"I can't see myself being/doing anything else..."

[StormingWynn]

Don't you guys think that's really old and blatantly stupid? Come on.. I read this in every thread asking about future plans. Yes I want to be a doctor BUT I can see myself in other professions. Do people seriously lack that imagination to see themselves in other professions? Or are they just not wanting to? I thought I just throw this out there because it's rather irritating and very mundane on this forum.

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[randombetch]

Well, usually they mean "I can't see myself doing anything else and being happy," or "and being satisfied," but I guess you didn't realize that last bit is implied...

 

[circulus vitios]

I could see myself in careers that I like equally as much as medicine. It's just that medicine offers more pay and a larger, more stable job market.

 

[StormingWynn]

Well, usually they mean "I can't see myself doing anything else and being happy," or "and being satisfied," but I guess you didn't realize that last bit is implied...

No no... That's why I put the ellipsis. But everyone seems to have the judgment.. Why can't they be happy doing anything else? Do their egos not allow them to? I'm just seriously confused as to why people always see that. For me I can see my self being happy in other professions because frankly, there are other professions that would allow me to be happy. If saving lives is what makes me happy, I don't necessarily HAVE to be a doctor to be happy. I can be a biomedical engineer and create/design a device that can save the lives of thousands. I can do research and find the cure for a disease that can save thousands of people. I can be a lot of things. You get what I am saying. If people HAVE to be doctors to be happy, then I'm questioning their judgment on actually becoming one.

 

[StormingWynn]

I could see myself in careers that I like equally as much as medicine. It's just that medicine offers more pay and a larger, more stable job market.

There are a lot of other higher paying jobs out there. And in this market, it might not even be a financial win to become a doctor.

 

[circulus vitios]

There are a lot of other higher paying jobs out there. And in this market, it might not even be a financial win to become a doctor.

No, there aren't a lot of higher paying jobs out there that are mostly dependent on my ability to get good grades.

 

[red10]

one word: passion

yea I could be a lot of things and be happy, but I'm passionate about medicine. I get excited when I learn about it. I want to do it and I'll be damned if anything stops me from achieving my goal.

 

[StormingWynn]

No, there aren't a lot of higher paying jobs out there that are mostly dependent on my ability to get good grades.

No, really? You should explore the job market a bit more. Just saying. What one is paid after obtaining a bachelors degree is factored by your academic standing in a lot of cases. Do you honestly think an engineering with a 4.0 is going to get paid the same as someone who obtained a mere 2.7 in the same degree? 😕

 

[Zona Pellucida]

It's cliché... because it is true for so many applicants.

 

[StormingWynn]

It's cliché... because it is true for so many applicants.

So what happens if they don't get accepted? Do they crawl under a rock and cry for the rest of their lives? I mean if one wants to succeed in life, one must expand their range of possibilities and that includes rejection.

 

[FluffyRabbit]

No, really? You should explore the job market a bit more. Just saying. What one is paid after obtaining a bachelors degree is factored by your academic standing in a lot of cases. Do you honestly think an engineering with a 4.0 is going to get paid the same as someone who obtained a mere 2.7 in the same degree? 😕

I don't know how well versed you are in the engineering industry, but from what I do know, most large companies have relatively well defined pay scales. In general, people in engineering don't care a whole lot about your grades - as long as you have the experience, impress them at the *technical* interview and you can do a good job, you're going to be paid well. My friend's GPA is a whole letter grade below mine, and yet there is little difference in our salaries.

 

[brooklynblunder]

i can almost see myself in every other profession but i lack creativity

 

[red10]

So what happens if they don't get accepted? Do they crawl under a rock and cry for the rest of their lives? I mean if one wants to succeed in life, one must expand their range of possibilities and that includes rejection.

The ones who truly can't see themselves anywhere else reapply...

you're quite the debbie downer btw

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I can see myself in other professions, but I think I will definitely be the happiest in medicine. I'm a nontrad and have a lot of other interests, but I was never able to imagine myself truly happy doing any of those as a career. I know that if I were to choose another career path, I would always regret not having gone into medicine. I can't see myself feeling that way about any other job.

 

[Ableton]

I am definitely in the minority both here and around my medical school class, but I can't even see myself being a doctor

Yeah... I'm kind of screwed.

 

[loveoforganic]

There are many alluring aspects of medicine. Which is/are it that drew you into pursuing the profession? Surely there are other jobs that have the same or similar aspects.

