ATP to Medical School??

[Steve]

Any pilots out there give it up and go to medical school? Just wondering how the transition went and if your happy being a doctor.

 

[Bluto]

I don't if any single person could handle that much student loan debt!

 

[GravityHater]

Medical school is PTF (well, Pay to Cut maybe) but at least they make enough to cover those payments (usually).

 

[mayday1]

most med students have to work a number of years before making good money. and those first few years can often be filled with 80hr work weeks. Then, you can't overlook insurance premiums for doctors..

 

[bafanguy]

My next door neighbor, the surgeon, wishes he'd been an airline pilot !! Go figure...


Can't say I've heard of docs being "unemployed".

 

[Goose Egg]

most med students have to work a number of years before making good money. and those first few years can often be filled with 80hr work weeks. Then, you can't overlook insurance premiums for doctors..

Well, let's hope, then, that most doctors aren't in it for the money.

edit: Just find what it is in your life that you feel will give you happiness. If that means that an ATP goes to medical school, so be it.

 

[Vandal]

My dad is a doc who wishes he was a pilot...not sure if it ever goes the other way around.

But my dad can still fly his archer, I can't slice into his patients!

 

[T-Gates]

I knew a guy who left Delta after a furlough in the early 90's and is now a Doctor. I don't think he ever looked back.... He walked the line at EAL for 2 years, so he was burned out on aviation anyway.

 

[OleGuy]

USair has two Doc's flying the line. Both are part time ER doc's. I believe both were orginal Piedmont.

 

[UGAflyer]

Doctors and pilots have a lot in common. Both require lots of training, much responsibility with many lives at stake, and insurance in hurting both industries.

 

[minitour]

most med students have to work a number of years before making good money. and those first few years can often be filled with 80hr work weeks. Then, you can't overlook insurance premiums for doctors..

Yeah but then they get to buy a bonanza.....

 

[air cowboy]

Doctors and pilots have a lot in common.

What's the difference between a pilot and a doctor?



The pilot doesn't think he's a doctor

....just had to say it

 

[urflyingme?!]

What's the difference between a pilot and a doctor?



The pilot doesn't think he's a doctor

....just had to say it

hahahaahahahaahah
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahhaahahaaa



...but i'm still renting, though.....

 

[A Squared]

Doctors and pilots have a lot in common. Both require lots of training,

There really isn't much comparison in the training department.

The training and certification required to fly an airplane unsupervised can be accomplished in a couple of months, easily.

The minimum training and certification to go doctoring unsupervised requires: 4 years of full time undergraduate education. 4 years of full time medical school, and some period of supervised residency.

Even the highest level of certicfication available for a pilot (ATP) could be acquired in about a year and a half to 2 years, starting completely from zero.

I think any comparisons between pilot training and doctor training are wishful thinking.

 

[Goose Egg]

I think any comparisons between pilot training and doctor training are wishful thinking.

...except maybe the expense involved.

-Goose

 

[A Squared]

...except maybe the expense involved.

well yes and no. According to the AMA the average medical school graduate winds up with $115k in debt. that's after you consider any scholarships, grants and financial aid received.

I suppose that if you started form scratch and just trained and rented until you had your ATP, the cost would be in that neighborhood.

That's an unusaual path to take though. What's more likely is that the majority of those hours for the ATP will be logged while getting paid, although probably not paid much.

Let's say you start out with an Ab-initio program which takes you from 0 time to CFII. I think there are packages out there for less than $40K (I'm not recommending these programs, merely using it as a convenient means of comparison) That gives you what? 250-300 hours? in a typical carrer progression, the next 1200-1300 hours toward the ATP are going to be going instructing. A realistic scenario is $40k and 6 months of training, plus 2 years of instructing while getting paid (albeit not much) to acheive the *highest* level of certification.

Compare that to over $100K and 10 years (of which only the last 2 you get any pay) to get the *Minimum* level of training required.

