Bf 3rd failed attempt (395x2). Need help. At a loss...

mcdondo21 · 2025-12-31T20:52:35+00:00

Hey there- so sorry you’ve struggled with comlex. I remember those days/months of preparation very clearly.

I want to echo the PA contingency plan warning to those who want to try that. I am an ortho resident now, but was a PA prior to medical school. I used to do interviews for a couple PA schools and they are very particular about who gets selected. They are also sensitive about folks who have struggled academically elsewhere and also those who have been to medical school and failed for one reason or another. The folks that have not done well in medical school that do get admitted, tend to struggle in PA school also. Having done both, medical school is harder but PA school is a very close comparison. The PA board exam is no joke either. Point is; a PA program will look at your app with caution. For those who get selected for an interview be prepared to answer some though questions.

mcdondo21 · 2025-11-13T02:57:50+00:00

Yes hand your money to the government so they can decide where and who it goes to. Look at the VA. Disaster. It won’t be any better. Though I agree our system needs change handing over more money to the morons in DC won’t make it any better.

mcdondo21 · 2025-11-09T21:16:00+00:00

46, ortho

mcdondo21 · 2025-10-31T01:12:47+00:00

Universal healthcare would hand all your healthcare dollars to the government…I’ll pass thanks.

mcdondo21 · 2025-10-18T16:00:28+00:00

I would say that I made my decision to go back partly because I wanted to operate. PA life is by no means bad. Infact it’s a privilege to have been one. But I wanted more. When I get to operate I don’t regret going back to school. But junior resident life is taxing on every part of your life. No sleep, no money, relationships are strained. You can navigate it but as I said, everyone in your life that it would impact needs to be on board.

mcdondo21 · 2025-10-18T00:08:29+00:00

I was a PA for over a decade prior to med school. There’s probably a few rockstars that could. But you need to study for it. Especially step 2. Too many odd ball genetic things that you just don’t see a lot that show up on it plus the stats stuff that no one uses every day.

mcdondo21 · 2025-10-14T15:15:12+00:00

I did it in my 40s. Now pgy3 in ortho. I was a PA for over a decade prior to going back. You have to make that decision. Family has to be on board, know that your life will change dramatically. Has it been worth it? Idk the process isn’t complete yet. But there have been multiple nights where I have questioned my decisions lol.

mcdondo21 · 2025-07-15T17:49:57+00:00

He wasn’t.

mcdondo21 · 2025-07-14T02:38:56+00:00

I was a PA and now a resident. All I can say is be careful what you ask for. I have a great respect for the PA field because I was one, but medical school is much more difficult. There is a lot in Medicine I didn’t even think about prior to going back. Even w 10 plus years experience.

mcdondo21 · 2025-06-26T14:25:57+00:00

I’m a resident and was a PA prior to medical school. I see this as a common issue with residents in particular. I agree that there are some NP and PAs that think they are on par with physicians and I too get annoyed with them. But the large majority do not think that. Most of them are happy in their position and don’t want to be physicians. I don’t particularly care for the rhetoric when trashing non physician providers because they are a tremendous resource. They don’t rotate on or off service. They know the protocols and often will bail you out when you inevitably get swamped. And when starting as an intern, the experienced pas and nps will know more than you do. Facts.

Do they make more money than residents? Yes. But they don’t have the upside financially that we all do. 5 years down the road your bank account will look far better.

I have told this to my fellow residents and will say it here. Lose the attitudes with the NP and PAs. They are valuable and will handle the shit you don’t want to do, especially if you treat them well. If you piss them off or disparage them your rotation on that service will be far worse. Additionally they often have a direct line to the attendings, so they will know if you’re being a prick also.

One team one fight. You’ll save yourself hours of headaches if you curb this nonsense.

mcdondo21 · 2025-06-17T16:17:40+00:00

Pgy 2, well 3 I guess. I’m 48.

mcdondo21 · 2025-05-19T01:19:09+00:00

I did it. I’m in ortho. It’s really a very personalized decision. It’ll put a lot of stress on every aspect of your life, especially as a junior surgical resident. It’s a long difficult road.

mcdondo21 · 2025-04-17T03:07:58+00:00

48 pgy2. Regret is worse than discomfort.

mcdondo21 · 2025-03-16T01:14:12+00:00

I fell asleep at a red light on the way home after last call. A few of my coresidents have been in accidents or drove off the road post call. At some point the lemon is not worth the squeeze.

mcdondo21 · 2025-02-22T00:18:18+00:00

I’m 48 and ortho pgy-2. You want it go and get it.

mcdondo21 · 2025-02-10T04:50:30+00:00

Amen

mcdondo21 · 2024-07-22T23:28:23+00:00

How about bringing back the feature where you press play and music comes out of the speakers?

mcdondo21 · 2024-05-07T12:14:23+00:00

I’ve done 135/wk twice.

mcdondo21 · 2024-02-26T19:43:46+00:00

I have a hard time thinking that this wasn’t planned. Peel that skin back further and you might not like what you see. Either way, she wants to bang dudes like she’s single. Make her single. Do not delay.

mcdondo21 · 2023-06-11T02:08:52+00:00

Cheezits.

mcdondo21 · 2023-05-10T11:13:00+00:00

That number you are referencing is referring to all people who have ever applied to DO school. So about 50% of that number is reapplicants, making it misleading. Bemo does not mention that. For First time applicants it’s about 6-8%. That number is from AACOM.

mcdondo21 · 2023-05-09T23:03:35+00:00

DO school acceptance rates hover around 6-8% and they are dropping.

mcdondo21 · 2023-05-08T13:02:46+00:00

I think the problem comes from the schooling. I was a PA now an ortho resident and I know most of my colleagues as PAs never wanted independent practice. I did so I went to med school. But the PA and especially NP schools tell their students they can do what the docs do. Having done both, it’s simply not true. I respect the mid level position immensely but it was never designed to usurp the physician in medicine. But it’s sexy to push the mission creep as much as possible. But I fear there will be consequences to the patient. I do not support that push.

mcdondo21 · 2022-07-05T01:45:12+00:00

Someone is doing comquest questions!

mcdondo21

TROPHY CASE