Admission to People with Ph.D. in Engineering

[A.S.A.]

I have an MS and Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley (ranked#1 in the US in this field). I also did a post-doc in the same field at Stanford University (ranked among the top 5 in the US). I am currently an assistant professor at one of the major US schools. I published over 12 technical articles in my area, and I am a P.I. or Co-P.I. of several research projects exceeding $500,000, including a very competetive grant from the National Science Foundation, where I am a single P.I. I also won several teaching awards. My work is in the computer modeling field of structural systems.
I got involved lately in an inter-disciplinary research work in the Bio-Medical field. I loved medicine, and I am contemplating a career change.
Considering my age (35), and the fact that I took only one Chemistry and 2 Physics classes a long time ago, do you think I have a chance for admission? I believe I have unique qualifications, and I am capable of fully supporting myself. I am also very willing to take all of the Pre-requisite courses if necessary. I am looking for advice before I seriously start to follow this path. Thanks.

A.S.A.

[Jessknopp]

Dear ASA-
I am not an admissions councelor, just another pre-med, but I had to give you my thoughts since we seem to be in a similar boat. I am also a Structural Engineer (MSCE-Purdue), PE/SE consultant now planning on chucking it all for med school. I have been looking into this for the past few years and am finally pulling the trigger this season. I am taking the MCAT in April and applying in June. Here are the very valuable pieces of advice that have been given to me from my professors:
1 – do it asap! Regardless of the PC hype, age is a factor. Many schools say they have students from ages 21-35+, but their mean age is 22.
2 – Your MCAT score matters more than GPA! Your GPA was many years ago and the MCAT is a picture of your academic ability now. AAMCs data shows that, generally speaking, the average MCAT score goes down as the age of the person goes up. I took a Kaplan classroom course to prepare for the MCAT and I think it was helpful. My diagnostic MCAT was a 24 and now my last practice test was a 31.
3 – The best one – You have something special that sets you apart from the sea of Biology majors which makes you memorable to an admissions committee. But you only get to use it if your numbers are good enough to get an interview. (and yes, you have to take all the prereq classes. I have to take an organic chem class over again because the one I took in college didn’t have a lab and the schools I am applying to REQUIRE the class with a lab.)
Of course, take all of this with a grain of salt. It’s just advice I’ve collected and I hope it is of help to you.
Good luck! – Jess

[twu]

quote:

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Originally posted by A.S.A.

I have an MS and Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley (ranked#1 in the US in this field). I also did a post-doc in the same field at Stanford University (ranked among the top 5 in the US). I am currently an assistant professor at one of the major US schools. I published over 12 technical articles in my area, and I am a P.I. or Co-P.I. of several research projects exceeding $500,000, including a very competetive grant from the National Science Foundation, where I am a single P.I. I also won several teaching awards. My work is in the computer modeling field of structural systems. I got involved lately in an inter-disciplinary research work in the Bio-Medical field. I loved medicine, and I am contemplating a career change.
Considering my age (35), and the fact that I took only one Chemistry and 2 Physics classes a long time ago, do you think I have a chance for admission? I believe I have unique qualifications, and I am capable of fully supporting myself. I am also very willing to take all of the Pre-requisite courses if necessary. I am looking for advice before I seriously start to follow this path. Thanks.

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I am sure you will have wiped away from the minds of most AdComs any doubt that you have the academic capability of surviving and succeeding in medical school.

What you need to convince them of is your desire in becoming a physician. Why would you give up, for all intents and purposes, a successful career to spend four years in medical school, three to seven years in residency, and possibly another one to three years of fellowship? That’s potentially more than a decade of additional training.

Assuming your last college course was quite some time ago, you will have to take Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics, however. I believe the math “requirement” at some med schools would be waived on account of your engineering background. It is absolutely necessary for you to take those four courses and do well.

Provided you do well, your biggest hurdle now will be to show the AdComs that you’re serious about becoming a physician. Other than what you’ve described as “recent” work in the biomedical arena, what else is pushing you to get an M.D.? How does working in the biomedical field move you to want an M.D.?

Yes, you DO have a chance for admission to med school. But like most applicants out there, you’d benefit a lot from having a properly presented application that tells your side of the story clearly to the AdComs.

Good luck.

Timothy Wu, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

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