Future doctor questions... answer PLEASE?

Question

Ok.. If I major in radiologic science (radiology tech) at a community college will this help me in any way to become a MD radiologist ( I DONT WANT TO BE RAD TECH JUST WANT TO BE MD IN RADIOLOGY)? I know all about the requirements (4 undergrad,4 medschool) and all but will showing an early interest in radiology help to land a radiology residency? How will being a minority affect me in my medical persuit (because Im sure it will in some way believe it or not)?

Answer 1

don't waste your time. the only thing that matters about getting into a radiology residency is your grades and board scores in medical school. focus on getting into a god college, then a good medical school and go from there. being a minority, you might get extra consideration for scholarships, etc, but it won't help you get a residency. there are lots and lots of minorities in medicine. as a white female, i sometimes feel like a minority myself.

Answer 2

Showing an early interest in radiology is all very well, and being a minority may help in getting into medical school, though I tend to agree with the PP that it is not something to count on.  But you will not get a radiology residency without a lot of hard work--it is a very, very competitive residency.  You will need to be at or near the top of your class and do well on the USMLE Steps 1 and 2, as well as getting great recommendations from your clinical rotations.  

Not doing your undergraduate work at a community college would also be advisable, frankly.  Medical schools do not tend to think highly of pre-requisites done outside of four-year institutions, and I would not advise doing a degree in something you are not interested in just to try and get a leg up on your eventual choice of residency--that will just waste a couple of years that you could be using to work towards med school.  You would be better off just starting pre-med work now, not getting a degree in something you don't intend to use, and perhaps volunteering at a hospital to get some experience.