Indecisive about medical school

[jumpppp]

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I have been really tormented by this decision for the past 6months so would like to find out if anyone has any advice. I am really indecisive about whether to pursue being a doctor. i am 28 this year and i have been doing supply chain in the oil industry for the past 5 years. but i am constantly feeling that i should do something more meaningful.
having a career that is medically related has always been something at the back of my mind since university (i majored in chem eng) i have considered working in supply chain at a pharm company but i felt that it may not be fulfilling.
so i decided to try applying for med school and i was offered last year. however after talking to many doctors i duno if this is the life i want to pursue (long hours, no social life, constant studying).

i have been volunteering for a year at the hospital interacting with the patients with simple craft and games. and i enjoy it. i am just not sure if i am willing to sacrifice >10years of my life to be a doctor. I am considering marriage and starting a family within the next few years, being adoctor would make everything more difficult.

Or should I just focus on contributing more to the community by doing more voluntary work? whuke exploring a career in a pharm company? sorry for this long post, but omg i rly need to make a decision soon

 

[jumpppp]

I have been really tormented by this decision for the past 6months so would like to find out if anyone has any advice. I am really indecisive about whether to pursue being a doctor. i am 28 this year and i have been doing supply chain in the oil industry for the past 5 years. but i am constantly feeling that i should do something more meaningful.
having a career that is medically related has always been something at the back of my mind since university (i majored in chem eng) i have considered working in supply chain at a pharm company but i felt that it may not be fulfilling.
so i decided to try applying for med school and i was offered last year. however after talking to many doctors i duno if this is the life i want to pursue (long hours, no social life, constant studying).

i have been volunteering for a year at the hospital interacting with the patients with simple craft and games. and i enjoy it. i am just not sure if i am willing to sacrifice >10years of my life to be a doctor. I am considering marriage and starting a family within the next few years, being adoctor would make everything more difficult.

Or should I just focus on contributing more to the community by doing more voluntary work? whuke exploring a career in a pharm company? sorry for this long post, but omg i rly need to make a decision soon

 

[el_duderino]

I tell people not to go into medicine if you can see yourself being happy doing something else.

It sounds like you're OK with your job, but you're missing out on the feeling of helping people more directly. I think you're on the right track by getting more into volunteer work.

 

[FlyerScribe]

Dont listen to the others. Do what will make you happy. If it's your dream to be a doc and itll make you happy, do it. All that matters is your happiness. YOLO!

Sent from my SM-G930P using SDN mobile

 

[Phile98]

however after talking to many doctors i duno if this is the life i want to pursue (long hours, no social life, constant studying).

i have been volunteering for a year at the hospital interacting with the patients with simple craft and games. and i enjoy it. i am just not sure if i am willing to sacrifice >10years of my life to be a doctor. I am considering marriage and starting a family within the next few years, being adoctor would make everything more difficult.

I think you have your answer here. You, and only you can determine whether you are infatuated or in love with medicine. Only the latter will lead to a fulfilling career.

 

[el_duderino]

Don't crosspost.

 

[DSM_302.0]

Imagine yourself in 50 years. What would you regret more: the sacrifices it took to become a doctor and practice medicine, or living out another career, maybe even in your same role? Maybe this will help you decide. Good luck!

 

[FutureOncologist]

Shadow what the doctors do; don't just talk to them about their sentiments. Just asking "hey would you go into medicine again if given the chance?" There's a good chance they'd say "no" for a multitude of reasons. Every doctor I talked to as a premed said "don't waste your time kid" because they were overworked and wanted to get their 20's back. Or maybe it was a difficult day in the ED. Perhaps they lost a patient recently that they can't get out of their heads.Maybe they want to just have more free time. There are many reasons why they could say no. It's a very subjective question

But if you get to shadow them, you get to see what they do in a day. That's way more objective. If you like the work that they do, then you can find your answer.

However, as I tell my premeds that constantly ask me if they should do medical school: Only become a doctor if you literally cannot see yourself doing anything else. This isn't "just another job" like some people like to claim it is. Some call it a calling, others call it masochism. If you get fulfillment from just helping kids by playing games after work/on weekends, then stick to that. If you can't see yourself working 80 hour weeks being paid minimum wage, I can guarantee you you'll suffer.

 

[curbsideconsult]

I am considering marriage and starting a family within the next few years, being adoctor would make everything more difficult.

Close to half of my classmates are in long-term relationships and I'm quite sure that number will increase as the years go on. As a group, doctors and med students are the marrying type and I think if you also really want to get married and have children you can make it work as well.

If you've already received an acceptance then it's only 7+ years, but really it's only 4 years until you're a mini-doctor and then residency. If you're worried about the time crunch, stick with primary care fields as they have shorter residencies.

It seems like you have the right motivation to be a doctor and I would hate for medicine to lose another person like you who is in it for the right reasons.

Can you speak with a higher up in admissions and ask if you can defer a year while you sit on this? I know you generally need a very good reason to defer, but I think if you frame this in the right way you could get one.