D
deleted446889
Last edited by a moderator:
Hey all! Sorry if theres been a thread like this, but all the ones I found seem to be old/out of date. So, basically I am an undergrad freshman with a goal of getting into medical school and becoming a doctor. I'm not in it just for the money at all, all I want is a comfortable lifestyle where I can still live nicely and not have to worry about money. I do not want to work all the time, I'm totally fine with making a little less if it means more freedom and family time. My father is an internal med physician, and he works all the time and seems to be unhappy. He recently advised me against becoming a doctor, citing the fact that I would spend all my half my life studying and that the future of medicine is very dark due to Obamacare, etc. However, I truly enjoy being in the hospital and helping patients, in short I really want to be a doctor. In fact, I have never imagined doing anything else. But after my father's advice, I have opened the door for other things. I have no idea what else is out there for me that would suit me and give me the comfortable lifestyle I would like. I still think that I can get into medical school if i tried, but I am not sure about it anymore. So, I came here, to ask you dedicated students what you think? If you were in my position, with the opportunity to do anything, what would you do? If you all could be so kind and if you would NOT recommend medicine, could you point me toward other majors/careers that would be satisfying for me? Thank you all so much!
A sincere kid seeking advice from those more knowledgeable
I don't think being a doctor ever was a "comfortable lifestyle". I guess it depends on your definition.
Hey all! Sorry if theres been a thread like this, but all the ones I found seem to be old/out of date. So, basically I am an undergrad freshman with a goal of getting into medical school and becoming a doctor. I'm not in it just for the money at all, all I want is a comfortable lifestyle where I can still live nicely and not have to worry about money. I do not want to work all the time, I'm totally fine with making a little less if it means more freedom and family time. My father is an internal med physician, and he works all the time and seems to be unhappy. He recently advised me against becoming a doctor, citing the fact that I would spend all my half my life studying and that the future of medicine is very dark due to Obamacare, etc. However, I truly enjoy being in the hospital and helping patients, in short I really want to be a doctor. In fact, I have never imagined doing anything else. But after my father's advice, I have opened the door for other things. I have no idea what else is out there for me that would suit me and give me the comfortable lifestyle I would like. I still think that I can get into medical school if i tried, but I am not sure about it anymore. So, I came here, to ask you dedicated students what you think? If you were in my position, with the opportunity to do anything, what would you do? If you all could be so kind and if you would NOT recommend medicine, could you point me toward other majors/careers that would be satisfying for me? Thank you all so much!
A sincere kid seeking advice from those more knowledgeable
I wouldn't call Obamacare a dark omen for doctors just yet either. The bill holds promise for people in all walks in medicine, from patients to the uninsured, to insurers to doctors. No one really knows how the bill will impact the field until it is fully instituted. Even then, it may take a few years for everyone to adjust to the change before its effects, whether negative or positive, can be fully assessed.
Did you just say, "this bill holds promise for everyone, but we have no idea how"? 😕
Gender Studies or Africana studies could be good majors for you OP. You might find those highly satisfying.
Gender Studies or Africana studies could be good majors for you OP. You might find those highly satisfying.
But if he bombs the MCAT, what is he going to do with his life? Curate a women's studies museum?
With the way communist Obamacare is going, he won't have a job with a medical degree either!![]()
With the way communist Obamacare is going, he won't have a job with a medical degree either!![]()
You could always spin a globe and stick your finger on a country and go work there. Who knows, you might serve as the personal doctor for the dictator. I've got my fingers crossed for Idi Amin!
Guess you shouldn't go into medicine now. Go and run before the big communist orders you to eat broccoli!
As an attending - my 2 cents.
If you're wanting to do it for the money - choose something else.
If you're wanting to do it because you think it's cool - it is cool, do it.
If I were to do it over again and I wanted something easier and more predictable with a better billing system - I'd probably do dentistry.
But I did this so I could properly run a code, an arrest, and do my best to prevent someone from dying prematurely. This is why I'm an Emergency Physician and this is why I went through med school and residency.
I get paid to do it... and I still get paid well.
My sentiments exactly. And I don't hide it in interviews. Result: 2 for 2, hoping to go for 3 for 3 tomorrow!THANK YOU!!! I tell everyone I know that this is my primary reason, and they always tell me I'm selfish for thinking that, "Hey Shenanigans, being a physician is about helping people, not satisfying your interests."
