Hi!!! (how not to tell people what u study medicine)

[toblerone]

Just my opinion on the topic, not that I really understand it.

I kind of have a problem with lying about not being a med student/doctor (or is it, lying about being one...) Yeah, I know maybe it's not really lying, you can say you study biology, pathology, latin or whatever. Even though it's true in a roundabout way, it's not really the truth that you yourself believe -- and in my insignificant definition, that's a lie because it's meant to deceive (to be specific i guess i would call it a half-truth).

And not to sound like the mouthpiece of the AAMC but isn't integrity one of the qualities that we hope/expect doctors to have?

Just because someone says 'I'm a doctor' doesn't make them arrogant and just because someone avoids saying 'I'm a doctor' doesn't make them humble. After all, some people can derive some self-satisfaction from demonstrating how 'humble' they are. I think arrogance comes from how proud (or overly proud) someone is of something. And false humility is kinda annoying too.

Ok, I've rambled enough, to break it down I'd go like this:

-- If you're trying to buy a car or something and the salesperson's trying to size you up, don't let on how much money you make. Being honest doesn't mean you have to let people take you to the cleaners.

-- Do random random people like on the bus or on the street ask you what you do? You can just say 'student' and if they ask what then say 'medicine'. If the line of questioning bothers you then tell them 'Your line of questioning is bothering me' 🙂

-- If it's friends, acquaintances, family friends, why not just tell them 'med student'? Your demeanor, more the words 'med student' will contribute to the impression that you are arrogant or not. So leave the stethoscope at home, and if at a club, let the girl be the first to ask 'is that a stethoscope in your pocket?'

-- And referring to the problem of being set up with mom's friends' daughters, either ask for photos upfront ^^ or ask what their daughters do, besides chase after doctors, or just say NO.

-- And if you don't feel like saying what you do, then just be honest and say 'Oh, it's not that interesting' or 'Who the *(&^ are you talking to me?'

---

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[giddygirl]

I have had the same crazy problems. If a guy asks what I'm doing now that I've finished undergrad, and I mention medicine, I've seen eyes light up. I do not want to lie, and I'm definitely proud of what I have achieved but I do not want a guy interested in me b/c of some stereotype he has about doctors.

 

[DZT]

I just find it totally infathomable that people are so self-conscious and ashamed about being medical students. I love medicine from the very depths of my heart, but yes, I love the prestige aspect of being a physician as well. I'm not ashamed to say this, and I bet everyone else here feels the same way I do. Why not show everyone the fruits of your labor? It's not extremely hard to get into an MBA, JD, MS, PhD program, but there are many people on this forum who would sell their kidneys for a spot in any medical school class. For those of us, who have acheived and stuck to our guns as premeds and have made it this far, let's tell everyone -if asked-that we're medical students. I recieved my first medical school acceptance recently and when I did I told my grumpy, irritable boss that I got into medical school. All of a sudden, he turns into a totally nice guy; an anatomy professor who does research alongside me treated me as some lowly technician, and once I got into medical school, he's now offering all of his old anatomy books to me and acts much more receptive. Also, I visited my future med school and I met some cute girl in the social work grad program; she asked what I did and I told her that i'll be studying medicine. I really can't forget that glimmer in her eye when I said that.


Quite honestly, I think it's terrible that people meander around-and even totally lie-when in the position of telling people that they go to medicine. Medicine is the best profession ever and if you are ashamed of being a doctor, quit medical school. Simple.

 

[sacrament]

To me, the people who complain about how hard is to be a med student and have everybody suddenly just adore are sort of like the celebrities who complain about their wealth and how they have to get up early in the morning for their movie shoots. Except that doctors are not celebrities and most of them aren't rich, so it makes these tales of woe seem even more ridiculous to me.

For starters, I can barely even believe that this is an issue in anybody's lives. Nobody I know or have met since being accepted to medical school has shown more than a passing interest in that fact. Most people seem a little bored with the notion. And if I actually was able to pull more chicks with this info, or have some @ssholes treat me nicer, you better believe I wouldn't have the utter gall to COMPLAIN ABOUT IT!

