OT: Medical School

[saad]

Hey guys

Another one of my posts on somewhat random things, but I need some advice, ad I noted that there a few doctors here.

I graduated with a degree in accounting and finance, worked in accounting for a bit, hated it. Got a job in IT, with no IT qualifications, and I really like it, and th epay is fantastic. I was thinking of going to uni part time to study for a Grad Dip in IT.

The thing is that I like my job, but its not satisfying at all, despite the money.

Being a doctor, specifically a surgeon or a pediatrician ( I love kids) is somethign that I have been considering more or less my whole life. First year uni I studied science with the plan to go do medicine, but for whatever reason I gave up as I grew disheartened.

My GPA isnt the greatest, as I mucked around a bit in uni, as well as hating what I studied. I was a straight A student up till uni, so Im not THAT stupid (despite thinking that wheel nut covers were the nuts)

Flinders uni doesnt take into account GPA for interviews, only GAMSAT scores, then later looks at ur GPA, GAMSAT and interview whether deciding to give you a position or not. So in theory its possible to get in with a lower GPA. I feel if i study hard, Ill be able to do well in the GAMSAT this year, and if not, its good practice.

Now, assuming I do well in the GAMSAT, but dont get in, it will be because of my GPA. So Im thinking I go back to uni, and do a science degree or even arts, somethign Ill be able to score well in, to increase my GPA. As a graduate entrant, I may be able to do a science degree in 1.5-2 years, especially as I might be able to get credits for the units I did before. I have a meeting with the sub-dean of science at the ANU today to work this out.

Now, I just turned 23. If i get straigh into med school (1 in 1000000 chance prob) then all good. But if I do another bachelors degree first, then get in, ill prob be 25 when i start, 29 when I finish, a year of intern, then 5-10 years specialisation. Im not concerned about the hard work or the time, but just whether its a good idea or not. It will mean putting my plans to get married on hold, and will have to work out a way to support myself in the meantime too.

Its something I really want to do, and dont want to regret for my whole life, but I need to think practically and logically, and not just emotionally.

What does everyone think. Advice?

Cheers

Saad

 

[KWICKS]

If med schools are your thing perhaps look at the uni of Newcastle?

Entry is based on aptitude tests (not the GAMSAT I am almost 100% sure) and heavily wighted on interviews. A mate I started science with in 1995 migrated to med there in 1996 and is almost finished all the practical and theoretical studies required to practice privately as an orthopedic surgeon (he's been working as one in the public system for a number of years, here and abroad). That might give you an idea of timeframe (although he did take a year off to do an honours research project - in AAA survival rate factors).

Not really my area of knowledge, others will give you a better insight.

 

[Chugga44]

Its something I really want to do, and dont want to regret for my whole life, but I need to think practically and logically, and not just emotionally.

What does everyone think. Advice?

Cheers

Saad

mate,

keep dentistry as a second thought. no stethoscopes (spelling) but you can still put Dr in front of your name.

i am a dentist. left school at 17, graduated at 22. now 30 and 8 years out i have no regrets. great income, got married at 25, have one rugrat and another on the way.
i look at my mates who have med degrees and cant get into specialties, and now at 30 are chained to the hospital system. not fun, but whatever floats your boat i suppose.

consider the CSU program. 4 years and you would be out. no internships, and you can still cut people open if you want. the dean there is a guru and the academic staff are miles better than the first class f*ckwits that they have at sydney...

 

[Capercat]

My mate I went to school with became a doctor & now regrets it. Weird hours, stressful, always covering his ass & not much $$. He does however work in the public system. Please don't let this discourage your dream, all the best with your decision.

 

[White Fang]

I can relate to you. My older bro, as a middle child, went through the same thing. Just for background for later, he was never an academic achiever and hated science and maths.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics in Sydney and hated it. Then went to Las Vegas in the US to do an MBA, worked in a hotel chain as a manager in a hotel till 9/11, then after 9/11 he became a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company. He got a kick out of selling pharmaceuticals to doctors and seeing what they did, and decided to become a doctor. He followed up on this by doing Biology and pre-med school in Texas, and is now in his 2nd last year of med school in the state of New York. Oh and from such motivation he scored an average of top 3 in his classes. He is 34 at the moment, and still managed to get married sometime during his Biology studies anyway. The only thing he worries about now mainly is what to specialise in since he finds so many things interesting.

In short, follow your dreams. If you have the determination and motivation to do something that you really want to do, you can make it happen somehow. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[saad]

Dentistry sounds good, but Im not too sure, looking at people teeth sounds rather boring!

I just got back from uni, can do a science degree in 2 years. However, I think ill do IT, in 2 year also, because Im likely to get better marks in it than science, I work at an IT firm, and if I dont get into Med, Ill have a backup other than accounting. Science degree would be largely useless otherwise.

 

[saad]

If med schools are your thing perhaps look at the uni of Newcastle?

