Mentioning money in interviews

[SanDiegoSOD]

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Ok folks, I'm looking for some totally subjective opinions here. Are there any circumstances in an interview where one can admit money as being a reason as to why you wish to become a doctor, without tarnishing your application?
Say, for example, you are asked why you are entering medicine rather than public health, as (according to the interviewer) you can help more people in that field. Among your other more noble answers, can you include future income as a reason? Just looking for opinons here.

 

[stinkycheese]

Ok folks, I'm looking for some totally subjective opinions here. Are there any circumstances in an interview where one can admit money as being a reason as to why your wish to become a doctor, without tarnishing your application?
Say, for example, you are asked why you are entering medicine rather than public health, as (according to the interviewer) you can help more people in that field. Among your other more noble answers, can you include future income as a reason? Just looking for opinons here.

I wouldn't! Just a personal opinion. What you can say to this and to other questions such as "why not research" (for this with research backgrounds) is that although you may be able to effectively help thousands of people in those careers, as opposed to a smaller pool of patients in medicine, you are more interested in seeing the results of your efforts and interacting on a personal level with your patients. Yada, yada, yada.

 

[IndyZX]

I wouldn't mention it as a reason.

However, if they ask you a question like 'Would you go through it all if you would make $30K/yr as a physician?', I would be honest.

 

[notsittinpretty]

I wouldn't either, for two reasons. First, it just doesn't look good. I'm not trying to lecture, but money should never be a motivation for anything, especially if it is something that you will be doing for the rest of your life. Medical committees are looking for people with a certain set of values, and materialism isn't one of them. Second, and more importantly, doctors really don't make a lot of money anymore. The idea of doctors bringing in bank is a common misconception, especially given the long and stressful hours that a typical doctor works. Not to mention the high pric of Malpractice insurance. Sure there are exceptions (neurology, radiology, etc)....regardless i wouldn't mention it.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I'm not trying to lecture, but money should never be a motivation for anything, especially if it is something that you will be doing for the rest of your life.

Money makes the world go round...

But your opinion is valid. Keep them coming! 👍

 

[notsittinpretty]

Yeah, you're right. money is pretty shhweet, especially when you really really really want an IPOD

 

[Retinamark]

I wouldn't. Even if you explain yourself well, it could turn against you.

 

[leechy]

I would avoid mentioning it at all costs. the impression i've gotten over the years is that mentioning money is considered almost as gauche as making a racist comment or something like that. very off-limits.

but yes, speaking honestly, i wouldn't pursue medicine if it paid $40 K, simply because I'd never be able to pay back my loans.

 

[IndyZX]

Second, and more importantly, doctors really don't make a lot of money anymore. The idea of doctors bringing in bank is a common misconception, especially given the long and stressful hours that a typical doctor works.

Simply not true. Doctors don't make as much as they used to, sure, but physicians work in the highest paid profession in America.

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview5.asp?soccode=&stfips=&from=National&Level=Overall&x=29&y=16

People follow the money. If medicine suddenly didn't pay, you would start seeing a rapid decline in applications.

 

[PapaDosh]

I would think it would depend on the interviewer, but as long as you don't mention it as as the only/primary reason for entering medicine I'd think most rational people would be okay with it- considering the amount of time and effort it takes to reach the point where you do make good money, it is well deserved. If you did mention it, I would probably go with something more like "financial security" instead of just saying money.

 

[romed81]

completely agree with the above post. If it comes to money, you can always say that you like the financial security that a career in medicine entails, which will help you provide well for your family. Also you could mention that you believe it to be only fair that somebody who goes through so much schooling should be well remunerated. But do not give the impression that money is the primary reason for you going into medicine.

 

[dmoney41]

You pretend you don't care about money and they pretend that they don't know you're going to be like every other doctor and discard that "I'm a premed and I'm going to save the world" mentality once you hit the uglier side of the job and grow up a bit. Pretense is the order of the day.

If you don't think this is what happens, go talk to attendings at whereever you volunteer or just look at the graduate boards here. The gap between the premed credo (Thou shalt not want money, only to help people) and the practicing doctors is complete and total. Quoth my favorite ortho surgeon: "Why the f*** do you think I spend all day doing joint replacements on these geezers?"

 

[Csv321]

I wouldn't mention money as a factor in your decision to pursue medicine but if you want to be honest, you could throw in the stability (covers financial security, job security, etc) of the profession as a reason. The world will always need doctors and I don't think anyone can deny that. In my practice interviews with committee members at my school, I mentioned stability as a factor and I didn't get any negative comments on it.

I'd probably still pursue medicine if it paid $40K a year. I'm living off way less right now. Of course, I'd have to move out of California if I actually wanted to own something 😡

 

[neoncandle]

I would do it too for $40k a year as long as I could somehow pay off my loans and didn't work 80 hrs a week for it. I mean, besides residency.

 

[WalterSobchakk]

I would do it too for $40k a year as long as I could somehow pay off my loans and didn't work 80 hrs a week for it. I mean, besides residency.

yeah, that's a big if though. how are you going to pay back 100K in your lifetime making 40k/year?

