Do you regret going into Med school?

[brotherbloat]

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So what can we pre-med hopefuls do? With regard to Elsium's post, I still don't understand how we can even be bare-bones good parents and average doctors and decent wives. I think all we can do is be average at all three. Is that good enough for our conscionces (sp?) ? I don't know.

My hubby is a resident works 12 hour days, studies at night, and I never see him. We spend 15 minutes of "us" time per day and he just has me right now to deal with. How could I be even an average mom, and average doc, and an average wife if I had these conditions (paritcularly the studying?) How can you even see your own kids of 15 minutes a day when you're doing all three? I can't sacrifice sleep or I turn into a non-functioning imbicile.

I have the brain, and I want a high-powered career, I crave it, but I also don't want to be racked by guilt that my marriage is falling apart and my kids run to the nanny with their mother's day card. I can't be 100% sure about going into medicine b/c of these worries as a married, 28 year old woman with some life experience right now.

But I also have guilt about "not living up to my potential." I want to make the best use of my brian and talents that I can, and medicine is the only high-powered career where I can see that happening (i.e. law, i-banking, finance, consulting is not for me.) What other high-powered careers are there, where you have tons of responsibility, help people, is intellectually challenging, and make a 6-figure salary? Can anyone think of anything besides these areas above and maybe engineering or something?

Will I have the energy in my 30's to do all this stuff--med school and residency? I'm pretty energetic now, but how will taking call every 4th night in residency be at age 35?

But if I don't go, I'll always regret that decision and my self-esteem will always take the hit. I will never be able to live with myself, in a way. B/c being a doctor is the only thing I've ever wanted to do. It's the only job out there for me. Everything else will always be way second on the totem pole for me. I've already experienced a grad degree and two other careers, and a ton of career exploration. Nothing makes me as happy as being in the hospital, helping people, working with patients, and being around medicine.

What I do regret, is making the life choices that I did that led me to the point where now I'm 28 years old and having to decide whether to apply. If I was 25 and deciding whether to apply, this would be a no-brainer=medicine all the way. How can I reconcile this regret??????

😱

 

[humuhumu]

So what can we pre-med hopefuls do? With regard to Elsium's post, I still don't understand how we can even be bare-bones good parents and average doctors and decent wives.

My hubby is a resident works 12 hour days, studies at night, and I never see him. And he just has me right now to deal with. How could I be even an average mom, and average doc, and an average wife if I had these conditions (paritcularly the studying?)

I want a high-powered career, I crave it, but I also don't want to be racked by guilt that my marriage is falling apart and my kids run to the nanny with their mother's day card. I can't be 100% sure about going into medicine b/c of these worries.

But if I don't go, I'll always regret that decision. B/c being a doctor is the only thing I've ever wanted to do. It's the only job out there for me. Everything else will always be way second on the totem pole for me.

What I do regret, is making the life choices that I did that led me to the point where now I'm 28 years old and having to decide whether to apply. If I was 25 and deciding whether to apply, this would be a no-brainer=medicine all the way. How can I reconcile this regret??????

If you really want it all, you should probably plan on having your first child as soon as possible and no later than MS2, and maybe your second one during MS4. I know having a child during MS1 is feasible; I don't know about later years. Because your husband will be as committed to work as you, you'll need to plan on having really good child care, maybe an au pair?

Alternatively, you could consider adopting children once you've finished your residency.

Another possibility is deciding that medicine will be your life's work, and perhaps going into pediatrics if you really want contact with children.

Again, no easy choices...

 

[Leukocyte]

I'm skeptical that many of the dissatisfied docs recommending these options would actually choose these alternative health careers if given the choice to do it all over again.

The vague business alternative that people throw around isn't all it's cracked up to be either.

Let's face it, high-powered careers involve immense sacrifices. You can't escape that.

Let me ask you this. If you tell a kid, "Do not touch that hot plate because it is hot and will burn your hand", will he listen to you? When your Grandparent tells you "Do not date that guy because he is no good", Will you listen?

Answer: No. That is the nature of things. Giving advice is futile. That kid will touch that hot plate, and you will date that "no good" SOB (despite all the advice and warning). You see, people do not learn from advice, they learn from experience.

So, as I said before....you will never know if you like clinical medicine until your MS-3 year. Plain and simple. There is nothing you can do now that will predict your future happiness/satisfaction in medicine. I am sorry.

THERE ARE NO GUARENTEES IN LIFE.

Would I do it agian (if I was a nieve pre-med) = YES

Would I do it again (now that I am a F*c*ed MS-4) = Hell NO

Personally, I would choose Dentistry, then go for Oral/Maxillofacial sx.

But that is me, not you.

You go and do your own mistakes, like I did. Then you will find the truth to your question. 🙄

 

[fun8stuff]

So what can we pre-med hopefuls do? With regard to Elsium's post, I still don't understand how we can even be bare-bones good parents and average doctors and decent wives. I think all we can do is be average at all three. Is that good enough for our conscionces (sp?) ? I don't know.

