Age 20 and on the verge of a heart attack =(

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Why do you feel like you're "wasting time"? It sounds like this may be a lot more than just grades (which you still have plenty of time to improve), so I think you may benefit from talking to a counselor at your school about any personal issues that are making you feel insecure or unhappy.
 
Oso said:
Why do you feel like you're "wasting time"? It sounds like this may be a lot more than just grades (which you still have plenty of time to improve), so I think you may benefit from talking to a counselor at your school about any personal issues that are making you feel insecure or unhappy.
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Or you could just give the OP a big cuddley bear hug. And also not eat my family.
 
jackdaniels.jpg

Apply 45 cc PO as needed. Problem solved.
 
Sounds like you're asking yourself why you really want to be a doctor for the first time ever - that's good. You won't find the answer by forcing yourself through college with horse blinders on. Let yourself entertain the thought that there are other careers out there that you might like, and just focus on getting good grades in whatever you choose to do.
 
connie95 said:
I've wanted to become a doctor all my life...I guess like most people here on sdn, I can't imagine myself doing anything else! Growing up, I told everyone I wanted to become a doctor. I bragged in high school and half of college about how I know exactly what I want and exactly how to get it.

Now, I'm not so sure anymore. I am slowly losing whatever confidence I used to have. In short, I don't think I will be able to get into med school!

I'm currently a sophomore (have 3.4 sGPA and 3.62 cgpa, haven't taken MCAT's yet). While I know I have lots of time to improve, the problem with me is that I am "wasting all this time." I have been thru A LOT of changes and fast decisions over the past few years, which I still can't get over. I am currently in a "numb" state where I don't know what I'm doing anymore...I keep telling myself that I have to get out of this, or I'll never make it to med school, but its not working =(

Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What would be the first step towards feeling content and secure again? Right now, I feel like my mind is breaking into pieces.
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I have been in this situation before- but it is how I came to realize I have a passion for medicine. I always wanted to be a music teacher, and had the same story of devoting my entire life to teaching and music. When I realized I wasn't positive I wanted to pursue it, I was devastated! I thought I had wasted so many years of my life as a musician and had no idea what to do with my life.

Then, I got this crazy idea that maybe I wanted to be a doctor. I have been following this path ever since (although I am still finishing up my music ed degree- I plan on applying to med school this year.). My point is that changing you career in college is not bad. On fact, it is quite normal. I would encourage you to keep on this path- but also be open to be exploring new ideas. But don't just quit medicine! If you've gone 20 years, then there must be something inside of you driving this passion. Hope this helps!
 
connie95 said:
I've wanted to become a doctor all my life...I guess like most people here on sdn, I can't imagine myself doing anything else! Growing up, I told everyone I wanted to become a doctor. I bragged in high school and half of college about how I know exactly what I want and exactly how to get it.

Now, I'm not so sure anymore. I am slowly losing whatever confidence I used to have. In short, I don't think I will be able to get into med school!

I'm currently a sophomore (have 3.4 sGPA and 3.62 cgpa, haven't taken MCAT's yet). While I know I have lots of time to improve, the problem with me is that I am "wasting all this time." I have been thru A LOT of changes and fast decisions over the past few years, which I still can't get over. I am currently in a "numb" state where I don't know what I'm doing anymore...I keep telling myself that I have to get out of this, or I'll never make it to med school, but its not working =(

Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What would be the first step towards feeling content and secure again? Right now, I feel like my mind is breaking into pieces.
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Hey there. You said you feel you're in a "numb state." Do you feel like you're depressed? That might be the issue more than anything, and may have little to do with your career aspirations.
 
Seek social support with your friends, family. Also try to talk to a counselor or a mentor at school. Life has ups and downs... It's part of the deal. GL
 
Hey, relax. At worse you can be one of them osteopaths.
 
Don't feel bad about exploring other options. Keep your grades up and you can take a couple years after college to do other things or work on your volunteering and other experiences, and you can apply later. I think a lot can be said for the nontraditional route. I, like many others on here, didn't even start thinking I wanted to be a doctor til I was 24 and four years out of undergrad. I had been an English major and had to start the med school path from scratch. What I'm trying to say is it's never too late, and it's also something you can return to after doing other things in your life.
 
connie95 said:
Age 20 and on the verge of a heart attack =( Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What would be the first step towards feeling content and secure again? Right now, I feel like my mind is breaking into pieces.
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The good news is you are probably pretty normal. The bad news is you might not have your solution until you're 30. My advice is to enjoy the ride. Welcome to your 20's, it's a Dahooooozey, and watch that first step.
 
All joking aside though, you need to sit down and ask yourself why you want to be a doctor. Get a piece of paper. Make two columns. In one, write the positives of becoming a physician. In the other, write the negatives. Be as honest with yourself as you can. Let it sit for a day, then give that list a long hard look. Decide if those benefits outweigh the negatives.

