First off,
I'm glad I finally found a forum where I can voice opinions and concerns in my pursuit of a medical career.
This forum is the mother of all pre-med forums.
My questions are basically...what steps do I need to take to ultimately reach my goal? Where should I attend undergraduate (base the choice on cost or prestige)? What can I do in my senior year of high school to prepare for the "Hell" ahead?
Step 1: Relax
Step 2: Don't live every aspect of your life thinking about how it will affect your chances of getting into medical school.
Step 3: Don't get into trouble with the law (NO DUI)
Step 4: Don't worry about medical school right now, instead concentrate on finishing your senior year, play a sport, do some volunteer work at a local clinic, and apply to colleges.
Step 5: Chose a college that gives you the best chance FOR YOU to succeed. Think about location and access to resources. It is much easier to get distracted by the social life at some universities then others. If you are interested in research, I would advice not to go to a small liberal arts college. If you would like to work in the medical field while going to college, I would advice to become a CNA. This will help your ease into wha the medical field is like. I went to college with two people who decided not to be doctors after working as a CNA for a year. They instead applied to gradaute school to become a physican assitant (one got into school and another didn't...I hope this person still applies this year though). Major in what you would enjoy. There is nothing wrong with majoring in biology. The problem with a biology degree is being able to get a good job after college if you don't get into medical school your first try. Think about what makes you happy. If you enjoy being able to be in the outdoors, don't go to college in a large city (like New York and Boston).
Step 6: Get the best ACT and/or SAT score you can (I assume you already took it). Get the best GPA you can. Apply to colleges you would be interested in and go to the school that is the best FIT FOR YOU.
~Is it really worth it?
Your perspective in life is likely to change overtime. At 18 it may seem to be worth it. At 22 you may feel it isn't worth it for yourself as you have changed as a person. So explore your options and chose what you are the most interested in. I chose a medical career where I don't have to sacrafice my love for football. If I were to have become a doctor, I would not be as free to watch and go to football games as I can now.
Everything in my life is currently a blur. There are so many unknowns in terms of what I can expect in the medical field!
My family is naturally dead set against it...stress, money, worry for their little baby.
And yet, I can't see myself doing ANYTHING else.
I thrive on intellectual challenges, and
ordinary day-to-day routines just aren't going to cut it.
You may think you are at a disadvantage of having your family against you wanting to become a doctor, but that is actually a good thing. Just be glad that they are not pushing you into becoming a doctor (I've seen a lot of Asian kids pushed into professional careers that they will suck at).
All people who spend time on this Web forum like intellectual challenges. That is why we all are or want to be in the medical field. But I will let you on a little secrete before you start college. Getting good grades in a biology program is not hard. It is mostly memorization. Some schools will be a lot more competitive to get that A then others. But in the end, the information is the same no matter where you go to college (some may disagree with me, but I know enough about biology to prove them wrong)
I want to let you know about another little secrete. Every job in the world has routine stuff. There is no way to avoid it. Some jobs are more routine then others. If you become a surgeon, chances are that you will do the same type of surgery every day for your whole career as a doctor. If you become a family medicine doctor, most of your cases will be the same thing (others can insert what these type of cases are). Emergency Medicine has the most non-routine cases.
~
How much debt am I going to accrue by the end of medical school?
Most likely over $150,000 or more. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but it is manageable with a doctors salary. You won't be rich, but you will still be able to keep food on the table and have a roof over your head.
This is my BIGGEST worry.
How do I cut back on costs? How can I earn money during the year and manage schoolwork at the same time?
Don't own a credit card! Work during school. You can work 20 hours a week with no problem. Don't purchase a brand new expensive car. Get a reliable used car that you can drive the next several years.
Thanks for any help...and forgive the long post!
Any tips or suggestions are welcome. I'm quite a hopeless newbie. *nods*