Quarter-life crises

[MedChic]

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I've ventured over here from the pre-allo forum to ask all you non trads a question, because I myself am questioning whether this is something I want to commit to indefinitely.

For those of you who have held other jobs: have any of you had careers in publishing, editing, writing, producing, PR, law, business, psychology etc.?
If so, what were the negatives of your jobs that have made you realize that med school was the answer to your future happiness?


Thanks all.

 

[2Sexy4MedSchool]

For those of you who have held other jobs: have any of you had careers in publishing, editing, writing, producing, PR, law, business, psychology etc.?

Yes -- I was an attorney for nine years.

If so, what were the negatives of your jobs that have made you realize that med school was the answer to your future happiness?

For the most part, other lawyers. Some judges. A few clients, although they weren't so bad after you got used to them.

I don't want to sound mean, but that's why it's called a "job" instead of "happy fun time." If work was never negative then there would never be a reason to take vacation time.

 

[SalsaGrrrl]

I worked in healthcare and biotech for the last 10 years and finally decided to go back to school 2 years ago. It hasn't been easy, but by far the best decision I've ever made. Nothing wrong with my prior jobs, just wasn't my true passion. And since I'll probably have to work until I kick the bucket, I might as well do what I really want. I strongly feel that medicine is a calling. So my recommendation would be to kill the nagging voice in your head and start studying for the MCAT. Good luck.

 

[Fizzy]

Accounting 10 years. A long sentence to serve for a bout of bad karma. I like people and decided to give RN school a try. Found out I enjoyed listening about the cure more than the care.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I went to grad school for history and taught. Academia for me was a living hell. Things medicine has that history did not: You get to do precedures instead of just writing and talking all day long, it mixes sciences and humanities, the doctor-patient relationship is the most intimate relationship there is/sickness is the most intense experience in a person's life, I like being in hospitals much more than unviersities.

That said, I think I read one of your posts over on pre-allo about all the things you're giving up for med school. I felt the same way and quit pre-med. I thought, I want to spend time with my friends and my family, I wanna live my life. I don't want to be in the library studying biochemistry for the rest of my life! There's a world out there! For me, it wasn;t the right time andI have no regrets about waiting. I got the following advice as a pre-med: being a doctor is hard as hell so if there's ANYTHING else you could be happy doing, do it. I tried out a few careers and found out for myself that it really was the only thing I could be happy doing. Just don't screw up like me and drop out of grad school and rack up bad grades.

I don't know how serious your doubts are. It may just be you're a tiny bit burned out and need to re-charge your battery and carry on. It may be you need to do some other things first. I don't know. Either way: keep your grades up. to you!

 

[kia ora]

I worked as a lawyer for several years, most of those years as a prosecutor. wrt the law in general, I never had a passion for it...I only went to law school as a default (toward the end of college, I didn't want to enter the "real world" just yet and I figured that a law degree would be useful). as a prosecutor, I was frustrated that I couldn't do anything to help anyone until well after something bad had happened to them. and even then, was what I was doing really helping them? I didn't feel like it was, really. as a doctor (I want to specialize in emergency medicine) I feel that I will be able to help (or at least attempt to help) people more directly and immediately.

I guess I just want to do something that feels useful. when there's a natural disaster (earthquake, hurricane, etc.), the victims certainly aren't hoping that the lawyers will rush in...

 

[Law2Doc]

I've ventured over here from the pre-allo forum to ask all you non trads a question, because I myself am questioning whether this is something I want to commit to indefinitely.

For those of you who have held other jobs: have any of you had careers in publishing, editing, writing, producing, PR, law, business, psychology etc.?
If so, what were the negatives of your jobs that have made you realize that med school was the answer to your future happiness?


Thanks all.

I wasn't as unhappy as some of the prior lawyer posters, but didn't feel I was challenged or excited. At some point you look at your job and decide -- is this what I can see myself doing for the rest of my useful life? If the answer is no, you pull up stakes and move on. But the answers you seek have to come from within -- knowing what others like and dislike won't get you any closer to your own psyche.

 

[QofQuimica]

I wasn't as unhappy as some of the prior lawyer posters, but didn't feel I was challenged or excited. At some point you look at your job and decide -- is this what I can see myself doing for the rest of my useful life? If the answer is no, you pull up stakes and move on. But the answers you seek have to come from within -- knowing what others like and dislike won't get you any closer to your own psyche.

