If you had won the powerball...

[premed071291]

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If you won the 600 million dollar powerball would you still go to medical school?

 

[Amba]

If you won the 600 million dollar powerball would you still go to medical school?

This question has been asked in many variations before. Yes, I would.

 

[deleted307836]

No. I didn't buy a ticket, though 😉.

Most states don't allow anonymous claiming, so you'd probably be a huge lawsuit target if your name was out there.

If I had that much money, I feel I could do much more good for the world finding ways to use it rather than spending time training to become a physician and practicing.

And frankly, there's other interests I would rather pursue if money were no object.

 

[prado]

Go to school after acquiring $600M?

 

[mvenus929]

Most states don't allow anonymous claiming, so you'd probably be a huge lawsuit target if your name was out there.

I have an easy solution to that. Gift the ticket to my mom.

 

[deleted307836]

I have an easy solution to that. Gift the ticket to my mom.

Yeah, I suppose that would work. Though it would be a pretty expensive decision since 99% of the money your mom gifts you would be heavily taxed...

 

[Doctor Strange]

Probably, although I would likely only practice until I was like 50 and then retire and teach at a university pro bono.

 

[911 Turbo]

I won the powerball a few days ago and am going to medical school. Does this answer your question?

 

[Doctor Strange]

I won the powerball a few days ago and am going to medical school. Does this answer your question?

Share the wealth, brah.

 

[NontradCA]

No, and I highly doubt most would. I'd give a lot to charity and that'd be doing more than I could as a physician.

 

[Eaglefan]

definitely not right away at least. maybe id come back as a non trad if i was bored with life but i doubt it

 

[csx]

Yes. I'd want to feel like I actually did something with my life.

 

[circulus vitios]

Yes. I'd want to feel like I actually did something with my life.

Yeah, I mean it's way easier to help people as a physician than with $300 million post-tax winnings.

 

[FakeEmpire]

Absolutely!

 

[deleted307836]

Yes. I'd want to feel like I actually did something with my life.

Try using your imagination. You could start a large foundation for any noble cause close to your heart.

With those types of possibilites, slaving away in medical school/internship/residency/attendinghood would seem like a waste to me...

 

[mcloaf]

I'd go, but I'm already admitted. I'd think twice about having to go through the hassle of the application process.

 

[AdmAckbar]

Although a lot of people are saying no, I would definitely do it. After training I would then start a foundation and travel the world working with orphans. And become fluent in a foreign language.

 

[punkedoutriffs]

I would go to med school and then build/run my own lab and research what I want to research.

 

[rain4venus]

to all of you saying you could do more good with your money than with a medical practice:

What would you *do* with yourself? I have no judgment; I hate working and want to spend my time at home with my theoretical future children, but I don't think throwing a bunch of (unearned) dollars at a problem really counts as "making something of yourself" or "doing something with your life."
I think a large majority of people who want to be doctors don't look at the ins-and-outs of running a charity and think to themselves "yeah that looks really fun!" The impression that I've gotten is that most doctors really like working with patients and really hate doing paperwork. You could hire someone else to run your charity, but then...what would you do with yourself?

If you went to med school and practiced medicine, you could still give a large chunk of your money to charities. Med school is expensive, but not *that* expensive.

I asked my boyfriend this question a few weeks ago and he said that he would be even more certain of med school since he'd no longer have to worry about paying for tuition or having enough money for our family. (not to mention things like application costs or cost of travel for interviews)

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I wouldn't go. I'd invest a good chunk and pretty much just do whatever I wanted for the rest of my life.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.....nope. I would use the money to fund my career as a musician. I could use the rest to do some real good in the world too.

 

[The Buff OP]

If you won the 600 million dollar powerball would you still go to medical school?

Yes, I didn't waste my time studying my ass for nothing. I would try to buy a medical school, too.

 

[Omppu27]

I would dish out a lot of money to my close friends and their family as well as other members of my family. I would also give money to all the places that I have volunteered at, done research at, maybe my old high school and other places that have shaped me into the person that i am today. I would keep a good amount for me but probably donate at least a 100 million to charity too. There are SOO many people that need the money more than I would.

And yes, I would still go to medical school. And play as much golf as possible...

EDIT: I think after taxes it was just under 400 million. That is if you took all at once, which i would..

 

[Doctor Strange]

Yes, I didn't waist my time studying my ass for nothing. I would try to buy a medical school, too.

😕

 

[premed071291]

I heard that after taxes it was ~$282 million. Yes I would still go. Even if I had not been accepted yet I still would attempt to get in. Personal statement would be off the chain and clearly no adcom would be able to question if you really wanted to be a doctor.

 

[hunterjumper14]

I would definitely be nervous about lawsuits! It's hard for me to even consider what I would do if I won that much money... It just seems so far fetched. I'd take care of my family, give a bunch of money to research (make my PI's life!), and probably still go to med school. I can't imagine not putting all of that preparation to good use. I'm beyond excited for school!!

 

[GoPelicans]

.

 

[tn4596]

1)Obtain doctorate
2)Fund my own research
3)do whatever strike my interest

Gotta have something to do to pass the time.

 

[mcloaf]

Yes, I didn't waist my time studying my ass for nothing. I would try to buy a medical school, too.

