Help :'( I'm lost on the steps I need to take to go into med school.

Register Today!

  1. This is a discussion on Help :'( I'm lost on the steps I need to take to go into med school. in Nursing Student Assistance, part of Nursing Student ... Hi, I'm a freshman in a jr college my goal is to become a doctor but I'm lost on the steps I need...

    by Aug 16, '12
    Hi, I'm a freshman in a jr college my goal is to become a doctor but I'm lost on the steps I need to take to go into med school. I'm currently enrolled in a nursing program but I'm wondering is that a smart idea or should I take courses for EMT? I'm lost and confused in this world honestly.
    Last edit by Joe V on Aug 16, '12
    Read Online


    Print and share with friends and family.
    Compliments of allnurses.com.
    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=772533

    by brie_1994 Aug 16, '12 7:39 pm
    ©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved.
  2. 3,361 Views
    Click Tags to Find Similar Topics

  3. 55 Comments so far...

  4. Aug 16, '12 by
    you would need to take the pre-req's for medical school and take your mcat.
    CP2013 and loriangel14 like this.
  5. Aug 16, '12 by
    As a pre-nursing or nursing student, you are going to be missing MANY of the important pre-medical classes, including (just off the top of my head) higher level organic chemistry (with lab), physics, upper level biology courses...some of these might be included in your nursing curriculum but I wouldn't necessarily trust an orgo or physics class in a nursing curriculum to adequately prepare you to take (and get an acceptable grade on) the MCAT. You are infinitely better off changing your major to something like biology, chemistry, or similar. EMT classes are a separate tangent that will be helpful to neither path.

    And as a little bit of a reality check here, if you're lost on the steps it takes to become a doctor, are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?
    2bRNFarmer, sweetf, on eagles wings, and 5 others like this.
  6. Aug 17, '12 by
    I would strongly suggest that you talk to an admissions counselor NOW at whatever 4 year school you are planning to attend after you finish jr college and find out what classes you are going to need as prerequisites for their pre-med program. That will tell you what classes you need to be taking at the jr college.
    sweetf, CP2013, and Esme12 like this.
  7. Aug 17, '12 by
    Quote from Cerriwin
    As a pre-nursing or nursing student, you are going to be missing MANY of the important pre-medical classes, including (just off the top of my head) higher level organic chemistry (with lab), physics, upper level biology courses...some of these might be included in your nursing curriculum but I wouldn't necessarily trust an orgo or physics class in a nursing curriculum to adequately prepare you to take (and get an acceptable grade on) the MCAT. You are infinitely better off changing your major to something like biology, chemistry, or similar. EMT classes are a separate tangent that will be helpful to neither path.

    And as a little bit of a reality check here, if you're lost on the steps it takes to become a doctor, are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?
    I am sure i know what I am getting into i just would love some accurate help on how to get there. So do you recommend not getting into the nursing program and to take those classes instead (biology etc.) so when I transfer to a 4 year il be on track?
  8. Aug 17, '12 by
    Quote from hgrimmett
    I would strongly suggest that you talk to an admissions counselor NOW at whatever 4 year school you are planning to attend after you finish jr college and find out what classes you are going to need as prerequisites for their pre-med program. That will tell you what classes you need to be taking at the jr college.
    Ok thanks I will do so.
  9. Aug 17, '12 by
    A lot of colleges have a pre-med program. Majoring in Biology will not give you the classes that are required as "pre-requisites" for med school such as microbiology, anatomy I & II, Ethics, etc, and Nursing will omit the upper level classes such as organic chemistry and public health policy. I would suggest you look into the "Health Science" major. Do some re-search as to what the pre-reqs are for med school and then pick a major that would cover as many of those as possible. Also remember that most med school require a particular amount of hours of actual "patient contact", so I would suggest you find a part-time job or volunteer work at a local hospital or nursing home.
    icandy, hgrimmett, and loriangel14 like this.
  10. Aug 17, '12 by
    Why are you in a nursing forum if you are pre-med? Go to oldpremeds.com or .org I forget which. There is also another forum devoted to traditional pre-med students as well.

    For starts, you are going to need a lot more than junior college for med school. I think you need to reprioritize and quickly if you intend to take this step.

    Signed,
    Former pre-med student that decided what I really wanted to do could be done with a NP degree.
    caroladybelle, CP2013, and Jennifergracex like this.
  11. Aug 17, '12 by
    Quote from watersamy
    A lot of colleges have a pre-med program. Majoring in Biology will not give you the classes that are required as "pre-requisites" for med school such as microbiology, anatomy I & II, Ethics, etc, and Nursing will omit the upper level classes such as organic chemistry and public health policy. I would suggest you look into the "Health Science" major. Do some re-search as to what the pre-reqs are for med school and then pick a major that would cover as many of those as possible. Also remember that most med school require a particular amount of hours of actual "patient contact", so I would suggest you find a part-time job or volunteer work at a local hospital or nursing home.
    Many colleges do not have a pre-med program. However, biology does cover most, if not all pre-requisites for medical school. Most do not require A/P as they wish to teach it themselves in their format. Actually, what is required for nursing and what is required for med school are pretty different. Here is a generic list of what most schools require in addition to MCAT scores and shadowing experience.

    The commonly accepted coursework requirements for medical school include a minimum of 1 year of:

    • General biology
    • Physics with lab
    • General chemistry (inorganic chemistry) with lab
    • Organic chemistry with lab
    • Calculus
    • English
    • New - Sociology
    • New - Psychology
    As you can see, it's a lot more intense in some situations and not as intense in others. It is different.
  12. Asst. Admin
    Aug 17, '12 by
    Quote from brie_1994
    I am sure i know what I am getting into i just would love some accurate help on how to get there. So do you recommend not getting into the nursing program and to take those classes instead (biology etc.) so when I transfer to a 4 year i'll be on track?
    We are a nursing site......you need to speak with a admissions counselor immediately....but have you investigated being a NP or CRNA? What is the draw to medical school?
    CP2013, hey_suz, and zoe92 like this.