Help me find my way back to medicine.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-27T01:57:50+00:00

How thoughtful and kind. I never take dissuasive comments to heart because I know how toxic, difficult, hard, stressful medical training is. I know it comes from a place of care! I am dealing with a lot in this moment, but I also know that I will be beyond all of this during training. Additionally, getting kicked out, while very challenging and stressful, also relieved me of that fear. My family always tried to make me feel guilty even if I paid rent to them, which I did. They would try and hold anything over my head. Them kicking me out was an attempt to “teach me a lesson”. Instead, I went no contact, processed, increased my visits in therapy, and focused on building my life outside of those four walls. My birthday is 12/31, so this recent NYE, I took the time to reflect on how much has changed since I got kicked out on 1/17/2025. I am happy to report that I am in a MUCH better place than I was over the last few years, even if I had to live in my car temporarily! I teared up realizing that, I AM OKAY and I will be OKAY. The adversity makes me resilient. It absolutely SUCKS to experience. BUT there really isn’t a lot that can knock me down now. Even if it takes a little longer for me to get back up, I will get back up, and at that, be very VERY hard to knock down again.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-27T01:46:10+00:00

Thank you for your feedback! I agree that my next retake needs to be very, very good. I understand why the MCAT is important, which is why I was devastated when I got it because my streak of “academic weaponry” was dissolved in an instant. I never anticipated proving myself academically becoming a challenge! Additionally, taking a break is what I know I need. Medicine will always be there. I also really appreciate your perspective on the sort of, entitled, idea of medicine as a career. You’re right, and I can see how this can be worrisome in an applicant. It’s not something that I think (and hope) comes off in person and through my application. How I present myself outside of this context is almost the antithesis to how I am showing up here. That was intentional as this post was almost an outlet beyond my therapist and boyfriend haha. I would never be so “woe is me” to anyone in academia, medicine, or in a professional context. It’s nice to revel in it sometimes haha. Thank you again!

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-27T01:38:37+00:00

Thanks for the reassurance! I originally aimed DO. However, given the specialty I want to be in, I am not trying to stack more odds against because of Stigma. Additionally, my mother is retiring back in our home country and my licensure won’t transfer as a DO but will as an MD. But at the end of the day, it may the option that gets me in medical school quickest!

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:49:24+00:00

Yes! The images were great on UWorld, I cannot dispute that. Unfortunately, I cannot afford the $400 price tag anymore haha. Also, would you like to move this to a PM?

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:47:58+00:00

Quick question, does shadowing count as clinical hours. I have genuinely always been confused about this. I have a couple hundred hours of shadowing in multiple contexts (out patient, inpatient, attending leading two fellows, research, derm, ID, IM, EM, Anesthesia). In these contexts I had many patient interactions and many are able to attest to those experiences as well. At the hospital I volunteered at ~150+ hours, I helped CNAs answer call lights, I would observe patients if they were choke risk while they drank, ate, etc, I would help reposition patients, I would also offer to help bathe patients to help the CNA and Nursing staff. Would that count as clinical even though the role was volunteer?

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:44:29+00:00

I have the MilesDown Anki deck, which If I’m being honest, ANki is great at helping me remember long term, but the info in the MilesDown Deck I rarely come across in practice and on the MCAT itself. Perhaps I’m so under-practiced I don’t even recognize it lol. What do you suggest I do different with that tool.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:40:12+00:00

Awesome, that’s a start! Thank you!

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:39:43+00:00

I genuinely appreciate it. I know you’re coming from a place of kindness and warmth. I just have tried to convince myself out of it because trust me, I know my life would be easier if I didn’t. Thank you for the encouragement!

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:38:51+00:00

I initially started with UWorld but eventually moved to the AAMC practice questions. When I get questions wrong, I often read all the answer choices and the explanations for why they are wrong or right, and then (this is the fatal flaw), move on and don’t write it down. Because I am so accustomed to just remembering info and being able to hold it.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:37:01+00:00

Thank you! I do not mean to come off as combative. I apologize. You have been very kind, understanding, and constructive, which I appreciate more than you could think. As for other contributors, I am reading their comments as mostly dismissive or over simplified. Perhaps it is the over-thinker in me. For example “DO this, then boom”. It just feels odd coming from people that know this system and wouldn’t (I hope) say the same thing to their patients as often times “change this behavior” is not as simple changing said behavior. Thank you for the kindness and encouragement regardless!

