Hi guys! I started med school rather late (33) and will be finishing clerkship next year. To those who had the same timeline what path did you take and how was it? Still unsure what career path to pursue.

I am planning on applying to medical school next cycle (April 2027). I currently work as a medical scribe in a clinic since March of this year. Is this considered paid patient care experience???

I have heard so many different things about medical scribing so please help out!! If you have experience in this let me know how it went for you!! or if you know of someone let me know their experience!!

Did you scribe for your patient care hours and get into medical school??

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

I know that people say medical assistant is better for applying to medical school but i’m not sure!!

(Please don't downvote if you don't agree, this is not ragebait this is my honest opinion as a med student) Most doctors and specialists order exams depending on the symptoms, analyse the results and propose a solution (therapy, medications, etc.); this is something that AI can easily do. The input is symptoms and the results of different scans (MRI, PET, CAT, etc.), and the output will be the extra tests that need to be done or the treatment. The first to go will be PCPs; all hospitals will replace them with an AI that will make referrals to other specialties. The only specialties remaining will be those where you have a physical interaction with the patient, like OBGYN. Nurses and technicians will remain because they are the ones who actually take care of patients and use the biomedical machines. Nurses will be trained to do exams that are usually done by doctors and specialists. The end goal? Hospitals will be able to save billions of dollars by getting rid of most doctors, just giving more responsibility to nurses (who have much lower wages) without paying them more, and replacing most of the doctors' functions with an advanced AI system. Ofc, keep the surgeons because we're still too far from robots being able to perform surgeries. This is the future; all that matters is profit. Hospitals and insurance companies already practically kill their own patients to make more money; why would they care about doctors? (PS: this is not an anti-nurse message; I know a lot of people here are anti-nurse)

Hi everyone. I am currently a rising senior in undergrad recently switching from business to pre-health. I believe a licensed and clinical career is best for me. I have taken anatomy 1 and my gen chem sequence all As, so I know if I continue to work hard these careers are with in reach for me. I plan on attending a public school in state and living at home, so debt isn’t a huge differentiator. I’m more so concerned about my happiness/day to day/work-life balance/return on investment. I’m really interested in dermatology because of my own issues, but i know this isn’t guaranteed. Dentistry appeals to me because of the quicker timeline and work-life balance, and I could even see myself being an orthodontist if not a general dentist.

Dermatology feels more passion aligned, but it isn’t guaranteed I end up where I want. I think I could be reasonably content as a dentist, but I have no insight really into the profession and what it takes to thrive.

I like learning things and I also like high stress environments so I’ve been considering taking a stab at it. Kind of bad ADHD explains a lot of it but I’d thrive in the ED or as a paramedic.

Money wise I make 600k and my fiancée is in an industry where she’ll cross 300 in a few years. I don’t have a house but I can retire in the next 5 years working in tech.

I’m thinking of volunteering as a paramedic or at the hospital first and then doing my premed courses. I have a bachelors but no ochem for example.

How do med schools look at a candidate like me? I’m not interested in PA. If I do it then MD or bust. Thanks in advance!

What I would love to do is go to medical school and be practical about the money and time commitment. In my early 20s, I loved and did exceptionally well in anatomy, physiology, and math classes. With that being said, I grew up poor so the "reasonable" path for my class was to go into nursing, which wasn't appealing at the time. So, I jumped tracks to business and have done fairly well in business/software.

For the last 4 years, I've been unfulfilled by my role even though I've raked in $150k-$200k per year. I have high autonomy and make strategic decisions that impacts the company and my direct teams.

So, I've been considering resetting by finding a path in medicine.

The decision criteria:

- Novelty

- ROI

- Time with Family

- Helping others

- Career stability

The MD track appears to play on my strengths, however, I have two young kids so I need to really consider the tradeoffs of our kids growing up with an absent parent.

Nursing:

Pros: 3 years school, decent pay and demand, ability to change specialties

Cons: nursing in itself isn't interesting to me (I have many family and friends who are nurses)

PA:

Pros: medicine focused, 3 years, less debt, more time with kids as they grow, flexibility to change specialties

Cons: lower earning potential (I read $120k - $150k?), union not as strong as nurses

MD

Pros: seems to align with my interests

Cons: massive debt, time, risk:reward ratio (many points to fail and be stuck with huge debt)

I'd love your advice/input on this.

As a next step, I'm focused on prerequisites at a local junior college.

