having 2nd thoughts...

[rwk66]

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Hey everyone,

I'm a 26 year old, work full time, just finished med pre-req's, and am taking the MCAT next month. With the path that I am currently following, if all were to go well, I'd start med school <assuming I got accepted> next Fall, when I'm 28.

I've been having 2nd thoughts about this from the get-go. I've done research about the medical profession by talking to/shadowing doctors, med students, residents, etc. In my travels I've come across quite a few doctors and med students that are utterly miserable. I even had a friend of mine, who is one of the smartest people I know and a very down to earth guy, tell me that he totally regrets going to med school - he said that he idealized medicine and it ended up being nowhere near what he was hoping for. Angry with politics, long hours, etc. etc..

Despite all of this, I was always willing to give it a go because I think becoming a physician would be incredible. But I've recently been thinking about the time/money commitment that I would have to incur - 7+ years, and probably $250,000 worth of debt <no true "state" schools in PA>. So basically if I gave it a go and realized that I was miserable come say the 3rd year of school, I'd already be in over $100,000 in debt, and would *have* to finish in order to pay back my loans. I come from a middle class family, and there is no way my parents could even dream of helping me with debt like that.

So I've been looking into becoming a PA - 2 years of school, considerably less debt, still high earning potential <not as high obviously>, supposedly less stress/hours - but most importantly not "getting stuck" - 2 years in and out of school, less than $100,000 debt, if I don't like the profession or medicine, I'm not stuck, I can do something else (I won't be 40 and 1/4 mill$ debt by the time I start practicing). But the PA has its downsides too - less respect, a bit of an undefined role, etc..

Ugh, this is such a tough decision...I feel like it's one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my life. Half of me says go for med - it's be such a great accomplishment, and the other half says - woah there, do the PA, don't get in over your head.

Anyone else struggle with these issues? Any resolution? I guess all I can do is figure out what is really important to me, what I really want out of life, and choose whichever better fits my own desires.

 

[Febrifuge]

Yes, I was struggling with this dilemma too. In some ways my choice is easier, because I'm 34 now (I plan to start school at age 37, after a post-bac and August 2006 MCAT) and I'm already up to my shorts in student loan debt. Or maybe that wouldn't make it easier, depending on the person.

Anyway, I too felt the lure of PA. It's a fine fine profession, and one person's "ill-defined role" is another's "wide-open field." Talking with the PA's who work in the ED where I'm a tech, there is less of the politics and the insurance headaches. There's more patient care, and less administration. But there is also less of the independence. One of my favorite PA's to work with is studying right now for MCATs next month. This person says they love their job now, but after <5 years out, they can already tell that another 10 years down the road, they'll want to be the one not just proposing the dx, but making it. Not just suggesting the plan, but finalizing it. This person wants to become a true expert in their specialty.

I also learned that neither money nor time are good reasons for leaning toward or away from either PA or MD/DO. Choose based on whatever is important to you long-term, not on short term factors like training (and the next 5 to 10 years is short-term, though it doesn't feel like it now). The middle part differs a little, but the nature of the work once you get done differs more. Choose based on the destination you want, not the trip you'd prefer to take in the short term. So I'm going med school -- I don't have time to become a great PA and then wonder if I should have done MD/DO, and I don't have the desire to go through this process twice.

 

[brotherbloat]

Hi OP,

I could be your twin. I'm 27, married, finished my pre-reqs in a post-bacc last summer ('04), and currently work full-time as a clinical research assistant at a hospital. I did the volunteering, shadowing, etc. that every pre-med does during my post-bacc year, but it wasn't until my full-time paid work in the hospital that I started having major doubts, and also the fact that my hubby, a resident, got stuck by a needle this winter. Yikes!

I'm still having major doubts, but I've decided to put them aside until the April MCAT is over. Then I plan to take the summer to think about it, while at least submiting my primaries. Then by the time secondaries start coming in, I should have a better handle on the issue.

