Jay started in the workforce right after college and knew it wasn’t for him. He’s found his way to medicine but is frustrated that he can’t do more, sooner.
Your questions answered here are taken from the Nontrad Premed Forum. If you don’t have an account yet, sign up and ask away.
Are you struggling with something? Or do you just want to celebrate something? Share it anonymously by calling 833-MYDIARY. And be part of our upcoming new show, MedDiaries. You have to up to 30 minutes worth of voicemail recording. Learn more about it by listening to last week’s podcast.
“I’m currently working on a do-it-yourself postbac and just recently, completed a full year of biology (Bio 1 and 2). I have been working full-time as an applications developer for a large corporation in Pittsburg where I was hired just after completing my CS master’s program back in 2013. I started work just the Monday after graduation and go head first into the workforce only after 2-3 years, to find out that this isn’t what I want.
Through many other experiences and attempts at finding a new career path while working, I’ve landed upon medicine for a number of reasons and I’m extremely excited to make this journey. Here’s my issue:
It doesn’t feel real yet and I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. I’ve always been the type of person that likes to floor the gas pedal once I know my destination. However, I don’t want to do too much and lost control and become distracted.
So I started slowly with Bio 1 and 2 at a community college here and I passed both with A’s. That really boosted my confidence and I enjoyed everything about the class. Now, I want to step on the gas and go back to school full-time, start volunteering, shadowing, and working in health care. But because of bills and living expenses, I’ve been consciously working on paying off debt as fast as possible.
I don’t feel I can leave my full-time job yet, to be a full-time student. But I am 29 and would like to get everything on track as soon as I can. I know that when I get there, I’ll get there.
But I’m starting to feel like work has become a distraction now and it’s starting to reflect in my performance. I think I’m just having a hard time accepting that all I can do is take one or two or three classes this semester and work. I know at some point, I will need to ramp it up but am I doing enough now? I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I don’t want to fall behind in any way if there’s room to get ahead.”
You are doing enough for what your situation is. Everybody’s situation is different. You have to do what you have to do. You can’t look at another classmate and think they’re doing all this while you’re not, so you’re not doing enough. It’s your situation so that’s what you have to do.
[Tweet “”Everybody’s situation is different. You have to do what you have to do.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-141-am-i-doing-enough-right-now-to-get-into-med-school/”]
You could figure out a different way but this is something you have to do yourself. Probably, think about moving back in with your parents. You can also consider taking a job as a scribe while taking classes.
The question is, are you willing to put in the effort and put in the work to do it?
Move into a house with five other roommates so you can split the expenses. Sell your car and take public transportation. Are you willing to do that? Most people aren’t and that’s okay. Again, know what you’re willing to put up with.
Probably. Do you want to sacrifice your classes, coursework, and grades? You have to be very careful with those. But it’s possible to do more. You also have to be careful with work. You mentioned you’re performance there is quite affected. So you don’t want to get into a situation where you’re fired over this.
[Tweet “”Do some soul searching. Everybody needs to do this. How much dirt are you willing to eat?” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-141-am-i-doing-enough-right-now-to-get-into-med-school/”]
Share your story with us. Dial 833-MYDIARY
Session 140: Burnout in Medicine and Our Newest Project to Help With It!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
I just received my admission to XXXXX! This is unreal and almost feels like I am dreaming. I want to thank you for all of your help with my application. I cannot overstate how influential your guidance and insight have been with this result and I am eternally grateful for your support!
IM SO HAPPY!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP, IM INDEBTED TO YOU! Truly, thank you so much for all your help. Thank you doesnt do enough.
I want to take a few moments and thank you for all of your very instructive, kind and consistent feedback and support through my applications and it is your wishes, feedback, and most importantly your blessings that have landed me the acceptance!
I got into XXXXX this morning!!!! It still has not hit me that I will be a doctor now!! Thank you for all your help, your words and motivation have brought me to this point.
I wanted to once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your help in providing feedback during my secondary applications. Your guidance has been instrumental in my journey.
Just wanted to share my wonderful news! I received my first medical school acceptance! Thank you for all that you do for us Application Academy!!!
I am excited to tell you that I just got my third interview invite from XXXXX today! I can’t believe it. I didn’t even know if I was good enough to get one, let alone three – by mid-September. Thank you so much for all of your help and support up to this point; I would not be in this position without it!!
I wanted to thank you for helping me prepare for my XXXXX interview. Even in a 30-minute advising session, I learned so much from you. Thank you for believing in me, and here’s to another potential success story from one of your advisees!
I just received an acceptance with XXXXX! This is so exciting and such a huge relief and so nice to have one of our top choice schools! I also received an interview with XXXXX which brings the total up to 20 interviews! Thank so much, none of this would have been possible without you!
Join our newsletter to stay up to date
* By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Resources
Advising Services
Podcasts & Youtube
Books
About
