Parental pressure on medicine?

[kehlsh]

I was wondering if any of you were forced into medical path or heavily influenced into it by parents?

For me, I had no particular interest in anything and my parents encouraged me going into medical path to help others. What about you guys??!

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[Drrrrrr. Celty]

when i was deciding between health care fields
my parents did help me decide for medicine over dental
they were like do medicine or psychology but dont do dental..
so i decided to do both med and psych =D

 

[IndianVercetti]

I was wondering if any of you were forced into medical path or heavily influenced into it by parents?

For me, I had no particular interest in anything and my parents encouraged me going into medical path to help others. What about you guys??!

Why would you choose a career for your parents?
That's startling; you are choosing to do medicine because you felt you had 'no particular interest in anything'? I can understand if your parents helped you gain insight into a potential medical career, but if you seriously are being "forced" or "heavily influenced" as you say, you might want to think twice.

And to be honest, I can kind of laughed at "are Asian. You are either doctor or out of the family." Being Asian/Indian has nothing to do with it, man. I'd sure hope that ANY person choosing to become a doctor is in it for the right reasons.

 

[kehlsh]

Why would you choose a career for your parents?
That's startling; you are choosing to do medicine because you felt you had 'no particular interest in anything'? I can understand if your parents helped you gain insight into a potential medical career, but if you seriously are being "forced" or "heavily influenced" as you say, you might want to think twice.

Being Asian/Indian has nothing to do with it.

My parents helped me gain insight into a potential medical career. The decision was entire up to me to follow this path!

 

[IndianVercetti]

My parents helped me gain insight into a potential medical career. The decision was entire up to me to follow this path!

Alright, fair enough!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Why would you choose a career for your parents?
That's startling; you are choosing to do medicine because you felt you had 'no particular interest in anything'? I can understand if your parents helped you gain insight into a potential medical career, but if you seriously are being "forced" or "heavily influenced" as you say, you might want to think twice.

Being Asian/Indian has nothing to do with it.

to a degree being asian/indian has nothing to do with it..
however..
in my high school..
i knew.. 3 indians that didn't want to go into medicine..
all 1 was to be a music major the other a poetry/english lit/ undecided possibily healthcare field.. the final idk i think he might teach..
and..
the rest were basically like i must be a doctor or a engineer or else my family will disown me..

 

[kehlsh]

And to be honest, I can kind of laughed at "are Asian. You are either doctor or out of the family." Being Asian/Indian has nothing to do with it, man. I'd sure hope that ANY person choosing to become a doctor is in it for the right reasons.

Putting a choice with Asian in it was for comic relief. No offense intended for those who may be sensitive;

 

[ensuii]

to a degree being asian/indian has nothing to do with it..
however..
in my high school..
i knew.. 3 indians that didn't want to go into medicine..
all 1 was to be a music major the other a poetry/english lit/ undecided possibily healthcare field.. the final idk i think he might teach..
and..
the rest were basically like i must be a doctor or a engineer or else my family will disown me..

Indian people were born to help people. We're probably the most altruistic race, honestly.

 

[ensuii]

double post ^_^

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Indian people were born to help people. We're probably the most altruistic race, honestly.

lol just wait for next generation..
indians will be more assimilated haha
and they wont be as altrustic anymore >.>

 

[apumic]

There wasn't really a good option for me... My parents are docs, but while they encouraged me to pursue medicine after I decided to go into it, they were much more supportive of other pursuits until I had announced that decision. There has never been any pressure in my family to pursue medicine, although I definitely get encouragement and a little gentle pressure from family friends in the medical field.

What I dislike seeing are the people who overwork themselves only b/c their parents are forcing it upon them. As a UG, I always found it really sad when you had that "my parents are making me get a 35 on the MCAT and a 3.9 GPA so I can go to Harvard Medical School" premed who would slave away and never see the light of day. Depressing.... I would never want to be that guy.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

lol just wait for next generation..
indians will be more assimilated haha
and they wont be as altrustic anymore >.>

I think ensuii's post was to be taken as sarcasm.

