Any advice on how to move on from medicine?

[PandaCakeLife]

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I've wanted to become a doctor since I was a single-digit age, but I unfortunately discovered in college that I was awful at science. And this is after being an academic superstar (or at least above average) my entire life prior to that.

I switched majors and pursued something non-scientific. I actually landed a decent job out of college but was utterly miserable in that job because I was so jealous of everyone (peers) who were in medical school.

Lmao. How do you move on from this. I can't even begin to describe how much more competitive other people's applications (academics, EC's) are than mine ever would be. I feel like I'll always feel envious of people who became doctors yet have no strength nor motivation to pick up the pieces and try again.

Happy to give more details if needed.

I wish I never wanted to become a doctor lmaoooo I wish someone I had crushed my dreams before college because my talents don't lie in STEM. 🙃 They lie in absolutely nothing at all.

Every other career feels like settling too lmao. Every single time I try to work on my current "career," I get so bitter and annoyed I can hardly focus on advancing in my current path.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

People who are doctors are often envious of those who aren't. Some doctors are jealous of other doctors.

To your point, are you good at science now? You have to get through that to become a health care provider with a "doctor" title. You can't go comparing yourself.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

People who are doctors are often envious of those who aren't. Some doctors are jealous of other doctors.

To your point, are you good at science now? You have to get through that to become a health care provider with a "doctor" title. You can't go comparing yourself.

No, I'm still terrible at science. I'm pretty sure into the category of people who'd never be good at science even if they tried.

In college, I only earned a 3.56 science GPA for MD schools and a 3.74 science GPA for DO schools (which exclude math from their calculation and count biological anthropology as a science lmao).

• General Chemistry 1 & Lab: A/A
• Organic Chemistry 1 & Lab: B-/A
• Calculus 1: B+
• Calculus 2: B+
• Statistics: B+
• Human Physiology: A
• Organic Chemistry 2: P (Spring 2020)
• Stats & Data Science: A

People who are doctors are often envious of those who aren't.

LOL. K. I'm pretty sure they're at least glad they're not getting caught up in the crossfires of consulting, tech and other industries' layoffs. I know peers who haven't had a job since March 2023 and/or August 2023.

 

[BritainKittenMittens]

No, I'm still terrible at science. I'm pretty sure into the category of people who'd never be good at science even if they tried.

In college, I only earned a 3.56 science GPA for MD schools and a 3.74 science GPA for DO schools (which exclude math from their calculation and count biological anthropology as a science lmao).

• General Chemistry 1 & Lab: A/A
• Organic Chemistry 1 & Lab: B-/A
• Calculus 1: B+
• Calculus 2: B+
• Statistics: B+
• Human Physiology: A
• Organic Chemistry 2: P (Spring 2020)
• Stats & Data Science: A

LOL. K. I'm pretty sure they're at least glad they're not getting caught up in the crossfires of consulting, tech and other industries' layoffs. I know peers who haven't had a job since March 2023 and/or August 2023.

From these grades, i wouldn't say you're horrible at science. Most premeds don't take calculus or stats, so I wouldn't assume you're worse than they are. So if you're going off of the B+ in the math classes, I wouldn't base it off of that. In fact, I'm pretty sure most people in medicine are horrible at math--at least high level math.

From what you put here, I'm not sure if you're bad at academics. Do what you will with that info.

 

[dgdg]

That's a lot in your two posts.

There may be more than one thing you are good at and enjoy that will earn a decent wage. You just didn't find it with your first job.
Your grades are good, and I agree from experience that Calculus and Stats are challenging college level courses. I wonder if you gave yourself a bit of imposter syndrome and sold yourself short.

Med school and residency are a huge time commitment even fresh out of a 4 yr college degree. If you want it, are young and relatively unencumbered, go for it. Or, you should have an idea by now what else you might also enjoy that would only require a couple more years of college education that might be available remotely or at night.

Like him or not, Cornelius Vanderbilt didn't even complete grade school. He became a steamboat and railroad tycoon who (co)invented the American Corporation. At his death, to purchase all his assets would require taking 1 of every 20 dollars available in the USA out of circulation. Yet, he spelled so poorly that he often dictated his letters.

As the college educated, clearly intelligent person that you are, try not to be too envious or jealous of others. While ever tempting for us all (including myself!) it's self defeating. Don't sell yourself short. Of course, it is healthy to be inspired by others.

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance"
- Oscar Wilde

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

You've posted two very similar threads. I told you your GPA is fine in the other one. If you want to apply, finish your classes and do it, if you don't, don't. Consider talking to a therapist because this is clearly causing a lot of grief for you.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Just look on r/residency or browse some of the attending forums on this site

 

[BritainKittenMittens]

You've posted two very similar threads. I told you your GPA is fine in the other one. If you want to apply, finish your classes and do it, if you don't, don't. Consider talking to a therapist because this is clearly causing a lot of grief for you.

Lol thanks for the heads up, I'm looking there now. Agreed, sentiment seems to be unnecessarily self-defeating and low self esteem.