 

[randallB]

You should mention it....that way I can have your spot in med school...

Seriously though, you can find a creative way to mention it without it looking bad...something to the effect that it's nice to know that, when working such long hours, seeing multiple patients, going on rounds etc that you don't have to occupy your mind with whether you have enough money to pay loans, bills etc...being honest but not saying that you're being a doc for the bucks


Good luck!

 

[runner1979]

I wouldn't bring it up necessarily, but if it is implied in a line of questioning or conversation, you could always mention (after explaining other motivations) that as a future professional you would hope to be compensated appropriately/competitively etc.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Simply not true. Doctors don't make as much as they used to, sure, but physicians work in the highest paid profession in America.

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview5.asp?soccode=&stfips=&from=National&Level=Overall&x=29&y=16

People follow the money. If medicine suddenly didn't pay, you would start seeing a rapid decline in applications.

word to your muthers...

its not p.diddy money but its not bad at all. its a common misconception(especially on sdn) that doctor's don't bring in bank anymore. don't kid yourselves, doctors still make more money than the average joe. like indy said, sure, it isnt the same as medicine's golden days but money is still, at the very least, decent in medicine.

 

[laura414]

ARE YOU AN IDIOT????? Yes, please talk about money as your reason for pursuing medicine. You will decrease my competion.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

ARE YOU AN IDIOT????? Yes, please talk about money as your reason for pursuing medicine. You will decrease my competion.

Thanks, buddy. I didn't say I was considering it, I was just hoping to create a thread here that is a little more interesting then "UPitt 2ndary ??? Need Help!!!"

Besides, if your worried about your competition, then you're not my competition. 😉

 

[synapse lapse]

Your interviewers are just people. All people have families to look out for and bills to pay. While I would not say it was a sole reason for being a doctor, most people lie if they say it doesn't factor. And why shouldn't money be a motivation for anything? We live in a society, and hence scarcity exists, so if we want to own certain goods and products we must make moeny. I don't see it as any less noble that money be a motivaiton than not. As long as you simply include it among your reasons I think you will be fine. Most rational people will understand you.

 

[KimberliBold]

yeah, that's a big if though. how are you going to pay back 100K in your lifetime making 40k/year?

Its not easy. $73k making 45k single parenting ---- I feel like I had more liquidity when I was 16 working for BurgerKing - oh those were the days

 

[principessa]

I wonder what would happen if you were just honest. I think it would turn a lot of people off, but maybe someone would appreciate your honesty. It's risky, though.

 

[Quynh2007]

I wonder what would happen if you were just honest. I think it would turn a lot of people off, but maybe someone would appreciate your honesty. It's risky, though.

I would say for the money, but there's also something else. It's not so I could be rich, but so my family can live better. my parents did not brave the harsh seas to the US, sacrifice so much for me so I would become a struggling artist. So, even though there are other jobs that I wouldn't mind doing like teaching or becoming a social worker, being a doctor has the most benefits because the money factor tips the scale for being a doctor. I would be a teacher if it paid as much as a doctor, i would be a social worker if it paid as much as a doctor, because I want to work with people, this is something I enjoy, but i want to be a doctor most of all because the money will allow me to let my parents live better when they are much older. and that's being honest, i don't know who would be turned off by this statement.

 

[UCLAMAN]

I would say for the money, but there's also something else. It's not so I could be rich, but so my family can live better. my parents did not brave the harsh seas to the US, sacrifice so much for me so I would become a struggling artist. So, even though there are other jobs that I wouldn't mind doing like teaching or becoming a social worker, being a doctor has the most benefits because the money factor tips the scale for being a doctor. I would be a teacher if it paid as much as a doctor, i would be a social worker if it paid as much as a doctor, because I want to work with people, this is something I enjoy, but i want to be a doctor most of all because the money will allow me to let my parents live better when they are much older. and that's being honest, i don't know who would be turned off by this statement.

for family to live better = need more money in profession

so...it IS for the money. if i were interviewing you i would be turned off by this statement. it tells me you lack respect and dedication for the profession if you would be willing to do other careers as long as they paid the most.

I think its ok for money and financial stability to be part of the reason for going into medicine. Thats just keepin it real IMO. However, for money to be the sole reason for going into medicine is ridiculous. Your statements make it seem as though money IS the sole reason for your interest in medicine. Hopefully you make clear that there are other aspects of medicine that you enjoy than just the money and the cliched "i want to work with people."

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I'd rather have a smart doctor that's in it for the money then a less-smart doctor that's in it as an altruist. Why? Becuase altruism burns out, but lust for money lasts forever.

 

[tgerwuds]

OK enough bashing... if you can avoid the topic... then DO IT.

 

[Garuda]

Here's why you shouldn't: most of the doctors you'll encounter at medical schools don't make that much money. They're bitter about the fact that doctors who practice full time make more than they do. So don't mention money.