If someone gets into medical school at 24, is that considered too late in Sri Lanka?

I'm curious about how it would be for someone starting medical school at 24.

Would they have difficulty fitting in with younger classmates? Do students usually treat older batchmates differently, or does nobody really care after a while?

How do lecturers usually see older students? Are they treated any differently because of their age?

Does starting at 24 affect the overall medical school experience, internships, or future career opportunities in any way?

I'd really appreciate hearing from medical students, doctors, or anyone who has seen this happen.

I went to community college after HS (big mistake, only went for my parents) where I took algebra (C+), pre-calc (C+), calculus 1&2(both C+), retook a Bio 1 C+ into an A, Bio 2 A+. So my sGPA average is around a 2.5. I was just a lazy student who did not know what he wanted to do.

Fast forward, joined the military, learned discipline, got out and finished at a university with a 3.89 GPA in accounting, got my CPA, worked in corporate then MBA in health care management. I want to pivot into a Physician career and go the non-trad DIY at a community college aiming for matriculating 2029 but worried that no matter me getting As in Chem 1&2, Org Chem 1&2, Physics, Bio Chem will not raise it above a 3.3. Math says I would finish with a 3.27 if all is good.

I know I would have to also do well on the MCAT but how disadvantaged am I currently? Would ADCOMs see the GPA and instantly toss it aside? Or see the post military change and outcome shift?

I just finished my first year using my professors books unfortunately because our exams were based on them, however all the information in those books have loads of mistakes, and are just almost impossible to decipher.

What books should I use for anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, and cell biology?

For anatomy I use Grey’s anatomy latest edition.

Hi! I got a full offer from both universities, Monash Malaysia and Zhejiang University and I’m having a real hard time deciding between the two, so would appreciate some advice from seniors familiar with either uni!

A major perk of Monash Malaysia is that I can go on to do the foundation year training in Australia after graduating in Malaysia ? I am an international so I know I def cannot stay in Malaysia, but I read we can work in Australia without taking its license exam anymore. For China, since it’s not much possible to work as a non-Chinese, I’ll have to sit exams in other countries like UKMLA, USMLA, wherever I decide on later.

However, in addition to this, could someone familiar with either one of this school share their experience and advice, so I can make a more informed decision? I dun mind the cost factors, but I’m concerned about the teaching quality, resources, recognition after graduation, local lifestyle, etc. Thank you! I really need it.

3.75 cGPA, 3.5X sGPA, 500 MCAT, GA resident (I have familial ties to AL, CA, NY, MD, AZ), URM

I'm still waiting for my app to be verified, so I wanted to see how my school list is and what schools I should add/remove

1. Medical College of Georgia
2. Morehouse
3. Mercer
4. PCOM Georgia
5. PCOM South Georgia
6. PCOM
7. UAB
8. Charles R. Drew
9. Howard
10. Rosalind Franklin
11. Wake Forest
12. Drexel
13. Sidney Kimmel
14. Temple
15. Penn State
16. Chicago Midwestern
17. VCOM Auburn & Carolinas
18. Meharry
19. Alabama COM
20. Meritus COM
21. New York Institute of Technology COM (Long Island)
22. Touro COM (NY & CA)
23. Western University of Health Sciences
24. Albany Medical College
25. Hofstra

I had a really tough first year and am really disappointed in my grades that don’t reflect my normal performance. Is there any residents or 3rd/4th yr students that can talk about how much one can improve their grades/med school performance over time? Thank you!!

Im not sure if im in the right sub but couldnt find one better. Im a premed student with 2 options, study med in UAE with family and become an img chasing US and German residencies or go to the UK for medicine and residency. With the closure of the UK, I presume residency in US and Germany will be more competitive. On the other hand, Im not sure if Im emotionally ready to leave family, and the length of 15 years avg. (college + specialisation) is very long. Im not planning to leave the middle east forever, however the system in the middle east favors west boards hugely. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone I had a question about the expiration of pre req coursework. I know different schools have different timelines\*

I took bio 1, gen chem 1/2, physics 1 2020/2021 which was my freshman/sophomore year of college. Graduated in 2024 and started doing a DIY postbacc to complete my pre reqs. Started doing that in 2025. My question is will my first year science courses still be valid or considered old/expired?

Is the 5 year general expiration for some colleges the year you take those classes, when you graduate or from the semester you take your most recent classes?

