I withdrew from medical school update.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

CaptainJackSparrow83

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2017
Messages
225
Reaction score
178
Hey guys, I was a long time sad depressed DO student just a few months ago.
I had gotten tired of studying studying studying all day and I couldnt see myself continuing with medicine for too incredibly long. I ended up taking a leave of absence at the end of fall semester ( I passed my classes thankfully).

From november to around February I started looking for other careers to get involved in. I already had a bachelors in engineering so I decided to do a software bootcamp. I have to admit software ended up being incredibly boring, so I started looking some more. I decided to apply for medical sales jobs which in many cases pay really well (on commission) close to what doctors make (the average guy makes probably 150k and the top earners make 600-1 million bucks a year). That was kind of cool but it seemed like a very iffy scenario to see if Id be able to get food on my table or not that month-- soo I went back to software. I did a 6 month contract for a company in California and signed over for a big company. I ended up getting a total compensation of 160k with room to move up to 250 k within 3 years of working within the company.

Im also finishing up my masters in computer science (more like starting lol)

anyway, bottom line is I survived. Sometimes we just need a break from medicine/life/relationships/butt stuff etc.
If you ever contemplate quitting medicine, give your effort but dont drive yourself to misery because of it, there are tons of other options out there that can compensate just as well. Youre all bright people and are able to succeed in what ever field you chose. The key is the right mindset and doing something you love (or can tolerate)

Members don't see this ad.
 
That's good to hear. There have been plenty of cases of people leaving medicine either only to be regretting their choice, or choosing a path that was potentially worse for them. I'm glad neither of that happened to you. It's good to see that you'll buck up and be fine with your newly found opportunity!
 
Hey guys, I was a long time sad depressed DO student just a few months ago.
I had gotten tired of studying studying studying all day and I couldnt see myself continuing with medicine for too incredibly long. I ended up taking a leave of absence at the end of fall semester ( I passed my classes thankfully).

From november to around February I started looking for other careers to get involved in. I already had a bachelors in engineering so I decided to do a software bootcamp. I have to admit software ended up being incredibly boring, so I started looking some more. I decided to apply for medical sales jobs which in many cases pay really well (on commission) close to what doctors make (the average guy makes probably 150k and the top earners make 600-1 million bucks a year). That was kind of cool but it seemed like a very iffy scenario to see if Id be able to get food on my table or not that month-- soo I went back to software. I did a 6 month contract for a company in California and signed over for a big company. I ended up getting a total compensation of 160k with room to move up to 250 k within 3 years of working within the company.

Im also finishing up my masters in computer science (more like starting lol)

anyway, bottom line is I survived. Sometimes we just need a break from medicine/life/relationships/butt stuff etc.
If you ever contemplate quitting medicine, give your effort but dont drive yourself to misery because of it, there are tons of other options out there that can compensate just as well. Youre all bright people and are able to succeed in what ever field you chose. The key is the right mindset and doing something you love (or can tolerate)

Is this a typical salary for a software engineer or was this a particularly good gig you got?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Hey guys, I was a long time sad depressed DO student just a few months ago.
I had gotten tired of studying studying studying all day and I couldnt see myself continuing with medicine for too incredibly long. I ended up taking a leave of absence at the end of fall semester ( I passed my classes thankfully).

From november to around February I started looking for other careers to get involved in. I already had a bachelors in engineering so I decided to do a software bootcamp. I have to admit software ended up being incredibly boring, so I started looking some more. I decided to apply for medical sales jobs which in many cases pay really well (on commission) close to what doctors make (the average guy makes probably 150k and the top earners make 600-1 million bucks a year). That was kind of cool but it seemed like a very iffy scenario to see if Id be able to get food on my table or not that month-- soo I went back to software. I did a 6 month contract for a company in California and signed over for a big company. I ended up getting a total compensation of 160k with room to move up to 250 k within 3 years of working within the company.