My concerns are similar to yours, except fear of blood-borne pathogens and the inability to pursue major hobbies/ family concerns are at the top of my list. When will I be able to have kids? Will I be able to deal with the fact that other young 3-somethings have loads of time to pursue their interests while I'm studying like a madwoman? These questions, and many others, traverse my mind every day.

One thing I'd recommend is a paid job at a hospital, like I have, to really help give additional perspective. In my opinion, shadowing and volunteering that I did were completely useless in providing any sort of a perspective on what medicine is really like. It's only after you personally have gotten yelled at by surgeons, residents, med students, etc. and all sorts of other crap that happens in jobs that you start to get a real feel of what it's like. Plus, you're around doctors all day long, which also helps your perspective.

These jobs are hard to come by but they pay pretty well.

-BB

 

[chemie02]

Hi Brotherbloat!

Oops I guess I should have read your thread before posting a few min ago 😛

I also get the impression that volunteering and shadowing while it gives an idea of what a doctor's life would be, it's not really the same thing. I used to volunteer back in high school, and i never got that much of a feel since i wouldn't really be spending time with patients, etc.

how did you end up getting a job in a hospital, and what type of job did you go for?

i started looking the other day for mostly research technician jobs but didn't really see that many. most of the jobs also seemed to be looking for somebody who was familiar with phlebomy, which i'm not. is that a course that i should look into?

oh yea, and about your doubts regarding med - my dad always gave me the advice which was to not worry about possibilities until they become options. haha meaning that if you've had the desire to do med and have gotten along in the process, then don't let your doubts stop you from at least trying to achieve your goal! if nothing else, you'll learn something about yourself and what's important to you along the way.

anyhow thanks in advance!

Hi OP,

I could be your twin. I'm 27, married, finished my pre-reqs in a post-bacc last summer ('04), and currently work full-time as a clinical research assistant at a hospital. I did the volunteering, shadowing, etc. that every pre-med does during my post-bacc year, but it wasn't until my full-time paid work in the hospital that I started having major doubts, and also the fact that my hubby, a resident, got stuck by a needle this winter. Yikes!

I'm still having major doubts, but I've decided to put them aside until the April MCAT is over. Then I plan to take the summer to think about it, while at least submiting my primaries. Then by the time secondaries start coming in, I should have a better handle on the issue.

My concerns are similar to yours, except fear of blood-borne pathogens and the inability to pursue major hobbies/ family concerns are at the top of my list. When will I be able to have kids? Will I be able to deal with the fact that other young 3-somethings have loads of time to pursue their interests while I'm studying like a madwoman? These questions, and many others, traverse my mind every day.

One thing I'd recommend is a paid job at a hospital, like I have, to really help give additional perspective. In my opinion, shadowing and volunteering that I did were completely useless in providing any sort of a perspective on what medicine is really like. It's only after you personally have gotten yelled at by surgeons, residents, med students, etc. and all sorts of other crap that happens in jobs that you start to get a real feel of what it's like. Plus, you're around doctors all day long, which also helps your perspective.

These jobs are hard to come by but they pay pretty well.

-BB

 

[Khenon]

I talked to a med student who told me her experience (and advice from others when she had her doubts). Basically while you're in medical school, you're going to regret it the whole time. She said everyone envied this one student that finally quit. They all wanted to quit. Then you get to your first year of residency. It sucks. You hate your work, you hate the patients, and hate your job. (Not sounding so great, is it!) But then you get to your second year of residency, and something happens. You finally start to know things. You can answer the doc's questions, you're less dependent and you start to "feel" like a doctor. She was assured (and was trying to assure me) that by your 3rd year of residency you'll remember why you went through the last years of hell. You'll stop hating your patients, and you'll start liking your job. It's a long road . . . no doubt about it. But in the end you will be a physician, and be very proud of your accomplishments and what you offer your community. So I've decided to pull up my boot straps, and hunker down for the long haul. 🙂 If you really want to be a physician, it will be worth your while. Sometimes I wonder with those people who genuinely regret it (even after working in their careers for some time) really wanted it. Maybe their parents wanted them to be doctors, or any other list of reasons people do what they do, even if it's "not for them." But if YOU want to be a doctor, then it will pay off in the end. I wish you the best with your decision. I know it's not easy. Take care and good luck.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Same situation as everyone else and Khenon has words of wisdom. It all works out in the end.

