Discouraged
I’m not sure if I have a lot of regular readers, but here’s my story. I’m currently a senior in undergraduate school. I hope to apply to medical school one day. I wanted to join the Peace Corps to help others while gaining some life skills that I doubt I’ll learn from the books I read.
Well, with my last several months here, I’ve been focusing mainly on graduating, preparing for medical school, and getting an invitition into the Peace Corps. In my preparations, I’ve been shadowing an anesthesiologist. This Tuesday, I finally talked to him about joining the Peace Corps and I asked his opinion. He wasn’t very fond of the 2 year commitment. He told me that he thinks that spending that much time overseas would hinder my future in becoming a doctor.
His points were that the admissions board would think that I was more interested in becoming an humanitarian, rather than a doctor and won’t consider me as a competitive applicant. He also said that my MCAT scores might suffer, as I won’t spend enough time studying for it. He also says in two years time, my studying habits and all the information I learned would diminish. He highly discouraged me joining for 2 years.
This was not something I ever wanted to hear. I’ve wanted to become a doctor since I was 7 years old, but doing stuff that the PC does is the reason I wanted to become a doctor. I asked a friend’s advice and she told me to make a Pros and Cons list. She previously supported my decision to join the PC, but she understands that I would never want to hinder my chances of going to medical school. I scheduled an appointment with my advisor for next week. I’ll keep you updated on how that goes. I’m pretty nervous what he might say. He’s been on the admissions board, so I believe he’d have more insight on what they might think.
Though my heart in completely into the Peace Corps, I’m currently at a stand-still because this is my future, and I don’t want to find myself applying to medical schools every year because I didn’t get in the year prior. I really didn’t expect this; most people have been very encouraging.
Opinions/experiences welcome.
I’m sorry you’re had someone discourage you from PC. While he makes some good points, I think the bigger question is if you are willing to live with the possible regret of not joining the PC now, when you are free of other commitments. Life only gets more complicated the older we get. Medical school will always be there. Will your ability to commit to 2 years in the PC always be there? Yes, you will get out of the habit of studying and it is a little harder to get back into school mode after a break. But it does come back, so that shouldn’t be a worry. You can bring MCAT study materials with you in the PC. Serving 2 years in the PC shows commitment, resourcefulness, determination, and flexibility. What admissions board would think those are negative things? And I thought doctors were all about helping people anyway.
Just my two cents!
Good luck with the decision!
You make good points as well. That’s the reason I always wanted to join, but I never thought the PC would hinder my chances of getting into medical school. This doctor came completely out of left field for me, so I’m kind of shocked. I mean I really want to join the Peace Corps, but I don’t want to jeopardize my dream. I’m going to wait and see what my advisor says next week. Thanks for the positive feedback!
I can’t speak for med school, but when I look into grad schools for when I get back, a lot of them highly value PC service. It shows the qualities that the other comment mentioned and it definitely seems to be a pro rather than a con. Besides, isn’t Doctors without Borders an entire organization dedicated to doctors who want to help out? Also, no idea about the MCAT, but I know GRE scores are good for five years. Maybe something to look into?
Yeah, Doctor’s without borders is, but that’s after medical school and residency and it’s only like 6 months. Also, MCAT scores are only good for 2.
I pretty much agree with everything Leslie said – I’m so sorry you are being made to second guess yourself, but I suppose it’ll make whatever you choose that much more meaningful, because you will have considered something else and still gone with what your gut told you. I’m a few years out of undergrad, and while I was never looking into applying to med school, I did take a few years to work and then went back to grad school. I will say that yes, life gets more complicated. But I will also say that I was a 100% better student in grad school than I was in undergrad. I had life experience and better understood deadlines and timelines and responsibility and how I best learned and studied and I was much more self-motivated. As you get older things that you put on hold remain put on hold because not only does it get more complicated, it moves faster. Like, exponentially faster. Work happens and loans happen and leases and car payments and insurance premiums happen. Do the things NOW that you will regret later not being able to do later. Med schools are always going to be there, whether it’s the most competitive or best or whatever is a different story (although, I seriously question whether PC makes you less competitive… ) I do promise you, though, that after med school you will be riddled with so much debt that the thought of doing anything other than beginning to work right away will not be laughable. If you want to be a doctor that badly, nothing is going to stop you. Any set backs will just prove to you how badly you want it. Sorry to ramble and be so one sided, I just feel like you’ll regret not doing PC because it is such a unique opportunity that everything sort of has to align correctly for it to happen, medical school is more your own making it happen To quote one of my favorite movies, “you’ll regret it. maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life”
Also, apparently I didn’t proof read that ginormous comment! Sorry
Totally fine!
