Lost; opinions please!

[dorksy]

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Hi. I've been lurking around here for a while, and while all the technical help here will be very useful to me if I do decide to pursue medicine as a career, my biggest concern is whether I will be able to thrive as a medical student and then as a medical professional.

I have a great interest in biology and service, but so many others claim to do so. How are all of my pre-med peers (I'm a non-premed, freshman evolutionary biology/ecology major) so certain that they can achieve their dreams, or is it that they just seem this way because they are either very optimistic or don't know how difficult this career path is?

Surely the "95%" (I see this number alot on SDN) who don't make it to med school or quit can't all be lying to themselves! Or are they? How do I know I'm not lying to myself about what my real interests are and what I really want to do? Is it even worth my time and effort to start on this career path if I'm asking these questions in the first place?

I'm quite sure of my interest in pure biological, especially medical, knowledge because there aren't financial and social "rewards" that can potentially cloud my judgment. And I can even say with strong certainty that I feel the most useful and accomplished when I am able to help others because volunteering at a Saturday school for children with developmental disorders never made anyone rich or a celebrity.
But then it's hard to figure out if I'm being truthful to myself when it comes to choosing the highly lauded "medicine" as my career.

I really don't want to invest so much of my time, energy, money, and youth only to find that my interest was in the wrong place. Throwing biology out the window, I think a humanitarian interest in medicine would probably be the strongest motivator for most people, the one thing that can keep you from hating your job even if you're dirt poor and have no friends. And that is one of my biggest wishes, to have a non-cubicle/desk job that I don't hate.

So, what were your biggest motivators? Did you think you would be successful in this career, or did you just go for it knowing you might not end up where you expect to be?
In your opinion, are there some types of people/personalities that are not suited for medicine? For example really uncertain, really malleable, relatively opinion-less me?

Also, how commonly do people try to get MDs for pure research? How is this different from or better than getting a PhD for the same purpose?

I know these are really abstract questions; thanks to anyone who responds.

 

[Oso]

Hey dorksy, what year are you in school?

I think many people start with a general interest in biology and/or a desire to help others. But you can do that in a lot of different health fields, so a good way to see if medicine is for you is to do some shadowing. You get to see what the day to day life is like for physicians, see what different specialties are like, see what it's like to interact with patients, as well as ask physicians about their motivations for entering medicine and choosing their specialty. When I first became intrigued with medicine, I really had no idea what it was. I did some shadowing, and luckily, it only increased my interest, so I knew I was onto something good. I think it would be helpful for you to do some online research on some different health fields, both clinical (med, nursing, etc.) and non-clinical (public health).

As far as 'knowing you can make it'... well, no one can really be sure that they're capable of doing medicine until around the time of actually applying to med schools. But if it's what you really want to do, then you just have to go for it and work hard and believe in yourself. There will be times when you doubt your abilities (ex. MCAT studying), but you just have to keep at it (again, if it's what you really want).

There are several different types of people who become physicians. I'd say some common characteristics are motivation, perseverance, and compassion (although we could come up with a long list if we wanted to). It's fine to be uncertain or opinion-less about medicine or health care right now. When I became interested in medicine, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I kind of just jumped in.

I hope this helps a little, keep in mind that these are my personal views. Send me a private message if you'd like to hear a little more about my decision to pursue medicine. Good luck!

 

[ZDMaestro]

Thriving as a medical student... This may not be possible! As a medical professional, it all depends on the individual, of course. Yes, you are correct in saying that so many others claim to have a genuine interest in biology and service -- I, like you, doubt a lot of it and know their heads are just stuck in the clouds.

How are so many of your peers so certain that can achieve their "dreams"? In my [humble] opinion, a lot of these won't ever achieve their "dreams" because 1) these aren't their real dreams and/or 2) they don't shape up as well as they think they will. This all comes with time. My gut feeling is that most of the students that are admitted to medical school have made because it was a genuine dream for them (... hopefully with good intentions). Bottom line: The further in this college journey you get, the fewer "pre-med" students there are. And even when it comes to applying, you'll find that a lot of the ones that are still calling themselves "pre-med" don't even apply. I think it's very healthy that you have suspicions and doubts about all of this, and I would say this probably speaks more positively of you than negatively. In any event, you'd be wisest to not pay attention to any of your "pre-med" peers (unless they are your friend, of course); just focus on yourself -- think about what you want, why you want it, and tell yourself that you have what it takes.