 

[medtechv79]

Health care is a pretty stressful industry. It is definitely not a glamour job...hahah. I work as a med tech and even though we're not really well-known or totally respected it's also within the realms of the medical profession. We deal with doctors, nurses etc.
I look at med school as kinda like a boot-camp. hahah. It's there to prepare you for the ups and downs of the real world. I dunno, everyones experience is different but I went to a pretty tough, stressful undergrad. Its was really rough for me. There were times I hated it and wondered if it was the right school for me etc. But in the end I graduated witha degree and realized all those sweat and tears were worth it in the end. It made you a better, stronger person.
Med school is designed to be tough, and see what your really made of, if you have what it takes to bea doctor. Some people succumb to the stress and demands and can't handle it...those are the people that are weeded out.
But seriously no job is the best in this world every job has its ups and downs esp. health care....sounds pessimistic...but its true.

 

[Don'tNoMuch]

Hi

I too have similar doubts about going into medicine and change my mind a million times a day. I, too, have put it out of head for until after the MCAT - which I am taking in April.

It seems like others going through this dilemma have similar concerns as I do -I am 29 and would not enter med school until 31 if all goes well. Big 'IF' there ! and does following this path mean giving up a family, taking the risk of needle sticks, etc, long hours while your friends take trips to Europe and have 2nd and 3rd babies? Which life is more appealing???? My answer seems to vary so much, I sometimes feel certifiable. It's affected other parts of my life too - where I weigh the options of decisions a million times - and feel completely incapable of making a decision.

I am already in the health professions - working at a hospital in a well-paying job as a pharmacist. Plenty of patient contact, plenty of challenges but still something missing. I've had thoughts of pursuing medicine my whole life but always intermittently. I gave up the idea when i got into pharmacy and decided that I had the best of both worlds - professional fulfillment with family life. Although I don't hate my job and love the hours, I want to be the physician on the team making the diagnosis, making the big decisions, feeling the fulfillment that I am missing now.

My reason for finally deciding to o something about it- so late in life and so much later than I had first thought of it, was precisely because it was a recurring theme in my life. I didn't want to be 50 and looking back thinking, "damn, I should have gone for it". Regrets are a terrible burden to bear.

I still don't know if the price will be too high - if what I have is really good - and if the grass just looks greener on the other side. I just go back and forth and back and forth....... ugh it is so frustrating! 😕

Just thought I'd share my confusion with the rest of you!

 

[njbmd]

I talked to a med student who told me her experience (and advice from others when she had her doubts). Basically while you're in medical school, you're going to regret it the whole time. She said everyone envied this one student that finally quit. They all wanted to quit. Then you get to your first year of residency. It sucks. You hate your work, you hate the patients, and hate your job. (Not sounding so great, is it!) But then you get to your second year of residency, and something happens. You finally start to know things. You can answer the doc's questions, you're less dependent and you start to "feel" like a doctor. She was assured (and was trying to assure me) that by your 3rd year of residency you'll remember why you went through the last years of hell. You'll stop hating your patients, and you'll start liking your job. It's a long road . . . no doubt about it. But in the end you will be a physician, and be very proud of your accomplishments and what you offer your community. So I've decided to pull up my boot straps, and hunker down for the long haul. 🙂 If you really want to be a physician, it will be worth your while. Sometimes I wonder with those people who genuinely regret it (even after working in their careers for some time) really wanted it. Maybe their parents wanted them to be doctors, or any other list of reasons people do what they do, even if it's "not for them." But if YOU want to be a doctor, then it will pay off in the end. I wish you the best with your decision. I know it's not easy. Take care and good luck.

