Still trying to decide...?

[scrub-jay]

Welcome! Med school is a long road from a high school diploma. It's definitely doable, but he should be sure he wants it if he's going all in. It sounds to me like he should maybe look at physician's assistant and nursing degrees as well. Being a doctor isn't the only way to do interesting medical work.

This is soooo true. Generally PA programs have a "must have worked 2000+ hours in medical field" + bachelors degree requirements, but it is a great option for both earning potential and type of work. I know several EMTs and paramedics who made the jump into PA/NP programs after getting their bachelors. Perhaps he should shadow one and see what he thinks? (MUCH shorter training too...3-4 years instead of 7-12 years)

[Beth]

He has considered PA and NP, but doesnt think that he would be happy with either one of those. He really wants to be a doc, but we need to get a realistic picture of what the next 12+ years will look like and decide what sacrafices our family is willing to make.
He has talked to a bunch of docs about their experiences, and he knows a lot more about all of it this than I do. He is looking to go up to Cleveland sometime next month to talk to the pre med advisor,. He has spoken to them over the phone, but needs to go there before we go any further

[SoonerTexan]

Maybe it is different at other schools, but I was under the impression pre-med was just a designation, not a degree option. DH didn't have anything on his degree that said "pre-med"--he just took the classes required by med schools for admission. He was Microbiology, FYI. It was sort of like minoring in something.

The upside of the science degrees is they include more of the pre-med classes as part of the core curriculum. The downside is many are kind of a dead end unless you go to grad school of some sort.

We know plenty of people who got in with a variety of degrees...Business, International Area Studies, Engineering, etc. If he isn't 100% sure he wants to go through med school, I'd think about getting a degree that has some job potential on its own.

I'd also look into the other health options suggested above.

[diggitydot]

Maybe it is different at other schools, but I was under the impression pre-med was just a designation. DH didn't have anything on his degree that said "pre-med"--he just took the classes required by med schools for admission.

Ditto. At the dude's school it was a track designation, but not a degree. He took the classes required for med school admission.

Being a non-trad med student isn't the kiss of death or even necessarily worse than being a traditional one; it's just different and has a slightly different set of issues.

[Beth]

He has intubated and sutured and wants to do so much more. For whatever reasons, he has decided against np and pa...i am nit going to try to talk him into anything.
From what you guys are saying it looks like there are a ton of under grad degrees that would meet med school requirements.

[MissCrabette]

Maybe it is different at other schools, but I was under the impression pre-med was just a designation, not a degree option. DH didn't have anything on his degree that said "pre-med"--he just took the classes required by med schools for admission. He was Microbiology, FYI. It was sort of like minoring in something.

The upside of the science degrees is they include more of the pre-med classes as part of the core curriculum. The downside is many are kind of a dead end unless you go to grad school of some sort.

We know plenty of people who got in with a variety of degrees...Business, International Area Studies, Engineering, etc. If he isn't 100% sure he wants to go through med school, I'd think about getting a degree that has some job potential on its own.

I'd also look into the other health options suggested above.

Exactly this! Maybe there is a pre-med degree at some schools, though I wasn't aware of that option. If there is such an option, I would personally think twice about it, especially if you're worried about taking it one step at a time as has been advised. What would he do with a pre-med degree and a mountain of debt if he didn't get into medical school? I don't necessarily want to discourage you, but that's a very real possibility. I think Vanquisher gave you a great idea there with getting his degree in nursing and evaluating his options later down the road.

[diggitydot]

Can any of his paramedic education qualify for undergrad credits? I'm assuming there's some sort of certificate required to be one and continuing education to keep a license current, right?

[Pollyanna]

Welcome!!! Dh started med school in his 30's and we will be done with training when he is 43. We had our 4th baby in medical school and our 5th during residency. It's doable so if this is what you both want for your family then I say, "go for it"! You are young and have a whole life ahead of you, who cares if it's a hard road. Don't settle for something else if medicine is want he really wants to do. Start making plans now for how to make it work. The military is a great option if your hubby is interested in serving. Best of luck with everything!!!

[scrub-jay]

The upside of the science degrees is they include more of the pre-med classes as part of the core curriculum. The downside is many are kind of a dead end unless you go to grad school of some sort.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I've gotten great jobs (both in and outside of science) with a bachelors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

[corn poffi]

I have a lot of friends with random science degrees who didn't do the medical thing. They all have better jobs than I do!!!

[Beth]

thanks everyone!

[MissCrabette]

You've gotten a good variety of responses here, but I wanted to add my little story in case you think some of us are being mean. I hope not, but I'm afraid that's how some of the responses have come across.

I joined this forum almost 6 years ago and introduced myself as the then girlfriend of a first year foreign medical student with aspirations of doing neurosurgery. I think the responses I got at the time were quite discouraging. Frankly, I don't think my ego can handle checking the archives. I was discouraged and upset. I felt like these people were being unnecessarily mean, to be honest, and that they didn't know me and my boyfriend. He was smart, he was going to make it. Right. Six years later and a detour through the Caribbean, here we are. In the meanwhile he's found a new love for cardiology, so it's not like he failed at neurosurgery, although he most certainly would have if he'd attempted it. What I'm trying to say is that while we don't feel like he's failed, I wish I'd listened more in my earlier years instead of being upset by the reality that the members of this site painted for me.