Guess what world: Every career is about helping people.
For those who always say, "If you're doing it for the money, do something else," there never seems to be a follow-up suggestion as to exactly what that something else is. I mean, big-law and I-banking have strict bars to entry and "small-law" and finance in general are in a bubble. Moreover, both those careers are more pinned to the tail of the economy more that medicine, which is somewhat buffered by govt. and the fact that people will always be sick.
And while we here in the "medical bubble" always moan on about increasing BS and decreasing reimbursements, at least we still have our jobs. The same cannot be said for many others. The fact is: with a very very few minor exceptions, everybody's hurting everywhere. I don't know about you, but I'd rather take a paycut than be laid off. So really, if you want a recession proof job that will pay you a comfortable salary and provide stability for your entire life, there's hardly a career out there like medicine.
For those who always say, "If you're doing it for the money, do something else," there never seems to be a follow-up suggestion as to exactly what that something else is. I mean, big-law and I-banking have strict bars to entry and "small-law" and finance in general are in a bubble. Moreover, both those careers are more pinned to the tail of the economy more that medicine, which is somewhat buffered by govt. and the fact that people will always be sick.
And while we here in the "medical bubble" always moan on about increasing BS and decreasing reimbursements, at least we still have our jobs. The same cannot be said for many others. The fact is: with a very very few minor exceptions, everybody's hurting everywhere. I don't know about you, but I'd rather take a paycut than be laid off. So really, if you want a recession proof job that will pay you a comfortable salary and provide stability for your entire life, there's hardly a career out there like medicine.
Thanks everyone. I see what you all are saying about finding out what I like, but I'm already rather certain I'm not into engineering, business, law or anything. My interest has been rather piqued by dentistry tho. Can you tell me more about it? Such as how it compares to traditional M.Ds in terms of lifestyle, stress, job stability? Also, exactly how much time/money could you save becoming a dentist instead of a doctor? Last question haha how would you compare pharmacy and dentistry as alternatives to medicine?
Hey all! Sorry if theres been a thread like this, but all the ones I found seem to be old/out of date. So, basically I am an undergrad freshman with a goal of getting into medical school and becoming a doctor. I'm not in it just for the money at all, all I want is a comfortable lifestyle where I can still live nicely and not have to worry about money. I do not want to work all the time, I'm totally fine with making a little less if it means more freedom and family time. My father is an internal med physician, and he works all the time and seems to be unhappy. He recently advised me against becoming a doctor, citing the fact that I would spend all my half my life studying and that the future of medicine is very dark due to Obamacare, etc. However, I truly enjoy being in the hospital and helping patients, in short I really want to be a doctor. In fact, I have never imagined doing anything else. But after my father's advice, I have opened the door for other things. I have no idea what else is out there for me that would suit me and give me the comfortable lifestyle I would like. I still think that I can get into medical school if i tried, but I am not sure about it anymore. So, I came here, to ask you dedicated students what you think? If you were in my position, with the opportunity to do anything, what would you do? If you all could be so kind and if you would NOT recommend medicine, could you point me toward other majors/careers that would be satisfying for me? Thank you all so much!
A sincere kid seeking advice from those more knowledgeable
For those who always say, "If you're doing it for the money, do something else," there never seems to be a follow-up suggestion as to exactly what that something else is. I mean, big-law and I-banking have strict bars to entry and "small-law" and finance in general are in a bubble. Moreover, both those careers are more pinned to the tail of the economy more that medicine, which is somewhat buffered by govt. and the fact that people will always be sick.
And while we here in the "medical bubble" always moan on about increasing BS and decreasing reimbursements, at least we still have our jobs. The same cannot be said for many others. The fact is: with a very very few minor exceptions, everybody's hurting everywhere. I don't know about you, but I'd rather take a paycut than be laid off. So really, if you want a recession proof job that will pay you a comfortable salary and provide stability for your entire life, there's hardly a career out there like medicine.
1. Like I mentioned above... Dentistry or oral surgery for the money. No contest.
2. Medical bubble? Crying wolf? It's true. It's there and only those practicing know this while those on the sidelines can preach what they want to hear themselves.
I spoke to a surgeon at my hospital. He said that with the going reimbursement, it won't be long before he cant break even between him and the 3 surgeons in his practice along with the 8 in his office staff and overhead costs.He told me that if things continue, he will have to stop elective surgeries and do only emergent surgeries.