Hi there,
I have to disagree with many of the points in this post. I found many if not most of the classes in medical school very informative and interesting. I had no regrets and very few of my classmates had regrets. Sure, there is a huge volume of material to be learned and mastered very quickly. Sure, you can become bogged down in the process but the key to enjoyment of medicine (and anything else) is balance in your life and genuine interest in your pursuits. I worked hard every day and made sure that I took some time to have non-medical pursuits in my life. If you are pursuing medicine because you are interested in medicine, medical school and residency will not be chores.

I was a General Surgery intern under the old system when your hours in the hospital could be almost unlimited. I averaged 120 hours of work each week and I loved everything that I learned to do. I was constantly amazed at how quickly I developed into a physician and surgeon. Again, I worked very hard but I made it a priority to play hard too. My fellow interns made sure that we were able to let off steam in a variety of ways. (We were a creative and fun bunch.)

In four years of medical school and three years of General Surgery residency, I have never been stuck by an needle that was not meant for me in the first place. I use good techniques and universal precautions with every patient. You learn do do these things and you keep your safety and patient safety in your mind at all times. I probably do more invasive procedures than most other residents in the hospital. You learn to do these procedures with good techniques and proper handling of sharps. Are there hazards in this field? Yes, but driving to work at K-Mart is hazardous in some communities.

All of my married colleagues except one had babies this year. Family and residency are not mutually exclusive. They work hard but have made their families a priority. Actually, when it comes down to it, you have to make compromises and set priorities for the things that are important to you. I have been to Europe twice this year without compromising my career. Travel is a priority for me and I plan each trip carefully. I get a month of vacation and I use it in any way that I wish.

Medicine is a great career but it is not the only career. If you are uncertain as to why you wish to practice medicine, then carefully re-think your motives because this is the most unforgiving career if you are not clearly interested in doing this. Medicine is very difficult to do well and being mediocre is an expensive option. If you are doing this because you truly love it, then this will be one of the greatest careers that one can have. If you are trying to do this for perceived prestige, money, glamor or ego boost, you will be very, very miserable.

Good luck with your decisions
njbmd 🙂

 

[Febrifuge]

Medicine is very difficult to do well and being mediocre is an expensive option. If you are doing this because you truly love it, then this will be one of the greatest careers that one can have. If you are trying to do this for perceived prestige, money, glamor or ego boost, you will be very, very miserable.

Very, VERY well-said. And working with people who love what they do, I can vouch for the truthfulness as well.

 

[kota315]

Hi there,
I have to disagree with many of the points in this post. I found many if not most of the classes in medical school very informative and interesting. I had no regrets and very few of my classmates had regrets. Sure, there is a huge volume of material to be learned and mastered very quickly. Sure, you can become bogged down in the process but the key to enjoyment of medicine (and anything else) is balance in your life and genuine interest in your pursuits. I worked hard every day and made sure that I took some time to have non-medical pursuits in my life. If you are pursuing medicine because you are interested in medicine, medical school and residency will not be chores.

I was a General Surgery intern under the old system when your hours in the hospital could be almost unlimited. I averaged 120 hours of work each week and I loved everything that I learned to do. I was constantly amazed at how quickly I developed into a physician and surgeon. Again, I worked very hard but I made it a priority to play hard too. My fellow interns made sure that we were able to let off steam in a variety of ways. (We were a creative and fun bunch.)

In four years of medical school and three years of General Surgery residency, I have never been stuck by an needle that was not meant for me in the first place. I use good techniques and universal precautions with every patient. You learn do do these things and you keep your safety and patient safety in your mind at all times. I probably do more invasive procedures than most other residents in the hospital. You learn to do these procedures with good techniques and proper handling of sharps. Are there hazards in this field? Yes, but driving to work at K-Mart is hazardous in some communities.

