Does it make sense to pursue something else, at least for the time being?

[rst55]

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I am a 4th year undergrad, and I'm having difficulty deciding between two routes. I have a new grad offer as a research scientist, with compensation around 350k including singing bonus, and funding for an MS. I feel like I would be making a major mistake getting held up for close to a decade going with medicine. At least financially it doesn't seem a wise idea. Another reason I'm worried is dedicating 10+ hours each day for several years (which I hear is the average workload throughout all the training), and losing what a lot of people think is the best period of one's life (20s).

I've read on here that you shouldn't go with medicine unless it's the only career you see yourself being in, but I have a very hard time choosing. I have a pretty good idea of why I wanted to go into medicine, coming from a family of doctors, having 200+ hours of shadowing, and spending a good chunk of my life in the hospital due to medical problems.

So I thought of going with this offer, see how it will pan out after a few years, and switching if I am unsatisfied. I should be financially stable by then to make the switch even if I'm 30. I'm worried that if by then I am unsatisfied, I won't have the conviction to make a switch at that point and sacrifice 10 years of income, but I guess that's for me to figure out if I even get to that point. I understand that I would have to retake the MCAT if I do go this route after some years, but apart from that, I assume nothing should be needed. Does this seem like a reasonable idea?

 

[BC_89]

I am a 4th year undergrad, and I'm having difficulty deciding between two routes. I have a new grad offer as a research scientist, with compensation around 350k including singing bonus, and funding for an MS. I feel like I would be making a major mistake getting held up for close to a decade going with medicine. At least financially it doesn't seem a wise idea. Another reason I'm worried is dedicating 10+ hours each day for several years (which I hear is the average workload throughout all the training), and losing what a lot of people think is the best period of one's life (20s).

I've read on here that you shouldn't go with medicine unless it's the only career you see yourself being in, but I have a very hard time choosing. I have a pretty good idea of why I wanted to go into medicine, coming from a family of doctors, having 200+ hours of shadowing, and spending a good chunk of my life in the hospital due to medical problems.

So I thought of going with this offer, see how it will pan out after a few years, and switching if I am unsatisfied. I should be financially stable by then to make the switch even if I'm 30. I understand that I would have to retake the MCAT if I do go this route after some years, but apart from that, I assume nothing should be needed. Does this seem reasonable?

100% reasonable. If you have a solid interest in research and a funded MS (with a signing bonus) I would not see why you’d pass that up. Apply what you’ve gone to school for and see if your interest down this path grows.

As you said, just switch if after a few years your unsatisfied. You’ll only be that much more competitive for med school with a bit more money in your pocket. I obtained a degree, was unsure with high loans to continue for a professional degree so used my studies to have a short career in the military working on the health / medical side of the system. I’ve saved money, qualify for entitlements to pay for school, and no “what if” thoughts on my career choice.

You’d be wise taking advantage of the grad offer. Let time and experience from this opportunity tell you what your next move should be.

 

[Goro]

I am a 4th year undergrad, and I'm having difficulty deciding between two routes. I have a new grad offer as a research scientist, with compensation around 350k including singing bonus, and funding for an MS. I feel like I would be making a major mistake getting held up for close to a decade going with medicine. At least financially it doesn't seem a wise idea. Another reason I'm worried is dedicating 10+ hours each day for several years (which I hear is the average workload throughout all the training), and losing what a lot of people think is the best period of one's life (20s).

I've read on here that you shouldn't go with medicine unless it's the only career you see yourself being in, but I have a very hard time choosing. I have a pretty good idea of why I wanted to go into medicine, coming from a family of doctors, having 200+ hours of shadowing, and spending a good chunk of my life in the hospital due to medical problems.

So I thought of going with this offer, see how it will pan out after a few years, and switching if I am unsatisfied. I should be financially stable by then to make the switch even if I'm 30. I'm worried that if by then I am unsatisfied, I won't have the conviction to make a switch at that point and sacrifice 10 years of income, but I guess that's for me to figure out if I even get to that point. I understand that I would have to retake the MCAT if I do go this route after some years, but apart from that, I assume nothing should be needed. Does this seem like a reasonable idea?

100% reasonable. Good luck!

 

[mariposas905]

I am a 4th year undergrad, and I'm having difficulty deciding between two routes. I have a new grad offer as a research scientist, with compensation around 350k including singing bonus, and funding for an MS. I feel like I would be making a major mistake getting held up for close to a decade going with medicine. At least financially it doesn't seem a wise idea. Another reason I'm worried is dedicating 10+ hours each day for several years (which I hear is the average workload throughout all the training), and losing what a lot of people think is the best period of one's life (20s).

I've read on here that you shouldn't go with medicine unless it's the only career you see yourself being in, but I have a very hard time choosing. I have a pretty good idea of why I wanted to go into medicine, coming from a family of doctors, having 200+ hours of shadowing, and spending a good chunk of my life in the hospital due to medical problems.