95% of the people you meet are superficial. This is just life. You can worry about it (or pretend to) or you can just shrug your shoulders and not give a rip, like me.

And all of you dudes having problems with these chicks who get excited about MDs, please send them my way so I can personally verify their existence.

edit: (I am filing this thread under "Faux Sanctimony" along with all of the bitter replies to anybody who ever mentions doctor's salaries... "How dare you contemplate money!")

 

[Hero]

Originally posted by DZT
Quite honestly, I think it's terrible that people meander around-and even totally lie-when in the position of telling people that they go to medicine. Medicine is the best profession ever and if you are ashamed of being a doctor, quit medical school. Simple.

you obviously have very little understanding of the cultures other people come from. And you are foolish to think that we, even for one second, feel ashamed about being a doctor. For many of us, it is the most difficult goal to achieve and to be ashamed of that is illogical.

The word "physician" comes with "respect," "intelligent," "honorable," and etc. When you become a medical student or a physician, YOU WILL be stereotyped.

When i swore or made a crude joke around my hold high school friend, he said, "that's not how a physician should behave. you should know, you're going to be a medical student."

Imagine meeting people at a dinner and accidentally dropping your knife after telling everyone that you're a surgeon. The irony.

medical students/physicians are people, but they get viewed differently by the general population. If you can fit this image they have for you, sure go ahead and tell the world. Others like me prefer to be selective of who we share our personal information.

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by sacrament

95% of the people you meet are superficial

again with the underestimates sac.... 😉

 

[Doc Ivy]

I'd rather be cute and underestimated - makes me more dangerous, so they won't have their guard up when I replace them as chief of neurosurgery.

Barb, I like your style...I'd rather be cute and underestimated too... I'll look that much smarter when I whup ass on rounds

oh, and that marrying a doctor thing, isn't just exclusive to guys... I have so many of my parents' friends telling me "oh I have deadbeat nephew you would just love..."
Yuck... superficiality at it's finest

 

[Desdemona]

I think it depends on the situation and the person. Many people are mature enough to handle the fact that they encounter doctors outside of their offices and can have a short conversation about it without being completely annoying. I usually tell them that I'm going to be starting med school in August. If they ask follow-up questions, it's normally only one or two, more to be polite than out of their own real interest, so it doesn't bother me. But I can understand not wanting to tell people in certain situations. The fact that I'm going to be a doctor is NOT my defining personality characteristic, as some people automatically assume. And I think it's okay for people to not want to disclose the fact that they are a physician simply because they need an escape from medicine. Medicine is going to be my career, and I'm very passionate about it, but I have lots of other interests and goals as well. There is no way that being a physician is going to take over all 100% of my spare time...

 

[Tazmaniac]

Originally posted by DZT
I just find it totally infathomable that people are so self-conscious and ashamed about being medical students. I love medicine from the very depths of my heart, but yes, I love the prestige aspect of being a physician as well. I'm not ashamed to say this, and I bet everyone else here feels the same way I do.
...
Quite honestly, I think it's terrible that people meander around-and even totally lie-when in the position of telling people that they go to medicine. Medicine is the best profession ever and if you are ashamed of being a doctor, quit medical school. Simple.

DZT has the right sentiment, and he certainly sounds like a wide-eyed bushy-tailed med school applicant all right. Wait 'til he goes in for the long haul.

I stopped telling random people I study medicine because they solicit medical advice, they tell me about their various bowel movements, or they remove clothing to show me some ugly dermatological finding at a cocktail party. (And what am I supposed to do there, kiss it?) The worst part is, they believe they're being sociably acceptable and conversant. It's the equivalent of meeting a tax lawyer and saying, "gee whiz, I sure hate the taxes come April 15th, aw shucks" as a natural progression of conversation, then proceeding to show him/her your copy of the 1040 forms. Bleaugh.

-Todd MSIV USC

 

[leorl]

This is kinda funny, but recently I volunteered in medical services for the Special Olympics (held about 2 weeks ago in Ireland). But we got these shirts that were bright red, and on top of the left breast it said DOCTOR outlined in white. All the med students had to wear the DOCTOR shirts (others said nurse, physiotherpist, etc.) and we were absolutely mortified, because we had to wear them throughout town, on buses, etc.

