Not sure what to pursue

[mimimac456]

I'm currently a junior in highschool and taking 3 sciences related to health. However I'm unsure of what career path I should take. I'm leaning towards research such as oncology, or becoming a doctor but there are so many divsions that interest me such as neurology, nutrition or being a general doctor. The choice is quite difficult, due to it being in college and me having to spend money. I could never seem to just boil anything down to just one subject that interests me.


I know I have two years left however I thought the same way when I was a freshman thinking highschool would be slow. My family's expectations are high, and so are mine. My main worries are ACT, SAT, and passing 3 sciences, all with A's.

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[Cheezin]

Narrowing it down to being a doctor is already very specific for the point you're at. The last two years of medical school are spent doing clinical rounds with various specialties, and that is when med students really find out what they want to do, unless they have had some dream since they were 5 to be a certain specialist. Even if you have some idea of what you want to do, it will very likely change several times. Just focus on getting into college or a BS/MD program

 

[LucidSplash]

Some of the things you have mentioned aren't types of doctors (nutrition). If you are unsure about your career path, I would advise against BS/MD. Given you have diverse interests, you could find you are more interested in the science side of things, or something else completely.

More than a few of my friends that started out premed went into other fields: one pursued a PhD in biochemistry, one went into teaching, another economics...

Give yourself the chance to find the right field for you. That could be medicine or something else.

 

[LucidSplash]

I would argue that since acceptance into BS/MD programs are only provisional, the student is free to explore other interests while grasping the provisional (that is, minimum GPA and MCAT guaranteeing an MD seat) acceptance. Accepted students are not bound to the program. The OP can opt out of the program at any time, and pursue other career fields as he/she sees fit. But, I think having that golden ticket in one's pocket is fantastic.

But the curriculum tends to be restrictive and thus discourages the student from fully exploring other interests. My advice stands.

 

[LucidSplash]

Students from countries' worldwide begin their medical education immediately after secondary education - albeit they likely have clinical exposure and shadowing beforehand. It's possible at this point for the OP to obtain sufficient exposure within a year or two to effectively decide which career path suits him/her, then either apply or not apply to BS/MD programs.

I am not sure why you are pushing BS/MD so hard for this particular student. Regardless of what the rest of the world does, medicine as a career in the US is a different beast. Being undecided as a junior in high school is perfectly natural and normal and the OP should not feel any pressure to have their life figured out by the time they are 18. I'm done responding to you because you seem to be locked into the BS/MD model as the best thing since sliced bread and that just hasn't been my experience with the people I know who are actually on the other side of it.

OP, I just don't want you to feel like you have to have everything figured out at this point in your life. If you're not sure, THAT IS OK. Take your time, do some shadowing, pursue hobbies and other interests as well, do some community service. If you end up deciding BS/MD is right for you, that's great, but if you have doubts then go the traditional route.