undergrad because he decided he's going to be a vet.

B: If you want to become a doctor you should take these steps, my roommate got in and this what he did:

i:work towards another degree in something that has a future, something that interests you that you can parlay into a career in the worst case scenario that you don't get in (this is generally something in natural sciences)
ii: while in your second degree work your tail off and keep a 90+ average
iii: get the mcat books early in the summer, get a slack job and study your balls off the entire summer, the mcat will be harder than you think
iv: you will most likely have to take one year of nat. sci prereqs, then take the mcat late that summer, then take another year so you can apply
v: get tons of experience with the interview process, this is generally the hardest part, a handful of my friends didn't get accepted because they failed the interviews while having amazing marks and acing the mcat
vi: get a good written reference from a family friend or business associate who is a certified professional
vii: if you do well on the mcat and your marks are high apply and get ready for the interview, what they are really testing you on is your ability to form rational decisions in high stress situations. I had a friend who had a 98% average in university but failed the interview 3 times because he had very little critical thinking ability.

this is only a blueprint but I've seen maybe 40 people try and of those 40 only 3 got in because the rest of them screwed up one of the steps along the way. Good luck, you can do it if you want to, you just have to want it bad enough

[DrJ]

Buddy! Never give up on your dream.

PM me and I can help you out. I've helped a handful during the interview process get in and I'm very familiar with the process. I've also helped applicants get interviews. I'm even contemplating starting a company to help pay for school but I'll give you free advice :P.

I would be happy to help you out and if you want to share some personal details (marks, extracurricular, etc) then I can make it more personal.

Don't worry, I'm not a arrogant like a certain The_Flame. :O (If you are reading this The_Flame, I don't mean to offend but that was a pretty hilarious but arrogant comment)