Grades, Money, and Career Decisions For Pre-Meds
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- Опубліковано 22 січ 2017
- Hi guys!
In today's video I'm answering the following questions:
1. Can I still get into medical school if I've gotten a C while in a dual-enrolled high school/college program?
2. If I don't want to be a doctor, what other careers in the medical field are well paying, but don't require a ton of schooling?
3. Should I be a PA or a physician?
I hope you enjoy!
Links to some of the videos I mention:
Interview with a PA: • PA vs. Physician: Inte...
Interview with an NP: • All About Being A Nurs...
How to know medical school is right for you: • How To Know Medical Sc...
Why I chose ophthalmology: • Why I Chose Ophthalmology
I think med school is never a far out dream. If you have the drive, and passion to work hard I'm sure you find a way to go to med school and become a doctor.
The second person I feel is more someone who wanted to become a doctor because of the fame power money and the glamour that is portrayed in the media and such. She saw the amount of work and education needed to become a doctor and saw that either she couldn't do or handle it or it just wasn't right for her. I'm glad she saw that and was true to herself. Like you said there are many other medical careers which can be more suitable and more in tune to what people like her want in terms of life style, workload, stress levels etc.
The last person I feel is in the similar boat and I repeat that maybe being a doctor isn't for her and she can probably find more joy in another medical career and I hope she does.
I remember one day I was thinking to myself about what I wanted to do in my life and what I wanted to pursue. Med school and being a doctor seemed very overwhelming and after hearing others people's knowledge of other careers that made or could make just as much as a doctor I started looked at the options I hade. Investment banking and other financial careers started looking very tempting. However, not only could I barely see myself pursuing or being someone in a career of that nature but I though about how regretful I would be about not going into medicine if I did end up in a investment banking or other financial career. That moment was only of many that showed me that being a doctor was the only career for me. Even a pa or np career seemed too much like I was sacrificing the joy and knowledge I would get as a doctor. The amount of knowledge you acquire as a doctor, the connections you can have and create with your patients. When I think of myself coming home as a resident, tired, exhausted, close to collapsing and falling into a needed rest I'm not turned off or scared. I might be coming home to an empty house which is depressing but I know as long as I'm making a difference even in one person's life I'll be happy and content.
I'm very sorry for the long maybe even cliche post but I had to get this stuff off my chest. Your videos have been a great aid in my journey to being a doctor and you help me see a side of being a doctor that isn't depressing and miserable but joyful and fulfilling. Thank you.
Andrea can you interview your husband for us please ? It would be great to know pros and cons of becoming PA :)
yes yes yes please
Yes! This would be great!!!
Can you please do a PA vs MD video with your husband? :)
For anyone conflicted on PA or MD I would suggest taking the time and shadowing both professions and see what one fits best for you. PAs and MDs do similar jobs but host completely different lifestyles.
Great suggestion!
If you're on the fence between PA/NP and MD/DO, then I highly recommend shadowing both professions. It was through shadowing that I had my career epiphany :)
Also, there are so many health professions represented on social media. UA-cam videos, Instagram pages, and even Snapchat accounts run by people in the careers you're interested are a phenomenal resource. Shadowing gives you a good look at what the job is like, but these accounts give you a good look at what life outside of the job is like - - which is also very important to consider when making your career decision.
Kayla Oetting This is sound advice! Thank you! If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up deciding to go with?
Long story short, through the routes mentioned above I learned what characteristics in a job mattered most to me. Ultimately, I discovered the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession (which is basically the PA of anesthesia) and chose that :)
Totally agree. I shadowed in a quite a few different settings in undergrad. Experiencing the settings + the different type of health care professionals, helped me decide what I wanted to do. I was trying to decide between MD, DO, PA, and AA. They all have such different bit vital roles. Ultimately I chose PA in Emergency Med. :)
I've had a couple RT friends that I suggested go that route. It just wasn't feasible for them to go back to school and obtain their BSN, then get experience working in an ICU, then get all the certifications, then apply to a CRNA program, then work three years for their doctorate. The only downside is the inability to practice independently like CRNAs can but if that isn't a big deal to you, I say go for it. Good luck to you Kayla!