This is pretty much how I felt, too. It's not that I disliked chemistry or didn't want to be a chemist as much as that I wasn't sure that I wanted to spend the next 30 or 40 years doing synthesis. That being said, it's not like being a chemist is a life sentence, and I planned to get a post doc and go on with my life if I hadn't gotten into medical school. I think I would have considered going into administration or industry, because I just didn't see myself becoming a tenure-track chemistry faculty. I realized that I don't love doing synthesis enough to ever be tremendously successful at it, but I was certainly competent.

If you could do anything in the world right now, what would it be? I think that if you have doubts about med school, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking some time off to "find yourself" or whatever you want to call it. You will never have a better opportunity for the rest of your adult life to pursue your interests and to have every door open to you. I spent some time working abroad, tried a couple of different jobs here in the States too, and did a lot of volunteering for causes that I believe in. I think that doing those kinds of things will help you figure out who you are and where you want to go. to you. 🙂

 

[Sporky]

"So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought. " - Gandalf to Frodo in the Lord of the Rings.

While this is a fictional work, it has many great truths and this is one of them. Each of us has no control over the time we spend here on this planet - we have only control over what we do with the time given to us. Sadly, a great many people waste it in frivolous pursuit of material things which will rust, rot, crumble and be taken away by thieves.

You should pursue what drives you, and not listen to a world which say that "in order to be x, you must do y". I have found that most giving this advice have neither done X or Y.

There is a great purpose for which you were born. All of us were born to serve God, but there are individual gifts waiting for you when you discover what you are really supposed to do. Money is not one of them. Having made more of it than I should have, I can tell you that money is only an object - what is done with it can be evil or good, and persons who live their lives for its attainment end up very miserable, whether rich or poor.

Medicine isn't for everyone, and not yet being a doctor, I cannot say that the process of becoming one was "worth" it. I only know that being a doctor is what I am supposed to do at this time in my life.

Human life is a great journey - not a goal or prize to be won. Nothing stinks more than achieving what your "purpose" was and then realizing that there isn't anything else to an enterprise you wasted tons of money, and more importantly time - trying to achieve. This is why Alexandar wept, when he had no more world's to conquer and drank himself to death at a very young age.

Doctors can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others, but so can trash collectors, writers, businesswomen, snuffleupagus, and super-grover. But super-grover would be a horrible snuffleupagus and likewise.

If you don't you should also spend some time getting to know God; He will be an enormous help in figuring out what you are supposed to do. Also, as my last bit of trivial advice, ask persons from each career you are considering if you can take them to coffee and ask them a few questions. They won't say no. (Make sure they are your same sex, so they don't get the wrong idea).

I have done this with businessmen, doctors, lawyers, professors, teachers, professional athletes, ministers and lots of other people so that I could see whether or not what they were doing was something I would love to do. A very wise poster to your questions said that he was just going through the motions of being an attorney - you don't want to do that.

Then after you have your notes from your lunches, do what Ben Franklin would do and draw a line down the middle of your paper and put + on one side and - on the other. Then list all of the pros and cons of each career and go from there. It may be that there are several different things you should do, but maybe medicine is one link in that chain. Perhaps you are to be the candy corn magnate of Australia, but need to be a doctor in order to immigrate there.

Best wishes in your new career(s)!!!!

Wilkommen,

Sporky

 

[kia ora]

"
Perhaps you are to be the candy corn magnate of Australia, but need to be a doctor in order to immigrate there.

I love candy corn...and I love Australia! brilliant, that is what I was meant to do...med school, what was I thinking??

 

[jonathon]

This is an interesting thread. I’m 25 years old now (birth day was July 4th). I’m a second semester junior.

When I was in high school I had no interest in medicine or science, but I still loved learning about human physiology. This was due to being into athletics in high school. Once I graduate high school I started out as a personal weight trainer for a football player. I found that type of career to be boring and not rewarding unless you are on a professional team or apart of top tier college programs. So then I had to find myself again.

I spent the next two years finding myself and I found myself. I feel in love with the field of genetics. I became interested in the field of genetics while working at a hospital. Learning how patients became sick at the genetic and molecular level really got my drive going for wanting to study genetics.