 

[IndianVercetti]

lol nah I mean there is some truth to the whole Asian and Indian thing, but in all honesty, were any of us "forced" or "pressured" into being premed? I don't think so, but maybe we were exposed to it, or maybe our parents emphasized doing well in the science in high school, which may have led us to have an interest in medicine for ourselves.

I highly highly doubt many asian parents push their kids into medicine, even though that's the stereotype hah

Every Indian in the spelling bee wants to be a neurosurgeon:
http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/05/scripps_national_spelling_bee.html

 

[milski]

The opposite of all available choices - mine strongly discouraged me from pursuing medicine as career. Neither of them works in healthcare. While following their advice might not have been the best choice, I'm still quite happy with the way things turned out for me so far.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

lol nah I mean there is some truth to the whole Asian and Indian thing, but in all honesty, were any of us "forced" or "pressured" into being premed? I don't think so, but maybe we were exposed to it, or maybe our parents emphasized doing well in the science in high school, which may have led us to have an interest in medicine.

I highly highly doubt many asian parents push their kids into medicine, even though that's the stereotype hah

We must not know the same Indians/Asians. Many of those that I know have immense pressure put upon them. Some of my Indian acquaintances are probably going to end up in Indian medical schools because they (sometimes intentionally) don't have the grades to get into US schools. They don't want it, but their parents force it upon them.

 

[IndianVercetti]

We must not know the same Indians/Asians. Many of those that I know have immense pressure put upon them. Some of my Indian acquaintances are probably going to end up in Indian medical schools because they (sometimes intentionally) don't have the grades to get into US schools. They don't want it, but their parents force it upon them.

That is surprising. I can understand or picture a parent influencing a high school student to pursue a pre-med track in college, but if you're a 21 or 22 year old, I don't know if you should still be relying on your parents for dictatorial advice on your career. You are your own person by then..

 

[apumic]

That is surprising. I can understand or picture a parent influencing a high school student to pursue a pre-med track in college, but if you're a 21 or 22 year old, I don't know if you should still be relying on your parents for dictatorial advice on your career. You are your own person by then..

I'd agree; however, I've definitely seen. Many of the Asian students I knew (and some whites, etc.) had parents who pushed them into certain things (medicine, engineering, dentistry, etc.) even during college. If I had a dollar for every time someone has said they have to get an A or get into and complete such and such a medical/dental/nursing/engineering program or face mom & dad's wrath....

 

[TooMuchResearch]

That is surprising. I can understand or picture a parent influencing a high school student to pursue a pre-med track in college, but if you're a 21 or 22 year old, I don't know if you should still be relying on your parents for dictatorial advice on your career. You are your own person by then..

Again, we must not know the same Indians. I know Indians in their twenties that lie to their parents about dating non-Indians.

 

[mediterranean]

lol just wait for next generation..
indians will be more assimilated haha
and they wont be as altrustic anymore >.>

Hell yeah I agree. There were three Indians I knew, all business majors. Not so altruistic, huh?😱

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I know Indians/Asians in a lot of different fields. But, we see what we want to see, you know?

My parents have never pressured me into any sort of career. They are supportive of whatever I choose to do. They're also both career musicians, so maybe that helps--it's quite an open-minded profession in general.

 

[vin5cent0]

My parents did the opposite - been encouraging me forever to do something other than medicine. My mom is always talking about how we need physical therapists, pharmacists, PA's, etc. Really, I think they think I'd do poorly as I'm quite lazy. They're probably right, but I'll give it a shot none-the-less

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

lol nah I mean there is some truth to the whole Asian and Indian thing, but in all honesty, were any of us "forced" or "pressured" into being premed? I don't think so, but maybe we were exposed to it, or maybe our parents emphasized doing well in the science in high school, which may have led us to have an interest in medicine for ourselves.

I highly highly doubt many asian parents push their kids into medicine, even though that's the stereotype hah

Every Indian in the spelling bee wants to be a neurosurgeon:
http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/05/scripps_national_spelling_bee.html

false I'm Indian and I've seen it happen way too much. Not personally so much but the pressure is there

 

[boaz]

Should have included the option of parents discouraging medicine. I would have picked that. 🙁

 

[JackADeli]

I was wondering if any of you were forced into medical path...