How do you know you're not lying to yourself? You don't. And you're not really supposed to know right now. I had the same problem (but the older I get, the more sure I am), and I'm sure most people going through this journey do too. The way to find out is to push through these science courses, challenge yourself academically, shadow physicians, and volunteer in the health realm. You'll quickly find out how you feel about it. But make sure you shadow more than one speciality if you really don't like one that you shadow. In fact, you may end up discovering that you like veterinary medicine (etc.) instead -- that's what you should do, if that's the case.

Don't for a second be concerned about how much time, energy, money, and youth you invest into these undergraduate years. None of this will be a waste: If you discover medicine is not for you, then the investment was worth it; If you find out medicine is for you, then the investment was worth it. However, because time is not reversible, I strongly recommend double majoring if you can. If I could go back, that is the one thing that I would change. I am currently a Bachelor of Music student double minoring in chemistry and biology (I'll finish with around ~185 credits [only need ~95 for major]) -- I would honestly and genuinely love a degree in all three. Never physics though, haha. I would get the two degrees in two disciplines that are probably not too related and, most importantly, something that you are interested in. Note: I am not telling you to double major to seem more competitive for medical school applications. This is not at all what I am trying to tell you. In terms of time/energy/etc., I will finish with ~185 credits when I only need ~95 for my major, and it will have taken me 5 years to finish instead of 4. Do I ever concern myself with the time and effort all of this has taken? Not at all. And this applies to anything in life -- if you make any sort of mistake and learn from it, then you probably should never bother regretting the mistake.

For now, I suggest the double major (and they don't even have to be in science, though it would be hard to do two majors that aren't science and then complete all of your pre-medical coursework [though certainly possible]). I suggest starting the pre-medical coursework now (do not delay... you will regret it...) and if you decide you don't want to go down that path, drop the course direction and don't beat yourself up over the time/money/etc. you've wasted. Find happiness in the knowledge you've gained through whatever classes you will have taken by that point and also find tremendous happiness that you didn't just finish an MD and then realized it was the wrong thing for you (... that would be the very definition of "tragic"...).

My motivators? I started typing and then I realized this was perhaps too personal for me to just throw out on SDN. Anyone that privately messages me would get the truthful answer though.
Do I think I will be successful? To me, failure is not an option here. I will apply next cycle -- if I am not accepted, I will keep trying until I am.
Are there some types of personalities/people that aren't suited for medicine? I think certain personalities work better for some specialties than others. I think there is likely a place for most personalities in medicine... surely there are plenty of exceptions (and just because someone could "fit" in a specialty doesn't mean that they should be a doctor at all...).
On uncertainty and malleability, in my opinion... when you start college, you are not in the proper mental/maturity state to make great judgments on what you want to do with your life. I know that it took me until I was at least 20 to have gathered enough information about the world around me to be able to make a wise decision for myself. It's an unfortunate situation to be thrown into college and simultaneously have to choose what to do for the rest of your life. Don't be concerned about your uncertainty for now -- surround yourself with opportunities in the real world that will help you figure this out. I believe any good doctor would be quick to tell you that "I don't know" (when lacking experience, etc.) is normal and okay. It just doesn't feel good to not know.

MD/PhD -- let someone else chime in on that topic. My interests are far from research.

Keep your head up and be patient and kind to yourself. You'll figure it out precisely when you figure it out -- not a moment after or a moment later. With education, it's important that you never show negativity toward yourself unless you choose to do something you don't want to do or don't choose to do something that you do want to do.

Looking over all of this information may provide some insight for you.

ZDMaestro

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Since your post went unresponded to...

Hi. I've been lurking around here for a while, and while all the technical help here will be very useful to me if I do decide to pursue medicine as a career, my biggest concern is whether I will be able to thrive as a medical student and then as a medical professional.

Sure! Valid question.

I have a great interest in biology and service, but so many others claim to do so. How are all of my pre-med peers (I'm a non-premed, freshman evolutionary biology/ecology major) so certain that they can achieve their dreams, or is it that they just seem this way because they are either very optimistic or don't know how difficult this career path is?

If they are truly certain they are cocky, ignorant, or arrogant... or a combination of the three. Pretty expected of an 18-year-old college freshman. But more than likely they are just as uncertain as you are.