I then started out at a community college so I could get admitted to a 4 year school. I’m by no means a 3.85 GPA student, but I do get A’s in biology, physiology, cell biology, and genetics. My general chemistry class was a killer. I got C’s both terms. My current GPA stands at about 3.0. My weakness in math was the result for getting those C’s.

When I was in high school I was dumb and never studied. Now that I found my passion, I become smarter and have been given the National Dean’s List Award and National Honor Society Award. The amount of time people put into studying involves a great deal with how much they love the material.

Having to sit through a history class, English class, and so many other boring general education requirements is really tough.

I have done some laboratory research and studied the career as a scientist and have come to the conclusion of not wanting to try for an academic tenured professor. Being an academic professor really isn’t going to help one in helping out others (it’s not likely you will cure cancer by having your own lab…you more likely will end up studying a couple of certain molecules in 10 years that your lab falls victim to).

I want to help others out. Therefore, I did some shadowing of genetic counselors and clinical geneticists. Therefore, I will be getting a masters in genetic counseling and a Ph.D. in Clinical genetics. I will be getting involved with translational medicine research. Most basic science research turns out to be useless or false in due time. I don’t want to spend my years in labs studying which binding proteins have a role in regulating gene expression or which gene is functional in a tissue. Instead, I want to take disease tissue samples of humans and find out the cause for the illness (of course there will be controls) and then come up with treatment options. Learning how the cell cycle works is good to know, but to spend 25 years studying it gets old after time.

The organ system that I’m interested in is the cardiovascular system. I have a particular interest in genetic defects of the heart. I will most likely get employment at a medical genetics department at a university hospital or some company that deals with genetic screening.

 

[wook]

I've ventured over here from the pre-allo forum to ask all you non trads a question, because I myself am questioning whether this is something I want to commit to indefinitely.

For those of you who have held other jobs: have any of you had careers in publishing, editing, writing, producing, PR, law, business, psychology etc.?
If so, what were the negatives of your jobs that have made you realize that med school was the answer to your future happiness?


Thanks all.

Law enforcement officer for 7 years followed by 7 years of software engineering. I did volunteer work as an EMT-B for my hometown for as many hours as I was doing software. However, I was enjoying the heck out of the EMT work (which I was doing for free). Decided it was time to make the jump. The software job was a good job and I enjoyed it, but I did not LOVE it.



Wook

 

[Sporky]

I love candy corn...and I love Australia! brilliant, that is what I was meant to do...med school, what was I thinking??

For some, the true path to candy corn paradise passes through medicine......

 

[AngryBaby]

"So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought. " - Gandalf to Frodo in the Lord of the Rings.

While this is a fictional work, it has many great truths and this is one of them. Each of us has no control over the time we spend here on this planet - we have only control over what we do with the time given to us. Sadly, a great many people waste it in frivolous pursuit of material things which will rust, rot, crumble and be taken away by thieves.

You should pursue what drives you, and not listen to a world which say that "in order to be x, you must do y". I have found that most giving this advice have neither done X or Y.

There is a great purpose for which you were born. All of us were born to serve God, but there are individual gifts waiting for you when you discover what you are really supposed to do. Money is not one of them. Having made more of it than I should have, I can tell you that money is only an object - what is done with it can be evil or good, and persons who live their lives for its attainment end up very miserable, whether rich or poor.

Medicine isn't for everyone, and not yet being a doctor, I cannot say that the process of becoming one was "worth" it. I only know that being a doctor is what I am supposed to do at this time in my life.

Human life is a great journey - not a goal or prize to be won. Nothing stinks more than achieving what your "purpose" was and then realizing that there isn't anything else to an enterprise you wasted tons of money, and more importantly time - trying to achieve. This is why Alexandar wept, when he had no more world's to conquer and drank himself to death at a very young age.

Doctors can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others, but so can trash collectors, writers, businesswomen, snuffleupagus, and super-grover. But super-grover would be a horrible snuffleupagus and likewise.

If you don't you should also spend some time getting to know God; He will be an enormous help in figuring out what you are supposed to do. Also, as my last bit of trivial advice, ask persons from each career you are considering if you can take them to coffee and ask them a few questions. They won't say no. (Make sure they are your same sex, so they don't get the wrong idea).