My hubby is a resident works 12 hour days, studies at night, and I never see him. We spend 15 minutes of "us" time per day and he just has me right now to deal with. How could I be even an average mom, and average doc, and an average wife if I had these conditions (paritcularly the studying?) How can you even see your own kids of 15 minutes a day when you're doing all three? I can't sacrifice sleep or I turn into a non-functioning imbicile.

I have the brain, and I want a high-powered career, I crave it, but I also don't want to be racked by guilt that my marriage is falling apart and my kids run to the nanny with their mother's day card. I can't be 100% sure about going into medicine b/c of these worries as a married, 28 year old woman with some life experience right now.

But I also have guilt about "not living up to my potential." I want to make the best use of my brian and talents that I can, and medicine is the only high-powered career where I can see that happening (i.e. law, i-banking, finance, consulting is not for me.) What other high-powered careers are there, where you have tons of responsibility, help people, is intellectually challenging, and make a 6-figure salary? Can anyone think of anything besides these areas above and maybe engineering or something?

Will I have the energy in my 30's to do all this stuff--med school and residency? I'm pretty energetic now, but how will taking call every 4th night in residency be at age 35?

But if I don't go, I'll always regret that decision and my self-esteem will always take the hit. I will never be able to live with myself, in a way. B/c being a doctor is the only thing I've ever wanted to do. It's the only job out there for me. Everything else will always be way second on the totem pole for me. I've already experienced a grad degree and two other careers, and a ton of career exploration. Nothing makes me as happy as being in the hospital, helping people, working with patients, and being around medicine.

What I do regret, is making the life choices that I did that led me to the point where now I'm 28 years old and having to decide whether to apply. If I was 25 and deciding whether to apply, this would be a no-brainer=medicine all the way. How can I reconcile this regret??????

😱

my aunt is a nanny for a plastic surgeon (the dad) and family doc (the mom). They went through med school and residency at the same time. I believe that they had their twins at the very end of medical school, and she has been the nanny throughout their residency and everything. They don't see their kids very often- working 5-6 days a week, coming home at 7pm at the earliest. It's kinda weird because even when they get a day or two off, they will schedule something else just for themselves and leave their kids behind. But regardless, they seem to be making it work, although the kids seem to be more comfortable around the nanny than thier own parents. I do believe the wife plans on cutting some hours w/ in the next few years.

 

[ZappBrannigan]

If you really want it all, you should probably plan on having your first child as soon as possible and no later than MS2, and maybe your second one during MS4. I know having a child during MS1 is feasible; I don't know about later years. Because your husband will be as committed to work as you, you'll need to plan on having really good child care, maybe an au pair?

Alternatively, you could consider adopting children once you've finished your residency.

Another possibility is deciding that medicine will be your life's work, and perhaps going into pediatrics if you really want contact with children.

Again, no easy choices...

Many schools have a five year path for people who decide to have children or pursue research. IMO, it's only going to get easier for women to have children in medicine given the rising numbers.

 

[sparky5]

I feel all the premeds and med students on this board.. As an MS1 I have had one of the hardest times of my life struggling everyday with the decision to stay in school. I feel that when I come out the end it will be a life that I will probably be happy with, but the means to that ends is long, hard, has taken me away from most everything that I love, a probable life mate and the activities that I really enjoyed. That said, once you are in, it is hard to get out. The debt is overwhelming to decide to leave school and do something else.

The only things that have kept me here are:
1) it has been a dream for 10+ years to be an MD
2) I generally enjoy learning the things we learn
3) every profession/job has a period of time where you are working your way to the top which could last 5-10 years
4) I can't think up another profession that I really would enjoy considering I have started this one
5) inertia
6) fear of abandoning the track I have been on for 5+ years
7) 56k debt which grows by ~28k every 6 months

I can say that before I got here I had little idea about the realities of life in med school despite researching it, and that had I known what I know now, I might not have been so eager to jump in my car last summer, and drive across the country leaving soo much behind. But everyone has to face their own demons in their own way and in the end we all die alone so you better be happy with your life choices. Every day I try to decide what I will regret more, staying or leaving, now it is about 50/50.... so I stay since I have paid thru this summer so I might as well get my money's worth.
good luck to all

 

[uptoolate]

Many schools have a five year path for people who decide to have children or pursue research. IMO, it's only going to get easier for women to have children in medicine given the rising numbers.

My PI (a woman and mother) says the same thing and says that changes have already been enormous since she did her residency back in the day.

 

[cammy1313]

my aunt is a nanny for a plastic surgeon (the dad) and family doc (the mom). They went through med school and residency at the same time. I believe that they had their twins at the very end of medical school, and she has been the nanny throughout their residency and everything. They don't see their kids very often- working 5-6 days a week, coming home at 7pm at the earliest. It's kinda weird because even when they get a day or two off, they will schedule something else just for themselves and leave their kids behind. But regardless, they seem to be making it work, although the kids seem to be more comfortable around the nanny than thier own parents. I do believe the wife plans on cutting some hours w/ in the next few years.

