doubts

[Pebbles]

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Does anyone else, at times, have doubts/fears of pursuing medicine? I would say that 98% of the time my heart and soul is definate of my continuation to pursue med. Occasionally, I get run down, tired and uncertain if I can continue. Am I alone?

 

[RDO]

I also have doubts once in a while. Especially with all this managed care griping going on all the time and docs telling you to pursue something else. For a while I considered looking into other things especially because at my undergrad inst. a lot of the premeds are extremely competitive and all the rest just won't admit that they are. I didn't feel like spending literally the rest of my life with these types of people. Having gone on interviews, however, I've found that not all schools are like mine. I usually connect with the people I meet at these schools in a few hours better than I do with people I've known at college for years. Also, the material seems inspirational. Everyone is into it and I get excited knowing that I am too.

That said, I'm still scared as hell. However, when I actually think about it, I think I was more scared of college (maybe with good reason).

Seriously, whenever I feel insecure about this med school thing, drinking coffee ALWAYS turns my perspective around. Make of that what you will.

-RDO

 

[MNgirl]

Pebbles,

I am totally in the same boat as you- I am scared beyond belief about applying to med school. I am a 26 year old married female who did not apply right after college graduation because I wanted to put my husband through grad school first. Plus, I had an engineering undergrad, so I was able to find a good paying job right away so this made sense for me at the time. I was never completely fulfilled in my work and was becoming bitter at the fact that my husband was able to pursue his dream while I endured a job which was not of my calling. Well, my husband finished school a little over 1 year ago and now I am trying to pursue my original dream of being a doctor. REcently, I quit my job (because we moved temporarily to another state but have since returned) and just accepted a new job doing research in a lab for around $10 an hour (my old salary was around 57,000/yr+benefits/perks). I will take the MCAT in April, apply this summer, so entry to med school is almost 2 years off still. I have a lot of good reasons for wanting to be a doctor, but I keep asking myself if all the years of school, debt, stress are worth it. Sometimes, it seems like there must be another way for me to get job satisfaction.
I guess I am still hanging in there because I may always wonder "what if I had just tried". Besides all this, I want to be a good mom and a good wife- some may say that I can't have it all. Sorry, I can't give you advice. I feel your pain and hope someone out there can say something meaningful to us both. I have been so nervous about this whole thing lately that I wake up every morning with an accelerated heart rate and shaky hands (I'm sure I am putting undo pressure on myself).

Best wishes!

 

[KimR]

It is so great to hear that others have doubts! All along doctors have told me to do something else, that they wouldn't do it over again. I have considered other fields, too. However, I think that if I don't do this now, I will always regret it. Why come this far to give up?

------------------
Kimberly R.
Class of 2004, I hope!
"Every individual matters.
Every individual has a role to play.
Every individual makes a difference."
-Jane Goodall

 

[Pebbles]

I don't think I will ever give up this dreams and call it quites but sometimes I just have doubts. True, why think about giving up when you have gone this far. Mngirl, one thing you have going for you is that you are alittle bit older. That is definatly a plus. Not only in the admissions eyes but the patients eyes also when you get out and practice. Working as a nurse I have heard patients talk about docs "too young" hang in there everyone. Maybe I will feel a lot different after Thanksgiving break. I need some relaxation time on the MAY-DAY!!!

 

[Tanya]

Yes I have had doubts. ALL the time. Especially when all of my friends are graduating and getting good jobs. They are starting their own lives and Im still a poor poor student and will be a poor poor student for the next 9 years (at least)!


The whole process to obtain a medical education is crazy. Ive been continually stressed abour grades/SATs/MCATs...etc for the past 8 years, in hopes for a chance to have an admissions committee see me. Then I will have to convince them to let me in to their school. Essentially Im begging them to give me 7+ years of more stress and a huge debt! Why? why? why??? Because Im crazy?...maybe...But I know, there is no other profession for me. High stress/competive senarios define me. I live for that kind of atmosphere when I know Im working for a greater good. I have to offer people who are in desperate need of care- compassion, sensitivty, and genuine concern for the underserved. Lets just hope I dont lose those qualtiies in the face of managed care, personal debt, and exhaustion.


For each moment I think about giving up, there are several intances where I find out Im on the right path.

Im glad to hear other people's insights.

-Tanya

[This message has been edited by Tanya (edited 11-03-1999).]

 

[turtleboard]

When I was in college, I'd get discouraged about medical school after each Orgo exam. I'm not sure if there was a correlation, but it could've been one of those cyclic things. I'd be all gung-ho about being premed sometimes, and at other times, I'd start flipping through some law school guides.

I'm in medical school now and I still feel rundown. Am I afraid of not finishing medical school? Not in the least. What I'm afraid of is not knowing enough to be of any use to anyone.

I don't think any of us will ever escape this crazy cycle!

Tim of New York City.

 

[MNgirl]

Thanks for your vote of confidence, Pebbles.

It is somewhat comforting to know that I am not the only one going through this doubting period. Why are we all seeking this sort of punishment? Is it all worth it in the end?
MAybe I should ask this question under the "Everyone" category.

