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[Zapages]

I see my room-mate, a med student, and his course load is so easy compared to mine, a pharmacy student. I mean we have to learn so much BS that it is just stupid.

For example, we have to memorize drug cards and some definitions for the sake of memorization for having them on a quiz. There is no reasoning at all as we don't know a thing about them except the facts written on the cards.

Then some of our professors(both MD and Pharmacy professors teach us) are really nonchalant about us being like 2nd class citizens and how we have to check over the the doctors do. The more I learn about it in the class, the more the middle man I feel like it and less interested I become in this subject.

Hell I am thinking of dropping out and trying the whole MCAT thing again because I am really not getting into the whole pharmaceutical thing minus the research part, which was first reason that I entered to do a Pharm D. Like we learn something only partially, but not the whole thing. This does not motivate me at all and that's why I my grades have suck so far here in Pharmacy school. If I want to learn or teach us something they teach us the whole thing instead just bits and pieces of it as it does not make sense like how it is medical school. Plus I used my room-mate's book once and my God the book laid everything down so we could memorize and learn about it perfectly withou any trouble. Unlike our textbooks which are filled garble that is not required on the test.

What do you guys think? I mean its a huge investment of time, energy, and money to go through all this. Would Medical look down upon me if I dropped out or got dismissed and applied to Medical school for the following year?

Basically there is no reasoning behind what we are being taught and that makes me a bit depressed compared to Med students as they are have a basis why they are being taught those particular subjects.

PS: Also I am getting more and more interested in the pathology of things then just the physiology that we are taught.

PSS: I did take the the MCATs with little study while I was an undergraduate last year. I did terrible on them because of lack of study.

Bachelors of Science: in Biochemistry and Biology
GPA: 3.536
Graduated with Honors (Cum Laude)...
Its just I need a good MCAT score to get in, which I did not get when I tried. That's why I took the PCATs and got into Pharmacy school as backup after hating working in retail Pharmacy for a year and half.
I did a lot of research as an Undergraduate (on fungus growth more of a Bioinformatic project, and Spermogenesis writing SOPs, using TEMS, and stuff like that), and received a fellowship for a summer research project aka SURF as well.

 

[ahoyhoy]

I could not even imagine a scenario in which professional school was more difficult than the 10+ years of training you need to go through to get your MD. I'm only an undergrad, and my only experience with graduate level studies is through what my Dad has told me about Medical School, but from what I hear, it is extremely time consuming.

If the subject matter interests you and your willing to devote the next 6+ years of your life to training along with little salary and a huge pile of debt, then more power to you.

 

[Zapages]

I could not even imagine a scenario in which professional school was more difficult than the 10+ years of training you need to go through to get your MD. I'm only an undergrad, and my only experience with graduate level studies is through what my Dad has told me about Medical School, but from what I hear, it is extremely time consuming.

If the subject matter interests you and your willing to devote the next 6+ years of your life to training along with little salary and a huge pile of debt, then more power to you.

True, but its the same with pharmacy which I found out later wards... Its 3 years of classes then a year of rotations. Then 1 to 2 years of residencies if you want to do anything good and you might have to do multiple residencies if you are like me who wants to go into research aka a fellowship and BCPS if I continue on this path. :\ That would be about 3 more years plus another 3 to 6 years. :\

 

[Loki]

I see my room-mate, a med student, and his course load is so easy compared to mine, a pharmacy student. I mean we have to learn so much BS that it is just stupid.

Uhh, what country are you in, because that certainly isn't the case in the US. :lol Not that pharm school isn't difficult, because it is, but it's not med school difficult.

 

[Zapages]

Uhh, what country are you in, because that certainly isn't the case in the US. :lol Not that pharm school isn't difficult, because it is, but it's not med school difficult.

I am in US... My room-mate is DO student though and its PBL based.

I find the stuff he is learning more interesting and from the books he use are a lot better than ours...

