2 answers
Abigail
Student
Ashland, Kentucky
1
Question
Updated
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What would you (any pediatricians) suggest I do college wise?
Would it be better money wise to go to a 2 year college then a 4 year and then medical school? Or, should I go straight to a 4 year college? What should I major in?
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2 answers
Job Hall
Real Estate Manager
125
Answers
Reno, Nevada
Updated
Job’s Answer
You can do your first year or two at community college to get through the basic requirements. Then a good 4 year college to get your undergrad degree. Then take your med school boards get a good score and apply to medical school
Audrey Eakman
MS-2, Biochemistry BS
37
Answers
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Updated
Audrey’s Answer
Hi Abigail,
Do whatever is easier for your mental, physical, and financial well-being. There's no right way to do things or set schedule you have to follow to get to medical school. I took college classes in high school, went to a four-year college, and then immediately was accepted into medical school. One of my peers went to a community college, became an EMT, worked for nine years as an EMT, then went back to college for their science credits, and then got accepted into medical school. One of my peers got a teaching degree, taught high school science for three years, and then got accepted into medical school. I have peers who used to be nurses, medical administrators, and therapists. People who went to community colleges and local universities and people who went to Ivy League. There's a woman in my medical school class who is a concert cellist with a music degree.
You need to have three things to get into medical school: good numbers (GPA/MCAT), good experience (shadowing/volunteering/working in clinics or labs), and the right personality. Medical schools want people who are compassionate, innovative, strategic, hard-working, and emotionally intelligent. To succeed in medical school, you need passion and inspiration, something that keeps you motivated and persevering when it gets difficult.
So take whatever journey works for you. If you do something you're passionate about, your grades and GPA will be better. Med schools don't look at where you got your degree. They don't even care what your degree is (it should be a four-year degree, but the major doesn't matter) so long as you do the required science and math classes for admission to medical school. Most of them (algebra, calculus, chemistry, physics, biology) you can do at a community college. I don't know about things like organic chemistry or biochemistry; those might require a four-year university. A "good" four-year university is what's good for you, be it private or public, large or small. Reputations only matter if you're trying to get into an Ivy League, and even then, it matters less and less these days.
And honestly, medical school is expensive, and student debt sucks. If you find a solution that is cheap, I would prioritize that. It'll help your mental health and credit score in the long run.
Do whatever is easier for your mental, physical, and financial well-being. There's no right way to do things or set schedule you have to follow to get to medical school. I took college classes in high school, went to a four-year college, and then immediately was accepted into medical school. One of my peers went to a community college, became an EMT, worked for nine years as an EMT, then went back to college for their science credits, and then got accepted into medical school. One of my peers got a teaching degree, taught high school science for three years, and then got accepted into medical school. I have peers who used to be nurses, medical administrators, and therapists. People who went to community colleges and local universities and people who went to Ivy League. There's a woman in my medical school class who is a concert cellist with a music degree.
You need to have three things to get into medical school: good numbers (GPA/MCAT), good experience (shadowing/volunteering/working in clinics or labs), and the right personality. Medical schools want people who are compassionate, innovative, strategic, hard-working, and emotionally intelligent. To succeed in medical school, you need passion and inspiration, something that keeps you motivated and persevering when it gets difficult.
So take whatever journey works for you. If you do something you're passionate about, your grades and GPA will be better. Med schools don't look at where you got your degree. They don't even care what your degree is (it should be a four-year degree, but the major doesn't matter) so long as you do the required science and math classes for admission to medical school. Most of them (algebra, calculus, chemistry, physics, biology) you can do at a community college. I don't know about things like organic chemistry or biochemistry; those might require a four-year university. A "good" four-year university is what's good for you, be it private or public, large or small. Reputations only matter if you're trying to get into an Ivy League, and even then, it matters less and less these days.
And honestly, medical school is expensive, and student debt sucks. If you find a solution that is cheap, I would prioritize that. It'll help your mental health and credit score in the long run.