I've always been somewhat angered by the stigma associated with nannies helping raise children in this country. My parents were born and raised in Peru, had me in Peru and then moved to the states. Not only are they both physicians but they're FMGs who had that additional struggle to practice in the U.S. That said, my brothers and I had a nanny growing up and I NEVER once felt neglected or resentful of my parents for this. In fact, I've admired and strived for the balance they achieved between career and family.

Also, as a somewhat non-trad applicant I have had years to explore the world, work in the "real world", and have had to fight to finally reach my life-long goal of practicing medicine. The amount of perspective and personal insight this brings is invaluable and I wish that medicine, like business school, required some sort of post-graduate life experience prior to medical school. Perhaps this would minimize the amount of med students that find themselves in the position of those posting in this thread.

 

[doc05]

Perhaps this would minimize the amount of med students that find themselves in the position of those posting in this thread.

Wait until you've actually experienced med school and see how you feel.

 

[GoodMonkey]

nope. 🙂 don't regret it in the least. and i left a pretty good job behind to be a medical student.

 

[PaddyofNine]

Is it hard? Sure. But then many things worth doing are.

Do I feel sorry for myself right now? Sure. Who wouldn't? I've got a final tomorrow I'm pretty screwed for. It's gonna be a long night. Then one more exam, before I can relax. I can't take the summer off, like some I know, because I manage to work myself into so much debt during the year I need a job to pay it off! My friends with whom I started school years ago all finished their finals last Saturday, and they're getting drunk right now. After that, they'll be going out into the world to earn money. Sweet money. How I miss you, wage!

But then.... I remember.

I remember how much I love what I'm studying, and how much lousier I'd feel right now if I was studying something I hate, like the Law I was studying before I changed courses. I remember how I've wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. I remember how much time and money and LIFE I've invested in this to this stage, not to fall when I'm halfway through the race. I remember how much my family have invested in me - from money to prayers - and how they're counting on me to do them proud. I remember how good I felt coming out of that clinical session in the palliative care centre, and how reaffirming that was.

Finally, I remember how, if you had asked me three or five years before tonight, what I would have given to even have the opportunity to be sick of this at this stage, I would have dove in without hesitation. I remember how lucky some people are to have the opportunity to go to high school, let alone college and let alone a professional course like the one I am lucky to be enrolled in.

And I keep my eye on the bigger picture. I'm a lucky guy. And a thankful one.



So do I feel sorry for myself right now? Yeah. Should I? Not one bit. Because at this moment in time, there are so many people worse off than me. So I'm going to put the head down, and keep studying!

PS: The short answer is, I love the course, and wouldn't change it for the world!

 

[brotherbloat]

I know it's doable to be female, a mom, a wife, and a med student, but I don't want to feel rushed, frantic, and harried every day of my life. I also don't really know if it's worth it to work part-time as a Dr. after going through 8 years to get there. How is that really fair--taking the place of a med student who could be serving society better by working full-time? Personally, I do not feel it is fair for a woman to take up a med school seat and then only work part-time, or not at all. With the doctor shortage as it is, and competitiion is way to fierce, and another deserving woman or man who is willing to work full-time could have taken her place. Just my 2cents.

For me, I believe, it's full-time or nothing when it comes to medicine. But is it worth it for my sanity down the line to attempt full-time doctor work, have a kid or two, aloving marriage, and still feel in control of my affairs?

Hmmm.....

 

[awdc]

Also, as a somewhat non-trad applicant I have had years to explore the world, work in the "real world", and have had to fight to finally reach my life-long goal of practicing medicine. The amount of perspective and personal insight this brings is invaluable and I wish that medicine, like business school, required some sort of post-graduate life experience prior to medical school. Perhaps this would minimize the amount of med students that find themselves in the position of those posting in this thread.

I'm a non-trad, too. I haven't regretted going to med school one bit, yet. My best bud is a non-trad as well graduating this year from another school. He doesn't regret going to med school either but did find med school at best tolerable. I'm sure he would do it again if given the choice. Actually, when I look at the non-trad students, as a whole, they tend to deal with the stress of med school quite well. For me, all I have to do is think of the crap associated with my previous career (and jobs) and everything falls into perspective. And as an above poster said, there's a lot to be thankful for given the opportunities we have and will have. There's pretty much "issues" with any profession or career. Personally, I'd rather deal with the negatives in medicine than the negatives in any other profession.

 

[PaddyofNine]

I also don't really know if it's worth it to work part-time as a Dr. after going through 8 years to get there. How is that really fair--taking the place of a med student who could be serving society better by working full-time? Personally, I do not feel it is fair for a woman to take up a med school seat and then only work part-time, or not at all. With the doctor shortage as it is, and competitiion is way to fierce, and another deserving woman or man who is willing to work full-time could have taken her place. Just my 2cents.

This is true, but only up to a point. We can't let the whims of society dictate or personal lives. Society operates on a much larger scale, and I don't think it should be a major (or even that minor) of a factor in deciding your career choices for you. Worry about yourself... everyone else will work out.