Most of the volunteers were female, so the other med students and I regularly hung out or went to special olympics functions together. The amount of catcalls we got, the "Hellllloooo Doctors," and the ass slaps were just really surprising. Put on something that advertises you're a medic, and people definitely treat you a different way. We also worked with EMTs (known as the Order of Malta), and we actually found that sometimes they wouldn't help us, because we were "Doctors," even though we explained that we were student doctors and not qualified. Apparently, we "pulled rank." Even the other health professionals (PTs, nurses, massage therapists) treated us differently and a bit aloofly, and we were just lowly medical students!

Anyway, it's a shame they put DOCTOR on those shirts, because I'd be happy to wear the uniform shirt in public except for that bit. so now it'll be relegated as a sleep/gym shirt.

 

[UTH2003]

Just so you know, medical students are not the only people with this problem. I have a couple of friends who are business majors and whenever they used to be asked what they did they would just say they were college students. If they were probed further they would respond that they study Supply and Demand. It seems that they thought as soon as someone knew they were business majors then complete strangers would hand them fistfuls of money and ask them to invest it for them.

 

[Doc Ivy]

Just so you know, medical students are not the only people with this problem.

This is true. My dad's been an oral surgeon for almost 30 years, and he still tries to dodge the "what do you do?" question... He just likes to be considered a regular joe, and he finds that people get all ''oooh doctor'', and a$$ kissy when they find out he's a professional.
Weird, but true. I guess we have to get used to it.

 

[Adcadet]

Originally posted by Smurfette
When I tell people I'm a med student, usually the first thing they then say is "oh, so you're going to be a nurse!". ARGH! I really hate it when people assume that female=nurse. And since when do nurses go to med school? I don't get it. 😕 😡 😛

If I avoid saying I'm a med student, it's usually because 1. the person I'm talking to is either annoying or not the sharpest crayon in the box and I don't want to tell them much about myself or 2. it's an older person (usually male) who is likely to assume I'm studying nursing...and I don't want to waste my time explaining otherwise.

A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.... I was talking with this girl (a romantic interest) who said she was in medical school (she had some idea that I was interested in medicine). I asked which one, and she gave me the name of a local community college. Seems she was studying to become an LPN. WTF?! She would also occasionally mention us being in the same field - I was studying undergrad bio at the time and doing research. Yeah, I didin't go out on a second date with her, as I eventually concluded that she wasn't trying to lie or be deceitful, she really was that dumb.

 

[millmm]

Doc Ivy,

I want to be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. I usually post on the dental forums, but read these also (the current trend is for OMS to be DDS, MD's). Any reflections on your dads profession while growing up would be appreciated.

 

[MSV MD 2B]

when my resignation was annoucned at work, the COO had put in his email that i was going to be pursuing my dream of medicine. most peopel emailed me and said congratulations on getting into nursing school ( i had been accepted to medical school) and som dind't wnat to assume and came right out and asked what it was i would be doing. you can't really avoid a diretcr question like that so i todl them i would be going to medical shcool. so now i have people coming to me with ailments and people TELLING me what specialty i want to go into. so to avoid all fo that most of the time i say that i will be going back to school and don't give any more info unless asked. medical school gets more response sand questions or an awestruck look and praise that i don't really feel comfortable with. so it is easier for me just to not offer any info.

 

[Dr_sax]

Why I like to tell:
1) Because I've earned the right to
2) The "oo's" and occasional "ah's" from people who are apparently mystified by the medical community
3) It prevents the "what are you going to do with your degree/life" conversations....before being accepted, I was SO sick of these.
4) Makes me feel good 😀

Why I don't like to tell:
1) Response: WOW, can you tell me what's wrong with my shoulder/neck/stomach/insert any major organ or muscle???
2)My ______'s going to write me free prescriptions for pain killers. NO, NO I'M NOT!!!!
3) Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this..........(thought he was being funny AND original)
*This person I'm now convinced is mildly ******ed.