PS: I don't like the idea of our professors just telling us read this and memorize for the exam with no explanation. It sucks. :|

 

[Fuzzery]

Ever consider a PhD in biochem?

 

[devilhawk]

I am in US... My room-mate is DO student though and its PBL based.

I find the stuff he is learning more interesting and from the books he use are a lot better than ours...

PS: I don't like the idea of our professors just telling us read this and memorize for the exam with no explanation. It sucks. :|

Sounds like your school sucks. Also, DO isn't MD.

 

[Zapages]

Ever consider a PhD in biochem?

I did, but it is too much of a hazzle and I don't want to be like my TAs, too many bad memories. Its like the feelings of been there done that type of thing used to do that when I was doing research as a Senior and teaching fellow grad students... :lol

I used dissect Drosophilia flies and if ever do MD, I would like to become surgeon or something that is hands on like an Anesthesiologist or Radiologist (which is just interrupting the x-rays)...

Sounds like your school sucks. Also, DO isn't MD.

True, but in the US DO = MD... But its debatable. :lol

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

I am in US... My room-mate is DO student though and its PBL based.

I find the stuff he is learning more interesting and from the books he use are a lot better than ours...

PS: I don't like the idea of our professors just telling us read this and memorize for the exam with no explanation. It sucks. :|

DO isn't MD. Plus, I'm in med school now (MD) and we have to memorize tons of stuff seemingly randomly as well.

 

[Loki]

I am in US... My room-mate is DO student though and its PBL based.

I find the stuff he is learning more interesting and from the books he use are a lot better than ours...

PS: I don't like the idea of our professors just telling us read this and memorize for the exam with no explanation. It sucks. :|

DO is different from MD here, as you might know. I've heard mixed things about it. But the general consensus is that allopathic (MD) medical schools are more difficult than osteopathic (DO) med schools.

Seems you just want a greater depth and breadth of knowledge than what you're getting, which is commendable. You have the background and GPA for it, so just study for the MCAT and knock it out of the park (you may also have to do some extracurriculars, e.g. research/volunteering, but your pharm background might make up for that). I also think that your reason for wanting to switch over will play well in interviews, since it shows that you're dedicated and want to expand your horizons.

 

[Zapages]

DO is different from MD here, as you might know. I've heard mixed things about it. But the general consensus is that allopathic (MD) medical schools are more difficult than osteopathic (DO) med schools.

Seems you just want a greater depth and breadth of knowledge than what you're getting, which is commendable. You have the background and GPA for it, so just study for the MCAT and knock it out of the park (you may also have to do some extracurriculars, e.g. research/volunteering, but your pharm background might make up for that). I also think that your reason for wanting to switch over will play well in interviews, since it shows that you're dedicated and want to expand your horizons.

Thanks for giving me the courage man. I am just afraid that as I am not putting any effort right now that I might get dismissed from a professional school because of the reasons stated or I could just drop out right? Then everything won't look that bad for the interview for MD school...

Yeah that's what I think too about MD vs DO. But roommate is a stanch DO supporter as he tells me he can try for both DO/MD residencies... lol

Here are some of extracurricular activities:

Presentations:
SURF Fellowship Roundtable Presentation at Seton Hall University (July 26, 2007)
Petersheim Academic Exposition (April 15-17 2008) - 1 Presentation 1) Spermagenesis
Petersheim Academic Exposition (April 15-17 2007)- 2 presentations - 1) Spermagenesis and Fungi Growth Simulator (1st Author)

Research:
Fall Semester Research-continued from Jan 07: (September 2007- May 08)
SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) (Summer 2007) <-Received a 4,000 grant to do research...
Spring Semester Research: Spermatogenesis(January 2007 – Present)
Summer Research: Fungus Growth Simulator (April 2006 – August 2006)