Your husband's non-traditional background is not the kiss of death. Lots of people like him make it through medical school and into residency every year. People on this forum are living examples. What you don't realize is how many don't make it because the competition is so fierce. Some fail to get into US medical schools, and some fail out of Caribbean schools after spending tons and tons of money and uprooting their families. I'm not saying that will be your husband, but you should have a backup plan in case things fall through. My focus would be not on how to make it work with the kids and staying at home, but rather on how to make sure he can make it through all the steps. I'm totally not the laissez-faire type, but trust me, things will fall into place, and you CAN work around the schedule and money issues. That's the least of your concerns.

He has intubated and sutured and wants to do so much more. For whatever reasons, he has decided against np and pa...i am nit going to try to talk him into anything.
From what you guys are saying it looks like there are a ton of under grad degrees that would meet med school requirements.

There are, but Cleveland State isn't going to be a big push in your favor. It's a fine school (I'm originally from Cleveland - grew up in Strongsville, lived in Cleveland Heights as an adult), but it's kind of on the bottom end of the Ohio state schools as far as reputation goes -- especially for the sciences. He could do some pre-reqs at CSU and then transfer to Kent something ... I don't know. Most of our Ohio friends who went into Medicine went to CWRU, OSU, Wright State, Toledo, Cinci ... I don't know anyone from CSU (although I'm sure there are some). I'd open a discussion w/him about specifics on WHY being a PA or NP isn't an option. Seriously - if we had it to do all over again (and we're 6 years out), I think that's the smartest option. You make very good money, don't have the same kind of overhead/risk, and the training isn't nearly as long. You're looking at a minimum of 12 years ahead of you before you begin to make any decent money, and then will have 12 years of loans and family life expenses to pay back.

It's truly not a bunch of people trying to keep you out of an exclusive club. Most of us are speaking from a been there/done that perspective, and there really is no way I'd embark on this at the point you are in life knowing what the end results will be. There are many other roads to a very, very similar end that can have a lot less cost (both family and financial) along the way.

He could also look at NEOUCOM - that's a bachelors/DO program all rolled up into one at YSU. His work as an EMT could likely help him get in there.

[Beth]

,Christina-
Thank you for your concern! I don;t think that anyone has been mean. I don't expect anyone to know my situation after a couple paragraphs and just because I ask advice doesn't mean that I am going to take the responses to heart. There is SO much to consider, so everyones responses are appreciated as long as they aren't down right ugly...even if the truth hurts! I would rather know what to expect going into it.
If this is what we decide we want to do, we will make it happen to the best of our ability. If DH doesn't get into an American MD or DO school, he would consider a Caribbean school. We have heard that you are at the bottom of the list for a residency though. At this point he is interested in emergency medicine or surgery. He is leaning more towards emergency b/c of the work schedule...he knows that could all change though as he is exposed to more. My husband is not afraid of hard work and long hours, but knows this will be the hardest thing that he has ever done. I don't think that "failing" would be a failure..if that makes sense. If we don't get into a medical school the first time around he would take a year to put himself in a better place to apply again next year .He would at least be able to say that he tried and would pick up the pieces and go from there. I feel like this would be a much easier decision if we didn't have children, but we will be greatly affecting their lives as well. Not all for the worse, but I have to take them into consideration. I am also not trying to say that this is an easy journey for people w/o kids! Please don;t take that the wrong way.
Everyone is right thought...one step at a time and I am sure things will fall into place. We are def not going to jump in blind. My DH has been talking about it for quite sometime now, and this is the first time that I have honestly entertained the idea. I am just trying to learn everything that I can before my husband quits his job, we sell our house and move our family! He is not content with his current level of education and job situation and he is way too young to settle! He has worked in a hospiatl setting and talked to numerous medical professionals and has come to the conclusion that he wants to be a doctor. I am glad that I found this site to get some info for myself.

[DCJenn]

My husband is a military physician and we wouldn't have done it any other way. He was enlisted and used the GI bill to pay for college so in that regard he already had experience with 'the system'. That said, 75% of the people he works with had no military experience at all.

There are two (well, three but one is kind of complicated) military routes for medical school- basically a civilian medical school and you get a stipend and owe 4 years or the military medical school where you earn benefits and a salary and then owe 7 years at the end. My husband (and Peggy's) did the military med school route. I have to say, health insurance, housing and no debt at the end is super compelling. And now that he's an attending, he pays no malpractice insurance, no overhead costs to run his own office, no staff salaries and no one argues with him about what tests to order or what meds to prescribe.

There's a similar mentality between the professional firefighter/EMS world and the military. I get why he thinks it would work.

That all being said, the first step of the next 1000 is an undergrad degree. My husband's is in biology. I'd guess that most of the spouses here majored in some science. He was not in a program designated "pre-med"

Welcome-

jenn