Thanks for the video, Andrea! I loved hearing about Kyle's opinion on LOVING his choice to be a PA. I'm currently a freshman nursing major, but my senior year of high school I was torn between med school, NP, PA, or pharmacy. After shadowing and comparing these careers, I chose nursing as my undergrad major because of the flexibility I have in the future - because there are so many avenues. Right now I'm thinking FNP (family), NNP (neonatal), or CRNA. I always hate when people say, "Why not just become the doctor? You're too smart not to be.", but like you say, if there's any sliver of doubt about med school, I think it's important to take a step back and soul search. Yes, I had to swallow some pride and realize being the doctor wasn't the best choice for me, but it's such a personal choice that we all have to make for ourselves and I couldn't be more excited for my future in the health field!
Danielle Sparling I soo agree with your comment, I was in the same situation as you, at first I wanted to become a physician, then I thought about RN, I was torn between the two , but I decided nursing because it has so many venues, and nurses the closest to the patient, I hated too when they say " why not just go to med school" , i believe the healthcare team is not just the doctor that does the job, everyone contributes to make the patient feel better, and we all learn from each other, Im applying to nursing school this year, good luck to you!
Thank you, Melanie! You too!
If you're considering CRNA check out my channel, it's all about advice videos for that. I may be bias but I have to say it's the best career God created for humans to achieve. ;)
These mentorship Q&A activities sound so helpful for those just starting out. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for making very informative videos for us :)
Thank you for responding to my comment, I really appreciate it. May you continue to inspire and encourage young people like me. Thanks!
You're the best! Thank you for this video, Andrea :)
Great vlog again!
Great tips! If you don't want to do more than a bachelor's, being a travel ICU RN pays great. I used to work 40-48 hrs a week and grossed $130,000 a year. Certainly not easy work but if you're passionate about it, the pay and travel is great. If you don't mind getting your doctorate than CRNA is the best paying healthcare career without having to do a residency. The program is insanely difficult and 3 years long but you can graduate making $200,000 or more a year. You have to be passionate about healthcare and patients or else the money won't be worth all the sacrifice.
I'm pretty sure you get this a lot but thank you so very much. Much luck to you and your future and mine!
Omg i love you Andrea wish you the best
Hi Andrea. I have been using your study techniques and they have helped me survive my first year of medical school! Thank you so much. I am currently using your method of taking notes in a Q&A format and it is really great. I now want to figure out how to enhance my studying even more. My question to you is: how do I go from doing just "okay" to being top of the class like you were?
Wish you the best and good luck on interwievs
You're so very inspiring
I am applying to an early assurance program right now and I am taking the MCAT in May😁 Thank you Andrea for the motivation!!
Good luck!!!!
Hi Andrea
I have been watching your videos and reading your blog for many years (since you started posting), and have used your active learning study techniques throughout undergrad.
I just found out today I have been invited for a med school interview, and I'm super excited.
Thanks for your tips an encouragement throughout the years.
:)
YAY!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
thank you!!
For me, there is absolutely no way I could go to pa school, I am OBSESSED with the brain and am in love with the neurology specialty and the sub-specialities that are beneath it. I do a lot of research on other careers because I like being knowledgeable about different opportunities, it's just fun to learn and know what's out there! For that individual, I'd say look into specialties in medicine and what a pa would do, definitely shadow to get a better idea but do what is in your heart!!! Great video Andrea!!
Thanks for the videos that you post. I am an international pre med student and I struggle a little bit because of the language barrier as well as adaptation. Can you interview someone who also was an international student but got into medical school? That would really help.
Thank you so much
Hi Andrea ! What specialties give you the possibility of a more balanced family-work life and what specialties don't? Thank you for all the videos 😊
Love your always smiling and vibrant face!
You're gorgeous and so intelligent, you're my role model in every aspect!
ps you are incredible , my role model !