Best one:
My co-worker/friend and I are standing behind the counter of a cafe that we work in. A very old, sweet-looking lady comes up and orders something. For some reason( I don't even remember), my friend tells her that I'm going to med school. The lady looks me right in the face and in a sweet voice says, "oh, well good luck...people's lives are in your hands." So I stare right back at her and sternly say,"thanks ma'am, thanks a lot." Of course I was joking but as soon as I walked away the woman came back up to my friend and said she was so sorry for upsetting me and that she thought I'd make a fine doctor.
😀

 

[evescadeceus]

There are some situations where you need some good rehearsed responses (mine are still from a premed viewpoint). So far, I've used the following with varying degrees of success.

Q: So, what are you thinking of specializing in?

A: You know, I'm really going to focus on getting in first.

Q: What do you know about my pain/disease/condition/delusion?

A: You know, I think I've heard/read something about it. And I
might even be able to explain/guess how it kills you. But I
won't even begin to know how to treat it until MS2.

Anybody else care to share?

 

[zbarnes]

I cant believe everyone has such problems with this. Many people dont even equate med school with doctor, it just sounds like some kind of college. Furthermore many also dont grasp how difficult it is to become a doctor and therefore dont immediately grant you such vast respect.

I seriously doubt any guy would object to a girl giving him a little more attention because hes a med student, PLEASE!, no offense but most med students arent that slick with the ladies in the first place let alone being deterred from them in this manner, HAH!.

If you dont wish to be labeled than just be yourself and let your personality do the labeling. Control the conversation, guide it where you want, get used to this as this will be much of your future.

I personally dont where a med student shirt at all times (but sometimes) and when i meet someone i dont say, "hi i'm zach, med student", but if i'm talking to someone i'm surely not going to be some pretentious jack@ss and lie. I like to let people assume whatever they like about me in all situations, it gives you the upperhand if you dont assume yourself, and catching people offguard is great fun.

If you dont want to answer any questions tell them, say your just a student and dont know much, it would be bad doctoring, be creative, etc..

You shouldn't care about stereotypes other people hold for you, only the ones you have for yourself. If someone gets on you, tell them to kiss your @ss. Damn, stick up for yourselves, and most importantly just be yourselves and be cool with it.

How Absurd

 

[Kovox]

Originally posted by DZT
It's not extremely hard to get into an MBA, JD, MS, PhD program....

Uh, how do you know, have you attempted applying?

 

[OrthoFixation]

I can understand the single men and women dodging questions related to possible dating...who's interested in golddiggers?

Lucky for me I convinced a sweet, smart and hot lady to marry me ten years ago. Long before medicine became a reality. I guess that's why I've always been in the Sales field!!! She says I could talk to a fence post.

My favorite "What ails me" response from above: Not sure, but its likely terminal!

 

[FoughtFyr]

Originally posted by Kovox
Uh, how do you know, have you attempted applying?

Actually I have. I was accepted to four Master's programs (out of four apps) before deciding on UIC for an MPH. And I was accepted to a PhD program at Johns Hopkins before I started medical school. Again, I got into every program I applied to.

I got 1 interview and 1 acceptance (after two years of applying) to medical school.

So, in my experience, other graduate schools are easier to get into.

- H

 

[fusionid]

I agree with everyone else here. I was born in mexico and grew up there till I was 16. At that time I moved to the states and started my "premed career".
It is so true that some people treat you differently. Specially the moms. I get that a lot. I was working at this lab job 1 month ago and met an asian lady that was one of my supervisors. She knew I was going to medical school and wanted me to meet her daughter. She knows I have a girlfriend and that I'm in love too...
It's funny, she really insisted on this issue...

I also go to Mexico very often since I still have family back there. It was a pain to explain that even though I was in college studying Bio, I had no idea about their deseases and such. Then again a lot of the mom promoting daughter thing.

But to be honest I think it matter the most to moms than it actually does to daughters. The fact is that I'm not that good looking and a MD after my name won't make me handsome.

 

[miscalculated]

When people ask me what I'm studying I always proudly say "medicine" because I have, like all of you, worked so hard to earn the right to say it.

And as for this "I don't want people to ask me for medical advice" lark, what's the big deal?? Just say, "well ask me in a couple of years, then I'll be able to tell you".

