Herman_Snerd
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 1,446
A couple of additional thoughts:
1. Can you afford Brown's 4 year liberal art component of the PLME without ROTC? Were you already offered a ROTC scholarship or would you be attending then competing for one as a college programmer? Can you afford it if ROTC doesn't work out? If finances aren't an issue, then your original note "communicates" I want to be a physician, I might want to be a navy officer, if and only if I can be a navy physician. You don't sound invested in being a navy officer, regardless. BTW, if you go ROTC, I believe your chances of heading to med school after commissioning are not better than via USNA adn you'd have the same service commitment.
2. So many other combined programs offer a 7 year path instead of 8 for a BS/ MD - Boston College, Drexel, etc. 8 year is a longer haul, but you do you. If you went to a 7 year path, maybe spending 5 years on a ship as an officer would be less painful to you?
3. MCAT mentioned more than once as something to avoid? I disagree. Quoting the sage Rocky Balboa, the MCAT "aint so bad", and ensures you have a foundation of knowledge your med school peers will have starting on day 1. DD just studied for 4 months while a full time student, took it last week. Why would you not utilize that prep process to ensure you're solid in all areas org. chem et al. that you'll need? I don't think this is a waste of your time nor do I think this is a reason to attend Brown for 4 years - Just food for thought for you.
Try to sit down and have a chat with yourself and loop back with "what do you want".
Good luck and congrats on having such terrific options. Your post has generated a lot of feedback - hope any of this helps on your journey.
1. Can you afford Brown's 4 year liberal art component of the PLME without ROTC? Were you already offered a ROTC scholarship or would you be attending then competing for one as a college programmer? Can you afford it if ROTC doesn't work out? If finances aren't an issue, then your original note "communicates" I want to be a physician, I might want to be a navy officer, if and only if I can be a navy physician. You don't sound invested in being a navy officer, regardless. BTW, if you go ROTC, I believe your chances of heading to med school after commissioning are not better than via USNA adn you'd have the same service commitment.
2. So many other combined programs offer a 7 year path instead of 8 for a BS/ MD - Boston College, Drexel, etc. 8 year is a longer haul, but you do you. If you went to a 7 year path, maybe spending 5 years on a ship as an officer would be less painful to you?
3. MCAT mentioned more than once as something to avoid? I disagree. Quoting the sage Rocky Balboa, the MCAT "aint so bad", and ensures you have a foundation of knowledge your med school peers will have starting on day 1. DD just studied for 4 months while a full time student, took it last week. Why would you not utilize that prep process to ensure you're solid in all areas org. chem et al. that you'll need? I don't think this is a waste of your time nor do I think this is a reason to attend Brown for 4 years - Just food for thought for you.
Try to sit down and have a chat with yourself and loop back with "what do you want".
- To go to USNA and serve as an officer regardless of where the navy needs you, which includes maybe not going to med school and having to serve first? Sub, ship, pilot, marine.
- I get the sense it's not the money driving your decision somehow - but do you need to avoid debt like most do? if not, and you're pinned on the MD path, then.... well, maybe your decision is already made.
- I will say I feel for anyone at a SA who isn't all-in to start.
Good luck and congrats on having such terrific options. Your post has generated a lot of feedback - hope any of this helps on your journey.