Backup Plan

I know that no one here would really like to talk about this, but I was wondering, what would you guys do if you don't get into med school? I've been racking my brain, and I draw a real blank. The best thing I can think of is to become a paramedic (I would love to drive the ambulance! :lol ), but, honestly, I would like something that pays more (though I know I should do something I like, not work for money, but that's not always very realistic). So, what do you guys have planned?

Well, as you can probably guess from my alias, I was planning on going into comp. sci had I not been accepted into medical school.

I remember when I first went to UofT:Scar for undergrad and I met with a career advisor for the first time. She asked what I was going to be sutdying, and once I said I want to go to medical school, whe immediately asked me 'What's your backup plan?"..LOL, quite a wakeup call to say the least!

medcompsci... where are you going?

My back up plans were either apply to law school with an accounting and international finance background, or pursue a CA designation, or go get a job in finance and try to get a CSC designation (stock trading), or go get some job in a business related career. Too bad, I never got around to taking those Japanese courses, but I'm much happier where I am now.

Other friends of mine who graduated with the human biology degrees went on to the Michener Institute to become respirologists or did a joint degree with them in the radiation sciences. A few others got into dentistry, and others into physiotherapy or occupational therapy. I have a few other friends who went onto graduate school too.

I know a couple of people who went on to careers in actuarial sciences and computer sciences. One girl who went into full commerce, and another started over in engineering.

The thing is that in the beginning in first year, every one wanted to go into medicine. Quite a few of my friends did get in (about 10-15 of my friends). Others found areas of interests and concentrated on them. Back up plans are necessary. It's being realistic.Diversification of study also actually gave me an edge in my med school application.

The caveat is that we all went to U of T for undergrad where there is a large variety of majors of studies and that they could be flexibly combined.

I will be attending the UofT med school this September

Personally, I had pretty much no backup plan - most people think other healthcare professions like dentistry or pharmacy, but I personally am only interested in medicine, and dent/pharm are healthcare, but they are not even close to medicine on my list of interests! If med hadn't been a possibility, I would've gone into arts and did a B.Mus. in performance, and possibly work part time in a lab.

I didn't have a backup plan, although my parents had asked me to consider doing Pharmacy at UBC for undergrad. I refused that, more out of a sense of wanting to stay at UVic than anything else. The trouble with backup plans for medicine is that the typical premedder who studied Biology or Biochemistry really doesn't have a professional future using just that degree other than labwork in Biotech, or perhaps academic science via a graduate degree.

I suppose I'm lucky that I got in, and didn't have to explore further my remaining job options. Some of my friends back at UVic are doing other things; one has gone into law, another is doing a second Bachelors in Computer Science, another is applying to Optometry, and a fourth has applied to Physio.

Ian
UBC, Med 3

Research(academia) was my backup plan. I did my undergrad in biophysics and would have done a PhD in Medical Biophysics if I didn't get into med school. However, this option is not for everyone. I would have been perfectly happy to spend the rest of my career developing new technologies and giving lectures. A lot of my friends are doing research now while they apply for med school and they're not enjoying it. Only do a masters if you truly enjoy it. That being said, I'm having a great time in med school and wouldn't want to change where I am. I would still like to do some research in my future career though.

Well...I was (and still am) a Registered Nurse. Always wanted to get into medicine, but life demanded a somewhat realistic "guarantee" of being able to find work if I did not get into med school. I love many aspects of my job as a nurse, but I truly dislike the politics and people (not all people obviously, but there are some ...) that dismiss you or your input thinking you can't possibly have anything credible to say because you have an R.N. behind your name. I have since completed a M.Sc. and my patients have solidified my desire to become a physician. Life has been kind enough to present me with the opportunity to continue to pursue my dream. I'm starting at McMaster in August and I'm absolutely delighted with that, ....but if I didn't get in, I would have continued to do my best for my patients in my current role - after all that's what any health care professional strives to do.