MD Or PHD?

[flyingillini]

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Hey ladies and fellas

I have not decided if I want to go to medical school or get a PhD. So I made a list of the benefits and disadvantages of each. Let's see if you can add anything to this list. By the way this is coming from a person who's family expects him to be applying for medical school this semester, and who is on the brink of insanity. 😱

MD - Benefits

1.) Will have made parents/family proud
2.) High Salary - guarenteed
3.) Job Security for life
4.) Can always do research later on
5.) Can practice medicine - try new techinques on the willing
6.) Prestige and honor in the decision
7.) No need to explain why I dropped out of premedicine - b/c I didn't
8.) Guaranteed to be only 4 years
9.) Probably won't second guess the decision that much

PhD - Benefits

1.) Don't have to pay for graduate school
2.) Actually contributing to the progression of science and medicine
3.) Easier to get into a good program
4.) Not much stress in the application process
5.) Don't have to worry about grades too much
6.) No malpratice worries

MD Disadvantages

1.) Will be over 100k in debt or so
2.) Medical school is very difficult
3.) Have to spend substantial money on application process
4.) Possible malpractice costs in the future
5.) Have to work ass off to keep GPA high
6.) Could lose tons of money and have to reapply - risky
7.) Will have no life before MCAT
8.) Generally a ton of pressure
9.) Might go insane/crazy. Might lose mind.

PhD - Disadvantages

1.) Could get stuck with a bad advisor
2.) Not as much prestige as medicine
3.) Will have to explain to family "wtf why?"
4.) Could take as little as 3 yrs as long as 10 yrs
5.) Not as much job security
6.) Will have to work for someone else after schooling
7.) Slave during graduate school
8.) Lower average income by far
9.) Can't practice medicine ever
10.) May second guess decision
11.) Have to teach bitchy undergrads

 

[abcxyz0123]

reasons 1, 6, and 7 under MD advantages are pretty weak.

 

[Dr.Cait]

It sounds to me as if you really want to go to med school. If there is a chance you will end up second guessing yourself, go with with MD. I think you are considering PhD because it seems to be the least expensive/easy path. Based on what info you posted, it sounds as if you want to go to med school, so go to med school. Hope that helps! 😉

By the way, reasons 1 and 6 are weak under advantages of MD. You shouldn't be doing it for your family, you should be doing it for you. And prestige/honor shouldn't really matter- its about what you have a passion for, and how you really feel. If you want to go into medicine just to be able to tell people you're a doctor, don't do it.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

reasons 1, 6, and 7 under MD advantages are pretty weak.

If those things make someone happy, I don't see anything wrong with them.

 

[agp4]

Do both! Check out the MSTP forums on the combined degree area. You sound like you might be a good candidate for a dual degree. Its a long road, but if you're serious about research, its a great program!

That, and I hate to sound rude, but you've gotta cut the leash on the parents - you're the one that has to live the rest of your life with this decision. There's no shame in choosing grad school because your heart was in it. Hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[LSUwannabe]

Hey ladies and fellas

I have not decided if I want to go to medical school or get a PhD. So I made a list of the benefits and disadvantages of each. Let's see if you can add anything to this list. By the way this is coming from a person who's family expects him to be applying for medical school this semester, and who is on the brink of insanity. 😱

MD - Benefits

1.) Will have made parents/family proud
2.) High Salary - guarenteed
3.) Job Security for life
4.) Can always do research later on
5.) Can practice medicine - try new techinques on the willing
6.) Prestige and honor in the decision
7.) No need to explain why I dropped out of premedicine - b/c I didn't
8.) Guaranteed to be only 4 years
9.) Probably won't second guess the decision that much

The following is coming from someone who's worked in research full-time (Masters NOT PhD) and is beginning medical school in August.


Where to begin???

RE: MD Benefits:
#1- I'd hope your parents would be proud of you regardless, but if this is what you consider the #1 benefit you probably don't want to be a physician.

#2 ...Depending on your perspective, you're not necessarily guaranteed a high salary.

#8 Yeah, school's four years but it's tough to get out short of 7-ish w/ residency.

Sure, $100k + in debt sucks but if you live modestly for a few years after residency you can pay it all off fairly easily.

