Help With Premed Courses

[cookderosa]

I think that's a good plan too. One thing that is worth doing before you choose, is emailing the science faculty members (get their names from the course schedule online) and ask them if they're willing to write academic / science letters of rec for you. Send out many - the ones who say yes are the one's I'd choose, especially if there are multiple sections being offered.

[Marcus Aurelius]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

[MNomadic]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

I think becoming a physicians assistant would be a more ideal career choice.
-2 year school(after bachelor's)
-less stressful job
-still make 6 figures(depending on different factors obviously)

[sanantone]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

I might be ignorant in this area, but don't they have assistants to enter this stuff? 

I hope these doctors can type fast. I've seen so many coworkers struggle with entering electronic data because they type slow, but I love it. I would enter my counseling notes as I was talking to my clients; it was faster for me and saved me from hand cramps. The clinic I go to for primary care has computers in each room allowing the medical assistants and physicians to enter information while talking to patients.

[christian30]

I think that's a good plan too.  One thing that is worth doing before you choose, is emailing the science faculty members (get their names from the course schedule online) and ask them if they're willing to write academic / science letters of rec for you. Send out many - the ones who say yes are the one's I'd choose, especially if there are multiple sections being offered.

I will remember that and be sure to follow through on it. Thank you, cookderosa, for the advice.

[Cheeseburrito]

I've researched pre-med obsessively since starting my journey, and have been in contact with about a dozen intake specialists into both PA, NP, and MD programs (US based, and Caribbean based.)
Here are a few things I will say is that they all seemed to agree on:
1. a brick and mortar school is better. Try to stick to one or two (they understand if you're trying to complete the pre-reqs quickly) and be able to use your lab profs as references if needed
2. GPA is very important in your STEM pre-reqs. These are usually split from your overall GPA, and are considered outside of your undergrad and grad GPAs
3. Verify with your target schools that the courses you're taking will be accepted BEFORE applying.
4. If you're in the pre-med phase of any of the advanced pt care provider careers now is the time to start volunteering, or making your candidacy into a program strong. If you're taking the classes it's likely you're committed to the career, so get on top of the supplementary stuff as soon as you can.

There are no shortcuts down this path. You either pay the price for entry into a program in time, or in the case of the Caribbean, in the form of money.

[MNomadic]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

I might be ignorant in this area, but don't they have assistants to enter this stuff? 

I hope these doctors can type fast. I've seen so many coworkers struggle with entering electronic data because they type slow, but I love it. I would enter my counseling notes as I was talking to my clients; it was faster for me and saved me from hand cramps. The clinic I go to for primary care has computers in each room allowing the medical assistants and physicians to enter information while talking to patients.

I actually just had a physical and yeah it seems she spent a bunch of time typing relatively slow on the computer with me there. Sure we talked and I told her stuff but she barely listened while she was busy entering stuff. Anything I said was met with a preprogrammed response identical to what I could find with 1 second of googling. I'm not helpless, I can Google basic stuff(and in fact have always extensively researched any health problem I've encountered). If it's something I mention to my doc, it's because the problem has persisted despite common sense remedies.

Sorry that was a mini vent.

[sanantone]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

I might be ignorant in this area, but don't they have assistants to enter this stuff? 

I hope these doctors can type fast. I've seen so many coworkers struggle with entering electronic data because they type slow, but I love it. I would enter my counseling notes as I was talking to my clients; it was faster for me and saved me from hand cramps. The clinic I go to for primary care has computers in each room allowing the medical assistants and physicians to enter information while talking to patients.

I actually just had a physical and yeah it seems she spent a bunch of time typing relatively slow on the computer with me there. Sure we talked and I told her stuff but she barely listened while she was busy entering stuff. Anything I said was met with a preprogrammed response identical to what I could find with 1 second of googling. I'm not helpless, I can Google basic stuff(and in fact have always extensively researched any health problem I've encountered). If it's something I mention to my doc, it's because the problem has persisted despite common sense remedies.

Sorry that was a mini vent.

I've received some canned answers from physicians such as, "Try melatonin if you're having trouble sleeping." Yes, doctor, I've tried melatonin and other OTC medications and supplements....no response. But, it's not a computer thing. I've received a lot of bad, expensive advice from veterinarians. Generalists aren't always well-informed about common conditions, and they're not always up to date on the latest research.

[dfrecore]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

I might be ignorant in this area, but don't they have assistants to enter this stuff? 

I hope these doctors can type fast. I've seen so many coworkers struggle with entering electronic data because they type slow, but I love it. I would enter my counseling notes as I was talking to my clients; it was faster for me and saved me from hand cramps. The clinic I go to for primary care has computers in each room allowing the medical assistants and physicians to enter information while talking to patients.

I go to the doctor regularly (diabetes management so min 4x a year with my endo, 1x a yr with my GP, 1x a year for ob/gyn, 1x a year for each kid, PT for a condition I had) and ALL of them used computers proficiently.  My 60+ yo endo and GP both just bring in a laptop, while the PT has laptops on rolling carts, kids' doc has computer in each room.

All of them are very good at talking to us, looking us in the eye, asking questions, then putting stuff in the computer as necessary.  Haven't felt like they were too busy on the computer to have a good appointment.

And, BTW - didn't they all used to have folders, and write all this crap down?  What's the difference between writing and typing?

[sanantone]

I'm not so sure being a physician is such a good career these days...

https://nypost.com/2019/01/16/alarming-b...hemselves/

I might be ignorant in this area, but don't they have assistants to enter this stuff? 

I hope these doctors can type fast. I've seen so many coworkers struggle with entering electronic data because they type slow, but I love it. I would enter my counseling notes as I was talking to my clients; it was faster for me and saved me from hand cramps. The clinic I go to for primary care has computers in each room allowing the medical assistants and physicians to enter information while talking to patients.

I go to the doctor regularly (diabetes management so min 4x a year with my endo, 1x a yr with my GP, 1x a year for ob/gyn, 1x a year for each kid, PT for a condition I had) and ALL of them used computers proficiently.  My 60+ yo endo and GP both just bring in a laptop, while the PT has laptops on rolling carts, kids' doc has computer in each room.

All of them are very good at talking to us, looking us in the eye, asking questions, then putting stuff in the computer as necessary.  Haven't felt like they were too busy on the computer to have a good appointment.

And, BTW - didn't they all used to have folders, and write all this crap down?  What's the difference between writing and typing?

I guess some of them are writing notes and inputting the info later. A lot of counselors I knew did this. I recommend that anyone in the healthcare field learn how to touch type and use online games to increase speed. I looked at my clients as I was typing and was able to respond. You need to be computer literate and have multitasking skills these days.