DO vs Pharmacy vs other options

[Mistersmoove]

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Hi, I'm gonna write a short story then ask some questions...Any input is appreciated!

To start off, I'm about to finish my biochemistry degree after this semester...So I'm almost done with undergrad. Also, on top of 1-2 hobbies, personal development is also something important to me. Unfortunately I degrade instead of develop when I study 5-10 hours a day every day.

Here's the story...

So 1 year ago before I started an extremely difficult semester of biochemistry+biophysics+inorganic chem+language, I was studying for the MCAT and had the mindset of "I'm gonna be a goddamn doctor, life's great" Note that the professors for these classes were on the extremely difficult scale, on top of these classes already being difficult.
So this, with work, and other duties together meant that I studied and worked literally every second of the day that I had. I had a relationship problem, and paired with this extremely busy schedule where I can't even get a second to have fun, be active, socialize, and can't even make time to go to the gym, resulted in me being extremely depressed. The only good thing was that I did fairly well on the classes.

So here I am now, still haven't gathered an ounce of energy to study for my current classes (which overall are not as hard as that crazy last semester). I'm completely burned out.

This makes me wonder...Is medical school going to prevent me from pursuing personal development and hobbies? I want to spend around 5-10 hours a week practicing martial arts and maybe 1-3 hours a day socializing and doing other stuff... Is this possible? I'm asking these because I'm not sure what EXACTLY a medical student's schedule looks like, and because I don't want to go to a spiral of depression every week in med school from becoming antisocial and not having fun.

On top of this, Medical School students don't get a summer vacation because they have to be grind studying for the Step 1 and Step 2. And up to this point I've always used summer vacation to recharge since studying 10 hours a day and pulling all nighters really eats away at me.

I'm considering pharmacy school simply because it seems to be able to accommodate for my lifestyle, and is generally easier. Any thoughts on these given my personal characteristics?

Also, I will consider any other career opportunities you guys put out, so thanks for any input.

: )

 

[AlteredScale]

So did you get an MCAT score or did you nix actually taking it?

You can do other hobbies in medical school. If you don't have time for a few hours a week of it you're doing something wrong for sure (unless it's board prep time). So yes it's possible. Each medical students schedule will vary across the board.

You do get a summer vacation between year one and year two. Think of it as your last summer vacation. But you will have a few days or weeks off here and there so it's not an unending work period.

Idk if med is the right track, it seems like the outside stuff that makes your life good is not worth the sacrifice for you. If you pursue medicine you will have no choice but to cut or reduce time to your hobbies, your friends, your family. That's just how it is. It's a lifestyle that doesn't really let up when you're done with school but continues on into residency, fellowship, and attending years.

Burnout, depression, anxiety are all factors that are dangerously high in the medical student and physician world.

I would say it's important to shadow some docs for some time. And by shadow I mean really spend the entire day with them. If them come in at 6 and leave at 7pm, stay. Do it for a few days and see if that's something you'd wanna do.

I have a few friends in pharm school at ucsf and they seem to enjoy it. I'm sure they work insanely hard as well.

Other careers: clinical lab scientist, pathologist assistant, masters in social work, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy.


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[oOKawaiiOo]

Seems like you need to take a gap year -- to get yourself into a better position and have the joys to enjoy life. Apply when you're ready.

 

[KP2AZ]

I would agree with needed a gap year. PLEASE do not make a choice about your future career (20+ years) based on what the program life style is like. However, If you feel like you need to choose life style long term, then that is an entirely different situation. Medical School is draining, and residency is even more so; Just know that studying medicine and a career in medicine is very demanding on you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

 

[ewax]

as a former pharmacist, don't do pharmacy. Anywhere desirable to live is already saturated and you get treated like **** (mostly if you work retail).

 

[Mistersmoove]

I should have thanked you guys for the replies earlier but thanks for all the replies, I read all of them twice and they're all very much appreciated! I might still go for med school, I'm without a doubt capable. I just need to be able to pursue my hobbies for 1-3 hours a day to stay sane. From what I took from the comments I need to take some time off and live life, and see if I can rekindle my passion for the career...(while studying for the MCAT). I'll look at some other careers in medicine and the sciences and maybe even outside those two groups while doing this...Just to weigh in my options.
Thanks!

 

[Roxas]

Given their current market there is no way I would go through 4 years of school to be a pharmacist

 

[GypsyHummus]

Dentistry. Seriously.

 

[costales]

Dentistry. Seriously.

^This. People need dentition, and nobody dies in a dentist's chair. No insurance BS, no call, no codes, no drug seekers, no hospice talk, minimal blood, no urine, no feces, no death certificates. Great bankers hours. And you can set up shop next to Domino's.

 

[GypsyHummus]

^This. People need dentition, and nobody dies in a dentist's chair. No insurance BS, no call, no codes, no drug seekers, no hospice talk, minimal blood, no urine, no feces, no death certificates. Great bankers hours. And you can set up shop next to Domino's.

The only bad thing is that you have to be good with your hands and be willing to reach into peoples mouths with stinky breath. Even if you only have ok hands, you can sent difficult cases to the specialist. The stinky breath however, is less likely to be outsourced to a third party.

Seriously tho, 4 years of schooling for a starting salary around 120K and unlimited ability to climb the financial brackets? 10 year out you can hit 250K easily if you have a solid practice.