I could go on....
-------------------------------------------------------------
However, why don't you just do what you enjoy? Have you done research? If you have you probably have a good idea if it's for you.

Have you done clinical work/extensive volunteering in clinical setting? If so, you probably know if patient contact is what you want.

The field of medicine is so diverse there's practically someplace for everyone. If you don't like patient interaction go into surgery/dia rad. If you like it be an IM/GP/Ped.
Maybe you like a little of everything and some free time then go EM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I worked in research at an internationally renowned facility and worked under both PhD's and MD's.

You can excell in research w/o a PhD; MD's do it on a regular basis. I realized I'd enjoy being a practitioner a little more. I'd love to get into research/teaching in the future but want to practice medicine as well...

The majority of your comments IMO indicate you would choose medical school primarily to please others so I'd avoid that...after all, if choosing to become an MD will drive you crazy/insane (listed in MD disadvantages), I'd probably avoid that. 🙂

You can always do both. You can generally get the PhD/MD in 7 years, sometimes 6.

Do whatever you think you'll enjoy. If you don't know, explore the fields further and leave your options open.

Good luck.

 

[cluelesspremed]

one word...BOTH

if you truly want to practice medicine and do research spend an extra 3 years and get the training to be able to do both...ideally you could then have a practice where you see a fair amount of patients while running a research lab as well. if not, you could always still either go into private practice or choose to only run a research lab.

check out the MSTP forums

good luck with your decision

 

[Sparky Man]

Well, I think you should add

8.) Generally a ton of pressure
9.) Might go insane/crazy. Might lose mind.

to the Ph.D. disadvantages as well. True that graduate school is easier to get into, but it can be harder to stay. Lots of grad students leave or get booted, whereas in med school you are more likely to be looked out for.

Don't do a Ph.D. because you think it'll be easier, it's not. Also, the Ph.D. is a degree with substantial research experience. The M.D. is not. I don't know how true it is that with an MD you can always do research. You better be good if you are going to make it in research that way. I agree with another post that says do an MD-PhD if you want research. The MD-PhD will allow you to maximize the probability of going insane! Just kidding.

Sparky

 

[doc05]

BOTH is not a good idea unless you are totally committed to the MD/PhD and understand both the principles behind and limitations of such a degree program. it is a very long road, and while some end up doing both research and clinical work, that's the minority - most end up choosing one or the other.

as far as research with just the MD -- that's not happening much these days. if you want to do clinical studies, the MD is sufficient, but serious lab research virtually requires the training you get in graduate school. keep in mind that while there are a few MD basic science researchers, they are the minority, and trained long ago. nowadays there's too much competition from both PhD's and MDPhDs in getting grants that, as an MD it will be very difficult to run your own lab.

take some time to make the decision, even if it means waiting a year or two.

 

[hardy]

MD - Benefits

1.) Will have made parents/family proud
2.) High Salary - guarenteed
3.) Job Security for life
4.) Can always do research later on
5.) Can practice medicine - try new techinques on the willing
6.) Prestige and honor in the decision
7.) No need to explain why I dropped out of premedicine - b/c I didn't
8.) Guaranteed to be only 4 years
9.) Probably won't second guess the decision that much

2. Nothing is guaranteed. Even if MD salaries stay the same (which they might not) there is always a chance you will not get a high salary.
3. You wish... if you loose your license you will never again get a job as a MD.
4. You will most likely be limited to clinical resarch.
5. HAHA! Ever heard about IRB? A doctor cannot do as they wish, even with the willing.
8. There are plenty of med students who have to retake a year. Also, don't forget to count residency/fellowship which is generally longer than post doc.

PhD - Benefits

1.) Don't have to pay for graduate school
2.) Actually contributing to the progression of science and medicine
3.) Easier to get into a good program
4.) Not much stress in the application process
5.) Don't have to worry about grades too much
6.) No malpratice worries

3. Depends what area you want to go in.
5. If you don't have a 3.0 average, you are out. I would call that enough pressure, especially in some of the harder programs.