Im also finishing up my masters in computer science (more like starting lol)

anyway, bottom line is I survived. Sometimes we just need a break from medicine/life/relationships/butt stuff etc.
If you ever contemplate quitting medicine, give your effort but dont drive yourself to misery because of it, there are tons of other options out there that can compensate just as well. Youre all bright people and are able to succeed in what ever field you chose. The key is the right mindset and doing something you love (or can tolerate)
Glad you put your skills to good use. Keep making that dough. Your in the bay area now right?
 
Is this a typical salary for a software engineer or was this a particularly good gig you got?
If he is Bay area, this is typical for a software engineer. The Bay is like a whole different country in regards to salary for most professionals other than physicians.
 
Glad you put your skills to good use. Keep making that dough. Your in the bay area now right?
Thank you so much! And thanks for your words of encouragement when I was confused. I am in the bay area, however COL is high these days!!!
Im planning on shifting to Seattle in the next 6-12 months within my company where pay is similar, taxes are lower, and rent/housing is cheaper (by a little bit)
 
Is this a typical salary for a software engineer or was this a particularly good gig you got?

Its a bay area salary and a seattle salary. Ive seen some similar salaries for big companies in chicago and houston but thats about it.
The col in the first two cities is pretty high so they increase the salary to compensate.

But if youre contemplating medicine vs this don't leave unless youre truly passionate about "said other field"
 
Glad things worked out for you. I remember commenting on one of your threads, hoping that you would end up finding your way. I'm glad you chose not to try your hand at PA school because it sounds like you'll have a much more fulfilling career outside of medicine!
 
Thank you so much! And thanks for your words of encouragement when I was confused. I am in the bay area, however COL is high these days!!!
Im planning on shifting to Seattle in the next 6-12 months within my company where pay is similar, taxes are lower, and rent/housing is cheaper (by a little bit)
Smart man. If the pay is the same seattle is still cheaper by a bit. And no income tax will save you at least 4-5% off cali.
 
As I've said many times before on this forum, medicine is like football...its not for everybody. Just because your fast doesn't mean you will be a good football player. Just being intelligent doesn't mean you will be a good doctor. It's a shame OP didn't find out sooner, their seat cannot be refilled, but better late than never. Good luck and best wishes!
 
Captain...I'm glad you're doing the right thing for you. There are a number of career paths out there which have a much higher ROI than medicine. When I look at the debt my son is accumulating as a med student, I sometimes wish I would have recommended that he take a different path. As an example, one of my friend's daughters just started Harvard's MBA program. And since she previously worked for CVS (she has a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Rice), they are paying for her entire tuition if she goes back to CVS and works there for three years after graduation.

The average starting salary out of Harvard's MBA program is around $160K this year, and most students get signing bonuses ranging between $25K-$40K. And in her case, she will graduate with zero debt. I don't even think she considered medical school as an option due to the much higher ROI associated with her other alternatives.
 
Hey guys, I was a long time sad depressed DO student just a few months ago.
I had gotten tired of studying studying studying all day and I couldnt see myself continuing with medicine for too incredibly long. I ended up taking a leave of absence at the end of fall semester ( I passed my classes thankfully).

From november to around February I started looking for other careers to get involved in. I already had a bachelors in engineering so I decided to do a software bootcamp. I have to admit software ended up being incredibly boring, so I started looking some more. I decided to apply for medical sales jobs which in many cases pay really well (on commission) close to what doctors make (the average guy makes probably 150k and the top earners make 600-1 million bucks a year). That was kind of cool but it seemed like a very iffy scenario to see if Id be able to get food on my table or not that month-- soo I went back to software. I did a 6 month contract for a company in California and signed over for a big company. I ended up getting a total compensation of 160k with room to move up to 250 k within 3 years of working within the company.

Im also finishing up my masters in computer science (more like starting lol)

anyway, bottom line is I survived. Sometimes we just need a break from medicine/life/relationships/butt stuff etc.
If you ever contemplate quitting medicine, give your effort but dont drive yourself to misery because of it, there are tons of other options out there that can compensate just as well. Youre all bright people and are able to succeed in what ever field you chose. The key is the right mindset and doing something you love (or can tolerate)
Good luck Jack!
 
Top