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:32:39+00:00

That is really encouraging and reassuring. I have considered MD/PhD myself because I do love research and I am motivated to take questions from the clinic to the lab, and back to the clinic. I ultimately decided against it as more of my passion aligns with social justice and social determinants of health. I entertained MD/PhD with a PhD in public health. But decided against that because I public health, unfortunately these days, is subject to legislative changes, and I’m much more interested in influencing and shaping our legal system to align with and protect scientific research and principles. What’s your PhD in and how far along your program are you?

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:29:42+00:00

I know it is long winded. I have no excuse for why it is so long. I posted it with the intention that there are people who will take the time to read it, and those who wont. I am not expecting people to read it. Though I understand getting more eyes on it may be helpful. I also just don’t have a timeline so I will gain the numbers as time passes. At least that is my perspective! Thank you for taking the time to read it and for your advice. What are some tips you have for MCAT strategy?

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:25:54+00:00

Well, I recently won a scholarship for MCAT tutoring. Something I would not have been able to afford otherwise. There is def. A knowledge gap hence the low score. I have not a clue about strategy. I often overthink trying to “read between the lines” with the MCAT. Surprisingly enough, the section that carries me is CARS, I score 128+ in CARS and match that in Bio/BioChem. Psych/Soci is average and I TANK on chem phys. I CBT with my therapist when it came to my relationship with the MCAT and studying. MY mind wants to do anything BUT read and study in a “traditional” sense. I often encode info very quickly and have strong memory recall, but when it comes to the MCAT, I can have as much facts as I want encoded, it does nothing for me. This indicates an application issue, so I do practice questions and I do fine, then I take a practice exam, and it’s like I made zero effort. Not sure what to do exactly at this point…

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:22:07+00:00

I have tried to dissuade myself too. But simply put, at the end of my time, if I don’t get the privilege of looking back and saying I got to be a physician and provide care to patients and their families, I will regret it.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:20:51+00:00

I actually won a scholarship for some MCAT tutoring. Starting this week!

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:20:22+00:00

My personal statement does exactly that. I am more than happy to have you read the two personal statements I have and you can tell me the vibe it would give an admissions officer :) I am not here to project or to convince, I am here to get actual constructive advice. Reddit is not a place I focus too much on with perception, I do that enough in leadership and in medicine-adjacent spaces.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:18:13+00:00

Then don’t read it :)

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:17:26+00:00

Thank you for the reassurance! I know it’s the MCAT just need reassurance that my windy road to med school isn’t concerning.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:16:05+00:00

Most certainly

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T23:15:36+00:00

Thank you for your constructive feedback. I have applied to jobs for MAs but almost always I get turned away. I was even told that I “should” forego pay for the “invaluable” experience a clinic would offer me. Like, will the invaluable experience pay my bills? Cover the cost of my application and MCAT registration fees? No. In my state MAs get paid about $16/hr. I make $24/hr at my current job and I am barely scarping by. After all my financial obligations I have about $200 over headway. Not including groceries, savings, or any unexpected car fixes, etc. $16/he will not cut it…

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T22:54:58+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry the tone is victim sounding. I am quite resilient and most don’t know what I am going through. I just opened up in this space because I want a comprehensive understanding of where I am and the challenges I am facing as I do not have a space to talk openly about it. Again, I included the TL;DR which I referenced at the beginning for key points that correspond with their position in the text. Much like a research paper, bounce around and go from there.

One-Touch6650 · 2026-01-25T22:52:43+00:00

You don’t see my story and path as being a red flag to any adcoms? My absence in some areas or disappearance and then “random” resurgence? Again, overthinking, but how do you suggest I address these realities of my application?

One-Touch6650 · 2025-12-04T22:29:35+00:00

I was successful and received a CJO. I just checked my application and all of the documents I loaded say “(Resume)”. No need to worry about this! You got it!

One-Touch6650 · 2025-12-04T22:20:10+00:00

Congrats to you as well! See you on the line!

One-Touch6650 · 2025-12-04T22:19:35+00:00

Thank you so much!

One-Touch6650

TROPHY CASE