MD Disadvantages

1.) Will be over 100k in debt or so
2.) Medical school is very difficult
3.) Have to spend substantial money on application process
4.) Possible malpractice costs in the future
5.) Have to work ass off to keep GPA high
6.) Could lose tons of money and have to reapply - risky
7.) Will have no life before MCAT
8.) Generally a ton of pressure
9.) Might go insane/crazy. Might lose mind.

5. Many schools have pass/fail
7. or after, at least until after residency.

PhD - Disadvantages

1.) Could get stuck with a bad advisor
2.) Not as much prestige as medicine
3.) Will have to explain to family "wtf why?"
4.) Could take as little as 3 yrs as long as 10 yrs
5.) Not as much job security
6.) Will have to work for someone else after schooling
7.) Slave during graduate school
8.) Lower average income by far
9.) Can't practice medicine ever
10.) May second guess decision
11.) Have to teach bitchy undergrads

6. You will have to do the same as a MD, at least until after fellowship.
7. MD: Slave during residency
10. You will second guess either decision at some point
11. But you won't have to treat bitchy patients


You should decide what you want to do instead of basing your decision on such a rather limited list of pros and cons.

 

[MWillie]

Haha grad school, I'll laugh at you for that.

 

[wendywellesley]

i was struggling between these two this summer while I was studying for the MCAT. After being in a research lab for this long (about a year) and feeling totally isolated and drained by it, I realized medicine is really what i'm meant to do. It helped doing some volunteer work inside and outside a clinical setting to really solidify the fact that working in a research lab is NOT who I am. medicine is an awsome compromise since we get to be in a scientific field and still have interactions with new people everyday. the biggest thing about research that i disliked was the fact that it is very lonely. the lab is always really quite and the only people you see every day are the people in your lab.

I would recommend (as people have already) test the waters in both areas. do research and volunteer, but since you are applying this summer it, doesn't look like you will have much time to get it all in, if you haven't already.

most of the pros and cons you listed are the short term. you really need to think if it's in you to have your own research lab and be excited by projects that you want to study and that you will eventually want your grad students to study. if you feel passionate about a specific area of academia and want to devout your life to it, then go for the PhD. I think there is less secruity as a PhD. it's really hard to get a position as a PI, if you want to work for a prestigious university, you need to be at the top of you field which isn't easy.

if you are really unsure about it, then maybe it's too early to apply this coming cycle. i think it will really help you to do some serious thinking because it is a long haul no matter what you choose. it may also give you time to explore some options that you couldn't do during your years as an undergrad (like work in a research lab and volunteer with sick people).

 

[flyingillini]

I agree that 1 and 6 are weak reasons, they are more personal reasons. But you have to realize a lot of people do it for those reasons.

My sole clinical experience was terrible, but I am not basing my going into medicine based upon it. It was in the ER, where I got very little patient contact and sat around twiddling my thumbs most of the time. I usually made a bed here and there, and by the time they called me to do something I was so eager to do it that it didn't matter what it was for the most part.

However, my research experience was pretty nice. I didn't work too hard during the summer, and I got a great PI who really challenged me. I gave a good presentation at the end and got a lot of compliments etc.

However, the more I think about it, the more I realize that getting a PhD wouldn't be quite what I assume it will be.

It's just so hard to look into the future and try to predict which option would be better for me. It is impossible of course but based upon history I can try to make an educated guess.

 

[flyingillini]

i was struggling between these two this summer while I was studying for the MCAT. After being in a research lab for this long (about a year) and feeling totally isolated and drained by it, I realized medicine is really what i'm meant to do. It helped doing some volunteer work inside and outside a clinical setting to really solidify the fact that working in a research lab is NOT who I am. medicine is an awsome compromise since we get to be in a scientific field and still have interactions with new people everyday. the biggest thing about research that i disliked was the fact that it is very lonely. the lab is always really quite and the only people you see every day are the people in your lab.

I would recommend (as people have already) test the waters in both areas. do research and volunteer, but since you are applying this summer it, doesn't look like you will have much time to get it all in, if you haven't already.

most of the pros and cons you listed are the short term. you really need to think if it's in you to have your own research lab and be excited by projects that you want to study and that you will eventually want your grad students to study. if you feel passionate about a specific area of academia and want to devout your life to it, then go for the PhD. I think there is less secruity as a PhD. it's really hard to get a position as a PI, if you want to work for a prestigious university, you need to be at the top of you field which isn't easy.

if you are really unsure about it, then maybe it's too early to apply this coming cycle. i think it will really help you to do some serious thinking because it is a long haul no matter what you choose. it may also give you time to explore some options that you couldn't do during your years as an undergrad (like work in a research lab and volunteer with sick people).

