Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 8/3/2008

Question
QUESTION: I'm a 31 year old college freshman, going to a local community college in Minneapolis. I'm at a cross-roads in my life, and I've started to consider medicine as a real possibility for a career. I'm maintaining a 4.0, and just breezed through my Human Biology class where I was the only one to get an A.

I guess I have the normal 'am I too old to accomplish this?' worries. But there is also the absolute lack of a concrete direction in which to navigate myself. I was a terrible high school student, only because I didn't apply myself, as was still able to get a scholarship to go to college in debate. This was 12 years ago, and college was a total bust. But now that I want to be there, I'm taking as many credits as I can (20 per semester) and just consuming everything and enjoying it thoroughly.

I was thinking I might try and stay away from sciences, and focus more on English and the like, but now I'm wondering if I'm sort of addicted by the difficulty and hard-work of science. It doesn't strike me as intensely enjoyable, but there's still something about it dramatically alluring. And there's also the bonus that I do very well at it.

What is the best path for someone like me to focus on if I want to test the waters and see if I'd like to pursue a career in anesthesiology? If I decide on this path by the end of my Sophomore year, what things can I do outside of classwork to help me seem more attractive to medical schools. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be able to maintain a 4.0 or something very close to it.

I guess I'm just looking more for some general information for someone who is older and considering this for a career move. Are there other resources or places with which to test the waters?

ANSWER: First of all, if you are interested in pursuing medicine, you will need to go to a formal 4 year college. Community college standards are generally not acceptable for medical school. Age is not the problem. I know many people starting out late who are now physicians (one started at 41). But if you don't want to put 12 more years into this venture, you might consider going into research in a science. This give you the option of staying in academics, going into teaching or doing research in industry.


Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your reply! I'm sure you are quite busy, so it is very appreciated.

I honestly, don't have much interest in the research side. I'd very much prefer a clinical setting. And in terms of the length of time, I'm completely fine with that. The other day I was just thinking that I would be quite happy to stay in school for the next ten years just learning different things. But, of course, there has to be an end goal.

My plan is to transfer over after two years at the CC to the University of Minnesota. I am meeting with a premed advisor over there this week about what I need to be doing. A doctor friend is going to get me some volunteer work at a hospital to see how I work with it.

So, I've at this point at least turned my rudders in this direction. What else do I need to do outside of my current path. I still have a few electives to do in my AA coursework, and thought I could take physics and chemistry, and then retake them at the university, and be a step ahead of the game. Or would a med school board rather see me taking different classes?

I'm also considering getting a double major in physiology and psychology. Would there be a better track to take if I was wavering between anesthesiology and psychiatry?

Thanks again!

Answer
Med school only cares that you take the required courses. The chemistry and physics should be taken at the University but if you want to take them also at the CC to improve your grades at the University, that's OK. The track you take in college has little to do with which subspecialty of medicine you go into. The major only plays a role in getting you into medical school. You don't even decide on a specialty until your 4th yr of medical school, so don't worry about that now.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston