I want to become a Obstetrician so I'm thinking I'll get my Bachelors in Biology. But school doesn't necessarily fit with my plans for family so would it be possible to get my bachelors and wait a little bit to go into med school?
Anonymous
You don't have to go straight out of college -- I know many doctors who didn't -- but you shouldn't have a family before you go.
You SHOULD go within 2-3 years of graduating, or your pre-med classes might end up being out-of-date or you might forget much of what you learned.
ibu guru
If you are considering medical school, you postpone having a family until you complete med school - and residency. How do you expect to spend 80 hours a week with med school studies, rotations, etc, when you have a baby? And how can you support a child & pay for med school, too?
Laurie
Sure... But your knowledge will fade over time, so when you ARE ready, you may have to study more than you otherwise would for the MCAT... In addition, when you DO apply for med school, you will be competing against younger, more recently-educated applicants.
?
Well, yes -- but don't just assume that you will be able to go to medical school at all. Getting into medical school in the U.S. is extremely competitive. Only 10% of all applicants get in at all and at least half of all medical students had to apply more than once.
What you also may not understand is that being in medical school and then in a residency is an 80-100 hour/week "job." It isn't an easy path for someone with small kids and it costs a lot too. You also need to understand that there is no guarantee that even if you graduate from medical school that you will get accepted into an obstetrics residency program. Most medical students have to move across the country for their residency -- again that is a lot more complicated with a spouse and kids.
Russ in NOVA
Med schools are very competitive. It is already a challenge getting into med school. You need great grades in a premed program. You also have to pass the MCAT. Experience in research or medical related fields is also a benefit. Assume you would qualify academically and have some background, you'll have to have a good explanation as to why you waited a bit before starting school.