No place for being "forced" into it... grow and be an adult. Maybe you have to pay for your own education or something, but the decision is and must be your own.

I was wondering if any of you were ...heavily influenced into it by parents?

...my parents encouraged me going into medical path to help others. What about you guys??!

This is reasonable and actually a reality... there was a study done some years ago that looked at going into medical school as a "genetic disease"... it found a familial correlation to going into medical school/career.

 

[armybound]

my mom tried her best to talk me into being a pharmacist instead of a doctor.

 

[ensuii]

false I'm Indian and I've seen it happen way too much. Not personally so much but the pressure is there

I think it's more of a pressure to be successful/rich/prestigious than anything else. I've never really let my parents know about my career plans...it's my belief that it's none of their business and that they'll know only what's necessary; when I did Teach For America and taught for 2 years, I think everyone in my family was under the impression that I was making education my career (which, at the end of the experience, I was tempted to do). My parents never really said anything to me about it directly, but I knew from my sisters that they and my extended family were very disappointed.

 

[IndianVercetti]

geez I never knew some Indian parents could be that fierce. I still think its a stretch to think that they would somehow look down on you after the initial disappointment. From my experience with other Indian parents, they just want their kids to be happy.

 

[alexlex143]

No place for being "forced" into it... grow and be an adult. Maybe you have to pay for your own education or something, but the decision is and must be your own.This is reasonable and actually a reality... there was a study done some years ago that looked at going into medical school as a "genetic disease"... it found a familial correlation to going into medical school/career.

I agree. I've been pressured by my parents my whole entire life, especially being the only daughter in a hard-core Roman Catholic Hispanic family. Parents are very protective and even suppressing, but when it comes down to issues on your own life, you need to grow a pair and do what you want. It's what I did, even though my parents threatened me and cut me off financially. You can't let others dictate you your whole life; letting your parents "force" you into something like this is giving them that power to pretty much do that your entire life. If you're still on mommy and daddy's leash and that is why you are pursuing medicine, you are in it for the wrong reasons and is not fair to those of us who really want to be doctors and to the potential patients we will encounter in our futures.

My point is, after a certain point, you need to learn to do what's good for you and do what you want, even if mommy and daddy "disown" you. If they really do "disown" you, then maybe they aren't people you want in your life anyway...

 

[Narmerguy]

Why do so many polls that people make here have terrible options? It's so common on SDN, nothing but extremes or only one-sided extremes or just random stuff in general.

 

[zetabetazeta]

I am Asian.

I have decided to pursue medicine since I was in high school. After I told my parents what I wanted to do, they have been so supportive. BUT, I know if I chose to do something else (such as art or music), they wouldn't be happy about it, lol. And it happens that 80% of my Asian friends are pre-meds, pre-pharm, or pre-dental. Some of them want to pursue it, and some of them are forced by their parents (and they are not happy with what they are doing 🙁). I'm just glad that my parents are being so supportive and I'm happy 😀

By the way, happy new year, guys!

 

[Janieve]

Definitely need other options on this poll. It's kind of sucky as it stands.

My parents, for example, didn't want me going into medicine. They wanted me to do something respectable, like getting a Master's in English or becoming a lawyer. We actually had this conversation a year or so ago:

Grandma: So, what do you kids want to do with your lives?
Brother: I dunno. I'm thinking about law school right now.
Mom&Dad: *beaming*
Grandma: And you, sweetie?
Me: I think I might want to go into medicine. I've started taking the necessary classes, so...
Mom&Dad: *frowning*
Grandma: Oh. Isn't that...nice.
Mom&Dad: We're very proud of our son.
Me: *miffed* *goes outside to play with the dog while everyone discusses my far-fetched dreams*

Nowadays they're getting more supportive, but man. When I revealed that I wasn't majoring in English like every other member of our family, I think the temperature in the room actually dropped a few degrees. And when med school came up, they were all like, "oh. Well, make sure to make some backup plans, okay?"

Jeez. So yeah, I'm option five: "My parents didn't want me to go to medical school."