I have experience in both. I believe I can be ready to apply this cycle for med school. I have a few weeks left until MCAT and I am going to push the studying in shortly.

I've heard MD/PhD a few times above. And the idea sounds great except for one time - the time factor.

I might go ahead and apply for med school and if I don't get in just go for the PhD.

I'm going to sleep on it like I usually do and come back with a more definitive answer.

 

[vcatz]

Be aware that career opportunities for PhD's in the biomedical sciences that offer job security and a decent salary are few and far between. It is extremely competative to get one of those jobs. The length of time people spend as a post doc is incresing. In acedemics, many people are doing multiple post docs for 4 - 7 years. Then most of those who stay in academics end up as a research associate or research faculty which are not tenure track jobs (meaning the university makes no comittment to your employment). Also, the NIH, the source for the majority of academic research funding, is becoming more focused on clinical and translational research - which will make securing funds for basic science projects even more competative than it currently is (less than 20% of all grant applications are funded, ave age an investigator gets his/her first real NIH grant is well over 30 years old). The pharma industry has its own set of issues - mainly political ones surrounding drug prices, product liability lawsuits, increasing regulatory demands, etc... Not all types of basic science research skills are in demand in industry.

You need to decide which path is best for you. The MD, in my opinion, gives you the most flexability and will open the door to more career opportunities than a PhD.

 

[flyingillini]

Be aware that career opportunities for PhD's in the biomedical sciences that offer job security and a decent salary are few and far between. It is extremely competative to get one of those jobs. The length of time people spend as a post doc is incresing. In acedemics, many people are doing multiple post docs for 4 - 7 years. Then most of those who stay in academics end up as a research associate or research faculty which are not tenure track jobs (meaning the university makes no comittment to your employment). Also, the NIH, the source for the majority of academic research funding, is becoming more focused on clinical and translational research - which will make securing funds for basic science projects even more competative than it currently is (less than 20% of all grant applications are funded, ave age an investigator gets his/her first real NIH grant is well over 30 years old). The pharma industry has its own set of issues - mainly political ones surrounding drug prices, product liability lawsuits, increasing regulatory demands, etc... Not all types of basic science research skills are in demand in industry.

You need to decide which path is best for you. The MD, in my opinion, gives you the most flexability and will open the door to more career opportunities than a PhD.

Those are some very good points. I am pretty much almost certain that the MD is the best for me in particular and it is really what I want.

To clarify some things above: I am not going into ANYTHING because of the desires of my family. They are not pressuring me in any way, in fact the only reason they expect me to go into medicine is because I told them that is what I want to do. All the pressure I am feeling is actually from within. I am not going into it for the prestige or honor or even money either, those are things that just come with the job. To say that those things like prestige and praise don't come with the job is simply untrue. Those are possible benefits like any other benefit, and can't be overlooked no matter how meaningless they really may be.

I am truly interested in clinical research and getting hands on approach treating disease, and I think the MD is the route that provides this the best.

 

[dr.z]

True that graduate school is easier to get into, but it can be harder to stay. Lots of grad students leave or get booted, whereas in med school you are more likely to be looked out for.

Don't do a Ph.D. because you think it'll be easier, it's not. Also, the Ph.D. is a degree with substantial research experience. The M.D. is not. I don't know how true it is that with an MD you can always do research. You better be good if you are going to make it in research that way. I agree with another post that says do an MD-PhD if you want research. The MD-PhD will allow you to maximize the probability of going insane! Just kidding.

Sparky

I agree. I'm completing Ph.D right now, and it is not easy. I came in thinking that it would be a cake, but in reality it wasn't. It is true that M.D./Ph.D will open more doors for you in the future.