In either case, it sounds like you've got enough potential grey hairs without adding another one labelled "My Value in Society"! 😀

 

[brotherbloat]

For the non-trads in med school, has anyone regretted it? If so, why? For the non-trads in med school who have not regretted it, what are the major obstacles in med school you faced/ did you ever feel that you made a mistake?

 

[brotherbloat]

bump

 

[Gut Shot]

The only thing I regret is starting at age 27 and not age 21.

 

[Leukocyte]

How many of you guys are acctually advanced MS-3s and MS-4s?

Offcourse you will "love" medicine during your first 2 years in med. school because it is like undergrad except for the extra reading, H&P classes, and the random "clinical exposures".

Clinical medicine is very different. Lots of BS involved.

Good Luck though....seriously....I was in your shoes 4 years ago and I understand what you guys are going through. However, just remember, "love" does make you blind.

 

[awdc]

How many of you guys are acctually advanced MS-3s and MS-4s?

Offcourse you will "love" medicine during your first 2 years in med. school because it is like undergrad except for the extra reading, H&P classes, and the random "clinical exposures".

Clinical medicine is very different. Lots of BS involved.

Good Luck though....seriously....I was in your shoes 4 years ago and I understand what you guys are going through. However, just remember, "love" does make you blind.

Well, true I'm not a M3 or M4 but my best bud who is also non-trad and about to graduate wouldn't want to do anything else. I also just met a family doc, also a non-trad with a previous career, wasn't too crazy about med school (but still admitted overall that it was a good experience) but really enjoys what he does now. In the end, it seems to be worth it.

 

[hobs]

bloat, my apologies for the curtness, but i think you should quit intellectualizing and do it already. clearly, you want to go to med school, despite the delays, so you should. things will fall into place as they will, with regard to family and such.
the joseph campbell line of "follow your bliss" is coming to mind, here. do what you think is right for your own personal fulfillment, whatever those things may be, because you'll always be kicking yourself for putting other people's priorities first.

off the soapbox now....

 

[awdc]

The only thing I regret is starting at age 27 and not age 21.

Ditto. Except in my case, I started at age 28.

 

[brotherbloat]

I'd love to "quit intellectualizing it," but I made one huge mistake with my prior career, and now the stakes are much higher since I'm married and kids are in my future....I just don't want to feel trapped, but I also don't want to have regrets about not doing it....

How can I make this hard decision? I'm so torn..........

 

[Elysium]

Listen, girl, you're just gonna have to make a decision. No one on this internet message board is going to make it for you. You're clearly convinced that medicine is the only way you're going to reach your "potential", so I would just apply this year (like now). If you get in, you have your answer. You still have to go through the enormous process of all that, so I would hold off on this existensial crisis until you've gotten acceptance letters and need to put down your deposit. In the meantime, stop kvetching about going to med school and fill out your AMCAS. Also, take some more post-bacc classes in the downtime. I'm sure there are tons of classes you can take, on the cheap, in your area. You're not going to know if you "love" medicine until you do it (as leukocyte has pointed out).

As far as regretting it, I'm a non-trad, 31, film major, 5 years of working/taking classes to get into school. Accepted into 4 schools. Regret going because I absolute hate it and realize that I don't want to totally abandon the idea of being a hands-on parent. Med school is very much about comformity and towing the party line. It's sad and middling and depressing, especially for someone who loves reading and art and politics.

My SO is a non-trad, 28, 3rd year. He liked the first two years and pretty much hates third year. He regrets going too, but he's too far in debt to get out. He's just hoping he can find a speciality that doesn't piss him off.

BB, check out www.mommd.com and talk to some of the folks over there for more perspective.

I'd love to "quit intellectualizing it," but I made one huge mistake with my prior career, and now the stakes are much higher since I'm married and kids are in my future....I just don't want to feel trapped, but I also don't want to have regrets about not doing it....

How can I make this hard decision? I'm so torn..........

 

[Gut Shot]

How many of you guys are acctually advanced MS-3s and MS-4s?

Offcourse you will "love" medicine during your first 2 years in med. school because it is like undergrad except for the extra reading, H&P classes, and the random "clinical exposures".

Clinical medicine is very different. Lots of BS involved.

I'm an M4 and I'm still very excited about being a physician. Perhaps it's because I got a PhD before going to med school, so I know things can be worse... a lot worse.

I also cast aside any pretense of enjoying patient contact a long time ago. Matching in pathology has therefore been an easy choice for me. No specialty or career will be perfect, but as far as I can tell pathology suits me about as well as anything can. Woot!

 

[2009doc]

BB, check out www.mommd.com and talk to some of the folks over there for more perspective.[/QUOTE]

wow what a great site. thanks so much for a sharing.

 

[cammy1313]

I know it's doable to be female, a mom, a wife, and a med student, but I don't want to feel rushed, frantic, and harried every day of my life. I also don't really know if it's worth it to work part-time as a Dr. after going through 8 years to get there. How is that really fair--taking the place of a med student who could be serving society better by working full-time? Personally, I do not feel it is fair for a woman to take up a med school seat and then only work part-time, or not at all. With the doctor shortage as it is, and competitiion is way to fierce, and another deserving woman or man who is willing to work full-time could have taken her place. Just my 2cents.

