from a physics major

[tfontaine2190]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi guys,

First of all, I have to say that this site is awesome - its really nice to find such an enthusiastic premed community!

I'm thinking about going into medicine as well. I've just finished up undergrad here at NYU, majoring in Physics.

My question is spin off of a post I just read (some one recommended i make a thread so more people could read my question); how does going through medical school compare to going through physics? I know it's a somewhat trivial question since we're sort of comparing apples and oranges here, but the very few physics majors i do know who are in med school says its quite enjoyable, that there is little 'thinking' involved, just more - much more - memorizing. Is this true? If so, to what extent is this true? Any other math/physics/engineering majors here with a similar experience?

Also, would doing well in premed classes be of any indication to future success in medical school? I worked my ass off for a 3.84 in Physics; my premed gpa is a little higher (a nice boost). But is med school anything like these premed classes? I just happened to have taken them b/c i liked "science" and wanted to broaden my education. Is med school the same kind of "science?"

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Narmerguy]

Hi guys,

First of all, I have to say that this site is awesome - its really nice to find such an enthusiastic premed community!

I'm thinking about going into medicine as well. I've just finished up undergrad here at NYU, majoring in Physics.

My question is spin off of a post I just read (some one recommended i make a thread so more people could read my question); how does going through medical school compare to going through physics? I know it's a somewhat trivial question since we're sort of comparing apples and oranges here, but the very few physics majors i do know who are in med school says its quite enjoyable, that there is little 'thinking' involved, just more - much more - memorizing. Is this true? If so, to what extent is this true? Any other math/physics/engineering majors here with a similar experience?

Also, would doing well in premed classes be of any indication to future success in medical school? I worked my ass off for a 3.84 in Physics; my premed gpa is a little higher (a nice boost). But is med school anything like these premed classes? I just happened to have taken them b/c i liked "science" and wanted to broaden my education. Is med school the same kind of "science?"

Many thanks in advance.

As someone who also majored in physics in college, I can assure you medicine is nothing like a career in physics (unless you pursue a medical research career where you do basic science work in physics as well). Medicine involves tons and tons of memorization. A career as a physicist (which is worthless unless you have a PhD) involves tons and tons of math, derivations, critical thinking, etc. That's not to mention all the inherent research involved with a PhD in physics, while you can safely go through all of medical school without any research.

I think as a physicist you will find the "critical reasoning" required for medical school quite manageable. However, the intense level of memorization is often a serious shock. I know several people who quit medical school to pursue a PhD in Medical Physics for that reason. Personally, a career in physics seemed like a lot of narrowly-focused suck to me, which is why I've decided to abandon that path.