[E92-Lighting]

its tough, but thats just how it is, there are going to be classes where the teacher can only give a certain amount of A's and B's. i remember a few of my classmates in the past who got weeded out by third year and started all over...

[DevJ]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

Everybody has nice things to say. Unfortunately, one bad quarter in med school means no more med school.

You've got a lot to think about. Doesn't hurt to apply but it can get costly.

Very true. Few med schools have a 'forgiveness' policy if you do badly. I think you should consider another field.

Btw, Jaykay- which med school are you in? You seem smart

[grieverr]

Originally Posted by Peanuto

This is an ignorant blanket statement. I would have no problem seeing a doc trained abroad, given it was from a decent school/country. Exampe, you wouldn't see a doctor trained in Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa etc? My foot specialist is one of the top in our country. He was born, raised, and trained in South Africa. While I may not see a doc trained in a third word country, there are plenty places abroad I would have no problem with. The USA is not the only intelligent country in the world.

No, that's not what I meant. When someone says go to another country where it's easier, my impression is that the advice being given is to get a mail-order degree from a questionable source.
I worded my response incorrectly. That was the point I was trying to make when I mentioned that there are well trained and qualified doctors from top schools. I should've said that in broad, and not specific to the U.S.

[Peanuto]

Originally Posted by grieverr

No, that's not what I meant. When someone says go to another country where it's easier, my impression is that the advice being given is to get a mail-order degree from a questionable source.
I worded my response incorrectly. That was the point I was trying to make when I mentioned that there are well trained and qualified doctors from top schools. I should've said that in broad, and not specific to the U.S.

Gotcha.

[ideliver]

I am on the admissions committee for a state medical school. You would be very lucky to get an interview at our school, (unless MAYBE you are a minority)...

If medicine is truly your passion, you will need to retake your classes to get "A's"...you need a min of 30 on your MCAT...you need a LOT of volunteer work....

My best advise is to go the "Teach America" program, spend your time there...keep your nose clean...volunteer additional time...show that you are committed to a career in service of the public...

Feel free to PM if needed.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by DevJ

Very true. Few med schools have a 'forgiveness' policy if you do badly. I think you should consider another field.

Btw, Jaykay- which med school are you in? You seem smart

Me? Nah. I'm just some dick shitting on peoples hopes and dreams.

No shout outs. I remain anonymous.

Thank you all for the great advice. I posted when I was really down, and appreciate all the suggestions. The thing about my immediate network of people is that they are all cheerleaders ("You can do it!" "You've got the makeup for it" etc). Sometimes, the anonymity of a forum filled with strangers can give a fresh perspective.

It's hard. My family is very small, but most of them are physicians. I've seen it since I was a little kid - the joy my father got from his job, the stories about my grandfather and how I could be the 4th generation, etc. When I worked at a hospital to pay for undergrad with my limited skills, I caught the bug. It's a field where you can constantly learn, amongst other things. I've thought about a Ph.D., and while it might be rewarding, I don't think I would be ultimately happy. The concept of writing grants, worrying about publications, and being stuck in a lab is not something that appeals to me. P.A. school might be a possibility.

It's really not in me to quit, but I should be smart. At the end of this week, I've scheduled a meeting with an admission committee member at a local school here. I hope to know more later, but until then, again thanks.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by Jonez128i

Thank you all for the great advice. I posted when I was really down, and appreciate all the suggestions. The thing about my immediate network of people is that they are all cheerleaders ("You can do it!" "You've got the makeup for it" etc). Sometimes, the anonymity of a forum filled with strangers can give a fresh perspective.

It's hard. My family is very small, but most of them are physicians. I've seen it since I was a little kid - the joy my father got from his job, the stories about my grandfather and how I could be the 4th generation, etc. When I worked at a hospital to pay for undergrad with my limited skills, I caught the bug. It's a field where you can constantly learn, amongst other things. I've thought about a Ph.D., and while it might be rewarding, I don't think I would be ultimately happy. The concept of writing grants, worrying about publications, and being stuck in a lab is not something that appeals to me. P.A. school might be a possibility.

It's really not in me to quit, but I should be smart. At the end of this week, I've scheduled a meeting with an admission committee member at a local school here. I hope to know more later, but until then, again thanks.

Good start. The admission committees are usually pretty straight forward. They'll tell you what to take over and what you need to improve and whether you have a shot or not. They'll at least tell you to retake your MCATs.

PA, OT, PT, are all good choices.

Check out podiatry!

[TiAg335i]

As someone who has been through this entire process, you have a couple of options if you still want to go the M.D. route and if you still have the motivation in you (which is the #1 most important factor IMO).

1. Retake MCAT, do whatever you have to do to get 30+, or at least do better than a 26. I can almost guarantee not a single school will accept you with a 26 and a 3.4 GPA.

2. If #1 does not work out, consider applying Caribbean. I know for a fact you can be accepted with a 26 MCAT and 3.5+ GPA at most Caribbean schools. Be careful, though - you should really only consider top Caribbean schools like St. George and Ross. I believe there is a school in Antigua that does not the require the MCAT. The good thing about these schools is that you will get your M.D. and will be able to move stateside after your second year for rotations. The bad thing is that you are considered a foreign medical graduate, may have problems with finding a good residency, and other unforeseen problems.

If you decide to go D.O., which is another perfectly valid option (if you don't mind explaining your degree to some people), there are plenty of very good choices in the U.S. These schools take an absolute MINUMUM of a 24 MCAT and absolute MINIMUM of a 3.3 GPA (competitive numbers being around 28 MCAT and 3.5+ GPA), so you should have a shot. There are no real differences between D.O.'s and M.D.'s in the field. The only difference is in medical school, where of course you learn OMM, so in a sense D.O.'s are more highly trained than M.D.'s. You should not take osteopathic schools lightly, however, as some will expel you if you fail to successfully complete a remedial course after failing it the first time.

[mpimping]

Dont go to the carribean or india, if you are gng to be a doctor just be sure you will be a very good one not just because you can fo it,

[GewoW]

Study ur ass off for the MCAT and do it again. If you have reasons for wtv grades u got - then it may work out. If you score badly again in the MCAT - honestly - forget it.

There are many schools in the states - I'm sure you can find one if you get a decent MCAT. In Canada it's a diff story cuz there aren't many.

Good luck man - I know how stressed out you are.

Just before all this, make sure you really like this field. If there is something you would rather do that makes you feel better - do that. Don't go into med unless you really know you want to. The less push you have, the harder it is. Especially if you think that when you're "in", then "you're set".

Best of luck again.

[BOOST3D]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

And then you can come back and be that doctor you always dreamed of that most people dont want to go to.

you just tell yourself that ...
i know many doctors that are from other countries. one being my grandfather and he gets more patients then most of the other doctors i know (and i know a lot), its all because he is every educated in medicine, knows his job very well, and cares for his patients.

[BOOST3D]

Originally Posted by grieverr

No, that's not what I meant. When someone says go to another country where it's easier, my impression is that the advice being given is to get a mail-order degree from a questionable source.
I worded my response incorrectly. That was the point I was trying to make when I mentioned that there are well trained and qualified doctors from top schools. I should've said that in broad, and not specific to the U.S.

if you can take the USMLE and pass all the steps then i think that doctor has as much to say as someone from the stats that went to med school there and passed the same exam. i don't think there is any place that i know of that have mail-order degree or that its any easier than the schools in the US, take my university for example over 60 students were kicked out because they couldn't keep up (that's only from the foreign faculty about ~250 students total). All i was saying was that it was easy to get into that's it.