Entry is based on aptitude tests (not the GAMSAT I am almost 100% sure) and heavily wighted on interviews. A mate I started science with in 1995 migrated to med there in 1996 and is almost finished all the practical and theoretical studies required to practice privately as an orthopedic surgeon (he's been working as one in the public system for a number of years, here and abroad). That might give you an idea of timeframe (although he did take a year off to do an honours research project - in AAA survival rate factors).

Not really my area of knowledge, others will give you a better insight.

Yep you have to do the GMAT, which is for undergrad med. I did that, and didnt score well, its the most BS thing ever. My mate got a UAI of 99.95 but didnt get into undergrad med cos of GMAT. But was guaranteed a place in post grad med at UQ if he did a science degree.

10 years of study is fine, as you will be working too for a lot of it, so can afford to live.

I will look in newcastle though, see what options are.

 

[saad]

Looked at CSU dentistry, its 5 years....not a bad option, have to think long and hard...

 

[YouSnooze]

Good on you for throwing it out there Saad :thumbsup:. Like most people have alluded to it will take a LONG time to be a specialist. Think 4 years of med school, 1 year intern, 2 (or more) years as a Resident Medical Officer [RMO], 0-4 more years as an unaccredited trainee specialist (registrar) trying to get onto a specialist training program, then generally another 5 years in accredited specialist training. I did anaesthetics in pretty much the minimum time of 14 years all up. What people don't generally tell you is once you've finished it is not easy to simply enter the world of private practice [especially as a surgeon]. It generally takes YEARS to establish a good private practice/referral base. Chances are you will NOT be able to practice where you live [if you live in a metro area] because all the slots are taken. Remember all this shit is AFTER you've worked your ass off in the public hospital system as front line infantry. You have to give up your life for this profession & don't let anyone suggest to you that the exams are easy. University exams are a snack compared to postgraduate medical specialty exams. These are killers & you need to essentially give up your life to pass them. I'm not trying to discourage you because if it's something you really want then these things are really only speed humps. Just advising that it's very hard work that takes a long time.
Best wishes whatever you decide :smile:.
Doug

 

[Chugga44]

Looked at CSU dentistry, its 5 years....not a bad option, have to think long and hard...

really...i thought it was 4...shows how much i know!!!

it isnt about teeth all day! there is plenty of surgery if that is what you decide to do...

 

[saad]

Good on you for throwing it out there Saad :thumbsup:. Like most people have alluded to it will take a LONG time to be a specialist. Think 4 years of med school, 1 year intern, 2 (or more) years as a Resident Medical Officer [RMO], 0-4 more years as an unaccredited trainee specialist (registrar) trying to get onto a specialist training program, then generally another 5 years in accredited specialist training. I did anaesthetics in pretty much the minimum time of 14 years all up. What people don't generally tell you is once you've finished it is not easy to simply enter the world of private practice [especially as a surgeon]. It generally takes YEARS to establish a good private practice/referral base. Chances are you will NOT be able to practice where you live [if you live in a metro area] because all the slots are taken. Remember all this shit is AFTER you've worked your ass off in the public hospital system as front line infantry. You have to give up your life for this profession & don't let anyone suggest to you that the exams are easy. University exams are a snack compared to postgraduate medical specialty exams. These are killers & you need to essentially give up your life to pass them. I'm not trying to discourage you because if it's something you really want then these things are really only speed humps. Just advising that it's very hard work that takes a long time.
Best wishes whatever you decide :smile:.
Doug

Im well aware of the work, it doesnt phase me as this is what I want...and the cool thing is Ill be able to go to Pakistan for four weeks at the end of first year too. My friend went to India and said waaay better than Aus, as you get to do more work, and see messed up diseases and learn more.

Ideally Id like to become a surgeon, practice here for a while, then go to Pakistan and do surgery there for less fortunate people who cant afford etc. Right now Im getting paid 3 times more than others my age, but am not satisfied, so I have realised that money isnt important to me as long as I can live decently.

 

[Capercat]

Im well aware of the work, it doesnt phase me as this is what I want...and the cool thing is Ill be able to go to Pakistan for four weeks at the end of first year too. My friend went to India and said waaay better than Aus, as you get to do more work, and see messed up diseases and learn more.

Damn Aussies, we're just not as fucked up with diseases like third world countries so pretty boring working conditions here, hey you might hit the jackpot & attend a suicide bomb emergency. :thumbsup:

 

[Robby_jai]

my wife works in the medical profession and trust me.. doctor aint all its cracked up to be..

Edit: Actually the only thing its cracked up to be is the nurses..... apparently doctors and nurses get it on very very often!

pays shit for the first 5-7 years of your career while you work to become a registrar...

you work crap hours and you are shunted around while you do your training... my friend who is a doc just got shunted to tamworth for 1 year.

complains about the pay... work hours is crap.. but thats the pain you gotta work for .. if you wanna have your own practice and be a GP.

 

[johno]

Dude my advice. take a deep breath. then decide.

 

[saad]

Dude my advice. take a deep breath. then decide.

???