Activities:
Biology Society, Seton Hall University, President, (Spring 2007 - Spring 08)
Biology Society, Seton Hall University, Website & Advertising Committee Chairman, (Fall 2007 - Spring 08)
AED Pre-Medicine Honor Society , Seton Hall University, Website Chairman, (Spring 2007 - Spring 08)
American Chemical Society,Seton Hall University,Website Chairman & Representative,(Fall 2007-Spring 08)
MAPS, Seton Hall University, Website and Internet Relationship Representative, (Fall 2007 – Spring 08)
Prince of Persia Legacy, Webmaster and Owner, (Spring 2000 – Present)

Accolades:
-Invited and Guest Speaker for the Seton Hall University's 150 year anniversary to discuss my research and experience at Seton Hall University. (April 2008)
-Hub Digital Living Magazine:
Article accolades Prince of Persia Legacy in Hub Digital Living Magazine (April 2006)

Worked at Walgreen's Pharmacy from Jan 07 to August 08...

Are my activities good or should I do some more???

 

[Particle Physicist]

Yeah that's what I think too about MD vs DO. But roommate is a stanch DO supporter as he tells me he can try for both DO/MD residencies... lol

this is very true. though, depending on the residency it may be a bit harder to get with a DO degree.

 

[Loki]

Yeah that's what I think too about MD vs DO. But roommate is a stanch DO supporter as he tells me he can try for both DO/MD residencies... lol

They can compete for the same residencies, but the work load during the first four years is not the same, regardless of what your friend thinks/says (I have friends who transitioned from DO to MD, so I'm going by their experience). Not sure if they take the USMLE exams or if they have their own certification exams.

Here are some of extracurricular activities:

Presentations:
SURF Fellowship Roundtable Presentation at Seton Hall University (July 26, 2007)
Petersheim Academic Exposition (April 15-17 2008)
Petersheim Academic Exposition (April 15-17 2007)

Research:
Fall Semester Research-continued from Jan 07: (September 2007- May 08)
SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) (Summer 2007) <-Received a 4,000 grant to do research...
Spring Semester Research: Spermatogenesis(January 2007 – Present)
Summer Research: Fungus Growth Simulator (April 2006 – August 2006)

Activities:
Biology Society, Seton Hall University, President, (Spring 2007 - Spring 08)
Biology Society, Seton Hall University, Website & Advertising Committee Chairman, (Fall 2007 - Spring 08)
AED Pre-Medicine Honor Society , Seton Hall University, Website Chairman, (Spring 2007 - Spring 08)
American Chemical Society,Seton Hall University,Website Chairman & Representative,(Fall 2007-Spring 08)
MAPS, Seton Hall University, Website and Internet Relationship Representative, (Fall 2007 – Spring 08)
Prince of Persia Legacy, Webmaster and Owner, (Spring 2000 – Present)

Accolades:
-Invited and Guest Speaker for the Seton Hall University's 150 year anniversary to discuss my research and experience at Seton Hall University. (April 2008)
-Hub Digital Living Magazine:
Article accolades Prince of Persia Legacy in Hub Digital Living Magazine (April 2006)

Worked at Walgreen's Pharmacy from Jan 07 to August 08...

Are my activities good or should I do some more???

Those look good to me, especially when coupled with the fact that you're in pharm school. I'm not on the admissions committee, though.

 

[Oats]

I just got accepted for an MD program this application cycle.

Your extracurriculars look great. Your GPA is ok...As long as your science GPA is not considerably lower but definitely high enough to get passed most preliminary application cuts. Your biggest problem will be deciding whether you should drop out of pharmacy school and study the MCAT full time or stay in pharmacy school and find time to study for the MCAT. The former is much easier but entails more risks.

 

[Zapages]

They can compete for the same residencies, but the work load during the first four years is not the same. Not sure if they take the USMLE exams or if they have their own certification exams.



Those look good to me, especially when coupled with the fact that you're in pharm school. I'm not on the admissions committee, though.

As for the DOs, its required for the them to take the COMPLEX, I think the exam is called. The USLME are required as well if they want to go for MD residencies or they can just go for DO residency... Then I hear that some DOs will have to do an extra year to get into MD residencies as some schools don't accept their classes or things like that.