But we are a cause of confusion for unknowing members of the public:

I was working at a potato factory earlier this year and was asked what I study. I replied and received the response, "oh, does that mean you are learning about pills?" So she confused it with pharmacy.

But an even more frustrating reponse was got on a flight from Heathrow to Stuttgart from a German fellow: "Ah, medicine. Do you want to be a doctor?" And inside I'm like: "of course I want to be a bloody doctor!!!" But I just smile and try not to patronise: "well yes, most people that study medicine ARE going to be doctors".

 

[souljah1]

I don't see what the big problem is about telling people that you are a med student. I think dancing around the issue does more damage than being honest, since dancing around the issue may appear as disinterest and insecurity. I also think the gold-digger defense is silly. Med students are not all that fun to date. Most of us don't have enough money to live the lavish life, almost all of us are looking forward to 80-something hour work weeks with little free time to spend, and most of us are also looking forward to some pretty hefty loans to pay back. When people ask me about medical conditions or problems they are having, I don't really look at this as a big deal either. I kind of look at it as a compliment b/c they are seeking me out to ask a question with hopes of feeling better. My usual reply is 'You know, I just started studying medicine so I don't really feel comfortable giving you any advice, but I will keep your problem in mind and try and find some information for you.' However, if it is someone I just met (i.e. on a plane, bar, etc) I just laugh and tell them that I am in no position to be offerring advice.

So, I think you can tell people that you study medicine and direct the conversation in ways that do not lead to misunderstandings, uncomfortability, etc.

 

[Doc Ivy]

Med students are not all that fun to date. Most of us don't have enough money to live the lavish life, almost all of us are looking forward to 80-something hour work weeks with little free time to spend, and most of us are also looking forward to some pretty hefty loans to pay back.

I see your point Souljah, but the average gold-digger, or the average joe really doesn't have a good grasp of the reality of what it means to be a med student/ resident.

 

[TMarkus]

Each situation dictates a different response. Most of the time the response expresses the sincere desire to be a good healer. However, my favorite smart ass response is to admit to going to medical school, which is usually followed up with a, "What kind of doctor?" question. This is followed up with "I considered GYN, but I think I would like to do Proctology. (pause for eyebrow raising) Yeah, I think its the best specialty for helping people get their head out of their ass." Becareful with this one though, not everyone thinks its funny.

 

[mkdoran]

I would have to say that I agree with most people here. Even as a MSII, I still don't like revealing right away that I'm in med school. There's the stereotypes and also the comment "Oh so you're going to be a nurse?" I have to restrain myself from screaming "Did I say nursing school? NO!"

 

[quideam]

I'm going into my senior year of pre-med, and I can nonetheless totally relate with not wanting to mention that you're going into medicine. I'm a philosophy major, and I've actually experimented with different answers to "what do you study?".

When I reply "I'm a philosophy major", younger people tend to reply "cool" or "oh, I once took a class...", while adults tend to say things like "oh, philosophy? but what are you going to do...".

When I reply "I'm pre-med", younger people (who are not pre-med) often say "oh, so you're smart". Adults go along those same lines, and sometimes even go into bouts of "I wish my son..." and "your parents must be proud..."

Personally, I feel very uncomfortable being called 'smart' by strangers because I feel that they look at me differently, and I'm not so brilliant as I am a hard worker. I also feel that it alienates me from peers. With adults, I feel very embarassed for the same reasons, and especially if anyone overhears them.

I guess overall I would rather people think i'm going to be a bum or am still undecided rather than oogle over my pre-med ambitions. To each their own, I guess, but I'd rather be belittled than uncomfortable.

- Quid

 

[JM.]

Originally posted by mkdoran
I would have to say that I agree with most people here. Even as a MSII, I still don't like revealing right away that I'm in med school. There's the stereotypes and also the comment "Oh so you're going to be a nurse?" I have to restrain myself from screaming "Did I say nursing school? NO!"

I hate that nursing school bit. It bugs me. I have gotten that three or four times already and I still haven't even started med school yet.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I quit telling people that I was premed. After all, "pre-med" doesn't really mean anything. If they ask what I intend to do after I graduate, then I usually say, "med school, hopefully".