I wonder how much it would cost to get "The Buff OP School of Medicine at Harvard University"?

 

[JustintheDoctor]

😕

Well in pre-med we are learning about stupid crap that won't help us perform an appendectomy

 

[fourhumours]

I would still go, become friends with med students, drop out send pictures to them of me living it up while they study for step

then once they are done I would get them to run a medical non-profit for me while my incredibly astute investing skills allow me to build a perfect replica of middle earth in montana.

also I might buy the moon/half of mars. think of the potential return on investment. prime real estate in like 200-400 years. lpus if I owned mars I could just rename it fourhumours and that would be pretty sweet.

alternatively I would tie-die the moon. both are good options.


side question: if a red-green color blind person wears red tinted sunglasses are they effectively blind?

 

[Medstart108]

NO of course not lol.

Idk if i would even finish my degree (probably, i hate unfinished degrees). Its about putting food on the table in plentiful amounts for me.

 

[JoshuaGuit]

If I won the powerball then I wouldn't worry about taking a gap year or two and I would study as much as I needed in order to do better on the MCAT and apply again.

 

[SilverCat]

I would. I would have no debt, and donate the remaining cash to some prestigious hospital for them to build a wing with my name on in--the SilverCat Cancer Research Building. Guaranteed admission to the residency of my choice at that hospital. It's a win- win situation. 🙂

 

[ZeaL6]

I would probably go, but I'd convince some higher up to allow me to only work a 20 hour workweek so I could do what I enjoy but have a lot of time for my family and children.

 

[ZeaL6]

Plus then I could study less and be on SDN more!

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I remember this question was asked recently in the EM forum. The results were.......different.

 

[circulus vitios]

If I won the powerball then I wouldn't worry about taking a gap year or two and I would study as much as I needed in order to do better on the MCAT and apply again.

I'd buy my own Prometric testing center and score a 45.

Better yet, pay off an admissions committee member.

Or the most reasonable option of all, not even bother going to medical school.

 

[Radon XP]

I would probably still want to go to medical school, just for the achievement and status.

I'd also invest some of the money and get involved politically.

 

[amazing tekkers]

I'd invest in some equity, stocks, timeshares etc..

Med school? Definitely. It'll be boring going off to some island and retiring early.

 

[amazing tekkers]

Try using your imagination. You could start a large foundation for any noble cause close to your heart.

With those types of possibilites, slaving away in medical school/internship/residency/attendinghood would seem like a waste to me...

Thoughtful input.

 

[Ost3oclast]

Yes I would. I would def retire early though.

 

[Aerus]

Yes, I would. I would also be more willing to pursue other interests, but I definitely want to be a doctor too.

 

[Frazier]

Yeah, I mean it's way easier to help people as a physician than with $300 million post-tax winnings.

This.

It would be pretty silly for a +$300 million lottery winner to go forth to practice medicine...mainly because, whatever argument in favor of the decision, it could be challenged (and likely defeated).

"I would practice in order to help society and my future patients!"

-- No, you could help society exponentially more by being a full-time philanthropist and letting one of the [equally qualified] other docs help your would-be future patients.

"I would practice for self-fulfillment, there is nothing else I would rather do!"

-- Really, young man/lady? Remind me, how long have you been practicing medicine to know that you would prefer nothing more? How many times have you tried every other possibility on earth in order to be certain that you don't prefer XYZ as a means to spend your time?

"I want to be a doctor still because then I can cure cancer!"

-- No. Just no.

...and then there is that little fact that you will be undoubedly jaded when every single patient tries to sue you for malpractice since it won't be a secret for long that their "doctor is worth +$300 million".

Come on, people. There is nothing wrong with being bright eyed and bushy tailed, but this is ridiculous.

So, no, I would not go forward with becoming a physician. However, I would send a big fat donation check (along with my withdraw letter) to my would-be medical school prob in the 5-10 million range. 🙂

 

[La Presse]

I'd buy a med school, then attend it.

 

[SilverCat]

This.


...and then there is that little fact that you will be undoubedly jaded when every single patient tries to sue you for malpractice since it won't be a secret for long that their "doctor is worth +$300 million".

Come on, people. There is nothing wrong with being bright eyed and bushy tailed, but this is ridiculous.

Fair point. I think I'll change my answer to becoming a Bollywood playback singer. Philanthropy, schlamthropy. I can give so much more to the world by singing shrieky remixes of Sheila ki Jawani than anything else.

 

[Josh7]

If you won the 600 million dollar powerball would you still go to medical school?

Would I still have to eat the poop hotdog?

 

[Frazier]

Fair point. I think I'll change my answer to becoming a Bollywood playback singer. Philanthropy, schlamthropy. I can give so much more to the world by singing shrieky remixes of Sheila ki Jawani than anything else.

If you had +$300 million, sure, you could be a Bollywood playback singer. No problem.

However, what would you spend the money on -- voice lessons?

 

[Frazier]

Would I still have to eat the poop hotdog?

Strong work. 👍

 

[circulus vitios]

I'd buy a med school, then attend it.

I was going to make a post about buying Harvard med school and shutting it down so I taste the tears of gunners...then I found their yearly operating expenses are hundreds of millions of dollars.