Never interested in being a doctor?

[hibore222]

Long-story short, I'm 25, and taking pre-reqs. I was an economics major in college, and was always fascinated by Wall Street, government economic policy, etc. Currently a cubicle monkey. I'm enjoying my pre-reqs and doing well in them.

I'm not particularly worried about getting admitted to medical school when I start applying in a year. I've done some shadowing and am volunteering, and find the work interesting.

There are a variety of things that interest me about medicine: being fascinated with the workings of medicine and the human body, having the immense knowledge that docs have, a stable and high-in-demand career that pays well.

However, I'm well aware that medical school and residency can be phenomenally difficult. I'm extremely uncertain of if I have the desire to get through them, or if I would be happy doing them, or have enough push to complete them all.

I hear so many doctors and med students say, "I always wanted to be a doctor." I was talking to an older friend (who was pre-med and found her way into elementary-school teaching), and she said, "All of my friends that are practicing doctors knew fairly early on in life that they wanted to be doctors."

Growing up, I never gave being a doctor any thought whatsoever. I didn't like science class, and always felt more like an "entrepreneur" type than someone who would "just spend all day around sick people". Given my prior distaste for science, I would have never imagined that I am considering being a doctor.

So, what I'm curious about from the med students here is this: Did any of you never really consider being a doctor early on in life? Is it possible to realize that you want to be a doctor fairly late in life, and be happy pursuing medicine? .... Or do most of you think that it's true that if you were really "meant" to be a doctor, you sensed it early on?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[bryana2]

I knew from very early on that I wanted to be a doctor and that, although medical school and residency are difficult, I would be studying something that I love and that all of the hard work, late nights, and minimal social life would be totally worth it. I love all areas of science, so even the first two years of hard science would be worth it because it's interesting and I can use it to heal people, which makes it even better.

Here's the thing: medicine is a HUGE commitment and if you have any doubts about whether you want to do it, don't. At least hold off until you're sure. If you apply and then decide later that you don't want to be a physician, you will have taken a seat in medical school from somebody who wants it more than anything. It's a tough decision, so weigh all of your options, maybe take a year or two off to work in another field, and then decide whether or not you want to apply.

 

[gravitywave]

i think what i notice about what you've written here is that you lack any real sense of engagement with patients. the crowd that weren't born wanting to be docs tend to be ones that figured it out because of interactions they've had with sick people or the health care system.

being "fascinated with the workings of medicine and the human body" is not a strong statement of why you want to be a doctor, and so far it's the best one you got. but i can reserve judgment until you give us a little more background.

 

[TAWS]

If you are just interested in a stable career, I would say pick another field. There are much easier ways of getting a well-paid and stable career. Being a doctor takes a tremendous amount of work....mcats, literally about a hundred exams while in med school, step 1/2/3, 3-7 years of residency, boards....

 

[mjl1717]

I knew from very early on that I wanted to be a doctor and that, although medical school and residency are difficult, I would be studying something that I love and that all of the hard work, late nights, and minimal social life would be totally worth it. I love all areas of science, so even the first two years of hard science would be worth it because it's interesting and I can use it to heal people, which makes it even better.

Here's the thing: medicine is a HUGE commitment and if you have any doubts about whether you want to do it, don't. At least hold off until you're sure. If you apply and then decide later that you don't want to be a physician, you will have taken a seat in medical school from somebody who wants it more than anything. It's a tough decision, so weigh all of your options, maybe take a year or two off to work in another field, and then decide whether or not you want to apply.

This is good:

In addition to what bryana states.. I think it is one thing to attempt to diagnosis, treat and pick up a a pay check..
But an all together different mode in knowing that your niche in life is to be a healer,which is mentioned..

 

[SpecterGT260]

good thing you arent concerned with getting in. sure ull walk right in 👍
Do not write your personal statement this way.... the things stated here are going to become fodder for adcoms next year

 

[Jlaw]

I was a finance major and traded equities at a hedge fund until I was 28, I am 31 now and start med school in the fall. I never had any interest in medicine ever, in fact it was probably at the top of the list of things I would never do, until I decided to do it when I was 28.

In my opinion my non traditional background helped me get in. I think I will be happy with this career. I lost faith in finance after some difficult personal experiences (i.e. death in the family, layoffs, etc) led me to realize that it takes more than a great paycheck to be happy. I want to feel good about what I do at the end of the day, I want to be challenged intellectually, I want to be in a fast paced environment, I want responsibility, and I want to make alot of money, and medicine is a way to do all of these things. I don't think of it as a calling, its a good job, but at the end of the day its a job.

I was never interested in science until I took my pre reqs, and those were really the first science classes I ever took. How did you get drawn to medicine? I think you should do a serious session of soul searching and avoid applying if you arent at least 90% sure this is for you. Its going to be a very expensive and time consuming endeavor and the expense starts with the MCAT. Between MCAT and acceptance you will spend 5k+ in app fees and interview travel.

