I've encountered a lot of miserable people in medicine. Seems like the only reason they remain is that they say they're too far in debt to walk away. So I was wondering, how many people would walk away from med school/residency training/fellowship if they had no debt? And if you would walk away, what would you do?

I tell you what,.. why dont you go work for an insurance company, ad company, stockbroker, engineer, or shoe salesman, McDonalds, etc....then come back and work as a doc. yeah it sucks sometime, but you're worlds above everybody else in job security, salary, etc. There are many people in the world who dont like what they do. I worked a couple of "career jobs" before going to med school and when I hear these people say how much it sucks, it usually comes from people, who have no clue about what the rest of us do in the real world. I was a stockbroker trying to make sales quotas, cold calling 150-200 calls a day fishing for business, etc. It sucked. I was a snake oil salesman! I hated it. Anyway, the other day, I was looking for furniture for my new house (doctor loan) and this poor schmuck ad sales guy was trying to get the owner to buy advertising. I just couldn't help from listening and feeling sorry that a guy (about 45-50 y/o) still having to put himself through that crap. The owner just took the info (as they do 99.9% of the time) and the ad guy left. Anyway, they are many, many more difficult ways to make a living. Being a medical doctor is NOT one of them. Suck it up and enjoy the privilege. A lot of good people did not get this chance you have. see ya! :thumbup:

How about a 3rd option, something like "I'm not naive and idealistic enough to consider it a 'calling,' but it's a pretty cool job/profession that I would still do if I didn't have any debt"?

I've encountered a lot of miserable people in medicine. Seems like the only reason they remain is that they say they're too far in debt to walk away. So I was wondering, how many people would walk away from med school/residency training/fellowship if they had no debt? And if you would walk away, what would you do?

If I had no debt, I'd be willing to accept a smaller salary.

I'd do medicine for free if I didn't have any financial responsibilities.

The job you should do is one that you would enjoy in a world with no money.

Couldn't have put it better myself. :thumbup:

If I had no debt, I'd be willing to accept a smaller salary.

I'd do medicine for free if I didn't have any financial responsibilities.

The job you should do is one that you would enjoy in a world with no money.


__________________
Medical Student

[Disclaimer: Please note the sarcasm above]noted

Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech.
Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Initech because that question is bull**** to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean **** up if they had a million dollars.

Peter Gibbons: What would you do if you had a million dollars?
Lawrence: I'll tell you what I'd do, man, two chicks at the same time, man.
Peter Gibbons: That's it? If you had a million dollars, you'd do two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I had a million dollars I could hook that up, cause chicks dig a dude with money.
Peter Gibbons: Well, not all chicks.
Lawrence: Well the kind of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me do.
Peter Gibbons: Good point.
Lawrence: Well what about you now? what would you do?
Peter Gibbons: Besides two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Well yeah.
Peter Gibbons: Nothing.
Lawrence: Nothing, huh?
Peter Gibbons: I'd relax, I would sit on my ass all day, I would do nothing.
Lawrence: Well you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Just take a look at my cousin, he's broke, don't do ****.

If I had no debt, I'd be willing to accept a smaller salary.

I'd do medicine for free if I didn't have any financial responsibilities.

The job you should do is one that you would enjoy in a world with no money.

Rarely do I agree with OSUdoc but she (I believe you are a female) is basically on point.. I would work for 150K if I had no debt.. that being said since I owe an arm and a leg and have had to deal with numerous deferments and economic hardships ill take whatever I can get when residency is over.


IMO too many people enter medicine because they are forced into it. It is sad and often leaves people out who are passionate about medicine.

I think Joe Walsh hit the nail on the head:

"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do..."

-X


I've encountered a lot of miserable people in medicine. Seems like the only reason they remain is that they say they're too far in debt to walk away. So I was wondering, how many people would walk away from med school/residency training/fellowship if they had no debt? And if you would walk away, what would you do?

I think Joe Walsh hit the nail on the head:

"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do..."

-X

i think the answer is to have "accountants pay for it all".

noted

Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech.
Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Initech because that question is bull**** to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean **** up if they had a million dollars.

Peter Gibbons: What would you do if you had a million dollars?
Lawrence: I'll tell you what I'd do, man, two chicks at the same time, man.
Peter Gibbons: That's it? If you had a million dollars, you'd do two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I had a million dollars I could hook that up, cause chicks dig a dude with money.
Peter Gibbons: Well, not all chicks.
Lawrence: Well the kind of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me do.
Peter Gibbons: Good point.
Lawrence: Well what about you now? what would you do?
Peter Gibbons: Besides two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Well yeah.
Peter Gibbons: Nothing.
Lawrence: Nothing, huh?
Peter Gibbons: I'd relax, I would sit on my ass all day, I would do nothing.
Lawrence: Well you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Just take a look at my cousin, he's broke, don't do ****.

