So I am thinking about going to medical school, any advice?

[funklab]

Okay,

here is the deal.

I skillfully flew my motorcycle off a large sand dune and landed with just enough force to earn a "t-6 complete" on my discharge papers about six months ago. I have about three semesters left to get my undergrad economics degree. But being paralyzed kinda has a way of rearranging your priorities. When I was in rehab, one of my doctors was a paraplegic too. I started thinking "hey I could do that". And I've been doing some research. I am sure that I could do that, at least as far as the schoolwork and learning and whatnot is concerned.

But can I REALLY do it? I dont know. It would require an extra 2 or 3 semesters undergrad (no problem. Then it would get tuff. If I studied my ass off and did good on the MCAT I might have a 50% chance of getting into med school (any med school, 60% of all applicants dont get into ANY school each year, and the average applicant applies to 15 schools). Then it would get really tough.

I would have to work hard for the first couple of years in med school, but I dont see that being too much of an issue, its mostly book learnin' from what I understand. Then it would get a bit tricky.

The last two years of med school I would have to do clinical rotations and try out some of the different specialties. That could be a bit tricky for some of them from a wheelchair. But I am sure I could figure my way thru it. Then it would get REALLY REALLY difficult.

I would have to do a residency somewhere in whatever specialty I picked. And I would have to work about 80 hours a week with 30+ hour shifts for 3-7 years while getting paid just enough to not starve.

Then I would be able to get a job doing something that I really want to do, in the end I think it would probably be worth all the work (and the quarter million in student loans).

But that being said, I am a noob at going back to school (I dont go back until August, its only been 6 months since my crash). Considering that more than half of the AB applicants to med school cant make the grade, will I be able to do it and still take care of myself? That is the big question. I remember in rehab they drew us a big pie chart of what people did with their time pre-injury and post injury. They said 50% of your time at 1 yr post injury was spent on maintenance (bathing, eating, using the restroom, dressing, etc) that seems a bit high to me, but there's no doubt that it takes longer to do stuff than it did before.

What do you guys think? Any advice??? Any advice on going to school post injury in general??? Do you think I could cut it??? Know anybody who's gone thru med school (or any REALLY difficult type of education) in a chair??

thanks,

josh