 

[vin5cent0]

Nope, I guess I fall into a rare crowd. There is literally nothing else I could see myself doing and enjoying. I've tried convincing myself many, many times to avoid medical school.. always come back to it, though.

 

[loveoforganic]

Well, what is it that draws you to medicine?

 

[CoolWhipp]

Well, what is it that draws you to medicine?

Well, I guess we can rule out the idea that he just can't see himself doing anything else.

 

[strang3Gonz0]

Don't you guys think that's really old and blatantly stupid? Come on.. I read this in every thread asking about future plans. Yes I want to be a doctor BUT I can see myself in other professions. Do people seriously lack that imagination to see themselves in other professions? Or are they just not wanting to? I thought I just throw this out there because it's rather irritating and very mundane on this forum.

I know I've said that before but what I mean by it is that being a doctor is the career that fits me best, in every way. It's the only career where I feel like the potential drawbacks aren't that big of a deal. I can see myself being a sailing coach, but there isn't much of a job market for that. Or a jet pilot in the air force, except for the part where I join the military

 

[Evergrey]

I wish I could live a thousand lives to do all the things I want to do... but since I have one, I want to be a physician. Simple.

 

[sgtbrushes]

As far as why people always type it in "rate my plan" posts is probably the same reason why people confuse:
loose/ lose
common/ "come on"
their/ they're/ there
its/ it's/ its'
People read this board for a week or two before they post, and they get the advice that "Becoming a doctor is hard. Only do it if you can't imagine yourself being happy doing anything else." So they think about it a week or two, then realize they can't imaging themselves being happy doing anything else. For my real life pre-med friends, most of us can imagine ourselves being happy in another career, but we are doing this anyway.

 

[Handy388]

as a college freshman, stormingwynn is a big man now, he has all those big responsbilities, of course he sees himself in all kinda of careers!

 

[sleepy425]

I tend to think that "I can't see myself doing anything else..." is a very bad statement, and I think it reflects very negatively on an applicant. When I interview applicants, I ask them to tell me at least one non-healthcare related career that they would be interested in if they could not pursue a career in medicine. I don't particularly care what their answer is, as long as they have one that they can explain.

I just think that statements like that make it clear that the applicant doesn't know what he/she is talking about. It's such an extreme statement and suggests a lack of maturity.

 

[H2O2]

I just think that statements like that make it clear that the applicant doesn't know what he/she is talking about. It's such an extreme statement and suggests a lack of maturity.

I agree completely with this. I've thought I was the only one to think it ridiculous that people are so narrow minded about their future. But it really boils down to a lack of maturity

 

[ziggydoc]

I agree completely with this. I've thought I was the only one to think it ridiculous that people are so narrow minded about their future. But it really boils down to a lack of maturity

Or that they've thought long and hard about the decision and really came down to realizing that no other profession will make them as happy as medicine. But then again, I guess it's pretty easy to get the feel of whether they have thought about it or not.

 

[mdeast]

There are a lot of other higher paying jobs out there. And in this market, it might not even be a financial win to become a doctor.

Seriously. Most of my family members/siblings are in business or law. They are already making insane salaries in their 20's without having had to go through medical school. If finances are a primary motivator then for your own happiness I'd suggest entering a more enterprise-like career.

 

[HopefulMD333]

would definitely be interested to know what makes y'all want to become doctors? the salary is less interesting to me... could really care less about a hierarchy of pay scales right now...

 

[mybubbles14]

So what happens if they don't get accepted? Do they crawl under a rock and cry for the rest of their lives? I mean if one wants to succeed in life, one must expand their range of possibilities and that includes rejection.

They strengthen their application and reapply until they get in or go out of the country...some people on here are extremely determined and have spent an insane amount applying to get in. Sure we can think of other things to do with our lives if we absolutely had to and becoming a physician were impossible. On one of my interviews I was asked this question and I believe I mentioned clinical research or pharmacy (jobs I know I could do but wouldn't necessarily be as satisfied). Outside of the health sciences I wouldn't mind being a chef or playing in a professional orchestra. They interest me but I'm not passionate about them...and if I hadn't gotten in this year I would be reapplying next year.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think you'll find that medicine attracts a lot of people who are basically one-dimensional. It's sort of sad.