 

[PrideNeverDie]

I was a finance major and traded equities at a hedge fund until I was 28, I am 31 now and start med school in the fall. I never had any interest in medicine ever, in fact it was probably at the top of the list of things I would never do, until I decided to do it when I was 28.

In my opinion my non traditional background helped me get in. I think I will be happy with this career. I lost faith in finance after some difficult personal experiences (i.e. death in the family, layoffs, etc) led me to realize that it takes more than a great paycheck to be happy. I want to feel good about what I do at the end of the day, I want to be challenged intellectually, I want to be in a fast paced environment, I want responsibility, and I want to make alot of money, and medicine is a way to do all of these things. I don't think of it as a calling, its a good job, but at the end of the day its a job.

I was never interested in science until I took my pre reqs, and those were really the first science classes I ever took. How did you get drawn to medicine? I think you should do a serious session of soul searching and avoid applying if you arent at least 90% sure this is for you. Its going to be a very expensive and time consuming endeavor and the expense starts with the MCAT. Between MCAT and acceptance you will spend 5k+ in app fees and interview travel.

this is just like my story

my parents are both doctors so naturally i wanted nothing to do with medicine
ran a small business out of college and realized that no matter how much success i'd have climbing the corporate ladder it wouldn't give me the same satisfaction as being a doctor would.

don't be fooled by idealistic med students who tell you that you need some overly idealistic desire to help people to become a doctor. a lot of attending work is more about defensive medicine than curing the patient and there is a lot of mundane paperwork much like any office job, but overall a doctor helps a person in general more than any other career.

in my opinion, medicine gives you the best mix of job security, middle upper class income, satisfaction in helping others, leadership power, and social status. very few careers can guarantee that a majority of people working in their field will have all these things.

 

[hibore222]

Thanks for all the replies, the final two ones in particular. I wouldn't even start applying until over a year from now, so I'll have plenty of soul-searching time. It's interesting to hear that not everyone wanted to be a doctor their whole lives.

As far as "not worried about getting in". Of course I know that it's extremely difficult to get into med school, and I'm well-aware that it's not a guarantee that I get in. But "getting in" isn't my primary concern right now. Trying to figure out if I would really enjoy being a doctor and the massive commitment that goes with being a doctor is my primary concern for now.

As far as what get me considering the field: I was always extremely fascinated when I met doctors. I was fascinated by what their daily lives entailed, fascinated by all the knowledge that they had, fascinated by hearing stories they told of treating patients and life in the hospital. ... I never felt that sense of fascination when I heard anyone else talk about their careers.

 

[Acoustic]

I wouldn't be discouraged from seeking it out. Lots of applicants say they always wanted to be a doctor, but I'm of the opinion that that idea alone is really a poor reason to be a doctor. In order to really know you want it, it doesnt take some calling to the field it takes experience within it to know that it'll make you happy. Lots of people that have that calling get that experience early and it confirms it for them, some get that experience and end up leaving medicine. By experience I mean seeing what a doctor goes through on a daily basis. If you've known that to interest you already then you probably will be happy about being a doctor. Get more experience, and don't let people tell you you can't do it because you weren't meant to be a doctor.

There are two ways to think about being a doctor: the idea of what it probably means and the reality of actually being one. Those who had a calling like the first, and if they go through with it they end up liking the second too (or rather they go through with it because they like the second). The only thing that matters is if you like the second and "always being interested in medicine" is certainly not a prerequisite for this. Being happy with second is a prerequisite for being happy with this career though obviously.

You have the advantage of having been in a career already and knowing that lifestyle plays a big role. So look at the medicine lifestyle and see if it's for you - lots of applicants don't really do that until clinicals start.

Lots of people will say how hard it is to become a doctor but you don't hear as often that it is still very possible for those that want it. It doesn't take you having always wanted it for you to succeed.

 

[Jolie South]

More appropriate for Pre-Allo. Moving.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

i think what i notice about what you've written here is that you lack any real sense of engagement with patients. the crowd that weren't born wanting to be docs tend to be ones that figured it out because of interactions they've had with sick people or the health care system.

This is how it was for me. I didn't decide on medicine until I was 20. I wouldn't say late in life, but I didn't grow up aspiring to become a doctor. In fact, I explored careers in business and film prior to settling on medicine. I took a few advanced science courses during high school, found them interesting, and did well, so once I started on my pre-reqs sophomore year of college, it wasn't a giant leap.

That being said, and I think this is what'll help you decide whether medicine is right for you, OP, it wasn't until I exposed myself to clinical medicine that I solidified my desire to become a doctor. Like a previous poster stated, there's this idea of what a doctor does and then there's the reality of what he/she does. When you see for yourself what a day in the life of a doctor looks like, you get a sense of whether that's a life you'd want for yourself. I decided it was, and that gave perspective to all those hours spent working on an orgo lab, studying for the MCAT, etc. And, ultimately, it's what's going to drive me through medical school.