I have done this with businessmen, doctors, lawyers, professors, teachers, professional athletes, ministers and lots of other people so that I could see whether or not what they were doing was something I would love to do. A very wise poster to your questions said that he was just going through the motions of being an attorney - you don't want to do that.

Then after you have your notes from your lunches, do what Ben Franklin would do and draw a line down the middle of your paper and put + on one side and - on the other. Then list all of the pros and cons of each career and go from there. It may be that there are several different things you should do, but maybe medicine is one link in that chain. Perhaps you are to be the candy corn magnate of Australia, but need to be a doctor in order to immigrate there.

Best wishes in your new career(s)!!!!

Wilkommen,

Sporky

That quote is waaaay too long from someone who has a Super Grover avatar and quotes Gandalf to give potentially life-changing advice.

 

[tdkneo]

entering the medical field with all engineering and business background......feels like im starting over or sometihng........

 

[aggie-master]

I've been a computer programmer for almost 5 years.

I actually always wanted to be a dentist, but I was advised to major in something that could get me a decent job if I didn't get into dental school so I majored in Management Information Systems. When I finished school, it was somewhat interesting so I decided to give it a try for a while. Two and a half years in I realized that it wasn't for me so I've been taking prereqs and getting my application together for dental school since then.

 

[notdeadyet]

Taught as an English teacher for five years than worked in tech for six years. I think that I had a habit of going in to a new career and, after a while, start looking at another.

At one stage, like LawDoc mentioned, I just sat down and thought, what can I visualize doing for the rest of my life? Medicine seemed worthy and a large enough base of skills and knowledge that you don't have to plateau.

btw, if this means I'm going through a quarter-life crises, that means I'll live to be 136. Score!

 

[notdeadyet]

OP-

If you find yourself having doubts like, "I don't like medicine. I don't enjoy the people. I don't find science interesting at all. I'm only going into it for the money/family/prestige/etc.", these are bad doubts to have. Think long and hard before making the jump.

If you have doubts like, "What am I getting in to? Eight years is a long time. Those student loans are a lot of money. What impact will this have on my spouse/friends/family? What am I giving up professionally/socially/romantically?", then these are perfectly normal.

If someone can completely toss aside all that they know and all that they have for something uncertain and new without any doubts, then they didn't have much of a life to begin with. You're having doubts because you're giving things up. This is normal.

Best of luck with your decisioin and the road ahead.

 

[cfdavid]

My advice would to take any and all advice with a grain of salt (including this advice... lol). Like others have said, decisions like this need to come from within, and we're all different. Some feel that medicine is a calling, almost spiritual, others just want to do cool stuff and to be challenged. Still others may really love the scientific aspects of medicine. And for some, it may be a combination of all those things.

I'm a big proponent of the argument that there's no "right" reason to enter medicine. Also, there are other career paths that have comparable levels of time and commitment, so medicine does not have a monopoly on that.

Perhaps it's possible to over-analyze this decision. Sure, you'll need to be realistic about the very real demands of medicine. And, those demands will have very real ramifications on your life. But, what other choices DON'T have ramifications? Being unhappy, unfulfilled, or whatever, in your current situation could be reason enought to make a change, for sure. But, remember there are other alternatives to the MD/DO route as well.

I investigated doing an Anesthesia Assistant program, and gave it serious thought. I went down to Case Western and was very impressed. Just knowing there were neat opportunities out there did a lot for me in and of itself.

You can have a rich and fulfilling career as an RN, CRNA, AA (anesthesia assistant), NP, or PA, just to name a few. So, consider those avenues as well. But, if you're unhappy with your current situation (make sure it's the job and not other areas of your life that may need to be addressed), you need to put a plan together and make a change. Start with baby steps, and set short term goals. Perhaps one or two courses at a time. Good luck!

 

[2Sexy4MedSchool]

OP-

If you find yourself having doubts like, "I don't like medicine. I don't enjoy the people. I don't find science interesting at all. I'm only going into it for the money/family/prestige/etc.", these are bad doubts to have. Think long and hard before making the jump.

If you have doubts like, "What am I getting in to? Eight years is a long time. Those student loans are a lot of money. What impact will this have on my spouse/friends/family? What am I giving up professionally/socially/romantically?", then these are perfectly normal.