 

[allantois]

The only bad thing is that you have to be good with your hands and be willing to reach into peoples mouths with stinky breath. Even if you only have ok hands, you can sent difficult cases to the specialist. The stinky breath however, is less likely to be outsourced to a third party.

Seriously tho, 4 years of schooling for a starting salary around 120K and unlimited ability to climb the financial brackets? 10 year out you can hit 250K easily if you have a solid practice.

Unless your state has a public dental school, you should be looking at over 400k of debt (actually more like 500) from attending a private dental school. The schools are basically admitting that it is not the kind of debt that you will be able to repay.

https://www.midwestern.edu/Documents/Financial Aid documents/COA Forms/2015-16 IL/DENTAL_IL1516 final.pdf
http://dentistry.usc.edu/programs/dds/cost-of-attendance/

^This. People need dentition, and nobody dies in a dentist's chair. No insurance BS, no call, no codes, no drug seekers, no hospice talk, minimal blood, no urine, no feces, no death certificates. Great bankers hours. And you can set up shop next to Domino's.

no insurance BS = less money to go around
no call/codes/hospice/urine/feces/death = also true of outpatient medicine
minimal blood = actually more blood in dentistry than most medical specialties
shop next to Domino = not when there are 10 other shops around; basically all urban and suburban areas are oversaturated already

 

[HowConfusing]

Outsider looking in, but PA may be a viable option here. Seems to be a large demand, residency not required, and shorter (although still intense) program. Depending on cost of attendance and whatnot.
Addendum: As a hospital pharmacist, I value the education I received, however, not sure I would do it again. Big box retail is soul-crushing. Independent retail isn't bad but jobs aren't nearly as plentiful. I went hospital as soon as I could because I enjoy the clinical aspect, but it remains very hands-off and it can be difficult to get into. And after almost three years I'm considering/working toward a different medical career.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Outsider looking in, but PA may be a viable option here. Seems to be a large demand, residency not required, and shorter (although still intense) program. Depending on cost of attendance and whatnot.
Addendum: As a hospital pharmacist, I value the education I received, however, not sure I would do it again. Big box retail is soul-crushing. Independent retail isn't bad but jobs aren't nearly as plentiful. I went hospital as soon as I could because I enjoy the clinical aspect, but it remains very hands-off and it can be difficult to get into. And after almost three years I'm considering/working toward a different medical career.

Is retail not worth the 120k they pay you per month? What would be more reasonable?

Not many careers out there that virtually guarantee a six figure income. U look at optometry and it is really starting to tank as a profession

 

[j4pac]

Does being a physician cramp your lifestyle? LOL. It becomes your lifestyle. You spend practically all of your non-sleep time doing it.

On your non-doctor time...you tend to spend all of that hard earned money trying to unwind from your day job.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Does being a physician cramp your lifestyle? LOL. It becomes your lifestyle. You spend practically all of your non-sleep time doing it.

On your non-doctor time...you tend to spend all of that hard earned money trying to unwind from your day job.

But but but, I thought that I could match Derm! I just really have a passion for it, I didn't think I would have to deal with actual poop, pee, and other bodily fluids. All I wanted was to drive a BMW and live in a 600k+ house and go on vacation 4 times a year.

 

[HowConfusing]

Is retail not worth the 120k they pay you per month? What would be more reasonable?

Not many careers out there that virtually guarantee a six figure income. U look at optometry and it is really starting to tank as a profession

I'm sure you meant per year, but in any case... many people love it, many people hate it, and many more probably just tolerate it. It's not a terrible profession, just not always very stimulating, very little autonomy, and hands-off (which is a plus for many people). The abuse in big box retail can be brutal. Furthermore, many areas are starting to see an over supply of pharmacists which could lead to lower incomes. I know many pharmacists that decided to go to med school later.

 

[Dr.Jekyll75]

Let me put it this way do you want to be a doctor because all you care about is the money? if so, i suggest you go into another field. I've had 5 classmates drop just because it wasnt for them and they realized that after the first semester. Take a gap year, explore your interests and if your hobbies dont give you more joy than the idea of being a doc, apply to med school.

 

[Mistersmoove]

Hey guys I'm replying just to make a conclusion here just in case anybody ends up reading this now or in the future...Many other things have influenced my decision, but this forum here is also one of those things. I've decided to work and volunteer to take 1-2 gap years after college, mostly to rack up 2000+ hours for PA school. However, this will also serve to prove to me which occupation is suitable for me...whether PA is really the best choice. So basically it's a win/win move for me considering I'm supported by my parents.

As for why I chose PA? Only 2 years of schooling, good money, lateral mobility, good lifestyle, and practicing medicine like I've wanted. Why not physician? Like you all have said, being a physician is a life long commitment. Some turn offs for me are: studying ~6-10 hours a day, studying for the STEP exams for days after days, working 60-80+ hours during residency. I personally have more passions in life and can't make that commitment like some people can. The one plus side of being a physician is the knowledge you gain...which might be the only thing I'll regret on the PA route. The reason I say this is because when tests aren't involved, for some reason I've been studying hours on end online about different parts of medicine and enjoying it very much...but when I'm studying for a CLASS, I hate is so much.

I don't think I'll be diverging away from the PA path unless something drastic changes my mind, and I'm looking forward to this path. Thanks all for the help!