 

[Supernova]

second to that, Just got a ph.D. a year ago and is applying to medical year for 2005

 

[uptoolate]

Third to that- I will finish my Ph.D just in time to start med school this fall. However, it should be said that the Ph.D is A LOT OF WORK- without a necessarily finite end to your work day. I love my subject matter and don't mind the endless effort it sucks up. As I've advised prospective Ph.D applicants, to me it feels like marriage- you have to love it enough to work through the hard parts - and it theory, you're supposed to run off with it and have offspring (little papers and novel studies and whatnot)- okay, time to get back to writing before y'all have me committed...

 

[flyingillini]

All your responses are very interesting and unique, but my question the PhDs is: Why are you getting the MD? Or moreso: why hasn't the PhD been good enough for you to continue your career at that?

 

[Sparky Man]

All your responses are very interesting and unique, but my question the PhDs is: Why are you getting the MD? Or moreso: why hasn't the PhD been good enough for you to continue your career at that?

I'm finishing a Ph.D. right now. I have no regrets about getting the Ph.D, although it was a long, tough road! It's a really unique experience to work on research at the cutting edge and train as a scientist. I really got off on physical chemistry and physics as an undergrad and was really excited about the opportunity to learn more, which is why I went to grad school. I am not applying for the MD because the PhD is not good enough to continue a career in science. I have to admit, it's a little funny/annoying to hear some say that the PhD is an easier route or a fallback plan. Honestly, I don't know any graduate students who were premed and decided to take it easy in grad school instead. For me, the two degrees are like comparing apples & oranges, and this is probably because my research is mostly physics based - no real biological relevance. For the PhD, each student has a unique contribution to science and is basically an expert in his/her field, which is often very narrow, when they are done. The goal of the MD is to train the student body as uniformly as possible, with specilization coming later. Even during residency training, uniformity is sought within the specialty.

Anyway, I discovered during my graduate education that I would really, really enjoy the clinical aspects of medicine, so I see it as a way to remain in science/research while satisfying my desires to work with people. It was not an easy decision, that's for sure.

 

[45408]

reasons 1, 6, and 7 under MD advantages are pretty weak.

I don't see why wanting a job with some prestige is a weak consideration.

 

[uptoolate]

To answer as to why I'm going for the MD after 6 years towards a PhD I love- most simply, I want to see patients. I'm an epidemiologist studying a cancer with a very poor prognosis. The patients I've met through this process have been an unbelievable source of motivation during the dry and rather political parts of this whole thing. I think they've helped me pose better research questions and both aspects (patient care vs research) have brought a perspective to the other that, I think, are true complements to each other. I've seen researchers become very distanced from the humanity behind the data ( and in grant writing, journal reviews, etc) and I feel it happening to myself- I really don't like it. I guess I'm a bit touchy feely, but I just want to have the opportunity to interact with regular people when I'm away form my computer, conference calls, and whatnot- and I want a fairly constant reminder as to why I got into this in the first place.

 

[tigress]

I'm in a PhD program right now, first year, and I figured out pretty quickly that I made the wrong choice. I should have either tried for MD/PhD or just gone MD. Whichever decision you make, you'll probably know fairly quickly if it was the right one. And nobody says you cant change your mind; it's just a bit more hassle and time. So don't look at this as if it were a life or death thing; pick the one you feel most comfortable with, knowing that in the end, you can always change if it's not right.

Also, grad school is NOTHING like med school, and going into science is completely different than medicine. I can see where you're coming from because I was in the same place as you, but you might want to talk to a bunch of students from both, and a bunch of post-docs and residents, and PIs and doctors. Just get a good idea of what the two fields are about, because they are totally different.

 

[fightingsaint]

I agree that 1 and 6 are weak reasons, they are more personal reasons. But you have to realize a lot of people do it for those reasons.

It sounds like you're most interested in research anyway, which I think is good. Anyone whose reasons for going into medicine all revolve around themselves should go into research. Reason #2 under PhD benefits is good...but the same applies to an MD in research. Both is a good suggestion, although those programs are pretty tough to get into and probably pretty intense.

And there are also alot of people who aren't BS-ing when they say in their interview that they really want to help other people, and they feel that medicine is a great fit for them to contribute. That's why I'm doing it...and the fact that there have been so many posts about money, prestige, and respect makes me worry for the sake of patients I'll never see in my career.