:laugh:

Office space = awesome :thumbup:

Rarely do I agree with OSUdoc but she (I believe you are a female) is basically on point.. I would work for 150K if I had no debt.. that being said since I owe an arm and a leg and have had to deal with numerous deferments and economic hardships ill take whatever I can get when residency is over.


IMO too many people enter medicine because they are forced into it. It is sad and often leaves people out who are passionate about medicine.
I agree with you on ALL accounts here. :)

IMO too many people enter medicine because they are forced into it. It is sad and often leaves people out who are passionate about medicine.

What was that quote from Kumar in that inane movie Howard and Kumar go to White Castle?

I'd clean toilets allll day long if I were rich!

150k is your idea of a lowered salary? Damn dude. I'd do this for 20 bucks an hour if I had no debt.

I'm proudly NOT one of those people who would walk away even if I didn't owe $140k. If I had to do it all over again, I would, 100%.

If I had no debt, I'd be willing to accept a smaller salary.

I'd do medicine for free if I didn't have any financial responsibilities.

The job you should do is one that you would enjoy in a world with no money.


I guess I should be a basketball player and blues guitarist.

.... There are many people in the world who dont like what they do. I worked a couple of "career jobs" before going to med school and when I hear these people say how much it sucks, it usually comes from people, who have no clue about what the rest of us do in the real world. I was a stockbroker trying to make sales quotas, cold calling 150-200 calls a day fishing for business, etc. It sucked. I was a snake oil salesman! ....

Yeah, everytime I see a drug rep I find myself thinking "There but for the grace of med school go I..." I can't imagine a more miserable existance than to have to suck up all day long to get one's daily bread.

I guess I should be a basketball player and blues guitarist.

At least be a team physician for a basketball team, if that's what you love.

150k is your idea of a lowered salary? Damn dude. I'd do this for 20 bucks an hour if I had no debt.

Well why not show us how this is done.. Here is my idea.. live on 40K per yr (which is about $20 per hour) and pay off your debt and then give it all away to your favorite charity.

Im guessing you are either pre-med or your line was meant as a joke.

I'm proudly NOT one of those people who would walk away even if I didn't owe $140k. If I had to do it all over again, I would, 100%.

Me too but I owe more than you do! :)

At least be a team physician for a basketball team, if that's what you love.
Those jobs arent that easy to get either..

Me too but I owe more than you do! :)

Then I feel your pain, bro. :)

Well why not show us how this is done.. Here is my idea.. live on 40K per yr (which is about $20 per hour) and pay off your debt and then give it all away to your favorite charity.

Im guessing you are either pre-med or your line was meant as a joke.

Learn to read. I said "if I had no debt", i.e., if I didn't have anythign to pay back or worry about, which is exactly the point of this thread. Have another beer. :rolleyes:

Uhh i did but the thing is you could pay off your debt in 3-4 yrs as an attending if you live on less than your resident salary. I can read just fine. The thing is I made a conherent statement and yours makes little sense. You could be debt free in a few yrs..

BTW I wish I could have another beer but this medicine sub-i im on now is killing me.

Okay, well maybe the sub-i is making it hard for you to comprehend. This thread is about whether or not you would continue to do medicine if you had no debt, i.e., you don't have to worry about it being paid off in 3-4 years. In that situation, I would do it for a very low salary since I love it so much.

I'll knock one back for you.

Okay, well maybe the sub-i is making it hard for you to comprehend. This thread is about whether or not you would continue to do medicine if you had no debt, i.e., you don't have to worry about it being paid off in 3-4 years. In that situation, I would do it for a very low salary since I love it so much.

I'll knock one back for you.

Please do.. there is no point in arguing...

The question would be more interesting if debt was wiped out, you were compensated at an average salary (60-70k) for all those years in medical years and residency, and you would be leaving medicine to a ready 60-70k job with high job security and easy working environment. This basically assumes that you never went into medicine in the first place and just got a job out of college. Now, how many people would jump?

BTW I wish I could have another beer but this medicine sub-i im on now is killing me.

You're on a medicine sub-I? In early May? Are you a third-year or fourth-year? Because if you're graduating soon, man, you're just torturing yourself.

Those jobs arent that easy to get either..

Maybe not college or pro, but high school shouldn't be a problem.

Please do.. there is no point in arguing...

Well said.

/beer

If I had no debt, I'd be willing to accept a smaller salary.

I'd do medicine for free if I didn't have any financial responsibilities.

The job you should do is one that you would enjoy in a world with no money.


I love it when med students make statements like the above.. YOu are not out.. You are not working as a doc.. You dont know whats its like.. I will tell you.. The job is way too risky, and the responsibility is too great to do it for free. I may like it.. but it certainly isnt fun. You need a large sum of money to do it.. You are a target all the time.. remember that..