If someone can completely toss aside all that they know and all that they have for something uncertain and new without any doubts, then they didn't have much of a life to begin with. You're having doubts because you're giving things up. This is normal.

Best of luck with your decisioin and the road ahead.

Very well said. BRAVO!

 

[MedChic]

Thank you all for your well thought out responses. I very much appreciate all your words. I'm in the process of finishing up pre-reqs and will be taking the MCAT this summer, but it's strange because before every final/midterm/lab I think to myself: am I cut out for this? Now the same thing is happening to me before this mCAT. It's not merely a doubt in my future abilities as a doctor; it is more of a doubt about my stamina - whether I can handle residency when I find it difficult to study even 6 hrs a day for this MCAT; doubt about my lack of passion perhaps?
Yes, disease and its progession is interesting but on a scale of 1-10, I am about a 6. I do not salivate over medical journal articles and I don't like to pretend I am deeply interested in DNA/RNA etc., when honestly, the thought of research puts me to sleep (this fact may sound completely unintelligent, but the truth is research has never drawn me in.)

I don't like labs (as in experiments done in lab in the pre-req classes). In fact, I dread them. I don't like chemistry or physics or even organic at all.
I know some find these subjects interesting and stimulating, but I think of them as burdensome. I do like biology, anatomy/physio and this is what I heard med school classes are like, however I am not DYING to engage in reading articles in Discover or Popular Science about genetics/stem cells etc.

I feel that I have always had interest in creative endeavors, yet I've been kind of conditioned to be doctor and I don't even know where it came from - perhaps you can say it was a "calling" maybe just something instilled unconsciously in me during childhood (parent is a doctor).

I did love anatomy and physio in high school and dissections were always awesome. I guess what I'm trying to gauge is whether my DISinterest in chem, physics, orgo mirrors what I will think of med school...I'm not a huge fan of studying...but the truth is: is anyone really? You gotta do what you gotta do right?

 

[Igni Fera]

Thank you all for your well thought out responses. I very much appreciate all your words. I'm in the process of finishing up pre-reqs and will be taking the MCAT this summer, but it's strange because before every final/midterm/lab I think to myself: am I cut out for this? Now the same thing is happening to me before this mCAT. It's not merely a doubt in my future abilities as a doctor; it is more of a doubt about my stamina - whether I can handle residency when I find it difficult to study even 6 hrs a day for this MCAT; doubt about my lack of passion perhaps?
Yes, disease and its progession is interesting but on a scale of 1-10, I am about a 6. I do not salivate over medical journal articles and I don't like to pretend I am deeply interested in DNA/RNA etc., when honestly, the thought of research puts me to sleep (this fact may sound completely unintelligent, but the truth is research has never drawn me in.)

I don't like labs (as in experiments done in lab in the pre-req classes). In fact, I dread them. I don't like chemistry or physics or even organic at all.
I know some find these subjects interesting and stimulating, but I think of them as burdensome. I do like biology, anatomy/physio and this is what I heard med school classes are like, however I am not DYING to engage in reading articles in Discover or Popular Science about genetics/stem cells etc.

I feel that I have always had interest in creative endeavors, yet I've been kind of conditioned to be doctor and I don't even know where it came from - perhaps you can say it was a "calling" maybe just something instilled unconsciously in me during childhood (parent is a doctor).

I did love anatomy and physio in high school and dissections were always awesome. I guess what I'm trying to gauge is whether my DISinterest in chem, physics, orgo mirrors what I will think of med school...I'm not a huge fan of studying...but the truth is: is anyone really? You gotta do what you gotta do right?

I was on a science track in undergrad. Even before I finished school though, I realized that I had a bunch of physical talents that I wasn't going to be able to take advantage of my entire life. So, I decided that I could always "fall back on" my brain when my body decided to finally fall over. Well, I'm 29 now, post-rotator cuff surgery, and it seems that that time is coming...as much as I may wish it, I can't be a "high-powered athlete" (as my orthopod termed me) my whole life.

I also kept my brain in shape by taking a strong producer role in the performing arts too. I learned how to run a company in a DIY fashion that led to a successful artistic career, employing myself and my friends and making thousands of people smile. Ultimately, I could choose to go back to school on the producer/director/costume designer front...but my passion simply is not there. The business side to show business is not so pretty, ethical, or glamourous. And frankly, sometimes the people in so many of the areas of the biz just stink.