So yes, it's "nice" to have a job, but atleast one that pays.
An ER physician I know is having the same problem. His group is worried that the hospital will not renew their contract.
Go to the dentistry forum on SDN, they're talking about how dentistry money is drying up, and some are saying that they should have gone into medicine, instead.1. Like I mentioned above... Dentistry or oral surgery for the money. No contest.
2. Medical bubble? Crying wolf? It's true. It's there and only those practicing know this while those on the sidelines can preach what they want to hear themselves.
I spoke to a surgeon at my hospital. He said that with the going reimbursement, it won't be long before he cant break even between him and the 3 surgeons in his practice along with the 8 in his office staff and overhead costs. He told me that if things continue, he will have to stop elective surgeries and do only emergent surgeries.
So yes, it's "nice" to have a job, but atleast one that pays.
ER physicians should love Obamacare. 20% of ER cases go unpaid, because the patients have no insurance and can't afford to pay. Now that many of those patients will be placed on medicaid or forced to have insurance, they'll get more chances for reimbursement.An ER physician I know is having the same problem. His group is worried that the hospital will not renew their contract.
Go to the dentistry forum on SDN, they're talking about how dentistry money is drying up, and some are saying that they should have gone into medicine, instead.
Pharmacy students will tell you that pharmacy is dying, podiatry students will tell you that podiatry is dying, dentistry students will tell you that dentistry is dying, law students will tell you that law is dying (and they're right), and medical students will tell you that medicine is dying.
Never heard a pod student say that.... they all love it! 😀
Exactly. What careers pay the amount medicine does without the same large amounts of schooling, debt, and difficulty? And if the reason for the quote, "if you're doing it for the money, do something else," is that person cares about money, so they won't make a good doctor, NOT TRUE! If you aren't a good doctor, you won't make money!
Investment banking would probably be your best bet, but you would have to be extraordinarily good at it to make the big money. If you are, you can make good money right out of school.
yep. This is what it's been like for me:Things are changing for every profession out there. If you want to talk about jobs in the medical field, go read an article or talk to someone who was a drug rep back in the 90's and is still one today.
The majority of prestigious or well paying jobs that I can think of have changed greatly. Try going to just any law or business school these days. Everything is saturated and people are taking less to do more. It isn't just medicine that looks gloomy, it's our entire economy and the ever-dividing classes. This has been in effect for decades.
Do what you like, do what makes you happy. If it means being homeless, then maybe you should reconsider- that's what hobbies are for. But if you're in something just for the money, you better be going to the top schools and you better know some people.
yep. This is what it's been like for me:
-people in business saying stay away, there's no job security, etc
-people in law saying to stay away from law as law school will lead to debt and ****ty job prospects in an over-saturated market (go read about unemployed lawyers, lawyers working as waiters, etc)
-people in academia/research saying academia is terrible, impossible to get tenure track positions, etc
and then there is nearly every doctor I've spoken to (and I can't even look at threads like this on SDN anymore) telling me to stay away from medicine.. But I've decided not to listen because this is what I love and maybe it will bite me in the butt in the end, but hopefully not
I actually do wish I was interested in podiatry or dentistry because I have been told by many different people to go into these fields, but MD/DO is what I'm set on
Optometry, 180k a year working 3 days a week once you're 40. I personally see peers try for medicine but realize that while the 4 years of pharmacy/PT/optometry school is actually difficult, the job is lower stress with a upper middle class lifestyle. This is a serious post because as you progress through college, sone people don't have the motivation for medicine.
Yeah, I know a guy in Optometry school who is telling me that the market is "oversaturated".I don't think that's possible. 180K in optometry? If you look in the optometry forum, the sky is falling.
Yeah, I know a guy in Optometry school who is telling me that the market is "oversaturated".
It's just my earlier point. Talk to anyone in most fields, and they'll tell you that things are getting worse, and the sad thing is, they're right. It isn't just medicine. It's in most places.
A real physician disregards money AND a comfortable lifestyle. It's not about you, it's about the people. You give your life to save many lives. That's a true physician and that's how I plan on living my life. Screw money, it's not going to be a driving force in my life.
