job interview after receiving acceptance

[mickster]

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I was finally accepted to my #1 medical school, but after the initial relief wore off I began to feel a deep sense that something wasn’t right. I think I got so caught up in avoiding rejection that I was ignoring my gut feeling that I should at least consider pursuing something else. During my clinical experiences I realized that I am very interested in healthcare management/administration and policy. I even minored in healthcare management with the hopes of eventually becoming a medical director. I reached out to some people I know in the field for some guidance and was surprised to be offered an interview . According to Google, starting salary is 70-80k for this position(!!) So, a few questions…

- The person I spoke to said they normally require at least a Bachelors in the field (I only have a minor) but she would put in a good word. I heard from 3rd and 4th yrs that med students who fail out are sometimes offered 100k+ jobs simply for having gotten into med school. Is this realistic or just hearsay?

- Also, I only have a portal change and e-mail (no physical letter). Can my prospective employer request proof of the acceptance or is this info confidential? And if they do, will my school know that I am considering a complete career change? The job offer is from a different health system with its own residency program, but it is close in location to the med school… I’m worried some people might know some people. If this turns out to be cold feet I don’t want to put myself in a bad position as this would be my #1 school.

- Is anyone else experiencing second thoughts?????? Am I going crazy???

I keep thinking about what one of the residents told me during those good ole scribing days… If there is anything in the world that you could picture yourself doing other than medicine, don’t pick medicine.

 

[svk7]

I was finally accepted to my #1 medical school, but after the initial relief wore off I began to feel a deep sense that something wasn’t right. I think I got so caught up in avoiding rejection that I was ignoring my gut feeling that I should at least consider pursuing something else. During my clinical experiences I realized that I am very interested in healthcare management/administration and policy. I even minored in healthcare management with the hopes of eventually becoming a medical director. I reached out to some people I know in the field for some guidance and was surprised to be offered an interview . According to Google, starting salary is 70-80k for this position(!!) So, a few questions…

Reflect on whether you're interested in individualized patient care or system-wide patient care; you can do each with an MD/DO but only one without. If you're mainly considering med school for the money "(!!)", you'll not often, if ever, find yourself leaving the office with a sense of fulfillment, will be always wondering if you made the right choice, and be downright miserable. If your passion is healthcare management/administration but you would also want to see patients, it can be done. Tons of MD, MPHs/MBAs out there... "doctorcrats." On the other hand, if just the former an MPH/MBA would suffice and save you $350k.

- The person I spoke to said they normally require at least a Bachelors in the field (I only have a minor) but she would put in a good word. I heard from 3rd and 4th yrs that med students who fail out are sometimes offered 100k+ jobs simply for having gotten into med school. Is this realistic or just hearsay?

Who told you this? If anything it might make them consider revoking their interview offer. No one wants to hire someone going into medical school because they know they'll lose you (i.e., it would not be worth investing their time orienting and training you if you were to just leave). Now, I'm not sure what happens if you show them the acceptance letter, state that you had a chance of heart, and show them an email you sent your med school stating you wish to withdraw your acceptance to pursue other career options.

- Also, I only have a portal change and e-mail (no physical letter). Can my prospective employer request proof of the acceptance or is this info confidential? And if they do, will my school know that I am considering a complete career change? The job offer is from a different health system with its own residency program, but it is close in location to the med school… I’m worried some people might know some people. If this turns out to be cold feet I don’t want to put myself in a bad position as this would be my #1 school.

See above point. Highly doubt this makes a difference; or, if any, negatively impacts your chances.

- Is anyone else experiencing second thoughts?????? Am I going crazy???

No; I applied because I know I want to be a physician. This is why I think it's important and extremely beneficial for people to take 1-2 gap years to work in the "real world" to (a) figure out if medicine is truly their lifelong passion and (b) take the time to mature and grow. The way this is written might cause some here to question your "maturity" to handle medical school, residency, and beyond.

I keep thinking about what one of the residents told me during those good ole scribing days… If there is anything in the world that you could picture yourself doing other than medicine, don’t pick medicine.

Medical students and residents often self-report being miserable and tell others the above. The truth is that most of those who say that wouldn't pick any other profession, and it's easy to spew that kind of stuff once you're already in the weeds and over the first few hurdles (i.e., acceptance, matriculation, etc.).

 

[acslater99]

Go to medical school and don't look back!

 

[mickster]

Reflect on whether you're interested in individualized patient care or system-wide patient care; you can do each with an MD/DO but only one without. If you're mainly considering med school for the money "(!!)", you'll not often, if ever, find yourself leaving the office with a sense of fulfillment, will be always wondering if you made the right choice, and be downright miserable. If your passion is healthcare management/administration but you would also want to see patients, it can be done. Tons of MD, MPHs/MBAs out there... "doctorcrats." On the other hand, if just the former an MPH/MBA would suffice and save you $350k.