For me, I believe, it's full-time or nothing when it comes to medicine. But is it worth it for my sanity down the line to attempt full-time doctor work, have a kid or two, aloving marriage, and still feel in control of my affairs?

Hmmm.....

Your propensity towards altruism is amazing. Most human beings are more selfish than this for the reason that you only live once. Thinking of other people motivates me to become a physician. However, in the end who cares what's "fair". Not to mention that there are MANY med school rejects out there that would make better physicians than those that are actually accepted into school. Life is not and never will be fair. Do what makes you happy. Period.

In answer to another post, the only real obstacle I've had to overcome to get into medical school is...well....me. I've worked in the biotech industry for almost 4 years and being a lab monkey at the bottom of the totem pole is certainly not a life-long career. It's been great and I've learned so much but I'm ready to interact with the rest of the world rather than just my pipette and a sample of blood. So a few years ago I applied to med school and didn't get in. Since then went into a MA (post-bac) program, volunteered a bit more and put out another publication with my biotech company. All of this helped get my foot in the door....finally. So as both a reapplicant and post-bac graduate I can confidently say that there is hope for everyone.

 

[LADoc00]

BB, check out www.mommd.com and talk to some of the folks over there for more perspective.

wow what a great site. thanks so much for a sharing.[/QUOTE]

As a single guy im reconsidering the whole MD thing, let alone someone with a biological clock ticking! Its a no brainer, selling insurance part time can net more than most primary care fields. If job satisification is what you are after then prepare for major disappointment!!

 

[Justin4563]

I fairly regret going into medicine

I'm trapped in it with a couple hundred thousand dollars in debt.
I've discovered several different fields and can compare:

-Medicine requires as much or more bull**** interactions and kiss-assing than being a stock-broker (example of a high kiss-ass field). Stock-brokers have the potential to make more money much earlier than MDs for kissing ass. Doing scut work and kissing up for very important good evaluations among miserable attendings in med-school/residency is far worse than "cold calling" early in the brokerage career (which is the worst it can get in that field).

-I felt far more AUTONOMY and less stress working in a cubicle for an engineering company than I do in Medicine where all the colleagues/attendings/administrators are breathing down my throat. My colleagues were always NICE at the Engineering company. I've seen the worst (coldest, rude, bitchy) personalities in Medicine than in any other field I've worked in.

-You don't have to take so many damn exams (mid-terms, finals, shelf exams, MCAT, USMLE I, II, III, USMLE CS, ABSITE, Residency In-training exams q-year Written and Oral, American board of X Surgery Exam Written and Oral 1 year apart) to move up in the world in other fields like Psychology. You could do something a lot more fun like write a book or create an inspirational CD instead.

Medicine is a field for people who are smart but will tolerate whatever bull**** they can to have a fairly stable income. But the people who are smart/motivated enough to be in medicine should have no problem making it in the real world anyways!

I could have done something far more lucrative than this if I had worked this hard in another field or business.

This Post is classic... especially the part of about exams... How many ****ing exams can they possible give.. They never stop testing you.. Its like gimme a break.. There is a whole industry out there geared towards review courses.. Its simply a money making operation thats all it is.. the capitialists making money. there is absolutely no reason for 3 usmle exam.. Just give me one exam after medical school and leave me alone.. Then intraining, orals written, cme, not to mention you have to fly around the country like waldo pepper( prev poster) to get to where the exam is given..

 

[Justin4563]

Bloat again,

Please, keep the responses coming. I need serious help here!!!!

Yes, I am still undecided after a full year as a post-bacc. But I do really want to do it. I am just treading very, very carefully as I made a HORRIBLE mistake with my last career and do not want to do the same thing again, especially as the stakes are much higher now. I truly believe medicine is the best fit for me, but I am thinking long-term here: kids, overall life satisfaction, etc.


You're still very undecided after a full year as a post-bac. Sounds to me like you don't really want to do it, but just can't think of anything else either. There are many terrific and fulfilling (not to mention lucrative) fields in which you can work.

I have thoroughly explored many, many options and really can't find any terrific and fulfilling fields in which to work. Can you name some? The corporate world is not for me, which cuts out a lot of them.

I'm surprised that talking with your physician husband hasn't totally dissuaded you. If you have a good understanding of the realities of medicine, you'll see how awful things have become.

My MD hubby is thrilled with his med career and has no regrets. We've talked about this ad naseum.


No, you can't be good at all things. Something will suffer. You'll hear from married posters with kids, who will give you a rosy view of things. Yes, they are successful moms/wives. But for most people, things suffer. There have been numerous divorces/breakups/home-life difficulties among my med school classmates, and I'm just ready to graduate. I can only imagine things become worse through residency.

Why is it that so many of the married moms with kids here who are med students/ residents/ docs make it sound so easy? I don't even have any kids and I can imagine that it would be a nightmare.