Surely the "95%" (I see this number alot on SDN) who don't make it to med school or quit can't all be lying to themselves!

Certainly they can! Also, that number is probably made up. 99.6% of statistics are bull****.

Or are they? How do I know I'm not lying to myself about what my real interests are and what I really want to do? Is it even worth my time and effort to start on this career path if I'm asking these questions in the first place?

Actually, the fact you're asking these questions is a better indication that you are a maturing individual that is ready to make a decision that could potentially truly be life-altering. The only way to know if medicine is right for you is to challenge that belief. Shadow, work, and volunteer in medical settings. Do you find inspiration? Do you not find inspiration? These are the questions admissions committees want to see you've answered.

I'm quite sure of my interest in pure biological, especially medical, knowledge because there aren't financial and social "rewards" that can potentially cloud my judgment. And I can even say with strong certainty that I feel the most useful and accomplished when I am able to help others because volunteering at a Saturday school for children with developmental disorders never made anyone rich or a celebrity.

There are certainly financial and social "rewards" in medicine, so I doubt that. Also, there's nothing wrong with that. It should be part of your motivation, but it should not be all of it.

because volunteering at a Saturday school for children with developmental disorders never made anyone rich or a celebrity.

I'm sure someone has. Come to think of it, things like this are a rather great PR tool that is used quite frequently, even in medical admissions.

But then it's hard to figure out if I'm being truthful to myself when it comes to choosing the highly lauded "medicine" as my career.

I really don't want to invest so much of my time, energy, money, and youth only to find that my interest was in the wrong place. Throwing biology out the window, I think a humanitarian interest in medicine would probably be the strongest motivator for most people, the one thing that can keep you from hating your job even if you're dirt poor and have no friends. And that is one of my biggest wishes, to have a non-cubicle/desk job that I don't hate.

Medicine is far from the only non-cubicle/desk job. However, it's the only one with the privileges that the MD provides - the chance to save a life... the chance to take it. Talk about risk-reward, huh? It sounds like you could be interested in more than just medicine, though. Time/energy/money/youth a concern? Have you looked at alternative medical careers such as Physician Assistant? They're an incredibly fast-growing field of medicine which is only growing in necessity as the demand for mid-levels expands exponentially.

Maybe you should look into and eventually shadow several different medical professions (PT, OT, DO, MD, PA, etc) and see what is the best balance of work-to-play for your desired life.

So, what were your biggest motivators?

Honestly my answer to this, and anyone else's for that matter, will not help and will only further confuse you. Everyone has their own reasons. If you don't have your own after putting in the efforts I said above, then it might not be right for you.

Did you think you would be successful in this career, or did you just go for it knowing you might not end up where you expect to be?

I knew I would end up becoming a physician from the moment I entered my freshman biology class. See: Cocky, ignorant, and arrogant college freshman. I just never lost that attitude, even after freshman year.

In your opinion, are there some types of people/personalities that are not suited for medicine? For example really uncertain, really malleable, relatively opinion-less me?

There is no type of 'wrong' person for medicine. There are plenty of selfish physicians that do incredible work in medicine. The only thing that makes someone wrong for medicine is if they can't do their job. However, and this is really cliche, I should add that I also think your job shouldn't feel like a job and you should enjoy going to work (though it doesn't mean you can't get upset).

Also, how commonly do people try to get MDs for pure research?

All the time.

I know these are really abstract questions; thanks to anyone who responds.

They are good questions. No problem at all.

 

[ZDMaestro]

If this little anecdote helps:
I became instantly aware that I was pursuing the appropriate field the first day I shadowed a physician. Albeit I had doubts that that was the specific field that I wanted to go into, it still made me sure of myself. In fact, I continued shadowing that same physician for ~80 total hours and did so with happiness and a genuine curiosity. That is to say, I kept shadowing because I truly loved it (again, even though I am not so sure if that specialty is for me). I'm sure there are plenty of others with relatable stories.

 

[Lya]

It is quite common many MDs pursue research purely. In 2012, for instance, 2 doctors (Yale and Columbia med grads) received Nobel for their work in G protein-coupled receptors. I am certain there are many others with MD doing research as their main endeavors. I am uncertain, however, the exact differences compared to PhDs and MD-PhDs. There might be some differences in grant funding. I've heard, for example, that those with MD will relatively have easier time with funding, but this is simply an anecdote, and some google search on this topic might be helpful.