Cool, thanks man for the good encouraging news.

Loki, may I ask what MD school you go to?

If and when I do go for the MD thing. I would like to go for UMDNJ, Robert Wood Johnson, and few others around the area as it is close to home, I am NJians. Also what is the best method to study for the MCATs, I mean my old notes are not that great. Plus I did horrendous on my MCATs last time. The score was so bad that they were not good for a Caribbean school(3 of my best friends are there right now though)....

 

[Zapages]

I just got accepted for an MD program this application cycle.

Your extracurriculars look great. Your GPA is ok...As long as your science GPA is not considerably lower but definitely high enough to get passed most preliminary application cuts. Your biggest problem will be deciding whether you should drop out of pharmacy school and study the MCAT full time or stay in pharmacy school and find time to study for the MCAT. The former is much easier but entails more risks.

My science GPA is between 3.2-3.3 guess... errr... I retook Organic. That's what caused to go down, which was during my horrendous semester. :|

I know that is not that great... But is still ok, to get in Med School from what I remember its hard in the first place

Yes, definitely I have to think everything over... See what happens. :|

 

[devilhawk]

My science GPA is around 3.2-3.3 guess... errr... I retook Organic. That's what caused to go down, which was during my horrendous semester. :|

I know that is not that great... But is still ok, to get in Med School from what I remember its hard in the first place

Yes, definitely I have to think everything over... See what happens. :|

Volunteer work? Physician shadowing? Science GPA is low, having to retake a core science class won't be looked upon in amazement. Thing is, the standards for matriculation are so confusing, it is hard to describe what exactly people need to do to improve their application. Well, you are now a nontraditional applicant, which seemingly helps now days. If you want to go to med school, go for it.

 

[Zapages]

Volunteer work? Physician shadowing? Science GPA is low, having to retake a core science class won't be looked upon in amazement. Thing is, the standards for matriculation are so confusing, it is hard to describe what exactly people need to do to improve their application. Well, you are now a nontraditional applicant, which seemingly helps now days. If you want to go to med school, go for it.

Most of my relatives including my cousins are physicians/doctors... I know exactly what I am about get myself into... :lol I have discussed things many times with them and followed them here and back home in Pakistan as well when I went there for vacation a few years back...

I just checked my Science GPA: Its 3.241 based upon not including my last semester of University so about 2.45 or so...

I used to Volunteer at the soup kitchen, and other school related activities through the Biology Society, American Chemical Society, and other clubs...

 

[Loki]

Loki, may I ask what MD school you go to?

I don't. I did all the pre-reqs and extracurriculars, took the MCAT (did very well), but decided that being a doctor wasn't for me for a variety of reasons. There are a few people here in medical school, though, so they can probably give better advice.

Which part of the MCAT gave you the most trouble?

 

[devilhawk]

Most of my relatives including my cousins are physicians/doctors... I know exactly what I am about get myself into... :lol I have discussed things many times with them and followed them here and back home in Pakistan as well when I went there for vacation a few years back...

I just checked my Science GPA: Its 3.241 based upon not including my last semester of University so about 2.45 or so...

I used to Volunteer at the soup kitchen, and other school related activities through the Biology Society, American Chemical Society, and other clubs...

Well, I was talking more about in an ER or Clinic. Don't take this the wrong way, but in all seriousness since you are a minority you have a lot better chance. If you were female as well, I'd call you a shoe in, but whatever. Not that you wouldn't get in anyways, since you have a long list of good extracurriculars.

 

[Zapages]

Well, I was talking more about in an ER or Clinic. Don't take this the wrong way, but in all seriousness since you are a minority you have a lot better chance. If you were female as well, I'd call you a shoe in, but whatever. Not that you wouldn't get in anyways, since you have a long list of good extracurriculars.