I hope this doesn't sound too chauvinistic, but isn't your husband a physician? Why must you be the breadwinner?

Why must I be the breadwinner? Because I want to be. I want the pleasure and pride of being the breadwinner for my family, maybe some women don't feel this way but I always have. Just because I married a Dr. doesn't deprive this, for my own self-esteem I must work full-time even with kids and I must make a competitive salary. Anything less would make me feel less of a woman, no joke. Any other women feel similarly?[/QUOTE]

DUDE DONT DO IT>> YOU THINK YOUR LIFE SUCKS NOW.. TRY GIVING YOURSELF A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH (10 MINS) TO GIVE YOURSELF REASON TO GET UP EVERYMORNING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. KNOWING YOU ARE **** LOADS IN DEBT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING TO PISS YOU OFF TODAY..... BUT IN MED SCHOOL ITS JUST AS BAD BUT BETTER BECAUSE YO UHAVE MORE FRIENDS YOUR OWN AGE SO ITS MORE SOCIAL BUT IT STILL BLOWS DONKEY COCK.....

 

[lilycat]

Yes I regret it. Yes, if I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now, I would not go to med school. However, with the debt looming over me, I have to practice, or else hope like hell that McKinsey shows up to school again this fall and that maybe I can work there for a couple of years just to pay off my debt.

My perspective -- soon to be MS4 (6 weeks and counting!), feeling pretty lackluster about options for the match (there is no rotation that I have really loved yet), non-trad (3 years off from school between undergrad and med school), and humanities major in college.

I especially love what Leukocyte and Elysium have had to say on the subject -- I'm not sure I have anything more to add to what they have previously described so eloquently.

People's reasons for being dissatisfied with medicine are incredibly complex, and based on that, it's really hard to tell someone "yes, you should go to med school," or "no, you shouldn't."

Observing some dissatisfied classmates, I definitely believe that some of them are unhappy because they went into it for motivations that can be hard to sustain once you get into clinics/residency/practice: money, prestige, "altruism" (in quotes because the altruistic notions of being a doctor, ie the thought of it vs. the reality of it can change substantially for people once they are actually in the situation on a day-to-day basis).

For me personally, I think my dissatisfaction lies in the fact that I am not passionate about medicine, which makes it difficult to find motivation. I know I do good work when I'm on the wards, in clinic, etc., but I guess I feel like medicine is perhaps not the best compliment to my personality, or the best use of my talents? This is especially obvious to me now that I'm trying to select a residency and just can't get really motivated about any one specialty. Although I feel like I am more successful than some of my classmates in terms of teamwork, engaging with patients, other colleagues, etc., I don't have the "passion" for learning medicine that some of them do, which is too bad.

I agree with previous posters that it's hard to really guage if medicine is right for you until you reach MS3 and MS4 -- I had worked in a hospital for two years prior to starting med school in clinical research, had unfettered access to numerous physicians, residents, and administrators, and had about a 50/50 split with people advising for or against attending medical school. I had my own personal doubts throughout undergrad and prior to starting med school, but I couldn't figure out what else I might want to do, in retrospect maybe because I had been on the pre-med track for so long.

It's hard to give advice from my position now, because as Elysium or Leukocyte put it, it seems like very few people choose to take the advice they are given anyways (I sure didn't at the time). I guess I would say that if you are coming from a background of having some diverse SERIOUS interests outside of medicine, if you find yourself continually debating whether or not medicine is "right" for you, or you have occasionally semi-seriously contemplated alternate career choices, there might be something to all your hemming and hawing, and these doubts are something that should be taken seriously. The commitment to entering medical school is such a serious undertaking (time and finance-wise), that if you are seriously questioning it in advance, it may not be worth it to embark on the MD path just yet.

 

[LADoc00]

This Post is classic... especially the part of about exams... How many ****ing exams can they possible give.. They never stop testing you.. Its like gimme a break.. There is a whole industry out there geared towards review courses.. Its simply a money making operation thats all it is.. the capitialists making money. there is absolutely no reason for 3 usmle exam.. Just give me one exam after medical school and leave me alone.. Then intraining, orals written, cme, not to mention you have to fly around the country like waldo pepper( prev poster) to get to where the exam is given..

Exams are HUGE money. Take for example the American Board of Pathology exam, which is $1800 each for AP and CP. It completely computerized with no human interaction except for the proctors and the ?s are recycled year after year. Even if they spent $50,000 or so developing it, they have made millions upon millions, well over 1000% profit. The base motivation of many business types running the bureaurocratic side of medicine is GREED and PROFIT.

Sadly my fellow Americans, hardwork and a love of the "game" will get you nowhere today, it truly is every man for himself now.

 

[1Path]

As a single guy im reconsidering the whole MD thing, let alone someone with a biological clock ticking!

Pardon me but men have biological clocks too. So at 70, don't count on being able to impregnate your 27 year old wife even with the help from
viagra!

And I'm wondering, have any of you that regret going into medicine ever had any other "real" jobs, ie one that has health/insurance benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, 401K, ect? Based on the responses, it seems highly unlikely.No doubt, it seems that nontrads have fewer "issues" with med school training/medicine than traditional students.

