I feel like everyone who writes for this blog who isn’t homeless, suicidal or living with their mother should write a column like this. In addition to providing more in the way of useful advice I also think it’s important to stress that this is not an anti-education blog. Believe me you still need an undergraduate and probably a graduate education you just need to be alot smarter about how you get it.

Three steps to get where I am for free 1) full-ride to college 2) get into medical school 3) Join the Army.

If you want to be a doctor you want to take standardized tests for the next 15 years. They keep getting harder. You better be able to do well enough on the first two (PSAT and SAT) to get into somebody’s college for free. Fall back is the best public school in your state. DO NOT go to a private college. Med School is MCAT plus grades plus nothing. Even if your MCAT and GPA and strength of schedule are exactly the same as someone from a public school your admissions officer is just as if not more likely to have a grudge against a specific  school like a Duke or a UPenn due to a perceived professional slight or even a sports grudge.

Get into med school. No brainer right? Wrong. You need to take the MCAT off cycle. You need to knockout tough courses in the summer and preferably at easier schools. You need some research experience on your resume. Your high school chem teacher majored in chemistry and had a real high GPA.

Finally join the Army. They will pay for med school in exchange for a commitment that conveniently is the length of your residency and you won’t have to pay rent or taxes. Plus if you’re a guy, the only thing that gets more play than a doctor is a soldier. If you’re a girl you ain’t gonna have slot of time to meet guys but if you’re in the military I can guarantee it won’t be a problem.