 

[JoshUNCW]

Wow, I think there's a lot of pretty close minded people in this thread. And I'm not talking about the one's who say they can only see themselves in medicine. Who are you guys to decide their motives for pursuing their dreams to the fullest and not wanting to waver? I'm sure you also hate the Olympic athlete who told his coach and family that he wasn't going to walk away with anything but the gold and set his sights only to that. The reason people say they can't see themselves in anything but medicine isn't a lack of maturity, it's extreme drive. Something you might not have.

 

[loveoforganic]

His argument is pretty much a strawman anyway. I doubt pretty much anyone gets into medical school without "extreme drive." Being driven and goal-oriented isn't mutually exclusive with recognizing alternatives.

 

[Ableton]

His argument is pretty much a strawman anyway. I doubt pretty much anyone gets into medical school without "extreme drive." Being driven and goal-oriented isn't mutually exclusive with recognizing alternatives.

Well that's just an absurd statement. It's very much possible to have goals in different aspects of life that have nothing to do with each other, and be driven to excel in them all. For most people (I hope), medicine is simply a job, not the be-all and end-all of everything.

As for getting into medical school without extreme drive, I guess I'm the exception again. I pretty much coasted through college and decided on medical school by crossing everything else off the list. I figured, if I had to do something I don't particularly have a passion for, I might as well make a decent amount of money, always have a job someplace, and potentially be my own boss.

 

[WhizoMD]

I can certainly see myself doing something else (started ugrad as a comp. sci. major), but after putting in 2-3 years of work towards a single career and envisioning yourself in that career, I think it would be hard to just give it up and do something else while being completely satisfied. Unless you could completely detach yourself from the idea of being a physician, you'd likely spend the rest of your life second guessing your career choice to some degree.

 

[niblet]

I think the whole point of that quote is to point out just how sure you have to be in deciding to enter medicine. If there's another job out there you could see yourself liking just as much, it doesn't really make sense to pick the one (medicine) that requires a much longer and tougher road to get there. So, choosing medicine only makes sense if it's far and away the best career for you.

I don't like the quote, though. It reeks of overenthusiastic and narrow-minded zeal. I don't believe the person that says they couldn't be happy without being a doctor. And even if they're telling the truth, that implies they have some serious issues.

 

[loveoforganic]

Well that's just an absurd statement. It's very much possible to have goals in different aspects of life that have nothing to do with each other, and be driven to excel in them all. For most people (I hope), medicine is simply a job, not the be-all and end-all of everything.

As for getting into medical school without extreme drive, I guess I'm the exception again. I pretty much coasted through college and decided on medical school by crossing everything else off the list. I figured, if I had to do something I don't particularly have a passion for, I might as well make a decent amount of money, always have a job someplace, and potentially be my own boss.

I don't know if I'm being misunderstood? Maybe I was unclear. Does this help?

Being driven and goal-oriented toward becoming a doctor isn't mutually exclusive with recognizing alternative professions that could lead to happiness.

 

[Ableton]

I don't know if I'm being misunderstood? Maybe I was unclear. Does this help?

Yes, but I still disagree. Many people embark on the path to become a physician and leave for other professions, even once they've started medical school. Many even get the degree and choose not to practice or complete residency. It's certainly not common practice, but it happens often enough. For an example of this, take a look at Harvard's match list, where every year a handful of students go to consulting firms. Surely they must have been driven to get into medical school and complete it.

 

[slants]

OP:

I think that the saying "If you can't see yourself doing anything else" is one of those phrases that tries to put things into perspective for pre-medical students. I believe you're taking it a bit literal.

This is a good phrase that gets passed down every generation for a few reasons. One, pre-meds often (not all pre-meds) have a rosey picture about what medicine is really like. They dream about how cool and respected they will be, and how many lives they'll be saving, and how much of a difference they'll be making - some even think they'll be pulling in mounds of cash. It's hard in undergrad to visualize all of the problems physicians regularly face, and how many real saves there are when in the clinical world.

Another reason is medical students, residents, and attendings see other doctors get burned out. These doctors thought the only thing they ever wanted to be was a doctor, but they work for a few years then retire, or just plain leave the career all together to pursue something that they thought was only a hobby (photography, aviation, cooking).

I think it's a good phrase to help get pre-meds in the right mind set. To get them to think about the good and bad aspects of their career choice, because there might be something out there that they may enjoy more.

 

[Ableton]

It also has to deal with students being exposed to the flaws of our medical system, or coming to the realization that there are other ways to be a positive contributor to our country outside of seeing a patient every 20 minutes during clinic days.