 

[kehlsh]

wow I didn't know such category of parents existed!! parents NOT wanting their children going to med school
Sorry for a lack of choices I don't know how to edit the poll at this moment =X

 

[Daedra22]

Yeah... my parents and extended family were very un-supportive. None of them have degrees in anything, but they wanted me to be a lawyer or just a biologist so I could be a real woman--get a degree, get married, make babies, and ditch my career. Some of them were actually angry and spiteful about it. Since I've been accepted most of my family has given up and become semi-supportive... but not all of them. But then, I never needed their approval. ^.^

 

[orthomyxo]

My parents don't care at all. IMO parents have no business deciding what their childrens' careers will be.

 

[FIREitUP]

My parents helped me gain insight into a potential medical career. The decision was entire up to me to follow this path!

+1
you get a real unique perspective of the medical field, although some may claim that parents shelter their children from the ills of the medicine, in my case, it is the exact opposite.

 

[FloatOn]

We must not know the same Indians/Asians. Many of those that I know have immense pressure put upon them. Some of my Indian acquaintances are probably going to end up in Indian medical schools because they (sometimes intentionally) don't have the grades to get into US schools. They don't want it, but their parents force it upon them.

😱 x 56

 

[wr8487]

My dad doesn't want me to be a doctor- he wants me to be a teacher.

 

[skyblue2000]

My parents are actually against it! They think I should go into a field with less schooling, so I can be done and get on with my life faster....and I'm South-Asian. So I guess I'm the odd one out...

 

[IDoIt4Love]

I was wondering if any of you were forced into medical path or heavily influenced into it by parents?

For me, I had no particular interest in anything and my parents encouraged me going into medical path to help others. What about you guys??!

Where is the option for having doctor parents who did NOT force or strongly encourage you to become a doctor? none of these options work for me.

 

[Algophiliac]

Non-doctor parents strongly against me choosing to pursue a path to become a doctor. Oddly enough, it's mainly for monetary reasons (they don't want to pay for medical school AT ALL...not even for furniture or anything, basically...they want me making like 80k as an engineer fresh outta college, actually) and because they don't think I can handle the pre-med courseload or ECs well enough to make it into any med school in the US or out of it. 🙁 They remind me of that every single goddamn minute, too. SO not supportive.

 

[FloatOn]

Non-doctor parents strongly against me choosing to pursue a path to become a doctor. Oddly enough, it's mainly for monetary reasons (they don't want to pay for medical school AT ALL...not even for furniture or anything, basically...they want me making like 80k as an engineer fresh outta college, actually) and because they don't think I can handle the pre-med courseload or ECs well enough to make it into any med school in the US or out of it. 🙁 They remind me of that every single goddamn minute, too. SO not supportive.

That does deserve a frowny face...several, actually: 🙁🙁🙁

 

[purple pearl]

My parents wanted me to marry an appropriate guy by now and pick a decent/easier profession 🙁

But I didn't meet anyone as a pre med.... I also gained 10 lbs and become too lazy to waste time shopping/dressing nicely! at least being a doctor will take over my life so i wont need to worry about having one 😀 my parents arent too upset...

 

[riverjib]

I was wondering if any of you were forced into medical path or heavily influenced into it by parents?

For me, I had no particular interest in anything and my parents encouraged me going into medical path to help others. What about you guys??!

Nobody ever even mentioned medicine in my family. Education is a huge priority, but it's completely non-specific. Once I chose the pre-med path, I encountered dozens of Asians and Indians in particular who were there for all the wrong reasons.

Unfortunately, you may have to disappoint your family in achieving your goals. They may hate it, but it's more important for you to decide what you love, rather than just learning to be okay with what you do for the rest of your life. Figure out what you REALLY love, and then figure out how to make them accept it.

 

[marble30]

And it happens that 80% of my Asian friends are pre-meds, pre-pharm, or pre-dental. Some of them want to pursue it, and some of them are forced by their parents (and they are not happy with what they are doing).

LOL, same with me. The other 20% are accountants and finance majors. 😀

 

[Mister T]

Indian people were born to help people. We're probably the most altruistic race, honestly.