Who told you this? If anything it might make them consider revoking their interview offer. No one wants to hire someone going into medical school because they know they'll lose you (i.e., it would not be worth investing their time orienting and training you if you were to just leave). Now, I'm not sure what happens if you show them the acceptance letter, state that you had a chance of heart, and show them an email you sent your med school stating you wish to withdraw your acceptance to pursue other career options.

See above point. Highly doubt this makes a difference; or, if any, negatively impacts your chances.

No; I applied because I know I want to be a physician. This is why I think it's important and extremely beneficial for people to take 1-2 gap years to work in the "real world" to (a) figure out if medicine is truly their lifelong passion and (b) take the time to mature and grow. The way this is written might cause some here to question your "maturity" to handle medical school, residency, and beyond.

Medical students and residents often self-report being miserable and tell others the above. The truth is that most of those who say that wouldn't pick any other profession, and it's easy to spew that kind of stuff once you're already in the weeds and over the first few hurdles (i.e., acceptance, matriculation, etc.).

It seems like you are restating some of the points I already made so perhaps I didn't articulate them clearly. Of course money matters! That's why we work, right? But for only having a minor in the field, that salary seems too good to be true (hence the "(!!)"). At the same time, it certainly makes me consider whether I can be satisfied in a mgmt position without seeing patients. My apprehensions stem from the many years of soul-crushing (yet fulfilling) work and the absurd amount of debt, not the patients.

To be more clear, the point of the first question is to determine whether having been accepted to medical school would be appealing to prospective employers. For instance, going to an interview with other job offers might make you appear to be a more competitive and desirable candidate. I would absolutely withdraw my acceptance if I decided to take the position, but at this point I am undecided and don't want to end up empty handed. I would also like to know if there is any risk associated due to the possibility of my interviewer notifying my school that I'm considering other options.

And lastly, I know that you put a lot of work into this and you take this very seriously. I do not mean to undermine your certainty. I was sure that I wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. When I took 2 gap years working in heme/onc, I was still positive that I wanted to be a doctor. Now, the thought that I could be wrong is both incredibly confusing and terrifying, as though my entire world is flipped upside down. If I'm alone in feeling this way I think stepping down is something I ought to seriously consider.

 

[907914]

It seems like you are restating some of the points I already made so perhaps I didn't articulate them clearly. Of course money matters! That's why we work, right? But for only having a minor in the field, that salary seems too good to be true (hence the "(!!)"). At the same time, it certainly makes me consider whether I can be satisfied in a mgmt position without seeing patients. My apprehensions stem from the many years of soul-crushing (yet fulfilling) work and the absurd amount of debt, not the patients.

To be more clear, the point of the first question is to determine whether having been accepted to medical school would be appealing to prospective employers. For instance, going to an interview with other job offers might make you appear to be a more competitive and desirable candidate. I would absolutely withdraw my acceptance if I decided to take the position, but at this point I am undecided and don't want to end up empty handed. I would also like to know if there is any risk associated due to the possibility of my interviewer notifying my school that I'm considering other options.

And lastly, I know that you put a lot of work into this and you take this very seriously. I do not mean to undermine your certainty. I was sure that I wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. When I took 2 gap years working in heme/onc, I was still positive that I wanted to be a doctor. Now, the thought that I could be wrong is both incredibly confusing and terrifying, as though my entire world is flipped upside down. If I'm alone in feeling this way I think stepping down is something I ought to seriously consider.

The first bolded section: Yes, money matters. But you do not work in health care long term for the money. Not all, but most physicans work to see their patients and live comfortably.
The second bolded section: Having worked 6 years in health care, 3 of those in management I will tell you an acceptance from a medical school means zilch. Why you anyone care that you have the potential to be a doctor in 8 years? That makes zero sense. Student who drop out of medical school may get these jobs at a higher salary because they have actually gone through the leadership and clinical trainning. They don't just have an acceptance, they have a actual knowledge.
The third bolded section: Unless you have a very petty interviewer who wants to crush your medical school potential, this won't happen.
The fourth and fifht bolded sections: Only you can decide if you just have cold feet or you genuinely have a change of heart. But if it helps, you are most certainly not alone. Almost all pre-meds get the feeling of "Is it worth it?" or something along those lines. Just realize, if you rescind your acceptance, medical school will likely never be an option for you again.

 

[jarednogeek]

To never doubt is to never be sure. At least as sure as our minds are capable. What you decide after that doubt is what matters.

 

[PeleHonuaMea]

Management/admin is a totally different beast. There's no guarantee you'll love it 3 years from now.

Just take your acceptance and run. You can always return after medical school to be a medical director, CEO, AMD, president...etc.

Congrats and best of luck to you 🙂