Also, another good avenue if interested in medicine but not quite the education and costs is public health. There's so many areas of this that people can go into while still working in a clinical setting or even depts of public health. My previous job before going back to nursing school is building up community and clinical linkages with local clinics, community organizations, and others. You can be a health educator in a hospital for chronic diseases. Schooling for public health is usually 2 years and you can now do many online. Just some food for thought. :)
Naturopathy is growing and extremely large in all coutries outside the US, but it is definitely on the rise and many of my MD. colleagues are returning to school to also aquire their ND and be well versed in eastern medicine. there are some amazing programs. also, clinical psychology and doing an D.Psy vs PHD which could also be clinically based but focused.
Do a video on applying to Opthalmology residency!
Hey, I love your videos and they are very inspiring! Thank you for them. It would be awesome if you could interview an anesthesiologist!
Hah, everybody is asking her to interview an anesthesia provider. They're elusive, they all stay in surgery, like leprechauns or unicorns.
i'm 20 years old and right now i'm halfway through Paralegal school (legal assistant for those who don't know what that is) and i've decided on going back to school after i'm graduated with my associates to pursue a bachelors in Psychology/English, doing night classes and online classes while working, then hopefully, if everything goes planned, i will go to med school! i dream of being an OB/GYN!! crazy how life works.. but i'm excited for this journey!!
That's amazing! Good luck!!
Hi Andrea! I so appreciate you putting out advise, thank you for taking the time.
I'm going into my freshman year of college this fall (but I have college credit through concurrent enrollment). Obviously, I may still choose to go a different path in the medical field than a MD or DO, but I wanted a little bit of input, if you would be so kind. Because I have been through many health issues and injuries/surgeries I have found that a holistic approach is extremely beneficial in the healing process. I would like to go into a more preventive and natural approaching practice.
1) What fields would be most conducive in how I want to practice medicine? (MD, DO, Naturopathic Doctor, PA or something else)
2) Does a naturopathic doctor have the same freedom to provide health care as a MD or DO? What are the pro and cons to being a naturopathic doctor?
3) I have thought about being a PA, but am unsure if I will be able to find somewhere to work that shares my values on holistic health. I know you said that you chose to be an MD over a PA because you knew you wanted to go into ophthalmology and a PA would not allow you to do all you wanted to. I wouldn't what to run into that if I became a PA, do you think I would?
Thank you for your time! I didn't write this in an email, because I couldn't find it, sorry about that!
Hope you have a great day and rest of your week.
Best,
Holly Stokes
Depends on the person really and what drives them.
All of your videos are very helpful. Thank you! Please keep interviewing people. I have request, can you interview single moms who are applying for Post - Bacc and Med School. I'm a single mom and I'm switching a career to become a Physician. After I did some reflecting in my life, my passion in helping others and medicine I am more convinced that I want to become a doctor. I'm having fears of failure but I know I shouldn't think this way. I will be reaching out to schools that offer Post Bacc with linkages. Any suggestions on this area as well? Thank you :)
Can you please do a pre-pharm vs. pre med, or interview a pharmacist video please?
Hey +Andrea Tooley, I heard a lot of wonderful things about urology...a specialty I never thought would be interesting. Do you have any insight on this specialty? What does their day-to-day look like? I know people love it because of work/life and clinical/surgical balances, I just can't imagine it being an overly stimulating field, but I am now intrigued! Maybe you could eventually interview a Urologist! Thanks :)
If you have the time, could you explain the steps to become a lawyer in medicine. Do you need your JD first, then your MD, or the other way around?
Thank you for your wonderful videos. They are very helpful. May God bless you.
Hi Andrea first of all I've been watching your videos for a while now and they have been very helpful. I'm seriously thinking of going to med school (I'm currently a 1st year student in uni) and like you there are no physicians in my family. I wanted to ask a more personal question regarding the profession of a physician. Which specialty is "best" (normal hours shifts) if you want to have a family and practice medicine? I know it's a personal question but I would love ur advice💜
Please interview a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Thank you!!! :)
If you're genuinely interested in anesthesia and you'd rather be a midlevel provider than an anesthesiologist, you should also look into the Anesthesiologist Assistant career!