 

[obrn]

There is a lot more to being a doctor than just the basic sciences. I would imagine that if those things aren't your favorites, then there are times that med school will be slightly tedious. But then again, it's probably going to be that way at times whether you like science or not!

Here's the way I see it: You have nothing to lose by trying. If you have felt that med school is a calling, then you should try it. If you get into and decide that it isn't what you thought it was, or isn't something that was meant for you, then there is no shame is picking a different path.

 

[NonTradMed]

I was a software programmer for a couple of years. In college, I was a hardcore premed until I got burned out from having a crazy academic load. I decided to not apply to med school during my junior year, AFTER i took the MCAT and did the whole pre-req thing (yeah, I was on something....). Then I spent the next two years deeply regretting that decision until I got up the guts to quit my job and do medicine.

I realized that my job was boring, tedious and I was no good at it. I spent all my days coding in my cubby. My boss pressured me to work weekends, evenings etc so I could complete things that no one would see, or care about, except my boss because it was on his list of 'things to do'. Never had I felt less purpose than I did at my job. In the meantime, I felt jealous of my friends who were all in med school. Most of the people I started out with as a premed were doing their med school bit while I was let flailing aimless in dilbert land. On the day I decided to go back to medicine, I felt I regained a sort of purpose in my life again. I was aiming for a job that would let me interact with people, challenging, and helpful. On top of that, it was one of the few jobs I was finanacially feasible, given that I would be quitting a well paying job and going back to school for four years.

 

[lilnoelle]

Thank you all for your well thought out responses. I very much appreciate all your words. I'm in the process of finishing up pre-reqs and will be taking the MCAT this summer, but it's strange because before every final/midterm/lab I think to myself: am I cut out for this? Now the same thing is happening to me before this mCAT. It's not merely a doubt in my future abilities as a doctor; it is more of a doubt about my stamina - whether I can handle residency when I find it difficult to study even 6 hrs a day for this MCAT; doubt about my lack of passion perhaps?
Yes, disease and its progession is interesting but on a scale of 1-10, I am about a 6. I do not salivate over medical journal articles and I don't like to pretend I am deeply interested in DNA/RNA etc., when honestly, the thought of research puts me to sleep (this fact may sound completely unintelligent, but the truth is research has never drawn me in.)

I don't like labs (as in experiments done in lab in the pre-req classes). In fact, I dread them. I don't like chemistry or physics or even organic at all.
I know some find these subjects interesting and stimulating, but I think of them as burdensome. I do like biology, anatomy/physio and this is what I heard med school classes are like, however I am not DYING to engage in reading articles in Discover or Popular Science about genetics/stem cells etc.

I feel that I have always had interest in creative endeavors, yet I've been kind of conditioned to be doctor and I don't even know where it came from - perhaps you can say it was a "calling" maybe just something instilled unconsciously in me during childhood (parent is a doctor).

I did love anatomy and physio in high school and dissections were always awesome. I guess what I'm trying to gauge is whether my DISinterest in chem, physics, orgo mirrors what I will think of med school...I'm not a huge fan of studying...but the truth is: is anyone really? You gotta do what you gotta do right?

It seems to me the stuff your not interested in (chem/physics/orgo) is stuff that your not going to use again once in med school. Other than biochemistry, my understanding is that the only reason for chem/physics as a premed is to see if students can handle the coarse load.

Unless you get into research, your lack of interest in labs/research doesn't matter either.
While we all have to go through the same med school curriculum (basically) what you do with your life after med school is up to you. You don't have to do research or focus on physical sciences.

 

[Sporky]

That quote is waaaay too long from someone who has a Super Grover avatar and quotes Gandalf to give potentially life-changing advice.

Disrespecting Super Grover? And you want to be a doctor? What if Ernie or Bert or Snuffy showed up in your ER at 2:00 am when you are on call? Are you going to dis' them too?

Some people.......................

