Is premed right for me?

[mdjdtobe]

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I'm not sure if it's burnout or a lack of motivation, but I'm starting to question if medicine is right for me. Here's a little bit about my background. I don't know if anyone could offer me any advice as to what I should do.

I was your typical gunner when I got to college and studied all the time, strived to be perfect, but also had a nice balanced social life. However, I decided to amp it up as the semesters went on taking 27 credits a semester, maintaining a research position, club positions, volunteering, etc. which destroyed my sanity and social life. My academic performance didn't change, but I felt extraordinarily stressed the last couple semesters and now that it is summer I have decided to immerse myself in approximately 40 hours a week of pre-med related activities while studying for the MCAT. AKA more stress.

I'm not really concerned about getting into medical school (minus the MCAT), but I have a history of vasovagal syncope at the sight of blood and sometimes my body goes into panic mode when someone comes into the ER with anything out of the ordinary.

The sad part is that I do love medicine. I love the rush, I love the problem solving, and I love the patients. I just have no motivation to study for this MCAT for fear that I'm going to do poorly and the hospital has turned into a place where I get anxious because I just sit and contemplate my future.

I'm starting to think that I may not be cut out for medicine, but I honestly despite it all can't see a different future for myself. I can see myself interacting with patients, diagnosing complicated cases, shouting trauma orders in the ER, etc. But, I can also see myself in a state of stress for the next 10 years and the possibility of fainting into a patient.

Advice? Help?

 

[CJhooper123]

I would try obtaining a clinically related job. Medical scribing is one that comes to mind. I feel like so many pre-med students want to be physicians but actually, haven't explored to field completely - not including students whose parents are docs.

Obviously, medicine is a good option for someone who wants to help others and solve problems... but there are other ways to do this in different professions. I think that actually working in a clinical environment, especially w/ physicians and patients, can help one determine if they are truly cut out for medical practice. And who knows... maybe you will find something else in a clinical environment that you might enjoy more!

 

[mdjdtobe]

I would try obtaining a clinically related job. Medical scribing is one that comes to mind. I feel like so many pre-med students want to be physicians but actually, haven't explored to field completely - not including students whose parents are docs.

Obviously, medicine is a good option for someone who wants to help others and solve problems... but there are other ways to do this in different professions. I think that actually working in a clinical environment, especially w/ physicians and patients, can help one determine if they are truly cut out for medical practice. And who knows... maybe you will find something else in a clinical environment that you might enjoy more!

The pre-med related activities include volunteering at a hospital, being a research assistant at a hospital, and acting as a medical assistant part time at a small clinic. I love it when I'm there, but the minute I leave I just don't know if I can handle the path.

 

[PastorDoc]

The path is treacherous for most. Can you see yourself taking on greater challenges? Once you’re in it’ll be more crazy studying and bigger mcats (boards).

 

[CJhooper123]

The pre-med related activities include volunteering at a hospital, being a research assistant at a hospital, and acting as a medical assistant part time at a small clinic. I love it when I'm there, but the minute I leave I just don't know if I can handle the path.

Only you can tell if the path is worth it.

If your biggest concerns are board tests, lifestyle, etc, you can always consider a career as a PA. Not saying that a career as a PA is easy, but the time commitment and lifestyle modifications are not the same as an MD/DO.

All in all, you should prioritize the things that make you happy and try picking a career that would maximize those things.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Med school gets more competitive as you progress. Make sure you can handle that. 27 credits is good prep for that load but don’t work too hard just yet. The MCAT is a beast and you need to mentally prep yourself for it. The boards in med school are worse so there’s that too. Leaving now would be better than after year 1 with 50k+ in debt. Good luck