All of my married colleagues except one had babies this year. Family and residency are not mutually exclusive. They work hard but have made their families a priority. Actually, when it comes down to it, you have to make compromises and set priorities for the things that are important to you. I have been to Europe twice this year without compromising my career. Travel is a priority for me and I plan each trip carefully. I get a month of vacation and I use it in any way that I wish.

Medicine is a great career but it is not the only career. If you are uncertain as to why you wish to practice medicine, then carefully re-think your motives because this is the most unforgiving career if you are not clearly interested in doing this. Medicine is very difficult to do well and being mediocre is an expensive option. If you are doing this because you truly love it, then this will be one of the greatest careers that one can have. If you are trying to do this for perceived prestige, money, glamor or ego boost, you will be very, very miserable.

Good luck with your decisions
njbmd 🙂

Wow, that was awesome....that should be printed and handed out to all premed students everywhere!

 

[Skialta]

Why is everybody so freaked out about needle sticks? You all need to take a blood bourne pathogen class. I can think of about 100 other things that concern me more.

Skialta

 

[Dr. Rosenrose]

I started med school at 26. I will tell you it is not good to have 2nd thoughts before you even survive the MCAT. You need to know ASAP if you want this bad enough to put yourself through it. Some people will tell horror stories and some will make it sound like it is easy. Truth is they are both right. As long as you can memorize countless details in a very short amount of time and are willing to make sacrafices, it will not be that bad. The horror is not alot of free time, not living up to goals you set for yourself, neglecting friends/family, putting everything, I repeat EVERYTHING ELSE 2nd. If you think you would be happy as a PA, DO IT. That is what it comes down to. I love med school but I cant imagine being anything but a doctor.

 

[brotherbloat]

Any of the people (incliding myself) who are still deliberating make a decision yet?

I'm still deciding. I took the MCAT for the second time this April, have done all my pre-reqs and some upper level bios, took out student loans to pay for my post-bacc, and after all that, I'm still undecided.

I have given myself the deadline of July 1 to make the final decision. B/c I don't want to spend the money applying this summer for fall '06 without knowing for sure. Plus, I'm signed up to take biochem in the second half of the summer, and I don't want to start it without knowing for sure that I am 100% on it.

I am considering dentistry, it seems like a great other option, and possibly not quite as competitive to get into? I'd have to take the DAT, though, but I'd have my pre-reqs all done.

Still deliberating. My goal in the next 2 months is to talk to as many female med studnets/ residents/ doctors as possible, expeically those who are married and have kids, to get their opinions on whether or not it was worth it for them.

Thanks,

Bloat

 

[QofQuimica]

Sometimes postponing the decision too much is more harmful than helpful. What I would suggest that you do, if you haven't already, is sit down and make a list of pros and cons for each option that you are weighing (medicine, dentistry, any others?) and come to some decision, with your husband's input and support of course. The thing is, each person you ask on here is going to give you a different answer, and we're all strangers anyway, so we can't really know what is best for your particular circumstances and predilections. I think if you put your effort toward introspecting and deciding what you really want to do with your life, then solving these other issues (children, jobs, etc.) will become more straightforward (not necessarily easy, but at least you'll have a clear set of options and you can pick what works best for you). It's hard to figure out how you're going to get somewhere when you aren't sure yet where you even want to be going.

 

[rwk66]

I'm still undecided as well. Took the MCAT, did some more shadowing/volutneering/talking to docs/PAs, still no decision. I must say, however, that at the time of my post I was leaning strongly towards the PA, now I'm leaning more towards med school. The PA deal is definately more appealing short-term, but I want to make my decision for the long term. What I'm trying to figure out is if I'd be happier as a doc or a PA in the long term. I've given myself a deadline - when I get my MCAT scores back it's time to make a "definitive decision" and not look back and think "what if".

