So, I really want to be a Doctor...

Post Reply New Topic

Hi all, I'm sure for all those that have read my responses or seen my profile page will know that I wish to dedicate myself to studying for the next 10-15 years to becoming a Doctor in Pathology. I start my Certificate III in Pathology in August which will make me a qualified lab technician, then in feb 2013 I hope to do my Advanced Diploma in Pathology which will allow me to gain entry to University and go on from there.

Almost my entire family are in medical but I would like to become our first Doctor. My concerns are how much my AS will limit me in achieving that goal. I have always found science and medicine fascinating so I know I will stay interested but I understand quite a bit of math is involved and that does concern me as I've always had difficulty in this area though I understood Algabra and angles easy to understand.

Also I find I take an awful long time to complete tests and it's been a while since I've studied at a higher educational level. So ask those with the know to perhaps shed some light on the things I can suspect in my studies. Oh I don't have any issue talking to people, I've worked PR/Customer Service kind of jobs all my life.

in the US, if you have a diagnosed learning disability, you can be granted extra time on tests in college. might be worth looking into.

Actually after I posted it, I went through each of the places I will be studying and looked through their services under 'learning disability services' that has certainly helped a little so thanks for the response. =)

I wonder if there are any Aspies on the forum who are doctors and could share their experience in their studies etc.

I really want to go for a masters in biochemistry. I would set the bar higher but I don't have the confidence or money at this point.

pathology. I have a family of dr's. You're not kidding about the 15 years, it's NOT an exageration.

I want to go to Caltech for uni, Harvard for MD, and MIT for Ph.D.

I'm currently studying to be a doctor ( in the UK)

The problems I have at the moment are not related to my studies as I find all the work pretty easy, although my main problems were at University with social things (I didn't make any friends on my course until the end of my first year, which meant I sat alone in lectures and never got invited to any socials or anything)

There is quite a lot of maths involved although I'm good at maths so I don't find it particularly hard.

I'm currently studying Medicine atm.

As you're interested in studying Medicine, you'll have to get in via Graduate Entry. This usually requires an undergraduate degree from Uni, so I'm not sure if your Cert III (Pathology) or Advanced Diploma (in future) will count unless it covers the pre-requisites for the specific Medical course you're applying for. Have you considered applying for a tertiary course like Medical Science or Biomedical Science as an undergraduate degree (they would satisfy the pre-requisites) after completing your TAFE degree?

You'll have to do the GAMSAT, which is utter hell (from what I've heard), there are 3 sections: essay writing, sciences (physics/chemistry/biology), and humanities which is multiple choice. IIRC the Physics is Year 12 equivalent, and the Chemistry + Biology is 1st Year Uni equivalent.

As you're had PR/Customer Service experience, you should have less trouble with clinical interactions with patients. IMO your largest barrier to entering Medicine would be the academics, especially with the long time to complete tests as you say. Unfortunately I don't think ACER (creators of GAMSAT) will provide accommodations for you in the exam, but you can always ask. And the pace of the course is crazy, even more so if you do the Graduate Entry version.

But you have plenty of time to study and prepare, and Medical Education in Australia is progressively becoming more of a "graduate" thing than something straight from high school, so I wish you all the best.

For those who are interested in Medical School, how competitive is it in your country?

I live in Canada with universal health care, and a shortage in doctors. The few medical schools we have are so competitive that some applicants who are accepted in top medical schools in the US are denied admission in Canada.

I would be interested in medical school, but the competition seems too daunting for me, and I cannot afford university outside of my country.

Well, over here in Taiwan you can ace the uni entrance exam( medicine is an undergrad option here, takes 7 years) and STILL not get into the best med school in the country which is called NTU Med.
And it is really, really hard to ace that exam...