Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

*I don’t feel like rotating that second picture.

If individuals do not enjoy their careers, then money becomes the shackle that binds them to the profession they despise.

- Andrew Doan, MD, PhD

Since as far back as 10th grade (’02), money has not been a goal in pursuing a career for me.  In 11th grade, as I was contemplating what career goal should replace my former desire to become a computer programmer, I specifically remember off-handedly considering medicine.  I had for a long time despised the typical Asian mindset of becoming a medical doctor and making loads of money.  It was strange that I came back around to even considering a career in medicine.  I think I tossed that notion aside once I realized that I was horrible at science, or at least, biology (C and D- in AP Bio).

7 years later

I’m sitting here studying for the GRE and reading The Official Student Doctor Network: Medical School Admission Guide.  I’ve abandoned a comfortable career in political science (*joke*) and the adventures of the military (*joke*) for a career for which I’ve had a strong dislike in the past and for which I’ve shown little aptitude (I am scientifically inept…never scored an A or even A- in even General Biology).

This is the first thing written in The Official Student Doctor Network: Medical School Admission Guide:

“One doctor gave me the most helpful advice of all.  He told me to basically figure out if I could be hapy doing anything else in this world, and do that instead.  So, I really did look inside myself and tried my best to find something else.  The truth is, I couldn’t.  Yes, we’re all going to be working ridiculous hours, and we’re all going to have to at one point in our medical careers deal with lawsuits, and, yes, we’re going to have to deal with insurance companies, BUT, I know that there isn’t a single career that will bring me more joy than medicine.”

–Michael G. Valladares, medical student

OK…that’s encouraging.

Then, I read that “only about one-third of all medical school aplicants are accepted into medical school each year” and that “you will find few physicians who work less than fifty hours per week.”  A few pages later it says that “physicians of the future will likely make less income than their predecessors.”

My Prospects of Being Admitted into Medical School

1.  Avg. GPA: 3.7 | Mine: 3.618

2.  Avg. Volunteer/Service: 4 hrs/week for 4 years | Mine: About 55 hours over 4 months

3.  Leadership Positions: 3 for 3 months each in past 4 yrs | Mine: lacking, but I can fudge here and there

Now, I plan on getting in a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), which is the name for MD/PhD programs that are funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).  Average GPA’s among those accepted in those programs are from 3.8-3.9.  Average research experience of applicants is 2 years, while that of applicants accepted is 4 years.  The average MCAT scores of those accepted into MD programs is 32 out of 45, while average MCAT scores of those accepted into MD/PhD programs is usually in the 34-37 range.  Johns Hopkins Medical School, the perfect school for my career and education goals, has an average GPA of 3.9 and and average MCAT score of 36.

Also, when looking at academic records of applicants, schools look at courseload taken and incompletes/withdrawals.  For the most part, I have taken 3 classes per quarter, with 2-3 quarters having taken only 2 classes.  I don’t recall having ever taken 4 classes without the 4th class being Gospel Choir.  I also have 5 withdrawals.

Action Plan

So, currently, it looks like I have little chance of getting into medical school, let alone an MD/PhD program.  But, if I do happen to get in, I’ll probably be done with residency by the ripe age of 37 or possibly 40.  Things are looking up for me (*sarcasm*).  I’ll write out my Action Plan once I’m done reading the Medical School Admissions book.

President Rene Preval says he believes thousands of people are dead even as other officials give much higher estimates — though they were based on the extent of the destruction rather than firm counts of the dead.

His prime minister, Jean-Max Bellerive, tells CNN: “I believe we are well over 100,000,” while leading senator Youri Latortue tells The Associated Press that 500,000 could be dead. Both admit they have no way of knowing.

- Thousands feared dead in Haiti quake; many trapped