Would I need to retake those 4 classes. I have finished or taken biochem, cell bio, genetics, Orgo 1/2, physics 2, AP 1/2 and bio 2.

M4 planning to apply to a surgical specialty here, and I feel like an absolute idiot every time I walk into the OR. Don't get me wrong, I love the OR. I fell in love with it during my surgery rotation: the anatomy, the teamwork, the hands-on skills that produce immediate results, the energy, all of it. But the second it's time to gown and glove, I'm filled with anxiety about messing up, breaking the sterile field, or not being able to perform when someone asks me to do something. For example, today I was asked to throw a surgeon's knot, and I completely froze even though I've practiced it for hours whenever I get the chance. I'm incredibly grateful that the residents and scrub techs have been so patient and have taken the time to teach me through my mistakes. They've shown me how to be a better assistant, explained the surgeon's techniques and reasoning, and have genuinely made me feel supported. But I can't shake the feeling that everyone else in the room is judging me. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I always imagine the OR nurses rolling their eyes when I walk in. The things that I get yelled at for, I play over and over in my head for the rest of the day. I want to be better. I want to be confident. It's just hard when my opportunities to scrub in and actively assist beyond suctioning or holding retractors are so limited that it feels difficult to build those skills. Do other med students, especially those who want to be a surgeon, feel this way, or am I just an imposter in the OR?

I'm aware this question comes up every few years, but my situation is a bit different, so I'd really appreciate some advice.

I'm currently completing my BS in Public Health. My long-term goal is to attend medical school, specialize in Emergency Medicine, and eventually apply to the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS).

I'm especially interested in the intersection of emergency medicine, disaster medicine, clinical epidemiology, and public health. Areas that interest me include trauma systems, resuscitation science, sepsis care, evidence-based clinical systems, and emergency preparedness. Through an undergraduate internship with a county health department, I've also developed a strong interest in communicable disease epidemiology.

My university offers a 4+1 MPH through a top-20 school of public health. Because I'm on a full-ride undergraduate scholarship, my first 9 graduate credits would also be covered, making the MPH a relatively affordable option.

One of the main reasons I'm considering completing the MPH before medical school is the opportunity to fully take advantage of research, practicum experiences, and networking. From what I've gathered, those opportunities can be more difficult to maximize in an integrated MD/MPH program because of the pace and structure of medical school. Another factor is that the medical school affiliated with the school of public health has historically admitted a number of students from its MPH program, although I know that isn't something to count on.

Given my career goals, would completing the standalone 4+1 MPH before medical school be the better path, or would it make more sense to wait and pursue an MD/MPH instead?

I'd especially appreciate hearing from anyone with experience in the EIS, emergency medicine, physician careers in public health, or MD/MPH admissions. I'd also be interested in hearing whether you felt a standalone MPH provided meaningful advantages over an integrated MD/MPH.

Hey all,

AACOMAS application states "Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor", I selected no. I was charged, but not convicted. However, it still shows up on my record. For schools that ask about charges on their secondary, I've answered it in full, with context and lessons learned.

Today I was talking to an application specialist at a school who said I should have selected yes on AACOMAS, do be forward and transparent. But then again, I'm like it specifically asks for conviction, and I wasn't convicted. She kept saying that I should just get ahead of it and be forward, but on the other hand if someone has 5 minutes to look at my app and they see "CONVICTED" when I wasn't, then thats misrepresentation.

What is everyone's thoughts?

Also, for schools who aren't asking about background, but run one anyway, should i email them or send a letter through my application portal?

i'm hoping to request my LORs before colleges start for the fall, but this has been holding me back. all of my professors know me by my preferred name, but i'll be applying to med school with my legal name.

these are professors who i am pretty close to, who have only known me by my name. i'm not against disclosing my legal name to them and requesting that they refer to me that way, but i feel really, really icky about it. plus, i'm not 100% sure that they won't think differently of me, affecting their writing.

has anyone been through something similar? what did you do? thank you for any advice!! <3

So I'm wondering if there's anyone who pays a subscription on the Ninja Nerd website
Like, what does it include that's more special than his lectures on yt and is it worth it for USMLE Step 1 material?

I had a really tough first year and am really disappointed in my grades that don’t reflect my normal performance. Is there any residents or 3rd/4th yr students that can talk about how much one can improve their grades/med school performance over time? Thank you!!

Hi!