Oh that type of stuff... I have seen my cousin do surgery as he is Urologist... That's about it.
I am a guy, so I can play the gender card. But I can definitely play race card, but being a South Asian is a disadvantage as there are so many of us in these programs...

What do you guys think of AUA or Caribbean schools are they worth going to and coming back to do residencies here???

Thanks about the ECs.

 

[Loki]

What do you guys think of AUA or Caribbean schools are they worth going to and coming back to do residencies here???

Thanks about the ECs.

It's a lot more difficult to get a spot in a competitive residency (radiology, dermatology etc.) if you go the Caribbean route from what I understand. Not impossible, but much harder.

 

[devilhawk]

Oh that type of stuff... I have seen my cousin do surgery as he is Urologist... That's about it.
I am a guy, so I can play the gender card. But I can definitely play race card, but being a South Asian is a disadvantage as there are so many of us in these programs...

What do you guys think of AUA or Caribbean schools are they worth going to and coming back to do residencies here???

Thanks about the ECs.

Just squeeze in a shift at a free clinic or ER. Especially coming out of a private school, dealing with poverty in a medical setting is huge in their eyes.

There are a ton of highly qualified, if not more qualified, South Asians so I can understand the numbers thing, tho it certainly doesn't hurt. I don't know enough about the Caribbean schools to say much tho.

 

[Zapages]

I don't. I did all the pre-reqs and extracurriculars, took the MCAT (did very well), but decided that being a doctor wasn't for me for a variety of reasons. There are a few people here in medical school, though, so they can probably give better advice.

Which part of the MCAT gave you the most trouble?

Sorry I missed this post. I did the worst on the verbal portion like totally bad like a 6... Other two section were not that great either... :| I only studied a week and a half before taking the exam... So I was not prepared for it at all...

Just squeeze in a shift at a free clinic or ER.

There are a ton of highly qualified, if not more, South Asians so I can understand the numbers thing, tho it certainly doesn't hurt. I don't know enough about the Caribbean schools to say much tho.

Will definitely try to see during summer at my local hospital.

 

[Irnbru]

It's a lot more difficult to get a spot in a competitive residency (radiology, dermatology etc.) if you go the Caribbean route from what I understand. Not impossible, but much harder.

Extremelly difficult. My brother did Med School In Mexico, wanted to come back up here to the states, took his USMELS, but, pretty much would be stuck doing Family Med, said screw it, went back to Mexico. Doing a Radiology residency now, and going over to Germany for a intership for a month. Though he going to try and get a internship to come Stateside and hope for an invitation to stay here to practice. All in all, going somewhere else, but trying to come back to the States was an extremely difficult experience for my brother. I'm sure its not impossible, but for sure difficult.

 

[Oats]

Oh that type of stuff... I have seen my cousin do surgery as he is Urologist... That's about it.
I am a guy, so I can play the gender card. But I can definitely play race card, but being a South Asian is a disadvantage as there are so many of us in these programs...

What do you guys think of AUA or Caribbean schools are they worth going to and coming back to do residencies here???

Thanks about the ECs.

My cousin went to St. George's in Granada. He and his wife had absolutely no trouble getting the residencies they wanted and he is now a practicing endocrinologist and she is a pediatric rheumatologist.

One other thing I want to add. If you drop out of pharmacy school that will give you a year off to apply in the next cycle. It might also be beneficial to work for a masters in public health (or another field you enjoy) in this time period. Most medical schools don’t like it when you do nothing.

 

[devilhawk]

Will definitely try to see during summer at my local hospital.

see my edit for why.

 

[Zapages]

My cousin went to St. George's in Granada. He and his wife had absolutely no trouble getting the residencies they wanted and he is now a practicing endocrinologist and she is a pediatric rheumatologist.

One other thing I want to add. If you drop out of pharmacy school that will give you a year off to apply in the next cycle. It might also be beneficial to work for a masters in public health (or another field you enjoy) in this time period. Most medical schools don’t like it when you do nothing.

