Is it worth it?

[eg37se]

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I don't know how many times this question has been asked on the forum, but I wanted to ask all of you, who've been through it all (or most of it.) Is it all worth it? Some people make med school sound like hell while others find it to be an okay time. I'm going into my sophomore year of college and will need to switch all but one class in order to fill the requirements for medical school by the time I graduate. This is going to mean alot of work for me, especially becuase I'm playing a varisty sport. So I just wanted to know is everyone happy with their descision to go to med school and become a doctor?

 

[toxic-megacolon]

I don't know how many times this question has been asked on the forum, but I wanted to ask all of you, who've been through it all (or most of it.) Is it all worth it? Some people make med school sound like hell while others find it to be an okay time. I'm going into my sophomore year of college and will need to switch all but one class in order to fill the requirements for medical school by the time I graduate. This is going to mean alot of work for me, especially becuase I'm playing a varisty sport. So I just wanted to know is everyone happy with their descision to go to med school and become a doctor?

Medschool really isn't that bad. In the end you're still a student, and you get to live the lifestyle of a student (out for drinks on a Tuesday night, etc). Most schools will give you ample time off during years 3-4. Yes you will work your a$$ off but never for an extended period of time (unless you CHOOSE to). You will have ample time to relax, travel, hang out, etc. If you had fun in college, you'll probably enjoy medschool. Nowadays, the pay for residency is pretty decent, and many specialties have residencies with decent lifestyle (derm, rads, radonc, anesthesia, FP, pathology). And after all that, you are basically gauranteed a great job. But to sum it up, I don't regret going to medschool, and I feel guilty when I see friends from lawschool settling for a job that doesn't use all their schooling, or friends from engineering school who can barely afford to pay back their college loans.

 

[Annette]

Is it all worth it?

It is very person dependent. Asking a million people will never answer the question is it worth it to you.

The best thing you could do is to shadow as many physicians as possible- Pathologists, internists, surgeons, drug company docs, docs who don't work in medicine, anyone you who will let you. Try to get an idea of what is drawing you to medicine. Is it patient contact? The "science" or the art? Is it the trappings? Are there other options to give you what you want (PA, RN, PhD, etc).

If necessary, you can always do all the requirements in a post-bac year.

 

[erichaj]

Medical School is hard. You will not be playing any sport in competitive manner. You can still play for fun and stay in shape. You are going to be a sophmore. This means you most likely have not taken the physics, math, or organic chemistry and biology courses. Even if you wanted to go to medical school, you would still have to do well in those courses. In fact after taking a couple of those you may change you mind completely. Do some research and volunteer work in the ER. Talk to the residents. They will have a little bid of a jaded perspective since they are working 80hrs a week but when you do residency you will have to do the same.

You did not mention if you like medicine or not. Why are you considering medicine. You will get that question in almost every interview for medical school. Oh, I forgot the MCAT. you will need to prepare for that exam and take it before even applying to medical school.

So lets see,

2 years of science courses
volunteer work
MCAT
4 years of Medical school
3 to 7 years of residency

Practice medicine.

Is it worth it? It's up to you, I just thought you should know all the facts. Worth has an emotional component to it. No one can answer that question for you. However, in order for you to make your choice you have to have all the facts and do some soul searching. Only then can you make an accurate choice with as close to 100% accuracy as possible.

Good luck.

PS, if you did take all those science courses, you could apply it to other majors like pharmacy, nursing, PA school, medical/pharmaceutical sales, dental school, physical therapy, etc.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

This horse is dead. Do a search. Hell, I even think there is a thread on this page regarding this ?.

 

[MedWiz]

This horse is dead. Do a search. Hell, I even think there is a thread on this page regarding this ?.

This might be a good start

 

[footcramp]

it's both hell and ok. mostly because you become ok with hell.

 

[p53]

This horse is dead. Do a search. Hell, I even think there is a thread on this page regarding this ?.

Not until you came in with your Avatar and started punching the shiznit out of it.