I still see freshmen and a few sophomores who jump at the chance to tell someone they're "pre-med". "I'm a pre-med biology major!" Don't they realize nobody cares?

 

[JM.]

Originally posted by JKDMed

I still see freshmen and a few sophomores who jump at the chance to tell someone they're "pre-med". "I'm a pre-med biology major!" Don't they realize nobody cares?

Just a stage in development.

 

[carrigallen]

Originally posted by JKDMed
I quit telling people that I was premed. After all, "pre-med" doesn't really mean anything. If they ask what I intend to do after I graduate, then I usually say, "med school, hopefully".

yep, i avoided that word like the plague...mainly because i was never fully sure until i decided to apply.

 

[Woots32]

I had a guy I was kinda seeing call it off because I "have it all together, and are going to do something so admirable" while he "is unemployed, and will probably get a job at the mall." 😛

I usually tell people I'm going into health care.

(And I just realized that since I'll be starting M1 in a month, I could legitimately post in this forum. 😀 )

 

[priest]

i'm suddenly reminded of that episode of seinfeld where elaine is dating that doctor that hasn't yet passed his boards. hilarity.

but yeah, i tell people i'm going to start med school in the fall. why not? i can tell girls who love me for me from the one's after something else and i deal with them accordingly. i can give good enough medical advice, i just remind people that i'm not yet a doctor but nevertheless, i do know some things. and if a salesman ever thinks that med students are rich, i'll go ahead and set him straight.

i don't know. life seems so much easier for me when i'm straightforward and at the same time just accept people for who they are. not everyone knows as much about med school and such as we do.

 

[FoughtFyr]

Originally posted by heelpain
Not all grad schools are easy to get in to. Also, easy to get in to does not mean easiest to get a degree in.

You are correct, but my acceptance list includes Hopkins (Ph.D., Public Health), U of Chicago (MS, Health Policy), and UCLA (MPH, from out-of-state) - all VERY selective programs and schools.

It is the sheer numbers that makes medical school applications such a random thing. As stated to me (during an adcom meeting) by the Dean of Admissions at the medical school I attend - "the difference between the last candidate accepted into our program and the first one rejected is so minimal it can not be measured". He went on to opine that this factor is the difference between medical school and other graduate programs. IMHO - the other side of the equation is true. Each year a graduate program may see 3 - 4 (or so) "stellar" applicants (by their standards). Not only would few of these students be considered "stellar" by medical school admissions committees, but each medical school sees a far greater number that are "stellar" by their own definition.

As with anything else, getting in is only half the battle - that is true in graduate school. But it is also true in medical school. While rumors abound in each type of program as to "washout" and "academic selection", in my experience admissions committees are fairly good at selecting applicants who can finish the program. It does not serve any programs interest to have a high rate of attrition - few people are willing to "gamble" with years of their life.

But this, as always, is just my $0.02 worth (actual cash value $0.005).

- H

 

[raspberry swirl]

for some reason i thought i was the only freak who hates admitting to people that i am going to medical school. my parents are constantly yelling at me about it. i figure, they tell enough people about it that i don't have to. but anyway, people do treat you differently when you tell them you are a med student. and obviously i shouldn't care, but suddenly i feel like i'm stuck up on a pedestal, and i have to constantly respond with something extremely intelligent and very humane to keep up this image i have somehow created for myself. i always say i just graduated. then i wait. if more questions follow, i say i'm going back to school. i am proud of what i'm doing. i'm not embarrassed. but for some reason i feel like i make other people feel bad about what they are doing . so i try not to proclaim it. is it stupid? yeah, it sounds dumb, but thats just the way it feels to me.

 

[SarahXXOO]

Hey, I agree with the "pre-med" comments...I was a chem major (with plans for med school) at my university, and I saw COUNTLESS "pre-meds" advertise / brag about their "pre-med" major...and then drop like flies after partying too much freshman year, after orgo, after the MCAT, etc. What are they now? Biology majors. That's more like it.