TL;DR Spend time exposing yourself to clinical medicine and you'll soon discover whether the life of a doctor is for you.

 

[Veritas86]

Similar story for me. I cared nothing for medicine until I started working around it. It grew from a fascination with what I was doing to a genuine care for the people. It takes both, honestly. At least I believe so.

So I'm about where you are. I'll be 26 this fall doing prereqs. I say if you get some hands on experience beyond shadowing and volunteering, it may push you one way or the other. Or even just sitting down and talking with a doc about what its like, both education and lifestyle-wise.

 

[otggwmfs]

.

 

[circulus vitios]

I didn't start thinking about medicine until my freshman year of college. I've gone back and forth between science and medicine, but I've decided to stick with medicine. I don't understand how people can justify becoming a doctor because "I've always wanted to become a doctor!" If you're 100% certain that you want to be a doctor and you've never considered anything else, then you clearly haven't explored other academic disciplines.

 

[Morsetlis]

In this big of a world, a lot of things are possible. With self-reflection, a candle reflected in water can be where it dared not before.

Met a psychologist who started med school at the age of 40. He now works at Sharp (FM) where I volunteered last year.

 

[sc4s2cg]

I didn't know I wanted to be a doctor until my first semester of nursing school. And the only reason I took nursing was because my father told me it had better job security than psychology, makes more money, and integrates psychology as well.

After prenursing I realized I liked science. After the first semester of nursing school I started thinking about premed. After 5 semesters of nursing school, I finally switched.

Never regretted it. 🙂

 

[hibore222]

Great posts all around. Thanks.

 

[Crim1]

I decided to go to medical school less than 2 years ago (after I graduated undergrad). I have no doctors in my family and generally had no exposure until last year. Long story short, got accepted and I'm excited to start August. After volunteering, meeting a lot of physicians and surgeons, shadowing a bit, and interviewing at medical schools, I definitely know this is right for me. It's a feeling. I honestly can't wait to start.

Most of the doctors I have met enjoyed medical school and even residency so I wouldn't worry about the difficulty. Most of the people complaining about it just want to be doctors and see medical school and residency as some kind of obstacle instead of training. Those also tend to be the people who decided to go for medicine at the age of 0. You really can't make an intelligent career choice when the only careers you can name at the time are doctor, police man, and fighter pilot.

I think deciding late is actually an advantage. You've experienced more, evaluated the decision more, and have reasons better than "oh I've always wanted to be a doctor... and oh yeah I want to help people too." Admissions committees know this. If you have the genuine interest, you will do great.

 

[SunsFun]

I am sort of in the same boat. I never really wanted to be a doctor due to my very limited exposure to this profession. Once I found out what doctors actually do on day-to-day basis, the job itself felt like a right fit for my interests and abilities. And I feel somewhat unsure about the people who always wanted to be doctors. I feel like many people I spoke with who are like that often seem to have this notion of what it is like to be a doctor that is more of a fantasy than reality. Even when they volunteer or shadow doctors they see it as some sort of an obstacle to jump over to get to their desired (often extremely competitive) specialty. I was trying to picture myself being a family physician for the rest of my life rather than just doing it to put a check-mark on my application.

 

[Jlaw]

Most of the doctors I have met enjoyed medical school and even residency so I wouldn't worry about the difficulty. Most of the people complaining about it just want to be doctors and see medical school and residency as some kind of obstacle instead of training. Those also tend to be the people who decided to go for medicine at the age of 0. You really can't make an intelligent career choice when the only careers you can name at the time are doctor, police man, and fighter pilot.

I think deciding late is actually an advantage. You've experienced more, evaluated the decision more, and have reasons better than "oh I've always wanted to be a doctor... and oh yeah I want to help people too." Admissions committees know this. If you have the genuine interest, you will do great.

This is very good advice and I've noticed the same. I think making the decision at later age has let me really enjoy the process rather than just yearn for the final outcome. I know personally, having been in the working world for several years I absolutely love being back in school and I am in no hurry to get through with it. School is much much more enjoyable than the real world.

I think my experiences make me a realist too. I don't expect medicine to be anything more than a pretty satisfying way of earning a living. Those who go into it from an early age often seem to be very idealistic and have tremendous expectations for how wonderful their lives will be once they are physicians. Somewhere along the way these dreams are replaced by reality and this is where problems start because if you've been chasing an idealized version of yourself for the past 18 years its going to be a bit of a shock when it isn't as rosey as you pictured.

Being realistic I also don't think you need to be 100% sure you want to go to medical school. 85-90% is probably enough. There are always going to be doubts to take into account and if you don't have doubts about a process that is going to take a minimum of 7 years of your life then you are not thinking it through.