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2012/press.html


When I was your age, I didn't know what to do back then. I was so aimless and this is natural. Shadow some doctors, and ask yourself: "Do I see myself in his/her shoes as my future career? Will I be happy?" As you gain more experiences and actively reflect your past, you will be able to narrow down to a few career choices. There are many non-traditional students who changed their careers, and don't be afraid to pursue what you believe is the most suitable for you. Life is literally about a journey.


My biggest motivator was my grandmother. Someone once told me: "Everyone has two lives. The first life is the life where you live like there's always tomorrow and you mostly do whatever you want. The second life begins when you really realize you only have one life to live and there will be time when tomorrow might not come." When she passed away, my second life began; I changed from an addict in computer games to a conscious student who tries to find out what I am interested in and what I can contribute. When I decided on medicine after a few more events that happened, I didn't think about whether I will be successful in that career. I knew that if this is what I really want to do and what I am really interested in, then success will follow. So, my question mainly revolved around whether this is a field that make me wake up in the morning and prevent me from going to bed, whether I see myself in that field, and whether I will be happy.

Look around and see other options and careers. Ask the same questions for yourself as well. If medicine still stands out among the crowd, pursue it as hard as you can.

 

[dorksy]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I didn't expect so many serious, thoughtful responses.

ZDMaestro, thank you for the encouragement and your levelheaded advice. I actually thought about double-majoring in CS, but I'm quite afraid of dividing my focus in biology and siphoning it somewhere else. For me, bio really eclipses everything else. This is convenient, since I end up doing a lot of the required coursework for med school anyway, but then I don't really get the "security" of a double major. The reason I say "security" is because I don't have many other interests even close to rivaling my respect (and affection) for bio. Should I still consider double majoring in my next-best interest? I always thought double-majoring was like having two children; you have to love them equally?

Oso, I am a freshman in college/uni. Yes, I am in the throes of existential puberty, and maybe some actual puberty. I'm pretty reliable when it comes to enjoying, if not then definitely enduring, whatever is between me and my goal, but then this ability is very directly related to how sure I am about said goal. I think what I really want is to be sure, but the consensus seems to be that I don't have to be sure or have to think I'm a pretentious idiot for seemingly following a big, blind crowd, that will get culled out, into medicine. It's just really convenient to be optimistic, if a little bit risky.

PreMedOrDead, I actually meant that doing research purely for biological knowledge doesn't have the financial and social rewards that come with being a doctor, not the other way around. I mean financial security great and all, but I get really unhappy when I am habituated to an activity that I don't really enjoy and I suddenly start to see into the "matrix" behind it that says "you are a slave to [whatever I'm pursuing]." Still, all of your advice and suggestions were pertinent. But I had a question, do you think maintaining your "cocky, ignorant, arrogant freshman" attitude gave you an edge over other freshmen who didn't? I don't mean to sound crazy, but is that something I should try to do? I mean, I kind of want to slap cocky, ignorant people in the face, but then if it serves them well, I'm willing to test out faking it 'till I make it. I doubt anyone would actually come out and slap me.

Lya, I think I read about Lefkowitz when we were going through GPCR's in an intro bio (physiology) class, I just thought he was an anomaly!
Especially when it comes to matters that concern me and my well-being, I tend to give very little weight to my own "thoughts." Does anyone know what's best for themselves? I like asking people for their perspectives on practically every aspect of my life because I don't think "myself" (not "me" specifically, but any "self") isn't a very objective judge of myself. Am I getting too metaphysical? My mom says it's a symptom of puberty haha! Your opinions, combined with everyone else's, helps me see a (hopefully) less biased image of myself. Thanks!

I really appreciate all of your responses, especially because each of you told me about your own experiences and neither pushed me toward nor pulled me away from this path. I do have a lot to think about, but I also have a lot of time. And I think one thing all of your guys' answers had in common was that, even if I do end up changing my mind, the time/effort/resources I spend isn't just "lost" into nothingness. I guess that's what I was most afraid of, so reading all of your thoughts on this was very, very, very reassuring. Now I'll look at what needs to be done for the next step with more confidence and put in the effort with much less fear (not none at all; I think it's a personality thing) that my preparations are futile.