Oh cool... I think St. George just got a deal with every single Med school in NYC/NY for their residency program. But they are really expensive though. :|

I was thinking of going back to Pakistan and helping/volunteering my aunt and uncle with their clinic/hospital as to try to get a more global perspective of things... Does that sound like a good idea as I will be able to stay with my grandparents, who I never stayed with much and learn something as well?

EDIT: Devilhawk, nice. I mean the only draw back of AUA is that the hurricanes and I don't know how to swim.

 

[hockeypuck]

You may be complaining now about the BS compared to med students, but when third and fourth years roll around I think you'll be glad you stuck with pharmacy. You DO realize the work hour differences, right? If lifestyle is a high priority, then PharmD is the way to go.
Honestly, if I were you I would not risk doing poorly in pharmacy school for the sake of trying to get into med school, if that's your intention.

It's a lot more difficult to get a spot in a competitive residency (radiology, dermatology etc.) if you go the Caribbean route from what I understand. Not impossible, but much harder.

Dermatology is pretty much out of the question, as that is the most competitive residency in the US (why? lifestyle). Highest proportion of applicants with Alpha Omega Alpha (med school honors).
The vast majority of D.O. graduates (residency match rate ~70%) go into non-competitive fields, such as internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics. Only half of foreign graduates match.

 

[Zapages]

You may be complaining now about the BS compared to med students, but when third and fourth years roll around I think you'll be glad you stuck with pharmacy. You DO realize the work hour differences, right? If lifestyle is a high priority, then PharmD is the way to go.
Honestly, if I were you I would not risk doing poorly in pharmacy school for the sake of trying to get into med school, if that's your intention.


Dermatology is pretty much out of the question, as that is the most competitive residency in the US (why? lifestyle). Highest proportion of applicants with Alpha Omega Alpha (med school honors).
The vast majority of D.O. graduates (residency match rate ~70%) go into non-competitive fields, such as internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics. Only half of foreign graduates match.

Working retail setting for 35 to 40 hours a week for the quick 100K of case does not sound like fun... I worked for a year and half. Its not fun.

If you do residency and fellowship you make less starting out like 90K, but over time supposedly you make more with raises and stuff... But research still has long hours just like MD.

In the end of the day, we are helping the society... That's how I see it. I just want to be more knowledgeable to help the society...

Also in the US, MD can dispense drugs/mind numbling work with somewhat nice hours, I can still do that.

 

[hockeypuck]

There are plenty of pharmacy students at my school who are doing research fellowships afterwards; the career options for pharmacists are pretty vast.

 

[draven]

As for the DOs, its required for the them to take the COMPLEX, I think the exam is called. The USLME are required as well if they want to go for MD residencies or they can just go for DO residency... Then I hear that some DOs will have to do an extra year to get into MD residencies as some schools don't accept their classes or things like that.

The DO test is the COMLEX. My wife is a DO pediatric resident, and she just had a meeting with her DO regional coordinator yesterday, so we were discussing these exact same topics last night. DO graduates can attend any MD residency, as long as they complete an additional year at a DO accredited residency program, or they can skip the additional year by attending a dual MD/DO program. From helping her study for both the COMLEX and USMLE, the only difference is that the USMLE has more biochemistry.

As for the general "Med school" question, don't do it. Looking at it from a time/money/job satisfaction perspective, you'd be better off as a pharmacist. I'm a Biomedical Engineer (working in medical device R&D) with a MS from a top ten school, and in a couple of years time I'll be making as much as a Pediatric attending, but without a couple hundred thousand dollars in loans and working a 40-hour work week. My wife even jokes that she would have been happier as either a physician's assistant or a zoologist (especially now that we have a newborn girl at home).

In fact, the U.S. News & World Report lists "Physician" as one of the top overrated careers, even citing "physician assistant" as an alternative.

