Please help...

[dgutie17]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello, this is my first post on the Forums but I'll try to keep this concise.
I'm a:
1) 1st generation college student I don't know anyone who's even been to college and my parents didn't graduate high school...so I feel so lost....and I feel the pressure to succeed

2) I will be entering my senior year of college with a 3.7 GPA and trying to decide whether to take the DAT vs MCAT

3) I have shadowed 7 physicians (3 of them for several months) and several supporting health fields such as PA, Optometrists, chiropractor.

4) EC: summer of hands-on research
President of 3 clubs
Assistant Manager at work
Volunteer tutor for underclassmen in Chem, anatomy, physio, physics and micro.
Several community service events

Problem: out of the 7 physicians I have shadowed 6 have discouraged me from entering the medical field. I was heartbroken.

They blamed their misery on insurance companies and loss of physician autonomy.

One physician cited medicine as the source of his failed marriages.

My main reason for wanting to go into medicine is quite personal to my heart. I had two love ones pass away from cancer during my senior year of high school. At the time I was a dishwasher at the time and i was finishing up the dishes late one night. Then it just clicked for me... I just knew that there had to be more to life than just making money and then dying..
It was crippling to watch two healthy individuals deteriorate into skin and bones...
Being the oldest and a 1st generation college student, I have been feeling the weight to succeed since my early childhood...I want to show my younger brothers what the possibility of an college education can do...

Sorry for the cliche...

I'm just feeling so lost right now...

Some physicians recommended looking at dentistry claimed that's where I should go.

This is what I want for my life:

1. To do meaningful work/1.my family

2. I don't want to be a cog in a machine.(complaint by physicians)
I would like to be self employed.

3. I want to see how far I can go, I'm not afraid of hard work and am fully willing to plow ahead. (Medicine or dentistry)

I've been blessed that I love to learn and have always been naturally curious.

And so naturally, medicine seemed like a perfect choice.

However, due to the circumstances my family
(Younger Brothers) are equally as important to me.

The physicians said medicine was a strain on their marriage and other relationships their hours were long and some said they missed their children grow up...

I don't want to get to the end of this journey with regrets...

If I went the dental route,I would have always wondered "what if"

And I don't want to complete medical training with a disastrous personal life.

If I went the dental route, I would have the business aspect and sciences In one career..but I don't know how fulfilling it would be...

Best advice from the only physician who loved his job:
" When you die, it's over....meet God exhausted with nothing left to give."- a family physician.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Denizen]

I think dentistry is worth investigating for you, and I admire your drive. My best suggestion would be to shadow a general dentist as soon as you can; a good place to ask would be at your own dentist. One reason I know I want to go into dentistry is that I love shadowing; I always have a blast just standing and watching. I have never heard a dentist say a negative word about his or her job either; most love it in fact. Best of luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[DrLTD]

As a pre-dent, shadowing really showed me that I would enjoy dentistry so you MUST shadow a general dentist to see if you’d like the field. Yes, there are many positives to dentistry over medicine and I would encourage you to investigate what your own personal needs are.

As for medicine, make sure that you do all the research you can before 100% believing what others have said (i.e. failed marriages, lost autonomy, etc.). If you truly want to go the medical route and it’s your passion, DO IT! Point. Blank. Period.

I wanted to go into the dental field years ago and I let one bad experience derail me from my dreams. As a result, I am returning as an older non-traditional applicant with a different perspective on life. I wanted no regrets and here I am trying to achieve my dreams.

If you need any more direction, don’t hesitate to PM me. You have a good head on your shoulders. I have confidence in you!

 

[OnlyIfICouldTurnBackTime]

Like the previous poster said, i admire your passion, academic strength, and willingness to do a good deed.

I've only shadowed one very humble, successful general dentist, so my point of view can be somewhat skewed.

But from what I've seen, he absolutely loves what he does. I think it's the undivided motivation that gets him up in the morning. He even has a carpentry room at his house, where he carves wooden sculptures as his hobby.That being said, if you like hand crafting and nearly immediate gratification out of it, this field is for you.

Mind you, dentistry is very physically demanding. He has been working out every morning before i checked-in to his house. He'd drive with me to his office everyday, and never did he miss his daily workout and organic smoothie lol.

His crews and office has a family-like vibe; he cracks jokes during the lunchtime with the crews and
the patients love him as a friend. I doubt you'll find this type of interation in other medical settings.

Now, here comes his quality of living as a dentist:

The very first day of shadowing, he sat me down and made me count the checks he earned that day (not to brag, but to show just how much a well-established dentist can earn). The sum exceed well above 12K. Yeah. 5 digits. A day. He drives a Honda civic btw.

Working time is extremely flexible. It means that you work when you feel like it, and book the patients accordingly. He has ample time to chill out in the afternoon with his fam, raises funds for charity on the weekend by throwing parties (people come and donate $$).

He goes on medical mission trips every summer with other fellow MDs and dentists.

Like i said my view can be very skewed since i shadowed this one spectacular guy. But from what ive seen and heard, dentistry is a promosimg job in terms of self-satisfaction and life standards. I think it's selected as #1 best job on US News for reasons.

With all these being said, do shadow a local dentist and see if the field floats your boat. Do not just dwell on the materialistic benefit of one particular career. If you genuinely have passion for what you do, i think you will have a quality life no matter what. Just my 2 c.

Sent from my SM-N910V using SDN mobile

 

[Charles_Darwin]

On my phone so I can't type a lot, but I get how you feel! I love everything about medicine and the sciences and would be totally content being in any medical profession. Everything is perfect and worthy of your love if you look at it with an open heart.

 

[Polkadotfan]

I just want to add on the marriage part...
First dentist I shadowed said like 3 people got divorced in his class. A few were cheated on during their time at school and I would be some cheated.
So...I think that it doesn't matter the profession. You will have failed marriages EVERYWHERE.
I think it depends on the people in that relationship and how much time you put into it. I was crazy busy this spring but when I came home I was home and didn't do school work. I made time to spend with my family.
I have a kid. Just going to school it seems like I don't spend enough time with her. 🤔

In the end...as far as family I would focus on what would make you happy.

Shadow a dentist and if you can't see yourself doing it then don't. Doesn't matter the hours of a job - if you're unhappy then it will be brought to your family and that can go downhill regardless. I was pretty set on medical until I shadowed a dentist and fell in love with the whole aspect of dentistry.