 

[Goose Egg]

Yeah, but throw in the BS degree that a pilot really ought to get, and I think the costs would be somewhere in the same ballpark, especially if the flight student went to a big name private school--the kids that I work with are going to end up spending around $100k when all is said and done. Not that I'm advocating switching over to medicine or going to a big name school; I went to a state school for my aviation degree and wound up spending about 1/4 of that.

-Goose

 

[prpjt]

I have to wholeheartedly agree with A Squared on this one. There is no comparison.

As was previously stated, a doc has 4 years undergrad, 4 years med school, 2 to 3 years residency, plus another 2 - 3 years depending on specialty.

With regard to the debt incurred, those docs that attend big name med schools can easily finish with student debt topping $200K.

As an example, in 1987 I decided I was going to fly for a living. In 1989 I was flying charter as PIC in a Baron. No where remotely near $100K spent, including all of my living expenses.

My brother decided to be a doctor. 13 years and over $100K later he was a practicing physician in his field of choice. And that $100K did NOT include any living expenses.

Another thing to consider is that almost anyone with a checkbook and some determination can become a pilot. Just not the case if you want to go to med school.

 

[Goose Egg]

Does it ever bother you guys when you say something that was originally meant to be funny, but then someone tries to seriously debate it? It does me.

-Goose

 

[A Squared]

Yeah, but throw in the BS degree that a pilot really ought to get, and I think the costs would be somewhere in the same ballpark, especially if the flight student went to a big name private school--

I was comparing the *minimum* it takes to be a pilot with the minimum it takes to be a doctor. If you're going to be getting your certificates and a degree at the most expensive school for $100K then your going to have to make a like comparison for med schools. Tufts is currently Charging $40K a year, so med school tuition alone is $120, toss in a premed degree from Harvard that's what? $80K? so $200K and we haven't included 8 years of living expenses.

Does it ever bother you guys when you say something that was originally meant to be funny, but then someone tries to seriously debate it? It does me.

This discussion stems from a comment UGAfyer made. It had nothing to do whith your tounge in cheek remark. You chose to join the discussion. If it bothers you, I think it's fair to ask why you entered the discussion. Seems a bit silly to join a discussion that didn't involve you then complain about it, doesn't it?

 

[Goose Egg]

It had nothing to do whith your tounge in cheek remark. You chose to join the discussion... Seems a bit silly to join a discussion that didn't involve you then complain about it, doesn't it?

Then why was my remark quoted in your reply? I chose to use humor to illustrate a point. The fact that it was lost on you was beyond my control.

-Goose

 

[bobbysamd]

ATP v. M.D. - similarities and differences

First off, you better be sure that you have the grades and the standardized test scores to get into med school. Med school entrance is extremely competitive, and it's important to go to a recognized medical school. Without the grades and/or scores, you could wind up in one of those medical schools in Fiji that use a match book cover as an entrance application. You might think that's fine, but those offshore schools may not be recognized in the U.S. On the other hand, except for college programs, the only entrance exam required for flight training is the one for your medical. Add money and/or the ability to obtain same, and you're ready for training.

You also require the aptitude of a scientist to be a doctor. Not everyone has that aptitude, and it's important. It helps to have the aptitude to be a pilot to be one. Not everyone has that, as well, but it is not necessarily required, either.

Aside from the massive cost/debt, be prepared to put in extremely long hours for little pay while you work your way through internship and residency, and competing for the best internships and residencies. Gee, those both sound something like building hours for the airlines! Except the difference is there is always a need for doctors, especially those who are willing to establish a practice in outlying areas. Compare to the so-called pilot shortage.

Finally, consider the reasons why you would choose either profession. If you're choosing medicine because of the money, you're choosing it for the wrong reason - just like choosing professional aviation for the money. Though I would say that money looks pretty good if your chosen vocation doesn't pay enough for you to be comfortable and debt-free and you're going nowhere with it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.