Sure, this may be the catalyst, but it still doesn't refute my argument that it's possible to be driven/goal-oriented enough to become a doctor, yet still be passionate about a career in an entirely field.

 

[Compass]

*Pulls out ancient blog post*
http://compassmd.blogspot.com/2009/05/am-i-fit-for-medical-school.html

I know everyone out there wants to become a doctor, but realistically speaking, not everyone can. I can want and want and want and only be able to see myself being a doctor, but with a 2.0 and a 20 on the MCAT, the only person I'm fooling is myself.

Furthermore, "locking yourself into wanting to be a doctor" and saying there's no other job for you looks naive.

You don't become a doctor for the sake of being a doctor. You are goal-driven, hopefully.

Let's look at common reasons people want to be doctors, as well as viable alternatives:

1. For the ladies/men. You can start finding another career in acting and get the same effect.
2. For the money. Sign up for an MBA, or go into finance. Start a company. Invent post-it notes. Get rich.
3. To help people. You can become an EMT, RN, anything else in the medical field.
4. To work in health-care. MPH, health-care admin, etc. All viable.
5. To do research. PhD in medicine, chemistry, pharm school, etc.

Med school is a means to an end. There is more than one path. The only thing not admitting any career alternatives does is show that you aren't broad-minded to recognize the difficulties of becoming a doctor, and aren't planning your future well enough to see beyond potential setback.

Sure, admit that you really want to become a doctor so that it doesn't seem like you're tooling out and brimming with "better alternatives," but these questions are meant to examine more than just your passion for medicine. Imagine asking a person this question and getting told "I'll just apply every year for the rest of my life until I get in." Does that scare you?

 

[Slack3r]

There are a lot of other higher paying jobs out there. And in this market, it might not even be a financial win to become a doctor.

Care to elaborate on this? Last I checked, the highest paying jobs (per average salaries) were all some form of doctor. Yes, you can make millions with an MBA, but most will end up settling for the high 5 figures- very low 6 figures. Don't kid yourself.

 

[mvenus929]

A few years ago, I said that I couldn't see myself being anything other than a doctor. Then I got rejected from medical school. So, I took the time to learn about other careers... I considered going into teaching for a time, but I know I'm not a terribly good teacher. I don't do well in front of large groups of people; I'm a much better tutor, working with someone one-on-one.

Then I considered other careers in medicine. I thought about being a med tech... something that wouldn't completely waste the degree I had worked hard in getting. Then I realized I liked the patient contact too much and would go crazy sitting down in the lab running tests all day. Same concept as to why I don't want to go into research.

I considered becoming an NP, but most places you have to be an RN first for x years before you can pursue the NP degree. As much as I love an respect nurses, I really don't think I'd be happy being an RN in a hospital setting. In being a doctor, I want to go into primary care, so while the hospital setting itself is interesting, I'd much prefer to run a clinic. I certainly wouldn't mind being a dietitian, as that career holds many of the same draws as being a physician, depending on what job you manage to land.

If I had to do something outside of medicine, I really don't know what I would do. Science is my passion, and most science careers outside of medicine don't involve people and are focused on research, unless you go into teaching (even then, you still often do research). That wouldn't make me happy. So medicine seems the best fit. I could pursue other careers in medicine and be just as happy, but something outside of medicine that would make me just as happy would be very hard to come by.

 

[dukemed22]

Do you honestly think an engineering with a 4.0 is going to get paid the same as someone who obtained a mere 2.7 in the same degree? 😕

If they both get the same job, then yeah, they'll both be paid the same. Now, how easy is it for a 2.7 engineering grad to get a job? Its an uphill battle for sure, but not impossible (probably easier in engineering than in anything else).

As for the original topic, I agree with the OP (to an extent). At the end of the day, medicine is just a job like anything else (to most people)... sure you should want to do it as opposed to anything else, but given the option, most people would rather not have to get up for work everyday anyway.

 

[dukemed22]

Care to elaborate on this? Last I checked, the highest paying jobs (per average salaries) were all some form of doctor. Yes, you can make millions with an MBA, but most will end up settling for the high 5 figures- very low 6 figures. Don't kid yourself.

I mean you're comparing tons and tons of MBA grads, with the select few that were good enough to make it into a med school. Pretty much anybody can make it into a MBA program if they want to, but you sure as hell can't say the same about applying to med school. So it may be more useful to compare people who had the capability (grades, ambition, work-ethic, etc...) to go into medicine if they chose, but decided to go into finance instead. If you're good enough to make it into med school, you're probably making a lot more than the average MBA.