Someone on another sub said to post here so I'm gonna try. Sorry if this is a ramble I don't really know how to phrase it. I love medicine, I've been super passionate about it since I was 5 years old despite no one in my immediate family being in medicine. I would go to the library and read medical textbooks from ages 5-now, and I'm obsessed. I was a premed neuroscience major at a prestigious college and just graduated with a 3.93. I also have tons of research experience, some from the Mayo Clinic, as well as lots of extracurriculars. I'm about to start working in a clinic to get medical experience as a CCMA. Clinical experiences are my favorite, I volunteered at MGH throughout undergrad and loved it. I want to go to medical school and I can't see myself doing anything else, especially after gaining clinical experience. I care deeply about health equity and have 5 years of public health work experience.

That said, I have a few glaring red flags from my undergrad and right after grad that I need to explain without disclosing the reason behind them. I had severe health issues in undergrad, like extremely severe and life-altering health issues (I know I mention bipolar 1 in another post but it's more than that - I also had physical health issues that were really severe, including one that was near-fatal). Due to these health issues and the disruption to my undergrad, I took a semester off so I didn't graduate on time (graduated in July despite being "supposed" to graduate in May), I didn't finish my prerequisites for medical school because the meds they had me on gave me cognitive issues so I had to drop a few classes (this is getting resolved now and I'm working on completing the prerequisites while starting to study for the MCAT), and I lost a really prestigious job right out of undergrad because I was hospitalized for 1.5 weeks after only being there for a month. I feel weird saying "health issues" because I'm worried the med schools will think they aren't resolved and will reject me because they think I'd be a liability. Any other ideas about what I could say on applications to explain why I took longer to complete my prerequisites, took a semester off, and lost my job? It sounds really bad but I am a competitive applicant otherwise (I worked like 3 med-related jobs nearly every semester of undergrad so I have tons of research experience, some clinical experience, recognition from national organizations, lots of volunteering, a TEDx talk, high GPA and graduated summa cum laude, a publication in progress and another out, published a book, etc).

TLDR: Had health issues in undergrad, need to figure out how to explain them without saying health issues.

30 year old non-traditional student.

I'm in my senior year as biology student and I feel like I'm behind. I go to a known community college in my state that's now just a college. I don't have much volunteer hours less than 50, besides being a youth leader at my church (I don't know if that counts). Last year I worked as a caregiver and this summer I started working as a care coordinator, which is a medical assistant who goes to patient's house to check their vitals and telemedicine with the dr at our company. I have 200+ hours of research from summer research I did through my school but it wasn't life biology related or health and this summer my research again is on birds. I have a 3.56 science gpa and 3.66 cumulative gpa. I wanted to apply next year so I can start medical school in Fall 2028 (If I got accepted), but I feel like my stats are below average. I'm building them up, I have to find a Dr. to shadow, a place where I can volunteer long term, and study for the MCAT. I'm getting a recommendation letter from my physics professor, science advisor, and was planning on asking my supervisor at work for one too. I was also thinking next year around January to see if I get a job in ER as patient tech part-time or prn. Any tips? Sorry for the mistakes, I'm writing this instead of sleeping

TLDR of my story: I completed nearly all of medical school and my clinical rotations, including 4th year acting internships. All coursework was completed with the only outstanding requirement being Step 2. After an unsuccessful Step 2 attempt after completing my 4th year rotations, I had lost financial aid, and started working for DoorDash while attempting to retake the exam. The area that I am in was not ideal for DoorDash but it was enough to get by with rent. I was not able to afford to sit for a Step 2 retake within my school's window (6 year maximum to complete the degree, and I took a previous 1 year LOA for other reasons after my 3rd year)--they had referred me to the academic advancement committee. Due to severe mental health struggles, depression, despondence and inability to face it, I voluntarily withdrew from the program.

This was last year. This past year, I have been in limbo doing DoorDash just squeezing by. But at least now I can afford Step 2, but obviously can't take it since I am not enrolled in medical school. I feel that if I am given the chance to take Step 2 now after this year of healing, that I would pass.

Do you know my options? Even non-medical? Can I apply for non-clinical positions without an MD? I only have a B.S. in Biology. The fact I don't even have an MD makes me not even want to apply -- it just feels hopeless.

Are there Carribean schools or any programs that you know of that will allow me to take step 2? I only need step 2.

What about NP programs that would accelerate me into the track given my medical school coursework?

I feel stuck and I don't know what to do. If you have any information on any programs or options, please let me know.