A top 15-20 public university is most likely Berkeley, UCLA, maybe UMich. I will say for these (especially the grade deflating Berkeley), a B+ in calculus classes and a B- in orgo is not a big deal.

OP, you are smart enough to be a doctor. People tend to glorify doctors. In some ways, that's warranted. It requires a unique combination of intelligence, hard work, scientific aptitude, communication skills, ethics, and common sense. But people over-emphasize intelligence. Once you get past a certain threshold, it's the hard work that differentiates the best physicians (unless you have that rare intelligence that is super good at memorizing).

I bet a lot of my colleagues would have failed calculus classes at Berkeley.

 

[chssoccer7]

I'm honestly unsure if this is a troll post but on the chance it is not;

I don't think many of us can say whether you'll be accepted or not while you're missing an MCAT and prereqs, but if you don't, it won't be because of your GPA. Much like my wonderful peer @Nontrad_FL_LGBT , I also had a lower GPA than that and start at an MD school next month.

There is currently nothing substantive in your posts that would prevent you from getting accepted into a medical school, outside of yourself.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

From these grades, i wouldn't say you're horrible at science. Most premeds don't take calculus or stats, so I wouldn't assume you're worse than they are. So if you're going off of the B+ in the math classes, I wouldn't base it off of that. In fact, I'm pretty sure most people in medicine are horrible at math--at least high level math.

From what you put here, I'm not sure if you're bad at academics. Do what you will with that info.

I got a B- in organic chemistry.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

That's a lot in your two posts.

There may be more than one thing you are good at and enjoy that will earn a decent wage. You just didn't find it with your first job.
Your grades are good, and I agree from experience that Calculus and Stats are challenging college level courses. I wonder if you gave yourself a bit of imposter syndrome and sold yourself short.

Med school and residency are a huge time commitment even fresh out of a 4 yr college degree. If you want it, are young and relatively unencumbered, go for it. Or, you should have an idea by now what else you might also enjoy that would only require a couple more years of college education that might be available remotely or at night.

Like him or not, Cornelius Vanderbilt didn't even complete grade school. He became a steamboat and railroad tycoon who (co)invented the American Corporation. At his death, to purchase all his assets would require taking 1 of every 20 dollars available in the USA out of circulation. Yet, he spelled so poorly that he often dictated his letters.

As the college educated, clearly intelligent person that you are, try not to be too envious or jealous of others. While ever tempting for us all (including myself!) it's self defeating. Don't sell yourself short. Of course, it is healthy to be inspired by others.

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance"
- Oscar Wilde

• What does it even mean to be good at something lmao. I didn't speak English when I was 3 years old, but I do now. Does that mean I was innately bad at English?
• I got a B- in organic chemistry
• I'm 25 years old with no kids
• I wouldn't enjoy anything else besides medicine.
• Lastly, re: Vanderbilt. No ****. Just because someone sucks at school doesn't mean they'll suck at their career.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

You've posted two very similar threads. I told you your GPA is fine in the other one. If you want to apply, finish your classes and do it, if you don't, don't. Consider talking to a therapist because this is clearly causing a lot of grief for you.

I'm currently in therapy and am on my 5th session - it's been a slow process.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

Just look on r/residency or browse some of the attending forums on this site

For what. To see how much doctors hate their jobs? Lol. As I said. I'm pretty sure they're at least glad they're not getting caught up in the crossfires of consulting, tech and other industries' layoffs. I know peers who haven't had a job since March 2023 and/or August 2023.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

Lol thanks for the heads up, I'm looking there now. Agreed, sentiment seems to be unnecessarily self-defeating and low self esteem.

A top 15-20 public university is most likely Berkeley, UCLA, maybe UMich. I will say for these (especially the grade deflating Berkeley), a B+ in calculus classes and a B- in orgo is not a big deal.

OP, you are smart enough to be a doctor. People tend to glorify doctors. In some ways, that's warranted. It requires a unique combination of intelligence, hard work, scientific aptitude, communication skills, ethics, and common sense. But people over-emphasize intelligence. Once you get past a certain threshold, it's the hard work that differentiates the best physicians (unless you have that rare intelligence that is super good at memorizing).

I bet a lot of my colleagues would have failed calculus classes at Berkeley.

I went to one of those schools, yes. It's sad that some doctors would've failed calculus, honestly.

I can't even begin to explain how it feels to have mostly never earned anything below an A in high school and then go to college and realize your best goddamn efforts net you a B+ or worse. And to realize that other people are way better at STEM than you, and because of that, you're going to be stuck for the next 60 years in a career you hate.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

I'm honestly unsure if this is a troll post but on the chance it is not;

I don't think many of us can say whether you'll be accepted or not while you're missing an MCAT and prereqs, but if you don't, it won't be because of your GPA. Much like my wonderful peer @Nontrad_FL_LGBT , I also had a lower GPA than that and start at an MD school next month.

There is currently nothing substantive in your posts that would prevent you from getting accepted into a medical school, outside of yourself.