Most altruistic? Please. That's why the hindus and the muslims are always fighting over Kashmir, or the Hindus discriminating against the lower castes, the poor always getting screwed by the corrupt governments and by the well off, etc. --- and it's been like that for centuries.

Indians weren't born to help people, they were born to help themselves! But it's ok, it's not race-specific or anything, it's natural for everyone to be selfish, you have to be if you want to succeed.

But yeah you all go into it for the money, the job security, and prestige. Altruism, if anything, is one of the last criteria on the list as to why Indians/Asians go into medicine (it's like an added bonus).

Now iff you tell it any other way, then you're just lying to yourself and you know it

Now there's nothing wrong with going into medicine for the money and job security (and the reason why everyone goes into it) as long as you're decent at studying a lot, but at least be honest to yourself --- this is an anonymous board, not the admission committee or your fellow pre-meds in real life 😉

 

[s1lver]

I have Asian parents... 'nuff said.

 

[IndianVercetti]

Sure, there might be the type of Asians/Indians you guys are describing, but there are as much, if not more who are choosing medicine because that's what they would truly enjoy doing. It is true, a large percent of Asian parents instill an emphasis on having a strong work ethic, but it is a HUGE stretch to start assuming that all Indians and East Asians are in this due to parental pressure. It is simply not entirely true.

 

[Mister T]

Sure, there might be the type of Asians/Indians you guys are describing, but there are as much, if not more who are choosing medicine because that's what they would truly enjoy doing. It is true, a large percent of Asian parents instill an emphasis on having a strong work ethic, but it is a HUGE stretch to start assuming that all Indians and East Asians are in this due to parental pressure. It is simply not entirely true.

Straw man argument. I never said that parental pressure was the reason why so many Indians/Asians go into medicine. I said it was because they go chiefly for the 1) money 2) job security 3) prestige with altruism at the bottom of the list, though parental pressure often influences it. And the parental pressure isn't really so black and white as it appears as it's really just well-reasoned arguments that convince their children to go into medicine.

If you look at the number of hispanics and blacks going into medicine, there's a reason why they're considered "underrepresented minorities"

but there are as much, if not more who are choosing medicine because that's what they would truly enjoy doing.

Very unlikely if you removed the income, prestige, and job security.

But I stand by my previous statement that Indians/Asians are not any more altruistic than other races by any means --- but rather just really selfish (which is not a bad thing it is what propels people to work hard in anything) in the sense that they are driven to succeed.

 

[IndianVercetti]

Straw man argument. I never said that parental pressure was the reason why so many Indians/Asians go into medicine. I said it was because they go chiefly for the 1) money 2) job security 3) prestige with altruism at the bottom of the list, though parental pressure often influences it. And the parental pressure isn't really so black and white as it appears as it's really just well-reasoned arguments that convince their children to go into medicine.

If you look at the number of hispanics and blacks going into medicine, there's a reason why they're considered "underrepresented minorities"



Very unlikely if you removed the income, prestige, and job security.

But I stand by my previous statement that Indians/Asians are not any more altruistic than other races by any means --- but rather just really selfish (which is not a bad thing it is what propels people to work hard in anything) in the sense that they are driven to succeed.

I was never trying to claim that Asians/Indians are "more" altruistic than other people. But, if you are trying to make the case that Asians/Indians are in some way "selfish" for their emphasis on having a strong work ethic, and choosing to enter professional fields such as engineering and medicine, you are starkly mistaken.

I can't speak for all Indians, but the vast majority of traditional Indian households place a great emphasis on the value of knowledge, and education in general. Once again, maybe you have experience with Indian-American families that value money as the primal goal - but if you go to India and talk to the average middle-class Indian family, you will see that most people place value on knowledge for knowledge's sake alone; it's tough for many of us as Americans to truly comprehend. You're absolutely right though, that this initial value for learning and education may have resulted in the current trend to enter medicine for its job security, but you have to realize where the initial impetus started.

I think the "parental pressure" we are discussing is initially rooted on this emphasis of educational work ethic - which is a highly placed value in Indian culture and Hinduism. Once again, I never stated that "altruism" is more prevalent in Indians and Asians.

 

[lobo.solo]

bump.

I found this thread while trying to find more info on it.