When someone introduced himself/herself as a "pre-med" major to me in college, I always introduced myself as "pre-Astronaut" or "pre-presinent-of-the-United-States". Because that's just about as reasonable.

And another thing...does anyone else get this all the time? When I say I'm going to medical school, people always go, "Oh...I was going to go to med school." But they've never taken the MCATs or even so much as looked at an application. Oh really?! You 'were going to go'? But you chose to be something better (inherent insult)? More like 'you couldn't hack it'.

And the nursing thing pisses me off too...(as long as I'm in the middle of a long and increasingly bitter rant ;-) ....I'm from a really small, hicksville town, where people often ask "to be a....?" when I say I'm going to medical school. I also had a TA in college tell me that there are "plenty of OTHER avenues for women...you could be a nurse, or a teacher..." (this guy was not American and clearly did not understand the respect women are to receive in this country).

All this being said, I'm of the "proud-to-be-a-medical-student-and-finally-able-to-say-it" school of thought...after all the years of keeping my mouth shut and letting the "pre-meds" get pats on the back (for doing virtually nothing), I've worked hard, and I'm in.

 

[FoughtFyr]

Originally posted by SarahXXOO
And another thing...does anyone else get this all the time? When I say I'm going to medical school, people always go, "Oh...I was going to go to med school." But they've never taken the MCATs or even so much as looked at an application. Oh really?! You 'were going to go'? But you chose to be something better (inherent insult)? More like 'you couldn't hack it'.

I've had people tell me they were "in medical school" when they were actually enrolled in junior college with hopes to one day go to medcal school. This is not a one time "fluke", I've heard this 4 times that I can remember, each in a different geographic and social setting. So I've decided - I am the President of the United States! ('Cuz one day maybe I'll get elected! **LOL**)

- H

 

[Doc Ivy]

Originally posted by SarahXXOO

And another thing...does anyone else get this all the time? When I say I'm going to medical school, people always go, "Oh...I was going to go to med school." But they've never taken the MCATs or even so much as looked at an application.

Yup, I agree with you Sarah.
There are so many people out there that just don't have a clue. I was talking to a girl who said she wanted to go to med school. Turns out she had never taken biology, physics, math or chem. She'd dropped out of junior college and she thought her 12 week lab tech course would waive the Science pre-requisites 😱 😕 , and then went on to ask me if she took a phlebotomy course would she still have to write the MCAT... Yikes!!!
I try to educate lay people as much as I can, but it's a little scary that some people who actually want to enter the profession have NO idea of what they are talking about.

 

[priest]

wow......

yeah, we know it's hard. but not everybody does. i don't think it's really fair to hold that against them.

but maybe that's just me.

 

[Doc Ivy]

Originally posted by priest
wow......

yeah, we know it's hard. but not everybody does. i don't think it's really fair to hold that against them.

but maybe that's just me.

I don't hold it against anyone. I didn't mean to give that impression. I was more comenting on the public's lack of awareness. I guess it's just an indication of how little the general public must know about how medicine and medical education works. If people who supposedly want to be doctors are this clueless, I guess it doesn't suprise me when lay people get nursing school and medical school confused.

 

[fusionid]

nurse school vs. medical school

about a 200K dlls difference in debt sir!

 

[DrLucy]

I left my very nice career two years ago to complete the pre-reqs for med school. My physician father told everyone at the time that I was IN medical school. Helloooo? Thank goodness I'm in!


I have most certainly noticed the new attitude that many people have about me since I can now say I am a "medical student." I was at the optician's office the other day getting my eyes examined and the optician was really going to extremes to use big words and explain all the equipment to me. I have to say it was quite flattering, but it was mostly quite above my head. I told him I would be starting soon, but had not yet. He was very relieved.

OTOH, I've told some people (whom I've known all my life...relatives and such) that I got into MS finally. They barely even reacted. I guess they thought it would be no big deal for me. Not impressed at all.

I've had a few very confrontational "WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?" reactions though. One from a doctor. I think that is just a little bit rude, personally. I don't ask them, "Why did you have children?" or "Why are you __________ (Republican/Democrat)?"
🙄

 

[FoughtFyr]

Originally posted by heelpain
I will say once more: many grad programs are HARD to get in to. I can think of several of them: my former phd program in geophysics, biomedical science, physics, clinical psychology.

