What are some career choices in the medical field?

Nontraditional Student's Medical Career Aspirations... Is it possible? Is it probable...?

• I am a 19 yr old mother of two children, happily single with BIG goals... I was in foster care from the age of 15 to 18 yrs old, and because of that, the state of Kansas has granted me a tuition waiver for the first four years of my college degree. I am thinking... I have an opportunity that not many in this world have, and I want to do something big with it! I have always been interested in the medical field, and will be just starting my first semester of my undergraduate studies this fall. I have been researching career choices all morning... I want to know, am I capable of some of the things I am interested in? I really want to be a doctor... An Oncologist as a matter of fact. But, with two children, I am very nervous about committing myself to Medical School... I really have a strong bond with my children (2 yrs and 1 yr) and it would break my heart to have to lose that connection with them to complete a Medical degree... I have researched the programs required and I know that Medical School is a very rigorous program in which I will have to pretty much utilize 110% of my brain every waking moment of every day... basically. My question to you is... Do you think my aspiration of becoming an Oncologist is practical? Am I going to get ANY spare time day to day to spend quality time with my family and keep the bond that I have with my children as strong as it is now? Am I going to be able to pay my bills like rent, utilities, childcare expenses, etc. while attending college and Medical school? I am qualified to receive Federal Stafford Loans and the full amount of my Pell Grant, so I am not stressing paying for my actual college tuition. I am prepared to pay back student loans upon completing my degree and getting a job in my field of study. I am scared about how I will be able to pay for everything else... What career opportunities do I have through the course of this 11+ year degree program, and will I even be able to work while attending school and taking care of my children? I am not concerned with how hard the classes are... I know that I can do it, I have a very strong academic work ethic. I am concerned with my nontraditional situation and my ability to breathe while completing my coursework. Please tell me your thoughts... I am supposed to be starting school this August, and I am also trying to decide between Washburn University and KU... I live in Topeka right now, where WU is located and offers many alternative degree programs, but attending KU for their prestiged medical programs would mean I need to move my family to Lawrence, KS... AND schedule an ACT test on July 29th, I haven't studied in 3 years... Do I have time to do all this before class starts? Take the ACT, get accepted into KU, move and settle in my family, get registered for classes, and start???? I have a lot of questions... I hope someone out there can answer them, because I don't have family or friends to turn to for advice. Thanks a bunch in advance.

• Answer:

  Without some sort of support group from family or friends the bare truth is that you will not be able to spend the time on your studies that is required for Medical School. It is a 12 year commitment. (4 years college, 4 years Med school 4 years residency). Your kids would be grown and you would never see them. You need to make a realistic goal such as becoming an RN. If you are a great RN you may be trained as a nurse practitioner which is a highly regard job as you would do many things that a doctor does. Good luck!