Advice Needed: Daughter Torn Between AI Master's and Pre-Med

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The extra year isn't just about classes, it's about studying for MCAT which can only be done after taking the missing courses and also fulfilling large amounts of hours of research, clinical and volunteer hours. Presumably an Ivy student is also interested in top med schools which also makes all of this even more critical to be top notch.

Exactly. If you haven't been shadowing, doing medical research, getting clinical hours from day one, then adding premed prerequistites starting junior year isn't close to enough to be able to apply to med school at the end of third year. That doesn't even take into account MCAT studying, which you can't really do until you have taken the prerequisites. She is looking at least at one and probably two post-bac years before being in a position to apply to medical school. To me, this doesn't sound like someone really committed to the medical life, and I would go with the CS/AI route.

[Anonymous]

Take the job and make some money/get some experience - she can always do a post-bac for med school later (I have friends who started those programs in their late 20s). Medicine is not immune from the changes from AI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extra year isn't just about classes, it's about studying for MCAT which can only be done after taking the missing courses and also fulfilling large amounts of hours of research, clinical and volunteer hours. Presumably an Ivy student is also interested in top med schools which also makes all of this even more critical to be top notch.

Are there guidelines for how many research, clinical and volunteer hours an applicant should have, and what kinds of activities count for each?

Is it realistic that OP's kid could take the course work, and then take a year or two to work in a CS related position while studying, and completing these hours before deciding whether to apply? It seems like that would give them more information to compare the two paths.

It really varies and is a quality over quantity, point is to give compelling evidence you understand medicine and are committed to it. Generally applicants have hundreds to thousands in each category. Those who take gap years will have more than those that go straight through. I totally understand your thought process, but I don't see how it could be done well. They will also have to have a compelling narrative for interviews to explain their choices. Not to say anything can't be done with time and money, but it would be a complicated path to have the necessary commitment level to each I'd think. The typical Ivy (and I'm certain others so not singling out just comparing to her peers) are off to the races before they even start on this getting certifications and accruing hours. People change careers all the time, so anything is possible, but much harder call with an equal love for another interest and making money for the OP I'd think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extra year isn't just about classes, it's about studying for MCAT which can only be done after taking the missing courses and also fulfilling large amounts of hours of research, clinical and volunteer hours. Presumably an Ivy student is also interested in top med schools which also makes all of this even more critical to be top notch.

Are there guidelines for how many research, clinical and volunteer hours an applicant should have, and what kinds of activities count for each?

Is it realistic that OP's kid could take the course work, and then take a year or two to work in a CS related position while studying, and completing these hours before deciding whether to apply? It seems like that would give them more information to compare the two paths.

General guidelines now are 300+ clinicial hours (actually working with patients - not just observing) with many applicants having 1000+ hours. EMT, CNA, medical assistant are considered real clinical by pretty much all schools. Some schools count scribing and others consider that too passive. According to AAMC, the average matriculant had 1,200+ hours of research and 400 hours of community service in addition to clinical, plus shadowing hours (some schools require 100+ shadowing hours). You can't cram that in in two years, and it is not realistic to do that while working full time in a CS/AI field.

[Anonymous]

I’d investigate how AI is being used in healthcare/medicine & position myself accordingly. (Like, I’ve read studies about AI vs humans doing diagnosis). She can be involved in the sector but in a CS role

Med school is a Plan A kinda thing. Not, a Let Me Cram To Make This Happen kinda thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. I’d like to thank everyone for the thoughtful and sound advice — it’s been incredibly helpful.

I’m realizing that her decision will ultimately be shaped by a combination of factors: financial considerations, her true calling for medicine, family-building timeline, the competitiveness of med school admissions, etc...

She discovered a love for tech relatively late — toward the end of high school — and while she’s good at it and sees it as a powerful tool, she’s never really viewed it as her long-term path.

On the other hand, she’s shown a deep interest in medicine from a very young age. Even as a toddler, she would talk about becoming a doctor, and that passion has stayed with her.

It’s a complex decision, but hearing everyone’s perspectives will definitely helped us think through it more clearly. Thanks again.

She is clearly very bright and motivated, but it does make me wonder how deep the interest is if she chose computer science and is just now deliberating the pre-med path. All schools have an intense premed culture that would be hard to miss especially at Ivy and elite schools. I would think she would have encountered it to know what they are up to and responded sooner if really invested. Maybe? Just spitballing as I see why this is a very tough decision with a great path and offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. I’d like to thank everyone for the thoughtful and sound advice — it’s been incredibly helpful.

I’m realizing that her decision will ultimately be shaped by a combination of factors: financial considerations, her true calling for medicine, family-building timeline, the competitiveness of med school admissions, etc...

She discovered a love for tech relatively late — toward the end of high school — and while she’s good at it and sees it as a powerful tool, she’s never really viewed it as her long-term path.

On the other hand, she’s shown a deep interest in medicine from a very young age. Even as a toddler, she would talk about becoming a doctor, and that passion has stayed with her.

It’s a complex decision, but hearing everyone’s perspectives will definitely helped us think through it more clearly. Thanks again.

She is clearly very bright and motivated, but it does make me wonder how deep the interest is if she chose computer science and is just now deliberating the pre-med path. All schools have an intense premed culture that would be hard to miss especially at Ivy and elite schools. I would think she would have encountered it to know what they are up to and responded sooner if really invested. Maybe? Just spitballing as I see why this is a very tough decision with a great path and offer.

Exactly! I have been wanting to say this for a while. I think the kid’s interests have changed (OP says kid has wanted medicine since childhood) and the parents should allow the kid to pursue what she wants even if it is not what they want.