Think about it: would you attempt a phd program in mathematics, if you couldn't even do the advanced undergrad level math requirements.

Stellar students usually apply for phd programs because they are usually good at the field they want to pursue. That is just blatant.

Well at least we have gotten to the crux of our arguement, and let me apologize for what is apparently a miscommunication.

I define "hard to get into" as having a high percentage of qualified applicants rejected for admission (e.g., medical school - hence my Dean's quote).

You, as I understand your last post, define "hard to get into" as being difficult to become a qualified applicant (e.g., geophysics).

Within your definition, I agree, many graduate programs are more difficult to get into than medical school. Compared to medical school, the prerequiste coursework is (at times) itself more difficult, and a greater mastery of the subject being studied is almost always required. A great medical school applicant may not be a great medical student (as they have yet to actually study medicine when they apply). The same is almost never true of a graduate school applicant, as they usually have studied their discipline prior to applying.

I hope that you would agree however, that on a percentage basis, more applicants are accepted to graduate programs (as a whole - there exist a few exceptions) than are accepted to medical school. I agree, this may be a function of self-selection, in terms of the mastery required, but I feel the observation is valid at its face.

BTW - IMHO the exceptions are; clinical psych, vet. med., physical therapy, or high level (quantum) physical science where national laboratory resources are required. Any others?

- H

 

[SarahXXOO]

Priest, I realize that not everyone knows how hard it is...but the same people I mentioned who run around advertising that they're "pre-med" (and thereby taking advantage of the general public ignorance of the fact that pre-med means nothing) are the same jerks who later say "I was going to go to medical school..."

And after going through the blood, sweat, and tears to get accepted to school, I just get irritated with people like this who essentially take away from how much work I've (we've) really done to get here.

For me, the only consolation lies in knowing that there are so many people around trying to pretend they're going to be doctors...it makes me appreciate my situation (of actually really truly training to be a doctor) even more.

 

[LovelyRita]

I answer the question based on who's asking...what's worse is I hate saying the name of my school. I can practically see the attention span shutting down in their head as I say the 6 words 😱

Then they ask how much longer I have....

I think that I was expecting more overall enthusiasm from people, knowing how hard it was to get in. So I just try to answer with a big smile when people ask.
M.

 

[galactica2001]

wow...so many interesting views,
I never thought it'd be such a problem telling everyone that I study medicine as well. I was so happy to get in, I told every one that crossed my way. And yes, things started happening - people asking silly questins, telling me that they were also thinking of studying med - blabla🙄 but I was happy and it didn't get on my nerves so much.

I also think people treat you differently if knowing you study medicine, esp. the eldery. That's odd, silly, uneducated. These people simply aren't educated enough to recognise that being a doc doesn't make you genious. Actually, it depends on one personnally if he/she will become a good doc. Med school only provides the means, but it can't make you extra super intelligent. You'll still make mistakes. But I suppose you must get in to find out...

And here in Europe, girls/guys don't glue to med students (well, some do, but they aren't what you'd want anyway - if you know what I mean...)This whole business about that is just silly.😛

 

[uclacrewdude]

Dude,

just tell them you volunteer in a hospital!😱

 

[StritchMD2011]

Even though I have yet to start undergrad (start this Fall), I've realized that telling people that I plan on going the pre-med route does no good. I've seen the eye roll so many times when I mention I'm interested in medicine. It's somewhat of an, "Oh great.... another damn pre-med" expression.

At this point I don't even have room to brag since being pre-med means nothing. One of the things I hate most about wanting to be a doctor is the fact that I feel like such a follower since everyone today seemingly wants to get into medicine.

 

[Blanch]

When I was getting my pre-entry physical exam taken care of, the nurse asked me what I was studying. I told her I was going to study medicine and she started acting weird, a little cold like. First she said, "You mean PRE-med, right?" Then, when she took my blood pressure, she was like, "122 over 84. Do you know what the 122 stands for?" After that little experience, I think I'll just say I'm taking a few JC classes or something.