K. I don't think I agree with this but whatever.

As I said, I can't even begin to explain how it feels to have mostly never earned anything below an A in high school and then go to college and realize your best goddamn efforts net you a B+ or worse. And to realize that other people are way better at STEM than you, and because of that, you're going to be stuck for the next 60 years in a career you hate.

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

I'm currently in therapy and am on my 5th session - it's been a slow process.

I'm glad to hear you're taking your mental health seriously. Give yourself a year or two in therapy and revisit this topic tbh. As we've all said, your stats are fine assuming you perform similarly or better in the rest of your courses. Your mindset would make it really hard for you to be successful at the present moment, though.

I had a similar mindset with a 4.0 in HS in the IB program, being the smartest kid at my school, then just burning out and checking out of undergrad because I wasn't naturally good at STEM since I never had to study before. I graduated with my BS in a liberal arts discipline at 20 and pursued a different career until checking out medicine in my late 20s when I started taking enrichment classes at the CC. I made way better grades taking the prereqs courses as a more mature and self-assured individual with some self-confidence and was able to realize that medicine was for me over 3-4 years of exploring after my 40-60 hour corporate hours a week.

Starting med school now is what was best for me. I would've 100% failed if I decided to try medicine in my younger years before my brain caught up.

 

[chssoccer7]

K. I don't think I agree with this but whatever.

As I said, I can't even begin to explain how it feels to have mostly never earned anything below an A in high school and then go to college and realize your best goddamn efforts net you a B+ or worse. And to realize that other people are way better at STEM than you, and because of that, you're going to be stuck for the next 60 years in a career you hate.

I'm not too sure what feedback you're looking for then. You've been told by both people who sit on admissions and other students who got in with worse applications than you that your stats are fine. Every high achiever learns that they aren't the best at everything they do as they grow up. If medical schools only admitted people who got nothing lower than an A there wouldn't be very many doctors. I would suggest taking a step back for the moment, your mindset now isn't productive.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

I'm glad to hear you're taking your mental health seriously. Give yourself a year or two in therapy and revisit this topic tbh. As we've all said, your stats are fine assuming you perform similarly or better in the rest of your courses. Your mindset would make it really hard for you to be successful at the present moment, though.

I had a similar mindset with a 4.0 in HS in the IB program, being the smartest kid at my school, then just burning out and checking out of undergrad because I wasn't naturally good at STEM since I never had to study before. I graduated with my BS in a liberal arts discipline at 20 and pursued a different career until checking out medicine in my late 20s when I started taking enrichment classes at the CC. I made way better grades taking the prereqs courses as a more mature and self-assured individual with some self-confidence and was able to realize that medicine was for me over 3-4 years of exploring after my 40-60 hour corporate hours a week.

Starting med school now is what was best for me. I would've 100% failed if I decided to try medicine in my younger years before my brain caught up.

How would my mindset make it hard to be successful?

Also, did you work 40-60 hours a week and also take CC classes for the prereqs?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

How would my mindset make it hard to be successful?

Also, did you work 40-60 hours a week and also take CC classes for the prereqs?

You're dogging yourself for a B- in a weed out class. You will destroy yourself comparing yourself to other med students who are the top x% of academically talented people crammed into a room together. You'll spiral for getting an 85% on a test if your partner got an 87%. I've seen people like this in the workplace and it's such a struggle for them to be happy. Keep working on therapy, you will get there.

Yes I did work, take the prereqs, and do most of my ECs all at the same time. I was grinding 60-80+ hours a week for 3-4 years and frankly thriving. Got engaged and bought a house during that time period too.

 

[PandaCakeLife]

You're dogging yourself for a B- in a weed out class. You will destroy yourself comparing yourself to other med students who are the top x% of academically talented people crammed into a room together. You'll spiral for getting an 85% on a test if your partner got an 87%. I've seen people like this in the workplace and it's such a struggle for them to be happy. Keep working on therapy, you will get there.

Yes I did work, take the prereqs, and do most of my ECs all at the same time. I was grinding 60-80+ hours a week for 3-4 years and frankly thriving. Got engaged and bought a house during that time period too.

Yeah, well, a B- in Orgo 1 is objectively a terrible grade.

Re: your second paragraph. Congrats. Teach me your ways?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Yeah, well, a B- in Orgo 1 is objectively a terrible grade.

Re: your second paragraph. Congrats. Teach me your ways?

A B- is just above average on the bell curve. It's not objectively terrible. One B- in a sea of B+ and A-s is not a big deal. If every grade you got was a B-, sure that would probably not bode well for you to be accepted to medical school.

Thanks. I'm just someone who thrives on always being busy and plugging everything into a schedule like Legos. I was pretty much booked from 8a to 10p almost every day and fell asleep immediately upon laying down lol.

 

[gyngyn]

OP has gotten some good advice in this (and the other!) thread.
We are closing as it appears that some time away for thought and reflection will be of greater benefit than further self-beratement. We are glad to hear that they have sought help from professionals.
Good fortune, OP. We hope you find your way.