Thanks! You’re saying everything I feel. Right now I’m 90% sure that I’m still going to join the PC, but I think I want to do a little more research. I’m going to speak with my advisor next week. I hope all things go well. I honestly never thought the PC would reflect negatively on me.I think I’ll do some googling as well. I’ll keep you posted!
Don’t be discouraged! I think that the Peace Corps shows that you’re passionate about caring for people. Shouldn’t doctors care about people??
They should, but that’s not necessarily the case. Some people are just really good at retaining information and applying knowledge, so they go into a field like medicine, but don’t care about patients. It’s really sad. The patients suffer because they have a doctor that’s counting down the time to their lunch break and waiting for their next paycheck in the mail. Anyways, sometimes those are the type of people who make it into medical school. Medical schools might try to weed out the heartless, but some people can fake compassion really well. Sorry for the rant.
http://www.unmc.edu/Community/ruralmeded/model/preprof/peace_corps_applicants.htm
here is a pretty good debate among advisors/doctors/i’m not sure their titles… on a girl asking the same question as you. I was surprised to see the number of responses similar to what you’ve heard from the anesthesiologist, but I think there are some REALLY good arguments for PC as well. Good Luck!
So I read the link you sent me. I decided that if I am going to do this, I’m going to take the MCAT before I leave. It turns out the score can last 3 years, so that would be great for me! Thanks for the info. I wasn’t even considering taking it before I left.
It seems to me that the biggest concern would be the loss of book knowledge while in PC, but that is what study materials were made for! Besides, you will be working in health extention which could really potentially give you a leg up over other med school applicants (in terms of a bit of field experience, patient interaction, etc.) I cannot see how PC would reflect negatively on you (what is wrong with helping people?!). Could you offer more as an actual doctor? Sure, but would you still have the open opportunity to commit to two years after school and residency? Probably not as likely. If you have been building yourself up for this and think it is worth it to you as a life experience, then don’t let someone who just may be down on the idea of PC in general (or the amount of time PC is for) sway your opinion! If you are committed to becoming a doctor, it WILL happen for you, PC or no PC.
Yeah, I honestly thought, if anything, the PC would just fit under community service or something. I was completely shocked when the doctor I was shadowing wasn’t all about it. IDK…maybe all of you guys are influencing me, but the more time goes by, I think he’s just being a little judgmental.
Hi, I just found your blog (I’m a current PC applicant, too).
A few years ago, when I was considering going into medicine, I told my doctor uncle that and that I was hoping to do the Peace Corps. He thought it was a really good idea.
Medical school is looking at more than just your medical background. They want to see that you’re interested in helping others, willing to work hard, and have more interests than just “medicine.” At least that’s what my uncle said, and it makes sense to me.
Good luck!
Yes, I sure hope so. I spoke to my advisor, and he said it would be fine.
Just as an FYI you will have TONS of free time to study for the MCAT…I am currently studying at least an hour a day for the GRE but could easily do more. You might even be able to take the test while you serve. So don’t let that be a factor in your decision. The pros and cons list is a good idea…I’m sure you’ll make the decision that is right for you.
Well, I was considering taking the MCAT in South Africa in June 2012, but a lot of my friends said that I should take MCAT before leaving. So does my doctor I shadow, and my advisor. So I’ll try that out. If I get a bad score, I will definitely be taking it over in South Africa. We’ll see. Thanks for the advise. I hope you’re doing well!
Hi! I found you through a friend of mine who’s going through the PC application process. I’m a second year medical student, and I thought you might like to hear from someone who’s made it through to the other side of that whole deal.
First of all, full disclosure. I’m a D.O. student. If you don’t know about us, look us up – we’re pretty awesome! I encourage you to apply to a couple of osteopathic schools if you’re not already considering it. And as an aside – osteopathic schools love applicants with life experience because that sort of stuff is what makes you a really good doctor in the ways no one can teach you. Actually, any school worth going to is going to value that.
Going to the PC will not hurt your competitiveness as an applicant. You will shine because you will undoubtedly be unique with that kind of experience. When you write your applications essays, you will be all the more engaging and impressive because the stories you tell will show them maturity and broad life education as a direct result of your time abroad.
As far as your MCAT, make plans to take it in S. Africa, for sure. An admissions committee might have issues with your only MCAT score being years old after you’ve gone away for so long, so just plan on taking it abroad so that you can point out how recent and thus meaningful it is in your interviews. And if you know of a school you want to get into and you’re still nervous, call them now and ask to speak to an admissions person. Tell them what’s going on so they can reassure you and give you some tips.
Good luck with what you’re doing now! Med school will happen and you will be fine.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write me. You and a couple others have definitely strengthened my decision to join the Peace Corps. I’m thinking about shadowing a D.O.next semester, so I can apply to some D.O. schools as well. I really, really appreciate this comment!