Harnandey0929
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- Joined
- Oct 6, 2018
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I realize I'm posting this in the pre-med forum. I'm not sure where all the other PA to MD posts ended up, so I just figured it fit best here.
I'm 27, married, with two beautiful little girls (with hopes for 1-2 more kiddos), and have been working as a PA in hospitalist medicine for 3 years now. I'm about 30K away from paying off my student loans (woo!) and make about $120K a year. A pretty good gig I'd say!
Yet, I sometimes feel like I should've fulfilled my lifelong dream and went to med school.
Being a physician was what I wanted to do since the 3rd grade. I changed my mind late in my junior year of college right after meeting my husband (who was also pre-med). We both decided to change our career goals and we went to PA school together after realizing we wanted a big family and wanted more family and home time together. I was so close to applying that I had even taken the MCAT, and I think I did quite well, scoring a 34 with a 3.9 GPA (before the MCAT change of course).
I'm satisfied as a PA, and am proud of my work. I do not mind being a dependent provider, I don't have to be at the top of the food chain. I actually work with a significant amount of autonomy anyway, which I enjoy as well. I also feel like I practice with a lot of critical thinking, and not just "protocol driven" like my profession is frequently criticized for. It's also great to leave at the end of the day without having to deal with any bureaucracy.
I guess what it boils down too is that I'm disappointed that I didn't fulfill my dream. Being a PA is great, but it's not being a doctor. I knew I would feel this way because I know the PA profession is no substitute for the MD degree, but I think I was hoping my nagging desire to become a physician would just subside. Maybe I just need more time, but so far it hasn't. I worry about the desire getting worse.
Here's why going back to med school wouldn't work for me:
-I have 2 young kids and want more. I love spending lots of time with them and can't justify missing out on the next 7ish years of their lives.
-Going back to med school would put a lot of strain on my husband, and our marriage. PA school together was hard enough, and that was before kids. I'm almost certain we couldn't handle one of us going back to med school. My husband staying home, or us moving multiple times would prove quite difficult.
-The debt would be astronomical. We're finally closing in on paying off 2 PA school loans. I don't want to start over.
-I'm happy with my profession most days and don't need different letters after my name to feel good about myself and to continue my own medical education.
Reasons I want to go back:
-I get jealous when I see other young female physicians and I tell myself, I could've been her.
-It would fulfill my lifelong dream of being a physician.
It looks so obvious written out that the clear answer is to just stay put and be happy with my decision. But it's a pride thing really, I want the title and the respect.
Anyone else felt similarly and in the end decided not to go back? How do I cope with not becoming a physician when that's what I really wanted? Reassure me I'm making the right decision by not going back!
I'm 27, married, with two beautiful little girls (with hopes for 1-2 more kiddos), and have been working as a PA in hospitalist medicine for 3 years now. I'm about 30K away from paying off my student loans (woo!) and make about $120K a year. A pretty good gig I'd say!
Yet, I sometimes feel like I should've fulfilled my lifelong dream and went to med school.
Being a physician was what I wanted to do since the 3rd grade. I changed my mind late in my junior year of college right after meeting my husband (who was also pre-med). We both decided to change our career goals and we went to PA school together after realizing we wanted a big family and wanted more family and home time together. I was so close to applying that I had even taken the MCAT, and I think I did quite well, scoring a 34 with a 3.9 GPA (before the MCAT change of course).
I'm satisfied as a PA, and am proud of my work. I do not mind being a dependent provider, I don't have to be at the top of the food chain. I actually work with a significant amount of autonomy anyway, which I enjoy as well. I also feel like I practice with a lot of critical thinking, and not just "protocol driven" like my profession is frequently criticized for. It's also great to leave at the end of the day without having to deal with any bureaucracy.
I guess what it boils down too is that I'm disappointed that I didn't fulfill my dream. Being a PA is great, but it's not being a doctor. I knew I would feel this way because I know the PA profession is no substitute for the MD degree, but I think I was hoping my nagging desire to become a physician would just subside. Maybe I just need more time, but so far it hasn't. I worry about the desire getting worse.
Here's why going back to med school wouldn't work for me:
-I have 2 young kids and want more. I love spending lots of time with them and can't justify missing out on the next 7ish years of their lives.
-Going back to med school would put a lot of strain on my husband, and our marriage. PA school together was hard enough, and that was before kids. I'm almost certain we couldn't handle one of us going back to med school. My husband staying home, or us moving multiple times would prove quite difficult.
-The debt would be astronomical. We're finally closing in on paying off 2 PA school loans. I don't want to start over.
-I'm happy with my profession most days and don't need different letters after my name to feel good about myself and to continue my own medical education.
Reasons I want to go back:
-I get jealous when I see other young female physicians and I tell myself, I could've been her.
-It would fulfill my lifelong dream of being a physician.
It looks so obvious written out that the clear answer is to just stay put and be happy with my decision. But it's a pride thing really, I want the title and the respect.
Anyone else felt similarly and in the end decided not to go back? How do I cope with not becoming a physician when that's what I really wanted? Reassure me I'm making the right decision by not going back!