 

[MedChic]

i heart nontrads 😍

i was expecting responses like "WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU DOING IN MEDICINE?!?!"

instead you all made me realize that i'm being overdramatic. i mean dissections are fun. anatomy rocks. i'm so into surgeries i forget to breathe when assisting in them (part time gig).

but then projectile problems and currents and magnets come flying at me and i cringe. 😡

 

[tenaciousmd]

i heart nontrads 😍

i was expecting responses like "WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU DOING IN MEDICINE?!?!"

instead you all made me realize that i'm being overdramatic. i mean dissections are fun. anatomy rocks. i'm so into surgeries i forget to breathe when assisting in them (part time gig).

but then projectile problems and currents and magnets come flying at me and i cringe. 😡

I am right there with you on that! I love medicine and I HATE physics and all the rest of that crap. As a matter of fact, it has seemed a bit ridiculous for us to have to know that stuff. 😕

 

[rajinmedschool]

I was a software programmer for a couple of years. In college, I was a hardcore premed until I got burned out from having a crazy academic load. I decided to not apply to med school during my junior year, AFTER i took the MCAT and did the whole pre-req thing (yeah, I was on something....). Then I spent the next two years deeply regretting that decision until I got up the guts to quit my job and do medicine.

I have a similar story. I decided to apply for medical school in my 4th year of college, and stay in college to finish classes for another year and a half. I did well on the MCAT and knew I had a good shot of getting in, but something nagged me about the track I was currently doing, business.

So I applied for schools and at the same time worked at a big consulting firm. I thought I'd try the corporate life for a while, see how fun it was, how I'd like the lifestyle before coming to a final decision.

In the year I spent consulting, I found the job boring and totally meaningless. With few exceptions, my coworkers and especially my superiors seemed like drones who were unhappy and stuck, and I didn't want to be like that ever. They drowned their sorrows in beer, which I don't like, and talked about sports all day, which is fun for a while but gets terrible monotonous.

I tried to get into a healthcare consulting gig, which they said I had a good chance of getting into when I was interviewing, but alas I just couldn't. I was trapped with computer companies, and I was one cog in a wheel grinding numbers to find ways for the company to save on costs.

Medicine, I knew, would be more meaningful. I was scared of the cynicism that seemed to infect almost everyone I knew in med school, and I knew I'd have to curtail my expenditures and put off adventuring, but at that point I was so willing to do it cuz I knew corporate America wasn't for me.

I'm an MS-3, and finally, on rotations, do I feel like I'm glad to be in medicine. Interestingly, I see ways to improve care in ways we aren't taught at med school, and I attribute this knack thanks to my liberal arts/business degrees and my time in consulting. Working outside medicine for a while, I think, keeps you out of the ivory tower, and that's a good thing cuz you can do more than the typical med student, finding odd connections and coming up with good ideas to improve care.

 

[Quix]

I get paid to teach philosophy, logic, ethics, and (as of this semester) technical writing. I'm also in critical care research, but that's for free (kinda, I get research experience and quite a few additions to the CV). I decided on medicine after working at a psych hospital and being involved in a few codes. I don't want to stop doing what I'm doing; I just want to do medicine, too. Not terribly eloquent, but the crux of the matter; I'd like to keep one foot in the clinic and one in the classroom.

EDIT

I am right there with you on that! I love medicine and I HATE physics and all the rest of that crap. As a matter of fact, it has seemed a bit ridiculous for us to have to know that stuff.

I'm right there with you. For me, it's botany. Why the hell do I have to know about apical meristems (a significant part of my Bio classes were spent on botany and ecology)? The only time I'll see one is if (a) I'm removing it from an unfortunate patient, or (b) they are changing the office decor.

 

[NoPatients]

i'm so into surgeries i forget to breathe when assisting in them

If you love the work, but hate the classes, stick with it! The classes will be over before you know it. You might find it helpful to learn more about your personality by taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) if you haven't already. On the other hand, it might just be more theoretical crap that you won't like either. 😀

I learned the hard way to choose a career based upon the career and type of work rather than how much fun/interesting the courses are. It would've been easier for me to go to med school (not sure if I will though), when I was 23 than now when I'm 35 with a family. 🙄

 

[exnavyflier]

I actually always wanted to go into medicine. I joined the Navy right after 9/11. I was accepted into aviation and flew the E2 until the Navy called me up and said that there are to many pilots and they are "downsizing." I loved flying because I loved being in control of the aircraft and the flight wing when conducting flight operations. But, it did not give me a hard-on like anesthesia and surgery. MEdicine gives me a hard-on