EDIT: Take it from my wife and I: having a decent work schedule for the rest of your life trumps all, especially when you have a family. Free time is nice when you're bullshitting around and have more time to play video games, but there's nothing more important than having extra time to play with your kids and make sure you raise them right.

 

[bggrthnjsus]

I am in US... My room-mate is DO student though and its PBL based.

I find the stuff he is learning more interesting and from the books he use are a lot better than ours...

PS: I don't like the idea of our professors just telling us read this and memorize for the exam with no explanation. It sucks. :|

it's because he's a d.o.
maybe you just have shitty professors that make it hard

 

[HolyStar]

PAs have to deal with a whole new sleuth of bullshit that doctors don't face. Also if hours are a concern do a EM residency. Sure you work 24 hour shifts and may work 80 hours a week and deal with crack heads but you don't have to do call and if you work 80 hours one week you don't have to work the other week. The avg work week for EM physicians was 42 hours. Also you get paid around 200,000 after a couple of years.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I'm an MS4, so I'm currently doing the interview process right now. Being a physician's going to be tough for many of the fields, esp. primary care. I'm shocked by how little pay pediatricians, family docs, and psychiatrists get coming out of school. Most of my classmates have a significant amount of debt ($39,000 a year tuition).

In any case, it'll be difficult getting into a residency in a competitive field if you're DO or Caribbean. I would definitely try for a US allopathic school if you can. No matter which allopathic school you go to, you can always even the playing field by getting good grades or scoring well on Step I. A DO or Caribbean degree already puts you at a significant disadvantage. I've seen plenty of people come from lower-ranked schools interviewing, but none from the Caribbean or DO schools. Of course, I haven't interviewed at that many places yet, but it's been the consensus from the other applicants I've spoken to.

 

[Hari Seldon]

IMO, Pharmacy is a really good major. You are pretty much guaranteed to have a job that makes 6 figures in any part of the country that you want. And a ton less liability than the doctor.

 

[YakiSOBA]

Has anyone ever heard of the London School of Tropical Medicine? My friend is doing his grad school there, he pays 60k USD a year as a international student... all for a masters of epidemiology.

 

[bggrthnjsus]

my serious answer is this: med school is just as big if not a bigger commitment than pharm school, so don't dive in unless you're sure about it. a lot of the time med students are tested on things that are just as seemingly inane and irrelevant as you were irritated with.

edit: also if you take the mcat again, i'm pretty sure med schools will still see the old score, so you'll have to improve by a good chunk.

i just took my last exam for the fall semester of M2 year, and it sucked. it was pharm too lol...well it wouldn't have sucked as bad if i didn't change two or three answers to the wrong choice (which i realized afterwards). now for a well deserved nap.

 

[bggrthnjsus]

Dermatology is pretty much out of the question, as that is the most competitive residency in the US (why? lifestyle). Highest proportion of applicants with Alpha Omega Alpha (med school honors).
The vast majority of D.O. graduates (residency match rate ~70%) go into non-competitive fields, such as internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics. Only half of foreign graduates match.

i find it a little disconcerting that the best and brightest medical students go into specialties that help the fewest people, with the rarest conditions, or with sports injuries (dermatology, plastic surgery, orthopedics)...primary care physicians should be paid a lot more, and those specialties a lot less, because they are the most important in everyday care. of course with the way insurance works, that'll never happen.

 

[RevDM]

were the fuck did u go were a 3.5 gets u latin honors?

 

[rykomatsu]

Can always switch to Pharmacology but PharmD can be pretty valuable in general pharmaceutical discovery/development.

 

[Richard Cranium]

i find it a little disconcerting that the best and brightest medical students go into specialties that help the fewest people, with the rarest conditions, or with sports injuries (dermatology, plastic surgery, orthopedics)...primary care physicians should be paid a lot more, and those specialties a lot less, because they are the most important in everyday care. of course with the way insurance works, that'll never happen.