Having passed this step, ask yourself what else could make you happy as a career. Repeat the previous exercise, but with other potential job on one side and physician in the other, listing the positives and negatives of each. If they are close in outcome, you should probably not become a doctor. If the physician is the only one that really catches your eye still, then chill and get back to the books, and see someone ad soon as you can to figure out if you are suffering from burnout or depression.

In the end, just know that whatever you decide probably won't make you miserable and will one day be viewed as one of the best decisions you've ever made. Give this a read if you want to understand the phenomenon:

http://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Happiness-Daniel-Gilbert/dp/1400077427
 
musicalMD said:
I have been in this situation before- but it is how I came to realize I have a passion for medicine. I always wanted to be a music teacher, and had the same story of devoting my entire life to teaching and music. When I realized I wasn't positive I wanted to pursue it, I was devastated! I thought I had wasted so many years of my life as a musician and had no idea what to do with my life.

Then, I got this crazy idea that maybe I wanted to be a doctor. I have been following this path ever since (although I am still finishing up my music ed degree- I plan on applying to med school this year.). My point is that changing you career in college is not bad. On fact, it is quite normal. I would encourage you to keep on this path- but also be open to be exploring new ideas. But don't just quit medicine! If you've gone 20 years, then there must be something inside of you driving this passion. Hope this helps!
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story of my life! omg 🙂 it was like how i imagine going through a divorce must feel like
 
musicalfeet said:
story of my life! omg 🙂 it was like how i imagine going through a divorce must feel like
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Last time I decided switching careers my prior career didn't decide to get a lawyer involved and decide to try and take all the **** I acquired while planning a life with said career.

Then again, I didn't get to sleep with my prior career's friend afterward either, so I guess it's a wash.
 
I am the only one who came into this thread expecting the title to be literal?

Edit: not sure how I made it into medical school with the reading comprehension of a 4-year-old.
 
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connie95 said:
I've wanted to become a doctor all my life...I guess like most people here on sdn, I can't imagine myself doing anything else! Growing up, I told everyone I wanted to become a doctor. I bragged in high school and half of college about how I know exactly what I want and exactly how to get it.

Now, I'm not so sure anymore. I am slowly losing whatever confidence I used to have. In short, I don't think I will be able to get into med school!

I'm currently a sophomore (have 3.4 sGPA and 3.62 cgpa, haven't taken MCAT's yet). While I know I have lots of time to improve, the problem with me is that I am "wasting all this time." I have been thru A LOT of changes and fast decisions over the past few years, which I still can't get over. I am currently in a "numb" state where I don't know what I'm doing anymore...I keep telling myself that I have to get out of this, or I'll never make it to med school, but its not working =(

Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What would be the first step towards feeling content and secure again? Right now, I feel like my mind is breaking into pieces.
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter if you told everyone you wanted to be a doctor. You are the one that gets to decide what you become. If that means changing your mind, then go ahead and change it. I will tell you now that if you are continuing on this path just to keep "your word" then you will probably not finish medical school/residency. You have to have more than that because this stuff if tough.

I am only a first year, but I will tell you that I have already had to miss things. There have been family get togethers, a friend's wedding, dates, etc. that I have either had to miss or leave early to get back to the books. The thing is, I know this is right for me and I try to balance it all. If I ever felt like I shouldn't be in med school, I would have happily changed careers and done something else.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Nobody will care if you don't go to medical school. People will be impressed once you get in, but those facebook likes will soon mean nothing. Then it's all you and if you don't have the dedication then you may not make it through.
 
connie95 said:
I've wanted to become a doctor all my life...I guess like most people here on sdn, I can't imagine myself doing anything else! Growing up, I told everyone I wanted to become a doctor. I bragged in high school and half of college about how I know exactly what I want and exactly how to get it.

Now, I'm not so sure anymore. I am slowly losing whatever confidence I used to have. In short, I don't think I will be able to get into med school!

I'm currently a sophomore (have 3.4 sGPA and 3.62 cgpa, haven't taken MCAT's yet). While I know I have lots of time to improve, the problem with me is that I am "wasting all this time." I have been thru A LOT of changes and fast decisions over the past few years, which I still can't get over. I am currently in a "numb" state where I don't know what I'm doing anymore...I keep telling myself that I have to get out of this, or I'll never make it to med school, but its not working =(

Has anyone ever been in this situation before? What would be the first step towards feeling content and secure again? Right now, I feel like my mind is breaking into pieces.
Click to expand...

Bro, I know exactly how you feel. I had close to the same GPA you have right now when I was a sophomore. I was going through the same insecure feelings and I was just not feeling confident in myself. You have to get over those thoughts though and put positive thoughts in your mind. Don't tell yourself that you are not good enough, because that is a lie. It is true that you still have quite a bit of time to improve, so pick yourself back up and keep on going. No one said the road to becoming a doctor was easy. You've got this!
 
musicalfeet said:
story of my life! omg 🙂 it was like how i imagine going through a divorce must feel like
Click to expand...

Totally! I have actually kept this a secret from everyone at my school because I am afraid there will be a huge riot when I announce I don't want a job in the music field.
 
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