 

[Obedeli]

Hey everyone,

I'm a 26 year old, work full time, just finished med pre-req's, and am taking the MCAT next month. With the path that I am currently following, if all were to go well, I'd start med school <assuming I got accepted> next Fall, when I'm 28.

I've been having 2nd thoughts about this from the get-go. I've done research about the medical profession by talking to/shadowing doctors, med students, residents, etc. In my travels I've come across quite a few doctors and med students that are utterly miserable. I even had a friend of mine, who is one of the smartest people I know and a very down to earth guy, tell me that he totally regrets going to med school - he said that he idealized medicine and it ended up being nowhere near what he was hoping for. Angry with politics, long hours, etc. etc..

Despite all of this, I was always willing to give it a go because I think becoming a physician would be incredible. But I've recently been thinking about the time/money commitment that I would have to incur - 7+ years, and probably $250,000 worth of debt <no true "state" schools in PA>. So basically if I gave it a go and realized that I was miserable come say the 3rd year of school, I'd already be in over $100,000 in debt, and would *have* to finish in order to pay back my loans. I come from a middle class family, and there is no way my parents could even dream of helping me with debt like that.

So I've been looking into becoming a PA - 2 years of school, considerably less debt, still high earning potential <not as high obviously>, supposedly less stress/hours - but most importantly not "getting stuck" - 2 years in and out of school, less than $100,000 debt, if I don't like the profession or medicine, I'm not stuck, I can do something else (I won't be 40 and 1/4 mill$ debt by the time I start practicing). But the PA has its downsides too - less respect, a bit of an undefined role, etc..

Ugh, this is such a tough decision...I feel like it's one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my life. Half of me says go for med - it's be such a great accomplishment, and the other half says - woah there, do the PA, don't get in over your head.

Anyone else struggle with these issues? Any resolution? I guess all I can do is figure out what is really important to me, what I really want out of life, and choose whichever better fits my own desires.

I was in your same position. I started at 28 and I graduated friday!! 😀 I know I made the right the decision thanks to the existence of radiology. I would completely agree with your fears if medicine only meant a lifetime of rounding and seeing patients in the clinic. Then again, that is what 95% of PAs do?!?! 😱 The options you have in healthcare far outweigh the options availble to a PA and that is why I went to medical school. It is up to you to decide.

 

[BMW19]

I would like to shed some light on this subject as I have had the thoughts and fears of everybody on this forum. In addtion I was also in a well established career at the age of 28.

I am a chiropractor who had a pretty decent practice. However, all along even thru school I had this nagging feeling that I wanted to do more. It started as a small churning in my gut, and developed into a full fledged gnaw. I think if you deliberate too much you drive yourself nuts. I felt this calling and cannot ignore it. I am sure many of you have felt this or you wouldn't be posting here. If you settle and go for PA just based on the factors mentioned above then you are taking a shortcut and shortchanging yourself.

As far as Debt and $ issues, put it this way. I can think of few other professions that offer the job security of Medicine. I could be wrong its just my point of view. I have friends that are in computers and IT and stuff who make 100-150 K per year. But guess what at 35 some of them have already been layed off! What a position to be in. As a physician I belive there are so many options to fall back on. Urgent care, hospital, HMO, group practice, sports etc. etc.

Just some thoughts from a future Doc who couldn't be prouder about going into medicine, and will not have a second thought about it

BMW-

I'm still undecided as well. Took the MCAT, did some more shadowing/volutneering/talking to docs/PAs, still no decision. I must say, however, that at the time of my post I was leaning strongly towards the PA, now I'm leaning more towards med school. The PA deal is definately more appealing short-term, but I want to make my decision for the long term. What I'm trying to figure out is if I'd be happier as a doc or a PA in the long term. I've given myself a deadline - when I get my MCAT scores back it's time to make a "definitive decision" and not look back and think "what if".