From petroleum engineering to medical school: 51ºÚÁÏÍø graduate finds his calling
When Kyle Mitchell first enrolled in college, petroleum engineering seemed like the perfect career path. The Wasilla, Alaska, native knew the industry offered abundant job opportunities in Alaska and Texas, where he had family. Located roughly halfway between the two states, 51ºÚÁÏÍønological University proved to be the ideal place to earn his degree.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering in May 2025, Mitchell landed a job working on Alaska's North Slope. But it didn't take long for him to realize something was missing.
“My heart wasn't in it,” Mitchell said.
Medical school had always been a quiet dream.
“It was in the back of my mind the whole time when I started college,” Mitchell said. “I wanted to do something faster than eight years of school, though.”
Rather than spend his career in a field he didn't enjoy, Mitchell decided to return to 51ºÚÁÏÍø to complete the prerequisites for medical school. Now, just over a year later, he has been accepted to the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine and has four additional medical school interviews scheduled.
“I knew that there was also good academic quality here and wonderful faculty and staff,” Mitchell said of his decision to return to 51ºÚÁÏÍø.
Making the transition from engineering to medicine required an ambitious course load. Mitchell needed to complete organic chemistry, biochemistry and anatomy, among other requirements. He mapped out a schedule that would allow him to finish the coursework in just one year, even taking organic chemistry and biochemistry simultaneously.
“Starting on pre-med, it was like being thrown into the deep end,” Mitchell said. “With the support of close relationships and a genuine excitement for the new material, I worked hard, adapted, and succeeded.”
The coursework also confirmed that medicine was where he belonged.
“I really was fascinated by how the human body works all the way down to how an atom in your body functions,” Mitchell said.
Outside the classroom, Mitchell worked to strengthen his medical school application while preparing for the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT. He worked as a medication technician at an assisted living facility, volunteered on weekends, and shadowed a physician in Deer Lodge. He also worked a desk job and served as a resident assistant on campus.
The resident assistant position provided free housing and meals, helping Mitchell minimize living expenses while preparing for the significant cost of medical school.
Mitchell said 51ºÚÁÏÍø's affordability was one of the reasons he chose the university in the first place. As an out-of-state student, he benefited from scholarship opportunities and found ways to minimize his educational expenses.
“There are a lot of scholarships if you keep high grades,” Mitchell said.
His engineering degree is also helping him prepare financially for his next chapter. Mitchell accepted a position as an ice roads project engineering on Alaska's North Slope, allowing him to save money before beginning medical school.
While Mitchell has not made a final decision about which medical school he will attend, he already has a career goal in mind: orthopedic surgery.
That interest grew after he shadowed a physician performing a total knee replacement in Deer Lodge.
“The total joint surgery that I watched was one of the most surreal, but coolest things ever,” Mitchell said.
He was particularly drawn to the immediate impact orthopedic surgeons can have on their patients.
“By the end of the day, you can watch the patients that you work on walk out with a better joint,” Mitchell said.
Eventually, Mitchell hopes to practice medicine in northwest Montana. Despite growing up surrounded by Alaska's mountains, he said the scenery around Kalispell and Flathead Lake left a lasting impression.
For now, he's looking forward to beginning medical school and pursuing a career that he believes will be personally fulfilling. His experiences working with elderly residents reinforced that decision.
“There's so much joy in making someone smile,” Mitchell said. “For me, my heart is definitely lightened and just brightened by the ability and opportunity.”
Looking back, Mitchell has no regrets about returning to college after already earning an engineering degree. He hopes his experience encourages others who are considering a career change to pursue what makes them happy, even if it means starting over.
“The insecurity of thinking that you failed the first time because you didn't choose the right path shouldn't stop you from doing what you ultimately want to do to fulfill your purpose,” Mitchell said. “You can't get out of this life alive, so you might as well spend it doing things that you love.”