So I thought of going with this offer, see how it will pan out after a few years, and switching if I am unsatisfied. I should be financially stable by then to make the switch even if I'm 30. I'm worried that if by then I am unsatisfied, I won't have the conviction to make a switch at that point and sacrifice 10 years of income, but I guess that's for me to figure out if I even get to that point. I understand that I would have to retake the MCAT if I do go this route after some years, but apart from that, I assume nothing should be needed. Does this seem like a reasonable idea?

350k?! What kind of job is this and where can I apply 😱

 

[stubblesmcgee]

Is the 350k how much you'd be compensated over a number of years? Because even with the signing bonus, that's an absurd amount for someone with just a bachelor's. Regardless, I think you can only be benefited by taking some time, raking in that skrill, and deciding what you want do. If the job really does pay very well, you could easily save up a lot and free yourself up when the time comes to choose between offers from schools.

 

[panbimbo]

350k?! What kind of job is this and where can I apply 😱

Investment banking. No way research makes that money.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

 

[rst55]

100% reasonable. If you have a solid interest in research and a funded MS (with a signing bonus) I would not see why you’d pass that up. Apply what you’ve gone to school for and see if your interest down this path grows.

As you said, just switch if after a few years your unsatisfied. You’ll only be that much more competitive for med school with a bit more money in your pocket. I obtained a degree, was unsure with high loans to continue for a professional degree so used my studies to have a short career in the military working on the health / medical side of the system. I’ve saved money, qualify for entitlements to pay for school, and no “what if” thoughts on my career choice.

You’d be wise taking advantage of the grad offer. Let time and experience from this opportunity tell you what your next move should be.

Thanks. I suppose my main concern is that if I have trouble committing to ~10 years of training, it will be a lot harder when I'm 30 even if I'm unsatisfied with my line of work.

350k?! What kind of job is this and where can I apply 😱

Research scientist/quant position at a hedge fund.

Is the 350k how much you'd be compensated over a number of years? Because even with the signing bonus, that's an absurd amount for someone with just a bachelor's. Regardless, I think you can only be benefited by taking some time, raking in that skrill, and deciding what you want do. If the job really does pay very well, you could easily save up a lot and free yourself up when the time comes to choose between offers from schools.

It is yearly, no stocks vesting over some number of years or anything like that. Most of the others at the firm are actually PhD, but I've already published in NIPS and ICLR and my research advisor used to work here, so his recommendation helped.

Investment banking. No way research makes that money.

Actually starting off IB is more like 90-100k. Maybe at VP level you earn that much.

 

[bushido]

"Research Scientist"

I'm on to you, Heisenburg

 

[rst55]

350k? Okay theres no way someone with a bachelor's is making 350k starting without any experience, idc how many pubs you have. There's a market saturated with PhDs and MDs who don't even make that much. Then again I see no reason for you to lie unless you are a pathological liar or just got rejected from med school and are making up delusions, so you must have mad connects my homie lmao.

Computer science is a whole different field from biology. Top intern return offers for just software engineers at the Big 4 are around 250k. I interned at fb and my return offer was 120k base, 100k signing, and 150k rsus/4 years, which is still less than this offer. At places like Jane Street, Two Sigma, Citadel, or other hedge funds, especially for research roles (not development), it is higher.

 

[stubblesmcgee]

Computer science is a whole different field from biology. Top intern return offers for just software engineers at the Big 4 are around 250k. I interned at fb and my return offer was 120k base, 100k signing, and 150k rsus/4 years, which is still less than this offer. At places like Jane Street, Two Sigma, Citadel, or other hedge funds, especially for research roles (not development), it is higher.

You probably should have included the fact that you're in CS. It would have led to more direct answers and less confusion. Take the money. In 2-3 years you'll have saved enough to pay for your entire medical education without loans should you choose to pursue it.

 

[leonardoson]

Dude take that money. It's unreasonable to assume that you have no other interests than medicine. I am trying to find the best paying job I can find for the next year and a half and have an interest in a\n economics Ph.D. if I can't get into medicine. I only see myself being a doctor in the future but I'm not naive enough to put all my eggs into that basket

 

[LizzyM]

Medicine will be there in 4-5 years when you've made a pile of money and discover that you still want to do medicine. If you discover in 4-5 years that you no longer want to do medicine, you're far better off than if you were 3-4 years deep in medical school before coming to that realization.

 

[863168]

@rst55 Please use your quant mind to fine tune the algorithm they use for automated blood pressure cuffs on Dynamap units. I can never trust those damn things.

 

[DokterMom]

Medicine will be there in 4-5 years when you've made a pile of money and discover that you still want to do medicine. If you discover in 4-5 years that you no longer want to do medicine, you're far better off than if you were 3-4 years deep in medical school before coming to that realization.

This. That's a pretty insane compensation package and you'd be a fool to pass it up for an opportunity that isn't going to go away (medicine).

That said, I'd also assume that it comes at a very high personal price in terms of hours and soul-sucking levels of 'profit over people'. I'd suggest you assume it's a 3-5 year gig after which you'll need a year off. Save up for it, then use that year to nourish your soul, volunteer, and apply to medical school.