Good luck everyone. In the end, it is of utmost importance to do what makes you happy. Someone once told me that the secret to job satisfaction is to "work to live and not live to work". I think we must all remember this as we pursue our dream careers. From talking to many different types of professionals, the grass always seems to be greener on the otherside. I don't think there is a "perfect" job out there. All you can do is trust your gut and don't look back.

 

[katiepie]

I am a pre-medical student that is absolutely in love with all of my science classes, but I am terrified by the thought of cutting someone open. I am plagued by doubts all the time if medicine is right for me. While I know I can enter fields like internal medicine where I won't be dealing with gaping wounds or cutting people open very often, I still question if I should even enter medical school. It is such a huge commitment, and I am terrified I will get there and realize I cannot overcome my fear of blood. The problem: I have no idea what else I would want to do if I did not choose medicine.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do you love your medical science classes but are scared of blood?

 

[Radon XP]

This has got to be the most epic bump in the history of SDN.

In answer to the OP's question, I don't have doubts about medicine, but I do get neurotic when it comes to fears about getting into medical school or not.

 

[BLACKMD]

Everyday. For about 1/3 second I have doubts. Then I shrug it off and keep on. These years will pass us by whether we do anything significant or not. So why not just make the most of it?

 

[TCSC13]

I was 8 when this thread started

 

[Mr Avante]

Oh, Gawd...
Katiepie really did some serious resurrection work on this thread.
How do people find these anyway?

This has got to be the most epic bump in the history of SDN.

Yes +1

 

[911 Turbo]

This has got to be the most epic bump in the history of SDN.

In answer to the OP's question, I don't have doubts about medicine, but I do get neurotic when it comes to fears about getting into medical school or not.

No... Someone bumped the oldest (at least by my findings) thread on SDN

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=22697

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I am a pre-medical student that is absolutely in love with all of my science classes, but I am terrified by the thought of cutting someone open. I am plagued by doubts all the time if medicine is right for me. While I know I can enter fields like internal medicine where I won't be dealing with gaping wounds or cutting people open very often, I still question if I should even enter medical school. It is such a huge commitment, and I am terrified I will get there and realize I cannot overcome my fear of blood. The problem: I have no idea what else I would want to do if I did not choose medicine.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do you love your medical science classes but are scared of blood?

You really take that "search for it before you ask again" rule really seriously don't you

I was like...in 3rd grade.

Good old AOL CDs.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I'm starting med school soon and I have my doubts lol.

I made a thread about it recently and got some good advice if you want to check it out. Anyhow, you're not alone, and honestly having some doubts means you're giving it serious thought. It's better than going in without thinking.

EDIT: LOL, I didn't even realize how old this thread was. xD Well, my opinion still stands. I should have read the OP date before posting.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

I am a pre-medical student that is absolutely in love with all of my science classes, but I am terrified by the thought of cutting someone open. I am plagued by doubts all the time if medicine is right for me. While I know I can enter fields like internal medicine where I won't be dealing with gaping wounds or cutting people open very often, I still question if I should even enter medical school. It is such a huge commitment, and I am terrified I will get there and realize I cannot overcome my fear of blood. The problem: I have no idea what else I would want to do if I did not choose medicine.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do you love your medical science classes but are scared of blood?

Are you a necromancer?

No... Someone bumped the oldest (at least by my findings) thread on SDN

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=22697

That one had a 5 year bump and then a 9 year bump, though. This was a 14 year resurrection.

 

[freakingoutabit]

I honestly think that after your first year of med school, guts and gore will be old news for you, and you won't think anything of putting your hand in a body cavity or seeing a little blood. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[487806]

I am a pre-medical student that is absolutely in love with all of my science classes, but I am terrified by the thought of cutting someone open. I am plagued by doubts all the time if medicine is right for me. While I know I can enter fields like internal medicine where I won't be dealing with gaping wounds or cutting people open very often, I still question if I should even enter medical school. It is such a huge commitment, and I am terrified I will get there and realize I cannot overcome my fear of blood. The problem: I have no idea what else I would want to do if I did not choose medicine.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do you love your medical science classes but are scared of blood?

1. Random first post - check
2. Use of search function - check
3. Bump meaninglessly to add to discussion - check
4. Typical premed - check

Carry on.

 

[Mel Belle]

Blood and guts don't bother me. Funny enough, heat does. How embarrassing to watch wisdom tooth extraction and feel lightheaded because the office was hot. At least I'll probably work in a cold OR if I become a surgeon myself.

Anyway.

I never have the feeling that I don't want to pursue medicine. I can't imagine doing anything else, though if I end up being unable to make it, I would obviously have to do something else. I think the feelings I get are more around the lines of wondering if I'm good enough. I always tend to feel inadequate for making human mistakes or just not knowing things I "should" about the process.

PS: Nice post resurrection. I was 5 haha.

 

[Danlee07]

This is old.. but I would add this. Most situations in life give you doubts when you've thought long and hard enough about them. Naivety generally masks you from considering as many possibilities as you can. Consider some doubt a good opportunity to remind yourself why you're doing something.