i am really confused - Healthcare Professionals Message Board

RedHead86 · 02-26-2003, 02:30 PM

okay here is the scenario- i am a 17 year old junior in high school who is aspiring to become a pediatrician or neonatologist. i have taken almost every science class in high school (including chemistry and anatomy and physiology) i am also a active member of our school's HOSA (health occupations students of america) program which is a 4 year course (1st 2 years is learning body systems and exploring jobs - 3rd year is clinical rotations everyday in hospital and community and 4th year is EMT certification, which i will be doing next school year) my concern is where to start off at when going to college. i ahve absolutly no guidance, i am the first person in my entire family to graduate from high school-let alone aspire to do such great things. so i have no help from my parents or family. being said that i am also quite poor and everything i will be able to pay will be out of my own pocket, which isn't much. i work all the time so i don't have time to do the things i love (baseball,basketball,orchestra) and i am worried about college. my counselors haven't helped me at all. what is a good college i can get into in texas that would offer a very good nursing program? see my "plan" is to go to college for 4 years and get my RN liscence and pre med degree, then from the take my MCAT and hopefullly get into med school. my questions are for one, is this a phesable plan? i mean can i go straight from high school to start working on a BS in nursing? also, i m wondering what is a good college in texas prepherably(b/c i don't have enough money to go out of state) that offers a good nursing program? i am sorry to bother you but no one has been able to give me a direct answer. i would really appreciate your advice. also if u could give me any suggestions, like if i shouldn't do the nursing thing ya know. thanks you so much!

Sarah68 · 02-27-2003, 06:33 AM

Why are you even bothering with an RN program if you want to be an MD? I don't quite understand that. Surely, just graduate High School and go and get your premed BS, ensuring that it fulfills all the criteria for biology, physics and chemistry practicals, then take your MCATS and apply to med school. This would surely be simpler, unless you really want to practice as an RN? If you really want to be an MD, then just apply to med school straight away without wasting time. I not sure about med school in Texas, but I am sure there are some. There are good med schools in Boston though, including Harvard.

Good luck.

RedHead86 · 02-27-2003, 02:10 PM

i really need something to fall back on, i figured if i didnot get into med school, i could go to college a little longer and be a NP. also i would need a job to help pay for my cost of living while in sschool so i figured that a RN would give me a lot of experience as well. but what is a BS and what could i do with that besides med school. i am just keeping my options open so i have something to fall back on.

mfree1 · 02-27-2003, 06:59 PM

RedHead,

Most four-year colleges and universities require a year of "pre-nursing:" chemistry, biology, math, etc. I suggest that you spend your first year trying to decide which path you'd like to follow.

It's pretty unusual for RN's to beocme MD's. The training is quite different and becoming a nurse is a pretty long, involved process.

In any case, I think you should plan to spend your first year of college EXPLORING. College will introduce you to so many new ideas, books, people, and so forth. You'll be able to figure out if medicine is right for you, nursing is right for you, or if something else is even better.

Take care and good luck!

Mats (nurse)

jezuniga · 03-05-2003, 10:35 AM

I am currently trying to get a BSN, i want to go to med school. However i do not know what would be the best pre-med degree to fall under. I need a degree that can help me support myself through med school. I have heard biology is the way to go, but i am not too sure what kind of opportunities that would offer me if i was unable to attent med school. If something was to happen, and i could not attend med-school, what kind of job and income could a biology major offer me? my counselors here at my university are not very helpful. Please e-mail me at [removed].com

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[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 03-05-2003).]