 

[PineappleGirl]

\
And I'm wondering, have any of you that regret going into medicine ever had any other "real" jobs, ie one that has health/insurance benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, 401K, ect? Based on the responses, it seems highly unlikely.No doubt, it seems that nontrads have fewer "issues" with med school training/medicine than traditional students.

Yeah, the complete lack of respect and autonomy I get in my current job situation are some of the big reasons propelling me to go to med school. I have all the benefits you mention above, but none of them make up for a job that's not very intellectually challenging, is not very respected and in which it's very hard to work independently.

I have seriously been considering doing something in psych: clinical or industrial. I wonder if anyone else here considered a PhD in psych or even an MA instead of med school. All these comments people have been posting about regretting med school don't make it seem so great.

 

[LADoc00]

Pardon me but men have biological clocks too. So at 70, don't count on being able to impregnate your 27 year old wife even with the help from
viagra!

And I'm wondering, have any of you that regret going into medicine ever had any other "real" jobs, ie one that has health/insurance benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, 401K, ect? Based on the responses, it seems highly unlikely.No doubt, it seems that nontrads have fewer "issues" with med school training/medicine than traditional students.

I cant impregnate anyone, Im dead broke with tons of med school debt. We would have to live on government cheese.

 

[SocialistMD]

I have seriously been considering doing something in psych: clinical or industrial. I wonder if anyone else here considered a PhD in psych or even an MA instead of med school. All these comments people have been posting about regretting med school don't make it seem so great.

That is the route my sister is taking. While I enjoyed almost every moment of med school and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, she saw how it was and decided she could accomplish her career goals taking a different path.

 

[lilycat]

And I'm wondering, have any of you that regret going into medicine ever had any other "real" jobs, ie one that has health/insurance benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, 401K, ect? Based on the responses, it seems highly unlikely.No doubt, it seems that nontrads have fewer "issues" with med school training/medicine than traditional students.

😕 This comment does not make sense to me -- are you saying that those coming from situations with jobs with "good" benefits, which you seem to be equating with nontrads, would have an easier time with going into medicine? I can see making the comment that people having spent some time in the working world prior to med school could have an easier time with the transition because they've already explored an alternate career option and are dissatisfied, or they are better prepared to deal with issues of hierarchy and working within an institution. However, I'm not sure how the issue of benefits would support this point. If anything, I would think that people coming off of situations of steady paychecks, 401K's, and vision and dental benefits would be likely to miss some of those "comforts" as medical training progresses. Although, I did have those benefits, and while I miss some of them (well, at least I still have my 401K), that hasn't factored into my feelings on medicine in any way.

I'm not sure you can simplify the discussion of satisfaction with a career as a doctor into traditional students vs. nontraditional students. From my personal experience, some of the happiest/most satisfied people in med school can be equally divided into both camps. I think you can probably make a stronger correlation between personal interests and motivations, not just for going into medicine, but motivations throughout life, ie, why you took the classes you took in college, what you do in your spare time, etc.

One thing that consistently amazes me is how med students and residents answer when you ask them what their "dream" career is -- far fewer of them answer "physician" than I would have expected.

 

[SocialistMD]

What, what, what?!? lilycat's still here?

 

[lilycat]

😉 I could say the same thing. Beats studying for the Step. 🙁

 

[SocialistMD]

😉 I could say the same thing. Beats studying for the Step. 🙁

Yeah, but so does a red-hot poker in the ass...

Good luck, and feel free to stop by this Saturday if you need a break.

 

[1Path]

One thing that consistently amazes me is how med students and residents answer when you ask them what their "dream" career is -- far fewer of them answer "physician" than I would have expected.

I work in a HUGE hospital and I can't think of ONE med student/resident that I've met when asked wouldn't do it again. And they don't complain much either. But you know having dealth with my share of REAL tragedy in life, I don't allow too much negativiity or people with negative vibes to share much space with me.

"Attitudes" are contagious. It seems to me any seriously disgruntled med student/resident need only take a trip to the hospice ward or nursery to get a grip on what's REALLY important in life as NO career is perfect.

 

[IlianaSedai]

Rising M4 here. I don't regret going into medical school. I regret it even less now that I'm excited about finally entering my specialty of choice. I was much happier once I chose something (end of my 3rd year) and could be excited about it.

There are many things I could have done and been equally happy. If I had gone into marketing, journalism, computer science, business, or engineering (ALL of which I've had an interest in, at some point) I could have been equally happy.

There are some people who do regret the loans, long hours, and lack of time to spend with family. I don't blame them. I'm not in that situation yet.

No career is perfect. My dream career is "intelligence agent." Yup, I want to be a secret agent spy. Since that is not an option for me right now, anesthesiology will do quite well. 😀

 

[lilycat]

I work in a HUGE hospital and I can't think of ONE med student/resident that I've met when asked wouldn't do it again. And they don't complain much either. But you know having dealth with my share of REAL tragedy in life, I don't allow too much negativiity or people with negative vibes to share much space with me.