Kayla Oetting I'm currently a Registered Nurse and I'm interested in the field of anesthesia. Thank you for the tip though! Maybe if I wasn't already an RN I would have considered becoming an Anesthesiologist Assistant! :)
Side note: calling a CRNA a "mid-level provider" can be insulting. It's a term used to degrade health care professionals who aren't MDs.
I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to insult you or anyone else! I'm an Anesthesiologist Assistant student right now and, in Wisconsin at least, we use the term "mid-level" all the time so I didn't realize it was offensive to some people. I apologize and will be more careful with that term :)
Kayla Oetting No worries :) Best of luck in the program. It sounds like a rewarding career. I've actually never heard of an Anesthesiologist Assistant until you mentioned it! It's good to know :) I looked up the difference between an AA and a CRNA .. looks like the only difference is that a CRNA can practice autonomously.
You are correct! Also, the education path is a little different. It's very similar to the NP vs. PA education path, in that CRNAs (like NPs) get their BSN prior to getting their master's degree while AA's (like PAs) can get their bachelor's in pretty much anything as long as they satisfy the pre-reqs for their master's program. AAs are still so new to the medical field, so I couldn't pass up an opportunity to spread the word ;)
Have to add that being a clinical registered dietitian is also a great way to go if you don't want to go to medical school but want to be in the field! I was in the same boat and love my career now :)
Hi, can you interview an emergency medicine physician, please? Thanks for all your hard work that you put into your videos!!
Hi! I'm working on another video with an ED doc, but for the time being, Dr. Capito in this video is an EM resident:
ua-cam.com/video/gcwkx0-2Rtg/v-deo.html
Please can you do a video with a physical therapist and occupational therapist
I see you with the patagucci fleece
Hi Andrea! I`ve never really wanted to be a part of health-care team, by my parents were leading me towards medicine field when I was at school..and now I`m a 3rd year Nursing student and I am so so thankful to my family that they made me listen to their advice, because I`ve found health-care field very interesting and I enjoy helping people a lot :) but I`ve realized that I actually would love to become a Doctor...but I still have 1 year of Nursing programme to complete...my queastion is - I will be 23 years old when I have my Nursing diploma, wouldn`t it be too late to go to med-school? It takes ~10 years ( with residency) in my country to become a Doctor...and I doubt that I will be able to work as a nurse and study in med-school at the same time :) what would your advice be? Thank you!
Can you please do a video interviewing an anesthesiologist?
2. If I don't want to be a doctor, what other careers in the medical field are well paying, but don't require a ton of schooling?
Look into technician side of the medical field like histotechnology technician. Some local community college or university and they are usually less than 2 years of school, require a license from ASCP, and less than $6,000 for the 2 years, including textbooks and supplies. Major job stability because the field of histotechnicians is small.
The salary you can expect as an ophthalmic technician is 30-35k. For me, it gave me the clinical experience I needed to be able to apply to PA school.
Please!! Interview with an anesthesiologist
Hello Andrea , i had a quick question. How would admission to medical be affected if I am a transfer student from a community college? ... also during what year in college do most students take the mcat?? Hopefully you can reply! Thank you!!!!
Let's not forget about Medical Technologists too! We work behind the scenes to get the lab work done ordered by the physicians!😊
Yes!!! Thanks for the reminder! That is a great career!
I have a similar dilemma! I've wanted to be a doctor for a long time. My passion is holistic mental healthcare and my goal would be to open a clinic for women struggling with mental illness. Originally, my thought was that I should become a doctor and do a psychiatry residency or a dual family medicine and psychiatry residency so that I can be the medical director and owner of this clinic but now I'm wondering if I should be a therapist or social worker and partner with a doctor to eventually open this clinic. What do you think?
