Destination Medicine

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Where to Start?

I am amazed by the tangle of advice and guidance that is offered on the web. One of my favorite sites is by Mike Grasso which I stumbled upon when I was on bedrest with my second pregnancy. He lists the following on his site about considering beginning the path to become a doctor:

Positive reasons to consider

Above all else, this is what you really want. The issue of desire is probably more important than the question of how old you are.
You have the ability, energy, and courage to go for it.
You are willing to sacrifice what it will take to achieve it.
You are willing to walk away from other goals in your life in order to achieve this one. From this point on, becoming a physician will likely need to be the main focus in your life.
You have a plan to make sure your children or other essential obligations will be attended to while you are in school. Can you release yourself from existing obligations, or otherwise be faithful to them?

Negative reasons to avoid

You are worried about what your family or friends will think of your desire to go back to school. This is a decision that only you will have to live with (and your spouse, if you're married), so don't let others make it for you.
You feel you are too old or have been out of school too long. Don't ever let age be the determining factor for anything you want to do in life.
You feel you are smarter than most doctors or have unique insights that would make you a better physician. Become a doctor for the right reasons, remembering that medicine is a calling, not a crusade.

I really like being able to think about both sides of this coin, but there is a point where you have to say "this is what I am going to do and I am going for it!" I get the same feeling from this decision that I did the first time I jumped off the high diving board at the pool - nervousness, excitement, awe of others who have gone ahead and knowing that it will be a cool experience! Ahh, the childlike innocence of flinging yourself headlong into uncertain times.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

I Have A Dream!

I know, cliche. But, I have always wanted to go to medical school. Finally, after some soul searching and deep discussions with family and friends, I have started the first, tentative steps toward being able to apply. It is amusing how people will immediately say, "Well, what kind of doctor do you want to be?" I am just thinking, "I hope that I do well in Organic and the MCAT." I know that everyone means well, and that is a vote of confidence for me, but the entire process is so daunting.

So, here I am at 37, taking freshman biology with the lab, with students that I could have taught in my own classroom only weeks ago. I look around the room and see a few other "geezers" and wonder, what is their purpose for being in the class? So, after pondering this point, I have decided to start a blog about it and maybe it could become a place for the older, non-traditional aspiring medical school applicant to discuss the process and network.

Personally, I am going to retake freshman biology & chemistry, physics and the labs. I am also going to take organic, human physiology and biochemistry for the first time. I am going to be completing these courses at the University of Houston - Main Campus. I plan on taking the MCAT next spring. Since the administration is now all computer based and offered many more times, I haven't difinitively picked when I will sit the test. I also would like to take a review course before that big day.

Needless to say, the tremendous amount of stuff needed to prepare is made even more difficult for me since it also means placing extra stress on my husband, children, mom and other family. Since I am not working for a year, we will be both poor and borrowing against my retirement. This makes me even more aware that I need to make really good grades!

But, both my husband and I want me to be happy and teaching high school just wasn't cutting it in that department anymore. So anytime I feel unsure or doubtful, I just look at the bracelet my mom bought me as I embarked on this new adventure. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams - Live the life you've always imagined" -H. Thoreau