Seriously, if you don't enjoy dealing with and helping people and you're more focused on the benefits that an M.D. title or PhD. title will bring you personally, please don't go into patient care. Sorry to travel off of the original subject a little.

 

[MWillie]

It sounds like you're most interested in research anyway, which I think is good. Anyone whose reasons for going into medicine all revolve around themselves should go into research. Reason #2 under PhD benefits is good...but the same applies to an MD in research. Both is a good suggestion, although those programs are pretty tough to get into and probably pretty intense.

And there are also alot of people who aren't BS-ing when they say in their interview that they really want to help other people, and they feel that medicine is a great fit for them to contribute. That's why I'm doing it...and the fact that there have been so many posts about money, prestige, and respect makes me worry for the sake of patients I'll never see in my career.

Seriously, if you don't enjoy dealing with and helping people and you're more focused on the benefits that an M.D. title or PhD. title will bring you personally, please don't go into patient care. Sorry to travel off of the original subject a little.

Blah blah enough of the holier than thou attitude. I bet that many people who do it for money and prestige can and are better doctors than many who do it to help others.

 

[PHD_2007]

On thing to keep in mind is that when you are in medical school you pretty much control your own destiny. Graduate School is a different thing...you'll have failed experiments more than experiments that will be successes. Your destiny is at the mercy of your PI, those dang rats or whatever, and your doctoral committee all of whom will ask that you complete different experiments that may have little to do with your dissertation as a whole. SO I would advise you to look at the total picture if you are not committed to science and to research I wouldn't pursue a PHD. Although a MD/PHD looks nice behind your name it is a bunch of blood, sweat, and filled with tears!!! LOL If you believe in God let HIM lead you and you'll be fine. 🙂

 

[fightingsaint]

Blah blah enough of the holier than thou attitude. I bet that many people who do it for money and prestige can and are better doctors than many who do it to help others.

I bet you're wrong.

Also, there is no "holier than thou" attitude here, it's just my opinion that people who have a true passion for helping people and love their job make better physicians when it comes to patient care. This comes from 2 years of working with a variety of physicians, and getting to know many of them pretty well. You obviously have a different opinion.

I think people whose primary motivation for applying to medical school is to attain money and prestige should say so in their interviews...not start a thread on here about what they can say to be impressive.

 

[MWillie]

I bet you're wrong.

Also, there is no "holier than thou" attitude here, it's just my opinion that people who have a true passion for helping people and love their job make better physicians when it comes to patient care. This comes from 2 years of working with a variety of physicians, and getting to know many of them pretty well. You obviously have a different opinion.

I think people whose primary motivation for applying to medical school is to attain money and prestige should say so in their interviews...not start a thread on here about what they can say to be impressive.

The OP listed those two things among many others, there is no reason to exclude them from consideration as some seems to demand here.

 

[Newquagmire]

BOTH is not a good idea unless you are totally committed to the MD/PhD and understand both the principles behind and limitations of such a degree program. it is a very long road, and while some end up doing both research and clinical work, that's the minority - most end up choosing one or the other.

take some time to make the decision, even if it means waiting a year or two.

I agree with doc05. It seems to me that you're minimizing this:

9.) Might go insane/crazy. Might lose mind.

That happens to people who wanted to do this stuff from birth. If you don't actually want to do it (either), it will show.

 

[flyingillini]

It sounds like you're most interested in research anyway, which I think is good. Anyone whose reasons for going into medicine all revolve around themselves should go into research. Reason #2 under PhD benefits is good...but the same applies to an MD in research. Both is a good suggestion, although those programs are pretty tough to get into and probably pretty intense.

And there are also alot of people who aren't BS-ing when they say in their interview that they really want to help other people, and they feel that medicine is a great fit for them to contribute. That's why I'm doing it...and the fact that there have been so many posts about money, prestige, and respect makes me worry for the sake of patients I'll never see in my career.

Seriously, if you don't enjoy dealing with and helping people and you're more focused on the benefits that an M.D. title or PhD. title will bring you personally, please don't go into patient care. Sorry to travel off of the original subject a little.