Andrea I'm from Poland. Love watching you !!! Please tell mi how can i find all actual list of textbooks for USMLE step 1.
not only review books but textbooks you are learning from in us medical school. Can you give me your list of books you were studying sinse 1 year till usmle? It would mean a world:)
after years of school (undergrad and grad school) and work in between, I've ultimately chosen medicine over other career paths, mainly because not only do I love medicine, but I want this to be my terminal degree and work on perfecting my skills as a physician without wondering "could I have been a doctor?"
She or he could become an ultrasound tech. It's 2 years associates or certificate at a community college and makes around $85k in metropolitan areas.
Can you do a how to become a pharmacist interview with a pharmacist
Can you make one on Psychiatry please
Hiii Dr.Andrea Tooley,This is Himanshi from India...I am really inspired by your videos and to be really true you are my role model..
My aim is to become a radiologist ,I want to ask you a question that Is it wise that I do my MBBS here in India and then go to U.S for higher studies or i should Start with M.D in U.S after my a levels(high school) only ??
I'm a fourth year in college and am just now thinking about the possibilities of PA school; can I still apply to the program even if I haven't taken human anatomy, physiology and microbiology (the pre med track did not require it)? Awesome video!!
You need to look at the individual school to which you are applying and see what they require.
Good Evening Andrea its Ivette Again! I would like to thank you so much about the information you told me here on this video based on my question. I felt a bit misunderstood in the question but I shall clear it up. for the most part I am not in it for the money, and what I meant about education is that I dont want to go to medical school but I am pursuing a bachelors and I wanted some information on how I choose a major I really want to pursue. I think being a PA is something I am very interested in and if possibe could you give me an email for the PA friend you interviewed as I am doing a lot of research and saw the video multiple times and she is a PA I want to be in surgery! Thank
Hi Ivette! Thank you so much for commenting!! I am so sorry if I misunderstood you! I understand that you aren't in it for the money, just looking for other options. I think your question was so great because many people feel just like you do! I hope the video gave you some ideas- I think PA is great. I will see if Sarah is willing to share her email :-)
can you provide tips for someone who has a learning disability, auditory processing issues, and am interested in medical school?
Liz'sHome!
I was interested in emergency medicine, but also considered starting my own clinic. Is it possible for any medical specialty to start/work at a primary care/ family medicine clinic or do you have to do a residency in family medicine to be able to do that?
Hi Andrea, can you interview a certified nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and Registered nurse first assist? any of them will be very appreciated! thank you for your video!
All great ideas! I will work on it!
I Love U😍😍😍
Can you interview an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon ? The requirements, do u need DDS n MD for that ?Thankyou!
Aishwarya Ranbhare No, you just need to earn your DDS degree, and then do a OMS Residency. MDs who decide they want to be OM surgeons (not sure how often this happens) actually must first attend dental school before doing the residency.
I have an idea what i want to do. I want to get in the medical field and that is what i see myself doing. I really want to get into homeopathy and a holistic side of medicine. I am thinking that I can specialize in what i'm not sure of yet i'm thinking gastronomy and using a homeopathic method of healing, but if a prescription would be better for the patient. I really want to help people and get personal with my patients and promote healthy living. I also want to spend time with my family and travel. If you can please give me advice I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for sharing on your channel!
Do you believe it is necessary to do research for someone who wants to match into opthalmology? Did you do research? Thanks
Hi andrea! so I really want to be a doctor, but I'm very strange because needles don't bother me unless I'm the one that it's being done on. I've heard that medical students are required to practice on each other and I find very conflicting answers online. Is this a requirement?
Do colleges look at remedial college classes such as precalculus?
what are you hoping to do you fellowship in
What's harder; the MCATS or the board exams?
Hi there!! Is it just me, or is the NP interview link not working??
# activeLearningSkill yey!
I have recently put up a whiteboard in my room. I started to use it and it makes my room smell like expo markers. I am wondering if that could cause brain damage since I sleep there as well.
Probably not the best if your room smells strongly of expo markers. Can you increase the ventilation in the room at all? Keep the door open when studying an using markers? Open a window? Get a fan? Otherwise, maybe don't use the markers before bed?