What would you like to do if money was no object? If it meant nothing and had no meaning? How would you enjoy your life? Some young individuals getting out of college would really spend there life as painters, poets, writers, but everyone knows you can't make money that way. Well lets go through it. When you find out what you really want to do. You should just do that and forget the money, if you say getting the money is the most important thing, you'll be spending your life completely wasting your time. You'll be doing things you don't like doing in order to go on living that is to go on doing things you don't like doing which is stupid. Better have a short life full of what you like doing rather than a long life spent in a miserable way. And after all if you really do like what your doing you can turn it around and become a master at it. The only way to become a master at it is to continue with what you desire. Then you'll get a feel for whatever it is, so don't worry about it. Everyone is interested in everything, and anything you find interesting you'll find others that are also interested. But it is absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don't like in order to go on spending things you don't like and to teach your children to follow the same track. See what we are doing is we are bringing up children and educating them to live the same sort of lives we are living in order for them to justify themselves and find satisfaction in their life by bringing up their children, and to bring up their children. Some say you need money to be able to do things. If you are missing the point. The reason one might fail in pursuit of performing the craft they love is because of the society around. The society that refuses to pursue its own passions and continues to lead miserable lives. But, if we all would change. Every single one right now, we would all be successful, and we would all be happy. This does not imply that you should drop everything, but to at least get as close to what your interested in as possible. So therefore, it is very important to consider this question. What do you desire?
A real physician disregards money AND a comfortable lifestyle. It's not about you, it's about the people. You give your life to save many lives. That's a true physician and that's how I plan on living my life. Screw money, it's not going to be a driving force in my life.
What would you like to do if money was no object? If it meant nothing and had no meaning? How would you enjoy your life? Some young individuals getting out of college would really spend there life as painters, poets, writers, but everyone knows you can't make money that way. Well lets go through it. When you find out what you really want to do. You should just do that and forget the money, if you say getting the money is the most important thing, you'll be spending your life completely wasting your time. You'll be doing things you don't like doing in order to go on living that is to go on doing things you don't like doing which is stupid. Better have a short life full of what you like doing rather than a long life spent in a miserable way. And after all if you really do like what your doing you can turn it around and become a master at it. The only way to become a master at it is to continue with what you desire. Then you'll get a feel for whatever it is, so don't worry about it. Everyone is interested in everything, and anything you find interesting you'll find others that are also interested. But it is absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don't like in order to go on spending things you don't like and to teach your children to follow the same track. See what we are doing is we are bringing up children and educating them to live the same sort of lives we are living in order for them to justify themselves and find satisfaction in their life by bringing up their children, and to bring up their children. Some say you need money to be able to do things. If you are missing the point. The reason one might fail in pursuit of performing the craft they love is because of the society around. The society that refuses to pursue its own passions and continues to lead miserable lives. But, if we all would change. Every single one right now, we would all be successful, and we would all be happy. This does not imply that you should drop everything, but to at least get as close to what your interested in as possible. So therefore, it is very important to consider this question. What do you desire?
A real physician disregards money AND a comfortable lifestyle. It's not about you, it's about the people. You give your life to save many lives. That's a true physician and that's how I plan on living my life. Screw money, it's not going to be a driving force in my life.
What would you like to do if money was no object? If it meant nothing and had no meaning? How would you enjoy your life? Some young individuals getting out of college would really spend there life as painters, poets, writers, but everyone knows you can't make money that way. Well lets go through it. When you find out what you really want to do. You should just do that and forget the money, if you say getting the money is the most important thing, you'll be spending your life completely wasting your time. You'll be doing things you don't like doing in order to go on living that is to go on doing things you don't like doing which is stupid. Better have a short life full of what you like doing rather than a long life spent in a miserable way. And after all if you really do like what your doing you can turn it around and become a master at it. The only way to become a master at it is to continue with what you desire. Then you'll get a feel for whatever it is, so don't worry about it. Everyone is interested in everything, and anything you find interesting you'll find others that are also interested. But it is absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don't like in order to go on spending things you don't like and to teach your children to follow the same track. See what we are doing is we are bringing up children and educating them to live the same sort of lives we are living in order for them to justify themselves and find satisfaction in their life by bringing up their children, and to bring up their children. Some say you need money to be able to do things. If you are missing the point. The reason one might fail in pursuit of performing the craft they love is because of the society around. The society that refuses to pursue its own passions and continues to lead miserable lives. But, if we all would change. Every single one right now, we would all be successful, and we would all be happy. This does not imply that you should drop everything, but to at least get as close to what your interested in as possible. So therefore, it is very important to consider this question. What do you desire?