"Attitudes" are contagious. It seems to me any seriously disgruntled med student/resident need only take a trip to the hospice ward or nursery to get a grip on what's REALLY important in life as NO career is perfect.

Perhaps I'm misreading this, but I feel like I detect some attitude here, and to be honest, I'm curious where this is coming from?

I'm not sure that it's really worthwhile to get into a battle of "my anecdotal evidence is better than yours." As I've stated previously, I worked in an academic medical center prior to starting medical school, and encountered nearly equal numbers on both sides of the satisfied/nonsatisfied fence. I've had pretty much the same experience prior in medical school with students, residents, and attendings -- for example two of the residents on my medicine sub-i (a medicine R3 going into cards and an ortho intern) both discussed at length wanting to go into other careers, and the R3 was still considering switching if he didn't like his cards fellowship once he started it. I also have worked with students, residents and attendings who absolutely love everything they do, and love coming into work every day -- I admire and envy that. I think no matter what career someone goes into, the ideal should be to have that feeling, especially when it's something that's such a huge life commitment as medicine.

I agree with you that "attitude is contagious" -- however, I think there is a difference between people griping "med school sucks," "residency sucks," "patients suck," and people trying to have an intelligent discussion on why they do or don't like their chosen career. I haven't read any post on this thread so far that is essentially "woe is me, I'm a medical student/resident/attending and my life is miserable," although to be honest, I had skimmed most of the posts pretty quickly, so perhaps I am wrong. I believe this thread started essentially with the question of whether or not people regretted going into medical school -- and it seems that the OP has gotten honest answers on both sides of the fence, and logical, well-reasoned answers for people's feelings on the topic. I don't think anyone who is pleased with their decision is trying to convince those who are displeased or vice versa.

Finally, as to your comments on "real tragedy," and needing to "get a grip on what's really important in life" those seem to be some very grand assumptions/generalizations on posters with whom you disagree with. To disagree and debate is excellent, but at least do so in good faith -- generalizations rarely serve to advance the conversation in any meaningful way.

 

[humuhumu]

One thing that consistently amazes me is how med students and residents answer when you ask them what their "dream" career is -- far fewer of them answer "physician" than I would have expected.

My dream career would be the one I have now, with twice the income, better long-term security and flexibility, and a few changes to the job description.

A career in medicine will give me twice the income (at least), better long-term security and flexibility, and a completely different job description (which, hopefully, I will enjoy enough to make it worth the investment of time, energy, and tuition dollars). I'm ready to take the plunge, but it's the biggest risk I've ever taken in my life....

 

[1Path]

My dream career would be the one I have now, with twice the income, better long-term security and flexibility, and a few changes to the job description.

A career in medicine will give me twice the income (at least), better long-term security and flexibility, and a completely different job description (which, hopefully, I will enjoy enough to make it worth the investment of time, energy, and tuition dollars). I'm ready to take the plunge, but it's the biggest risk I've ever taken in my life....

👍

 

[Elysium]

Well, like lilycat has said, you're only going to know what it's like when you actually start. Maybe you love the first 2 years, maybe you hate them, maybe you hate rotations. Maybe you hate the politics of residency and being an attending. Maybe you don't find the speciality that's right for you. Maybe you have to make huge sacrafices that break your heart and that you may or may not be able to live with. You just simply don't know until you go through it. So, get some humility and recognize that we aren't bitching because we're trying to flame the fires of hostility. We are allowed to have opinions on an experience that you have yet to undergo. Maybe it will be totally different for you, but woe unto you if at any time during the process you cultivate any attitude of "negativity". God forbid.

 

[efex101]

Guys this BB poster has some serious thinking to do...she/he has posted ad nauseum everywhere and we have given advice/encouragement you name it but geez Louise...at some point she/he will have to stop asking and get to doing.

 

[efex101]

BB = BrotherBloat

 

[Dire Straits]

what i've noticed is that most pre-meds, med students, residents and seasoned doctors LIKE to complain. because they have the same mindset even as they progress through the years. notice i emphasized LIKE. it's almost a hobby for some of them. "oh woes me", "i hate this", "i hate that", etc. even from day 1 of med school students were complaining about the most trivial of things. the thing though is that even after working for a while and paying off their debts, even the doctors who complain about how much they hate it continue to practice medicine. something tells me most who complain do it on the outside as show, but really on the inside they are content to keep on practicing. in other words, they'd complain no matter what they were doing as a career. it's not the career, it's their personality.

 

[Leukocyte]

I never met a resident, attending, or any human being who did not complain. It is in our human nature to complain.

IN OTHER WORDS,.... there is a big difference between COMPLAINING and SATISFACTION. Two very different things.

 

[Dire Straits]

I never met a resident, attending, or any human being who did not complain. It is in our human nature to complain.

IN OTHER WORDS,.... there is a big difference between COMPLAINING and SATISFACTION. Two very different things.

yeah, as such one should take all the complaints you hear about a career in medicine with the usual grain of salt. some people like to complain just so they can have something to say.