Hi Andrea,
Are you thinking of starting up the Skype sessions again soon? I have some questions about choosing medicine as a career and would love your advice. I'd love to email you or chat, but its somewhat personal so don't want it to be available for everyone to read. Thanks
I just opened them up again! Info on my blog on the "contact" page :-)
Is there a way to switch from being a PA to being a Doctor without having to go back and go through medical school? And can you do surgery while being a PA?
+KEZA thank you!!
Would you do a video on healthcare in the united states? You may find it too political and I would totally understand if you wouldnt want to, but I think for people wanting to go into the medical field its important to understand the financial burden that patients face as well as their disease or chronic conditions. I have seen such a push for productivity in all big systems that I have volunteered at. The push for productivity and taking patients because their insurance will pay out, not necessarily because they need the treatment. This is coming from the rehab side of things but im sure other healthcare providers face this as well. It has certainly made me wonder if the career I seek to help others truly exists in todays system of healthcare
What does it mean to medical school admissions if your overall GPA is higher than your science GPA?
It doesn't matter. What matters is that both GPAs are good (3.6+)
Not that money matters that much or anything, but I personally know registered nurses that make 110k-150k a year. Think about that for a second....that's more than a lot of doctors and it only takes two years of college after high school. Also keep in mind that the salaries you see on the internet aren't always accurate. Also, take note that because of the more recent reimbursements, doctor's salaries are decreasing, especially anesthesiologists'.
Hi, Andrea. First of all, thank you for all your videos, and your inspiration. I am 28 years old. I want to ask you do you know anyone that had have major in Nursing and did the pre med for medical school. I'm currently doing my prerequisites for nursing school and I know that a lot of people will think I'm crazy for taking this long path but I will want to know what do you think. I will appreciate it.
She has a video about being a nurse before going to med school. I did a dual pre-med/BSN degree including a med school internship at UAB. I realized that a doctorate CRNA degree was the best path for me and just left my MCAT and AMCAS gathering dust.
Bolt SRNA thank you!
Is there any way that I could email you?
what exactly is included in the science gpa? is it only the classes for the mcat or all the science class throughout college?
It includes ALL courses in the following subjects; math, biology, chemistry and physics. This means your science GPA is not limited to premed science classes. So keep in that mind if you decide to take a science class that is not required for med school like marine biology or physical chemistry.
23magneta what about behavioral science because I'm a neuroscience major?
DO VIDEO ON "HOW TO BECOME OPTHAMALOGIST."
Usman undergrad, med school, ophthalmology residency.
I want her to make a video on ophthalmology like she did with other specialties.
Does community college look bad for medical school?
Not at all! One of my friends attended community college after high school and finished his bachelor's at a four-year university. He was accepted into Harvard medical school. Unless you tell people, no one will even know you ever went to community college. Your college diploma will don't distinguish between students who transferred from community college and students who attended a four-year university immediately after high school.
Who are you to tell someone not to do what they want to do because what motivates them isn't the same as what motivates you?
She gave very good advice. There is nothing wrong with picking a career based on the salary, but if money is your main motivator, then medicine is NOT a good choice. There are much easier and more efficient ways of making money. When you pick a career, don't just look at the salary. You need to look at the years of education required and the expenses. A doctor sacrifices their youth and prime money-making years (20s and early 30s) in order to become a doctor. While their counterparts are working, saving for retirement, getting married, having babies, going on vacation, etc, they are falling into debt. When they complete residency and are fully independent, they do make significantly more money than many other professions, but they also have to pay a fortune in malpractice insurance and pay off student loans which can be as large as a mortgage. The money isn't worth it for all of the stress and sacrifice that you have to undergo in order to become a physician. You need to truly love medicine in order to be happy.
I have many friends who became doctors and every single one regrets their decision. It's best to think carefully about becoming a doctor. It's a very long, difficult and expensive road. If someone is interested in any other career, then they should choose that career. Medicine is best suited for people who can't imagine doing anything else.
I want to be a rapper
Thank you so much