If it were any other career, I might flit around here and there and leisurely explore my options, but I thought a head-start in itself could be a great motivator!

As for the popularly mentioned "shadowing," I've got an uncle who's an orthopaedic surgeon (I don't have many living doctors in the family). Are surgeons shadowed often? I'm not really close to him and I would very much like to avoid sneezing death into his patients?
And if there's a "stickied" thread on shadowing that details what it entails, how long one usually shadows, etc... I'd appreciate if someone could direct me to it!

 

[NorCalPremed]

Current UCLA undergrad premed here. I've heard numbers tossed around (roughly 2k students) enter each year as some typical premed major. Half of those are weeded out after year one (1k remaining). Half of those are weeded out after year two (500 remaining). Half of those are weeded out after poor MCAT scores (250 remaining). Slightly more than half of those are accepted into medical school (>125 students). It's an uphill battle, with ~12.5% of those who started getting into medical school. Sure most of those people who drop out are deluded premeds who pursue it because their parents want them to or for other reasons, but the fact remains is that there are some contenders who will give you a run for your money. You have to really want to study medicine so badly that you're willing to put up with a lot of crap and sacrifice the time that the poser premeds aren't willing to give up. Best of luck to you in your pursuits.

 

[vadeem]

It is quite common many MDs pursue research purely. In 2012, for instance, 2 doctors (Yale and Columbia med grads) received Nobel for their work in G protein-coupled receptors. I am certain there are many others with MD doing research as their main endeavors. I am uncertain, however, the exact differences compared to PhDs and MD-PhDs. There might be some differences in grant funding. I've heard, for example, that those with MD will relatively have easier time with funding, but this is simply an anecdote, and some google search on this topic might be helpful.

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2012/press.html


When I was your age, I didn't know what to do back then. I was so aimless and this is natural. Shadow some doctors, and ask yourself: "Do I see myself in his/her shoes as my future career? Will I be happy?" As you gain more experiences and actively reflect your past, you will be able to narrow down to a few career choices. There are many non-traditional students who changed their careers, and don't be afraid to pursue what you believe is the most suitable for you. Life is literally about a journey.


My biggest motivator was my grandmother. Someone once told me: "Everyone has two lives. The first life is the life where you live like there's always tomorrow and you mostly do whatever you want. The second life begins when you really realize you only have one life to live and there will be time when tomorrow might not come." When she passed away, my second life began; I changed from an addict in computer games to a conscious student who tries to find out what I am interested in and what I can contribute. When I decided on medicine after a few more events that happened, I didn't think about whether I will be successful in that career. I knew that if this is what I really want to do and what I am really interested in, then success will follow. So, my question mainly revolved around whether this is a field that make me wake up in the morning and prevent me from going to bed, whether I see myself in that field, and whether I will be happy.

Look around and see other options and careers. Ask the same questions for yourself as well. If medicine still stands out among the crowd, pursue it as hard as you can.

Lol what, are you me? I was a terrible student in high school because I was addicted to playing MMOs haha. Completely changed person in college though.

 

[Lya]

Lol what, are you me? I was a terrible student in high school because I was addicted to playing MMOs haha. Completely changed person in college though.

Haha I was more into RTS and FPS games.

 

[Lya]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I didn't expect so many serious, thoughtful responses.

ZDMaestro, thank you for the encouragement and your levelheaded advice. I actually thought about double-majoring in CS, but I'm quite afraid of dividing my focus in biology and siphoning it somewhere else. For me, bio really eclipses everything else. This is convenient, since I end up doing a lot of the required coursework for med school anyway, but then I don't really get the "security" of a double major. The reason I say "security" is because I don't have many other interests even close to rivaling my respect (and affection) for bio. Should I still consider double majoring in my next-best interest? I always thought double-majoring was like having two children; you have to love them equally?

Oso, I am a freshman in college/uni. Yes, I am in the throes of existential puberty, and maybe some actual puberty. I'm pretty reliable when it comes to enjoying, if not then definitely enduring, whatever is between me and my goal, but then this ability is very directly related to how sure I am about said goal. I think what I really want is to be sure, but the consensus seems to be that I don't have to be sure or have to think I'm a pretentious idiot for seemingly following a big, blind crowd, that will get culled out, into medicine. It's just really convenient to be optimistic, if a little bit risky.