 

[kansaskid]

I could be happy doing a lot of things! Medicine is just the best combination of science, creativity, and humanity for me. My second choice is middle grade fiction writer haha

 

[Kickback]

No, really? You should explore the job market a bit more. Just saying. What one is paid after obtaining a bachelors degree is factored by your academic standing in a lot of cases. Do you honestly think an engineering with a 4.0 is going to get paid the same as someone who obtained a mere 2.7 in the same degree? 😕

Uhh, that example that you proposed is totally feasible. In business (which engineering and medicine are, by the way), it's who you know, not what you know(to a certain extent... but you're learning a lot with that 2.7 in engineering). The vast majority of engineers that get close to 4.0's go to grad school for a PhD, and then work in R&D at large companies or academia. They'll probably earn somewhere in the range of 90K-150K out of a degree, depending on circumstances. Hell, many will post-doc, and continue to earn less than 50K.

A engineer with a 2.7 that goes into technical sales or consulting can make around $60K starting off. In the 5 years that the 4.0 is earning his PhD, the 2.7 is making sales, meeting people, proving his value to businesses. If he/she makes a couple of key sales and/or meets the right people and makes a great impression on them, you can get into management pretty quickly, or become a high-level technical sales director. Now your 2.7 is making at least what the 4.0 upon obtaining a PhD. Life isn't just about grades...

 

[FluffyRabbit]

I mean you're comparing tons and tons of MBA grads, with the select few that were good enough to make it into a med school. Pretty much anybody can make it into a MBA program if they want to, but you sure as hell can't say the same about applying to med school. So it may be more useful to compare people who had the capability (grades, ambition, work-ethic, etc...) to go into medicine if they chose, but decided to go into finance instead. If you're good enough to make it into med school, you're probably making a lot more than the average MBA.

I don't buy the idea that just because someone is good enough to get into medical school, they will automatically be successful in something else.

MBA admissions are very different from MD admissions, for one - volunteering is not a de facto requirement, job experience is extremely important, you'll typically need an LoR from an employer, etc. And after that, doing well in organic chemistry says little about how well you can negotiate and succeed in business. Anyway, to get a job in finance, you'll probably need a top undergrad degree, which isn't something every premed has.

While the average premed who makes it to medical school is probably likely to be above average based his/her GPA (which does help in MBA admissions) and work ethic (which helps everywhere), the assumption that all medical students could have gone to Harvard/Stanford/Kellogg/Wharton/Sloan/Chicago business school and made millions in finance/consulting/trading is probably not accurate.

 

[Narmerguy]

I think you'll find that medicine attracts a lot of people who are basically one-dimensional. It's sort of sad.

👍

 

[Slack3r]

I mean you're comparing tons and tons of MBA grads, with the select few that were good enough to make it into a med school. Pretty much anybody can make it into a MBA program if they want to, but you sure as hell can't say the same about applying to med school. So it may be more useful to compare people who had the capability (grades, ambition, work-ethic, etc...) to go into medicine if they chose, but decided to go into finance instead. If you're good enough to make it into med school, you're probably making a lot more than the average MBA.

42% of med school applicants get in, last I checked. 42% of MBA grads DO NOT make better average salaries than physicians. And memorizing a bunch of science facts and carrying water around in the ER are not good indicators of a career in business. Both careers require two VERY different skill sets. There are plenty of students from top law schools graduating that cannot find jobs do to oversaturation of attorneys. And even then, the average salary for lawyers is still much less than physicians.

The fact still stands, if there is one career to be average in, it's medicine.

 

[Slack3r]

I don't buy the idea that just because someone is good enough to get into medical school, they will automatically be successful in something else.

MBA admissions are very different from MD admissions, for one - volunteering is not a de facto requirement, job experience is extremely important, you'll typically need an LoR from an employer, etc. And after that, doing well in organic chemistry says little about how well you can negotiate and succeed in business. Anyway, to get a job in finance, you'll probably need a top undergrad degree, which isn't something every premed has.

While the average premed who makes it to medical school is probably likely to be above average based his/her GPA (which does help in MBA admissions) and work ethic (which helps everywhere), the assumption that all medical students could have gone to Harvard/Stanford/Kellogg/Wharton/Sloan/Chicago business school and made millions in finance/consulting/trading is probably not accurate.

This. 👍