ok

so, I could probablly start at smu next summer.

or i could wait 2 years, get a masters degree in electrical engineering, a professional engineering license, and redo the mcat again, along with taking a few more undergrad courses and probably start in fall of 2008.

the thing is, the engineering is cool, but it is not at all my end goal. but if this medicine pathway somehow goes bad for me, again, then having a PE license in electrical engineering would REALLY be nice. i could also be saving more money while im doing that.

but my ideal end goal, waiting the 2 years and doing that stuff would not help me at all.

i guess if the medicine path does go bad and i didnt wait, i could always just do the msee then? might be harder though, and id have med loans id have to pay. also if i didnt keep going for the PE license, then id have to work 3 years after the medicine pathway went bad to then get the license - the dont allow you to have any interuptions in the 3 yrs you are working to get the Pe license.

so, question is, wait TWO years, or start next summer? any thoughts?

well, thats the key word here. you could do all of that and still be in the same position you are in now.

__________________
Dr. Scott
Internal Medicine
PGY-1

AUC Forum Moderator

yea i know. except i would have something better to fall back on, and maybe at a "better" school. but what does that even matter? all that matters is what youre doing there right? you could fail at harvard, and ppl have, and then youre screwed anyways.

so pros to waiting:
msee degree
pe license
extra money saved
maybe a "better" school

cons:
be two years older
used that time on something i probably wont ever use again

sigh..........

I don't think it's really for any of us to say. That's a tough one, for sure.

I guess my advice would be to really think hard about the decision, because it is a lot of work and a lot of money. I haven't started yet, but I'm sure most people who have would agree. This is not something you want to jump into unless you are sure.

For me, there is nothing else I want to do with my life, so there was no decision. It was go to school to study medicine and SMU just happened to be the school that fit my situation and gave me this chance.

So, I guess that's not really advice on a decision but at least you're on the right track thinking it over. Just keep in mind you have awhile before you have to decide, so take your time with it. Good luck.

dont rush into this decision. i can see from your post that you are really pulled in each direction. take your time and do what you are more comfortable with.

__________________
Dr. Scott
Internal Medicine
PGY-1

AUC Forum Moderator

I'm 28 y/o and starting SMU in the fall, and I wish I would have been able to start this whole thing earlier. My story's a very long and winded one, one thing I can tell you is that if medicine IS YOUR FINAL GOAL, then go for it. Don't mess around with other things. This advice is only valid if medicine is your TRUE passion, forget other degrees, do it NOW.

Well! Like scott said, the key word is “probably”.
I am a second semester student and I know of a few students who went through the same situation you are going through now… they went back and took some courses over again and got a higher GPA and batter scores on MCAT than before but still, for some reason, did not get into a U.S Med. School… and now they are here, feeling, thinking that they could have saved those years they spent taking these classes over...

Just look at it like this:
If you start at SMU now, in 2 years, you would PROBABLY be back in states and be doing clinical…
If you choose to wait 2 years thinking that you would PROBABY get in to a U.S Med. School… think about what you would do when you don’t… then you would PROBABLY think about starting at SMU and you will be 2 years behind… Then you will think that you could have saved those 2 years…

Remember:
The most important thing is TIME… the sooner you start, sooner will you finish. The longer you wait, the more will you regret… You choose what you want to do.

Only you can say for sure...BUT IF you think you have a legit SHOT in the states...TAKE IT!! I don't care if you have to wait 5 years!

Rod

how much does it cost to setup a medical school and then operating costs??

How cool is your dream You are all over the place.O,engineeriring, SMU. Are you taking over SMU operations now?
Make up your mind, man, and run with your decision.