PreMedOrDead, I actually meant that doing research purely for biological knowledge doesn't have the financial and social rewards that come with being a doctor, not the other way around. I mean financial security great and all, but I get really unhappy when I am habituated to an activity that I don't really enjoy and I suddenly start to see into the "matrix" behind it that says "you are a slave to [whatever I'm pursuing]." Still, all of your advice and suggestions were pertinent. But I had a question, do you think maintaining your "cocky, ignorant, arrogant freshman" attitude gave you an edge over other freshmen who didn't? I don't mean to sound crazy, but is that something I should try to do? I mean, I kind of want to slap cocky, ignorant people in the face, but then if it serves them well, I'm willing to test out faking it 'till I make it. I doubt anyone would actually come out and slap me.

Lya, I think I read about Lefkowitz when we were going through GPCR's in an intro bio (physiology) class, I just thought he was an anomaly!
Especially when it comes to matters that concern me and my well-being, I tend to give very little weight to my own "thoughts." Does anyone know what's best for themselves? I like asking people for their perspectives on practically every aspect of my life because I don't think "myself" (not "me" specifically, but any "self") isn't a very objective judge of myself. Am I getting too metaphysical? My mom says it's a symptom of puberty haha! Your opinions, combined with everyone else's, helps me see a (hopefully) less biased image of myself. Thanks!

I really appreciate all of your responses, especially because each of you told me about your own experiences and neither pushed me toward nor pulled me away from this path. I do have a lot to think about, but I also have a lot of time. And I think one thing all of your guys' answers had in common was that, even if I do end up changing my mind, the time/effort/resources I spend isn't just "lost" into nothingness. I guess that's what I was most afraid of, so reading all of your thoughts on this was very, very, very reassuring. Now I'll look at what needs to be done for the next step with more confidence and put in the effort with much less fear (not none at all; I think it's a personality thing) that my preparations are futile.

If it were any other career, I might flit around here and there and leisurely explore my options, but I thought a head-start in itself could be a great motivator!

As for the popularly mentioned "shadowing," I've got an uncle who's an orthopaedic surgeon (I don't have many living doctors in the family). Are surgeons shadowed often? I'm not really close to him and I would very much like to avoid sneezing death into his patients?
And if there's a "stickied" thread on shadowing that details what it entails, how long one usually shadows, etc... I'd appreciate if someone could direct me to it!

For shadowing, usually 50~100 hours total are sufficient. Try to look for various specialties, and surgeries are great as well. Interact with doctors professionally. Imagine that you are doing the same thing they do and ask yourself if this fits into your values, interests, and goals. Do you see yourself doing what this doctor does for many many years?

When you become older (30s and 40s), being responsible to raise a family and to contribute to a society, what would you want to do for your career?


It is natural that it is often difficult to put yourself into someone else's shoes and to ask whether this is something you wan to do for your life. For me, it was because I thought I could be just a student forever with parents helping me whenever needed and I can make mistakes and choices here and there without much responsibilities as a student. But as I realize what I hope to do after graduation, this thought of being a college student who doesn't have to take much responsibilities disappeared. This was when I realize I really have to find something that I enjoy and am passionate in.

Another question that helped me was: "You have ~70 years of life ahead of you. How do you want to spend these years? What are some goals you hope to achieve?" Begin from thinking about where you come from, what you are interested in, what your values are, and what you enjoy doing. Sooner or later, you need to decide which career you will enjoy, so it is better to ask yourself now and early.

 

[Goro]

Medicine is a calling, like being a priest or a policeman. try doing some patient contact volunteer work to see if it's really the field for you. It doesn't always have to be hospital-based, either. Do some non-clinical volunteering as well, to see if serving others is also in you. Try your local houses of worship or these opportunities.

Hi. I've been lurking around here for a while, and while all the technical help here will be very useful to me if I do decide to pursue medicine as a career, my biggest concern is whether I will be able to thrive as a medical student and then as a medical professional.

I have a great interest in biology and service, but so many others claim to do so. How are all of my pre-med peers (I'm a non-premed, freshman evolutionary biology/ecology major) so certain that they can achieve their dreams, or is it that they just seem this way because they are either very optimistic or don't know how difficult this career path is?

