Help! Is it too late for me to even think about going to medical school? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

DrJ · 03-17-2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirant

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?

3.3 will not do it for you. Heck, a 3.6-3.7 probably won't do it either.

U of C is sweet b/c you can have a brutal MCAT and still get an interview or have a lower GPA and make up for it in other areas. Basically, there are no "hard" cut offs (IE need a R in verbal reasoning) so that is really beneficial to a lot of applicants.

Cain · 03-17-2011, 11:44 PM

You are still insanely young man, take your time to figure things out.

I ended up going back to school for a 2nd degree and am much older than you are, so don't worry about age. It's a lot of work to get into medicine, but if that is what you are aiming for, go for it.

Fozzie_DeBear · 03-17-2011, 11:44 PM

...you can do it...just don't stand in your own way

DrJ · 03-17-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

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.

Sorry to make 3 posts but I'm tired and don't want to edit them all.

Australian med is quite easy to get into. If you have no preference for where you practice, then that might be a "quicker" route. Pretty tough to come back to Canada so I really wouldn't entertain the international med but you can definitely do MSF that way. Here's a good article:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/...-overseas.html

KootenayFlamesFan · 03-17-2011, 11:55 PM

21 years old............you're still incredibly young. Don't give it a second thought. If you want to do it, do it. If you're regretting it now, just imagine how much regret you'll be filled with in your 50's or 60's.

Phanuthier · 03-18-2011, 01:25 AM

You're young. Go for what you want.

kirant · 03-18-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrJ

3.3 will not do it for you. Heck, a 3.6-3.7 probably won't do it either.

That's what my post said...?

Table 5 · 03-18-2011, 07:22 AM

Don't listen to anyone here, you're way over the hill. I'd give up right up now and head for Florida to take advantage of the few lean years you have left.

billybob123 · 03-18-2011, 07:34 AM

There's always the Caribbean as well - easier admissions standards, school in a small place for a few years with an enormous tuition bill, but you wind up at the same place. It's worth considering. Clerkships are done in the US as far as I know (my brother-in-law's brother is doing it in Grenada) and you can apply for residency in Canada.

WilsonFourTwo · 03-18-2011, 07:45 AM

I didn't start my degree until I was 30, and will be 36 or 37 when I finally graduate (part-time student, full-time career). 7 years of work just to have the opportunity to try law school.

The point is that you'll ALWAYS have the opportunity to get it done, but now is probably your easiest/best opportunity. You could have your MD before I have my undergraduate degree.

More important than anything else........YOUR WORST CASE SCENARIO IS:

Try, fail and find yourself a very well educated degree holder in his early-to-mid-twenties. News flash.....you'd still be ahead of the game, lucky devil.

GreenLantern · 03-18-2011, 08:50 AM

I have seen what a lot of med students/residents have gone through from the outside looking in, and I do not envy them. At the same time though they get to do something they are passionate about, so good for them.

UofS is working on a huge expansion to their health sciences department, you might want to look into that as I am sure there will be a lot of opportunities in the near future.

Also, be prepared to move. You might be lucky enough to do Med school in Van, but you will be in tough to do any type of specialty near your home. A few of the residents I know are originally from Van, and are moving out East for a few years very soon as well to complete it.

You also have zero choice in this matter, you can apply where ever you want, but where you get accepted, and then moved, is completely out of your hands. If you can't deal with that fact then you should re think this. I say this because I have watched it torture more than a few people first hand.

But as far as being old, not even close brahski. You have all the time in the world, I didn't finish my undergrad until I was 25. You will be fine.

troutman · 03-18-2011, 09:24 AM

Nearly everyone in my Poli Sci class wrote the LSAT. Not the most useful degree, unless you speak four languages, but a good stepping stone to other programs.

You are young, and the world needs doctors.

Maybe go travel for a year first.

NuclearFart · 03-18-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybob123

There's always the Caribbean as well - easier admissions standards, school in a small place for a few years with an enormous tuition bill, but you wind up at the same place. It's worth considering. Clerkships are done in the US as far as I know (my brother-in-law's brother is doing it in Grenada) and you can apply for residency in Canada.

If you can, I'd stay away from any Caribbean med school if you want to return to Canada. That place is the butt of all medical degree jokes and you will be prejudiced against by the stigma.

That CBC article is somewhat misleading too; of all the IMG's I've ever met who actually got a no-strings-attached Canadian residency spot, nearly all had already done a full residency elsewhere. Granted I am exposed primarily to specialists in a metropolitan setting, and there are likely some IMG spots in family medicine or less competitive specialties if you agree to a 5+ year return of service contract in an under-serviced area.

If you choose embark on this path, best of luck, but you better be 100% certain this is something you want to pursue until the end - it is a very long, intensive road wrought with sacrifices.

SeeBass · 03-18-2011, 01:41 PM

I would think somebody looking for career advice in a hockey based chat forum shouldn't be a DR.

NuclearFart · 03-18-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeBass

I would think somebody looking for career advice in a hockey based chat forum shouldn't be a DR.

Do you think doctors don't like hockey or something? As long as he doesn't take advice from The_Flame he'll be OK.

SeeBass · 03-18-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Do you think doctors don't like hockey or something? As long as he doesn't take advice from The_Flame he'll be OK.

I only wish that there was better forums to discuss education,career advice if only DRs had a chat page too.

Seriously this guy is just trying to tell us so he could be a DR if he wants.

Kybosh · 03-18-2011, 04:31 PM

Doogie Howser finished med school when he was 14. You're already really far behind.

Ozy_Flame · 03-18-2011, 04:52 PM

Don't worry if you don't get in. There's always Hollywood Upstairs Medical College.

WilsonFourTwo · 03-18-2011, 04:56 PM

^^ Seriously, great school. I learned that the leg bone's connected to the hip bone, the hip bone's connected to the...red thing. The red thing's connected to my...wristwatch...uh oh.

FiftyBelow · 03-18-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeBass

I only wish that there was better forums to discuss education,career advice if only DRs had a chat page too.

Seriously this guy is just trying to tell us so he could be a DR if he wants.

Take is easy, I didn't mean to annoy you with my post. What makes Calgarypuck so great is not just hockey discussions but the wealth of knowledge that is available from the diverse backgrounds of its members. I've been reading this site for nearly 10 years and it always amazes me how CP has been able to provide some excellent information in a broad range of topics. You have doctors, athletes, media people, lawyers, tradesmen, car salesmen etc. all willing to give their input.

With that said, its not like I'm going to decide my career moves solely on what's been said in this thread. Its merely a great way to get more info - often useful ones at that.

Once again, thanks everyone for the advice and apologies for possibly coming off as a drama queen. Its just one of those things that's been deeply on my mind since I was a kid. I realize that I'm still young, but sometimes when your friends and family are getting in at the idealized age, combined with the countless failure stories floating around, you sometimes can't help but get intimidated.