You're mistaken about plastics and orthopedics. I may be biased because I'm going into ortho, but trauma is a huge part of orthopedics. As are joint replacements. Also pediatrics, spine deformities, spine injuries, hand injuries, tumors, etc. Even with sports injuries, we make huge improvements in quality of life. I don't think you realize how common sports injuries are. If you fix someone when they're young, that makes a great deal of difference in their lives.

As for plastics, they do can do some really amazing things. Yes, a lot of them go into cosmetic surgery, but you're forgetting a lot of what they do in terms of wound management and closure. At my institution, we work pretty closely with plastics, and they're a godsend.

 

[CHYME]

You're mistaken about plastics and orthopedics. I may be biased because I'm going into ortho, but trauma is a huge part of orthopedics. As are joint replacements. Also pediatrics, spine deformities, spine injuries, hand injuries, tumors, etc. Even with sports injuries, we make huge improvements in quality of life. I don't think you realize how common sports injuries are. If you fix someone when they're young, that makes a great deal of difference in their lives.

As for plastics, they do can do some really amazing things. Yes, a lot of them go into cosmetic surgery, but you're forgetting a lot of what they do in terms of wound management and closure. At my institution, we work pretty closely with plastics, and they're a godsend.

QFT. I'm having arthroscopic elbow surgery tomorrow because of a debilitating sports injury.

 

[bggrthnjsus]

You're mistaken about plastics and orthopedics. I may be biased because I'm going into ortho, but trauma is a huge part of orthopedics. As are joint replacements. Also pediatrics, spine deformities, spine injuries, hand injuries, tumors, etc. Even with sports injuries, we make huge improvements in quality of life. I don't think you realize how common sports injuries are. If you fix someone when they're young, that makes a great deal of difference in their lives.

As for plastics, they do can do some really amazing things. Yes, a lot of them go into cosmetic surgery, but you're forgetting a lot of what they do in terms of wound management and closure. At my institution, we work pretty closely with plastics, and they're a godsend.

well i definitely agree that they do some important stuff...i actually got some reconstructive surgery done on my head by a plastics guy when i got my forehead bashed in as a kid, and thanks to him i barely even have a scar. and there are plenty of debilitating and potentially fatal skin conditions so even derm is important in its own right...

but the reasons that a lot of people go into those fields are fucked when you consider the good those people could do in other fields. it's not that they don't help people who have real problems, because every specialty does, but i feel that they help a disproportionately smaller amount of the sick population for the amount of benefits they receive, and the best and brightest students go into them, which skews the distribution of benefits created by doctors.

 

[Richard Cranium]

well i definitely agree that they do some important stuff...i actually got some reconstructive surgery done on my head by a plastics guy when i got my forehead bashed in as a kid, and thanks to him i barely even have a scar. and there are plenty of debilitating and potentially fatal skin conditions so even derm is important in its own right...

but the reasons that a lot of people go into those fields are fucked when you consider the good those people could do in other fields. it's not that they don't help people who have real problems, because every specialty does, but i feel that they help a disproportionately smaller amount of the sick population for the amount of benefits they receive, and the best and brightest students go into them, which skews the distribution of benefits created by doctors.

See, it really depends on perspective. To me, primary care is pretty boring. By the 3rd week of family medicine, I was bored out of my mind. It was pretty much the same stuff over and over, and you're dealing with the general public for better or worse. In internal medicine, you're constantly rounding on inpatients. And most of the time, I felt like I wasn't really helping people out. We got lots of sick people, but most of their problems were self inflicted i.e. diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, etc. It felt like we were just delaying the inevitable. We rarely cured anybody.

And I actually think you're wrong about the best and brightest. If you look at the distribution of board scores of students going into internal medicine, the average might not be very high, but there is a distinct bump at the upper end of the spectrum. There are a significant number of students at the top of their class going into primary care.

 

[watervengeance]

Ugh, I really hope that majoring in Pharmacy isn't as hard as you claim it to be.

Can someone describe the workload that I might experience?