Surely the "95%" (I see this number alot on SDN) who don't make it to med school or quit can't all be lying to themselves! Or are they? How do I know I'm not lying to myself about what my real interests are and what I really want to do? Is it even worth my time and effort to start on this career path if I'm asking these questions in the first place?

I'm quite sure of my interest in pure biological, especially medical, knowledge because there aren't financial and social "rewards" that can potentially cloud my judgment. And I can even say with strong certainty that I feel the most useful and accomplished when I am able to help others because volunteering at a Saturday school for children with developmental disorders never made anyone rich or a celebrity.
But then it's hard to figure out if I'm being truthful to myself when it comes to choosing the highly lauded "medicine" as my career.

I really don't want to invest so much of my time, energy, money, and youth only to find that my interest was in the wrong place. Throwing biology out the window, I think a humanitarian interest in medicine would probably be the strongest motivator for most people, the one thing that can keep you from hating your job even if you're dirt poor and have no friends. And that is one of my biggest wishes, to have a non-cubicle/desk job that I don't hate.

So, what were your biggest motivators? Did you think you would be successful in this career, or did you just go for it knowing you might not end up where you expect to be?
In your opinion, are there some types of people/personalities that are not suited for medicine? For example really uncertain, really malleable, relatively opinion-less me?

Also, how commonly do people try to get MDs for pure research? How is this different from or better than getting a PhD for the same purpose?

I know these are really abstract questions; thanks to anyone who responds.

 

[ZDMaestro]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I didn't expect so many serious, thoughtful responses.

ZDMaestro, thank you for the encouragement and your levelheaded advice. I actually thought about ...

Foremost, sorry for the extremely late reply. Hahaha.

You have to love two majors equally? I don't know if I could ever agree with that. While I am not a double major, I might as well be -- Music + minors in biology and chemistry. It certainly feels like it. So let me speak as if I imaginarily am double majoring in, say, "Science" and Music. I would never even come close to saying that I love these equally or even care about them equally... in fact, nothing, by any definition you can think of, would be "equal" for me between these two. My answer is this: These are so different to me (emotionally, etc.) that I cannot even compare them. And I'm not going to waste time trying to compare them (because it's pointless to). I love them both, a lot. But they are two very different parts of my life and of me. Sometimes there is layover between the two (you wouldn't believe how often), but it's like... If you love books and you love playing chess... Why is it necessary to compare them? You love them both -- and that should be good enough of an answer for you or anyone else. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone unless you need an explanation for yourself. Otherwise, don't waste your time with it (trying to compare, I mean).

Double major in whatever may interest you. If you aren't sure, consider choosing two fields you might want to have as the second major -- then next semester take one class of each field and see how it goes. You will probably be surprised at how quickly you'll realize you won't or will want to pursue further. Having a degree in something, more often than not, doesn't mean that you will have a career in that field. It just means you cared enough about it, apparently, to learn more about it and get a piece of paper saying you learned about it. Or, alternatively, it could mean that you blindly chose a major in college and got some degree you never wanted to begin with...

Or you could completely not follow my advice. Have one major, I don't care. That advice was just the advice of one person. Take advice like a buffet... you choose what you like from all of the buffet advice. When you really scope out and look at the big picture here, there are very few rules in this game. I am the conductor of an orchestra, working with real, professional musicians... and that's something you probably never ever would have guessed, yeah? My point is that you can do so many things. Focus on what you want, not what you think others want you to want. Live for yourself and only yourself.

Quit thinking so hard about it. Pick something you want to do and do it. People make things way too complicated. If you start majoring in, say, psychology and then you discover it's not for you... change. But for most things in life you're just not going to know until you put those damn Nikes on and just do it, you feel me?

If anything prevents you from getting into medical school, or anywhere else in life, it'll be because you're asking questions that might sound good and reasonable to some people... but the truth is that they're hardly worth wasting the time on. I could've gone through every question you asked and said "It depends" for each of them and I would've still been right. Quit with all of the bull**** thoughts and just start doing something. Only reality makes reality; thinking about the possibilities of reality is only a reality of thinking about the possibilities of reality.

Pick something. Maybe two somethings. Pump yourself up about it. Do it. No excuses, no bull****, nothing... Just do it. If you ever believe you are not happy or are doing the wrong thing, then change. It's really that simple, and the people that make it more complicated than this... Let us sympathize for them, shall we?

ZDMaestro