Actually my goal in life is to help humanity using my natural talents in the best way that I know how believe it or not.

It makes sense to go for PhD in a sense that I feel I could make a difference in science through research.

From a personal standpoint, medicine makes sense to me because I really want to actually cure patients, and I am highly interested in disease pathogenesis. One of the fields I'd be interested in is pathology.

Either way my list of advantages and disadvantages was never meant to be inclusive and it was just what was on my mind at that point. There are lots of good reasons for me to go into medicine and lots of good reasons to go to graduate school. I have to decide soon however since the application process is coming up, but I am starting to believe that medicine might be the one for me.


Also I am not at all trying to be arrogant saying that just because I wanted to go into medicine that I will. Lots of people don't make it to medical school every year and I may be one of those people even if I apply.

 

[huki]

flyingillini,
i was in your situation a few years ago. after graduating from college, i was pretty much heading down the phd road. but something kept pulling me back to medicine, i think it was my liberal arts background (we're all complex people, and i don't think i'd be doing myself justice if i considered myself solely a scientist!).

so this is what i did -- and take it as advice, if you'd like -- i decided to take more time off, continue with my basic science research position, but didn't stop volunteering or doing other non-science stuff that i love. i tutor high schoolers in SAT prep, volunteer at a free clinic in northeast Washington, and save time to paddle outrigger canoes all around the Pacific.

in the end, i found that all of my activities outside of research, no matter how off-the-wall they are, really highlighted and strengthened my desire to keep it small -- to work closely with individuals, help develop the organizations/non-profits that i'm involved with through fundraising and recruiting, keep seeing the world, and, and the same time, not give up my background in science.

so, if i were you, i would take a break from the list that you made (but it certainly shows that you've put some thought into it!). relax, take your time, concentrate on the things that make you happy, and i think you'll find that all the talking heads will filter out and you'll face a pretty straightforward solution that's unique to you. you've got your whole life to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, anyway 🙂

good luck, and feel free to pm me if you'd like.

 

[flyingillini]

flyingillini,
i was in your situation a few years ago. after graduating from college, i was pretty much heading down the phd road. but something kept pulling me back to medicine, i think it was my liberal arts background (we're all complex people, and i don't think i'd be doing myself justice if i considered myself solely a scientist!).

so this is what i did -- and take it as advice, if you'd like -- i decided to take more time off, continue with my basic science research position, but didn't stop volunteering or doing other non-science stuff that i love. i tutor high schoolers in SAT prep, volunteer at a free clinic in northeast Washington, and save time to paddle outrigger canoes all around the Pacific.

in the end, i found that all of my activities outside of research, no matter how off-the-wall they are, really highlighted and strengthened my desire to keep it small -- to work closely with individuals, help develop the organizations/non-profits that i'm involved with through fundraising and recruiting, keep seeing the world, and, and the same time, not give up my background in science.

so, if i were you, i would take a break from the list that you made (but it certainly shows that you've put some thought into it!). relax, take your time, concentrate on the things that make you happy, and i think you'll find that all the talking heads will filter out and you'll face a pretty straightforward solution that's unique to you. you've got your whole life to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, anyway 🙂

good luck, and feel free to pm me if you'd like.

I appreciate your advice.

Myself I am the kind of person who needs a certain goal in my mind in order to be a productive person.

You see for the longest time I had the feeling that I was heading down the PhD route and so I didn't work as hard for grades.

If my goal would be medicine then I start to do the things necessary to get into a medical school.

Anyway, I am not as confused as I was anymore. It is become much more clear that the best choice for me all along has been medicine and that I've just been thinking in the wrong way.

I have always been in the business of helping others, whether it be with volunteering my time, working as a resident advisor, or whatever, I've always enjoyed helping out my fellow man.

Not to mention that my real ideal job involves clinical research.

My list of reasons above are not numbered in any specific order, but I should have definitely added the most important reason why I would want to do either: to benefit humanity.

And either choice is great for that reason alone and either choice will give plenty of options to do that. I really am a selfless person though.

As corny as some may think it sounds, it is the G-d honest truth about me, and I think my past record in human service shows this.

I think I've heard my calling and it is medicine and it makes sense for a lot of reasons.