Reasons for wanting to be a doctor

[Pip413]

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What are some of the reasons people want to be a doctor? I know that SDN has a webpage that lists those four reasons for becoming a doctor, but I'm interested in hearing specific reasons from all of y'all.

Reason I ask is because I know that this question is often asked at interviews, "...so tell me, why do you want to be a doctor?" I'm just curious at what some of the responses people have said were?

 

[Street Philosopher]

you become at least 2x more attractive to the other sex.

 

[Mystique]

I'm not trying to come across as a b*t**, but what are your reasons for wanting to know? Are you trying to formulate your own "answer" based on others'? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

This topic comes up every few months, so if you really want to know just do a search, and you'll find many threads on the subject.

 

[Deforciant]

If there had to be a golden answer, then it would probably be because medicine fascinates you and you want to help people.

Sure you can garnish this reason with personal experiences and additional supplemental reasons, but I believe the answer stated above to the golden question is the most adequate one.

Saying something like, "I want the challenge" is very inadequate. It doesn't make sense by itself. There are so many challenging challenges in life.

Since doctors have the primary goal of treating people, I believe that your reason of being a doctor should be centered around that.

Really, how many different basic answers are there. The variations in answers to this question basically lie on how you mention your personal experiences.

Look within yourself and answer your own question. This will greatly help you keep your sanity in the years ahead.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Well my answer is the standard I want to help people. Since I know that won't cut it in interiews, I have also wondered what others say to this.

Now I say I would like to be able to personally relate to my patients while effectively treating them, since healing is both a physical and mental process. I dislike going to the doctor and being confused about my diagnosis, so as a physician I would make sure I have patient understanding. I also like to teach, and becoming a doctor is a position of constant teaching and learning. When I discuss this at interviews, I always include personal experiences so it doesn't sound so cheesy, and I can't think of all these sophisticated words when I talk, so it doesn't really sound like this.

FYI whenever you ask this question here people are gonna joke around, so dont take offense 😀 We're just haing fun

 

[UCLA2000]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by ThingAMaJig:
•I'm not trying to come across as a b*t**, but what are your reasons for wanting to know? Are you trying to formulate your own "answer" based on others'? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
•••••I'm with you on this one. I've had a few premeds at UCLA come up to me asking me why I wanted to be a doctor in hopes of parroting my answer and getting into med school. I never answer that question. Why I want to be a doctor is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is why YOU want to be a doctor.

 

[Gainer]

My favorite question at interviews is "Why do you want to come to med school?"

Standard reply: "Because I want to be a doctor!"

Works like a charm. :wink: 😛

 

[Pip413]

quote:
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Originally posted by ThingAMaJig:
I'm not trying to come across as a b*t**, but what are your reasons for wanting to know? Are you trying to formulate your own "answer" based on others'?

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No offense taken. I'll be honest. I am still trying to figure out whether I want to be a doctor, but I am NOT trying to get "great" answers that will fascinate the adcom or get me into MedSchool. Why would I spend 7+ years of my life doing something that I don't want to do. I'm at the point in my life, where I need to do some hard thinking and I just wanted to know what others were thinking. I know why someone would become a doctor, but I don't know yet, why I want to become one. Maybe I should have asked how people came to have those reasons for wanting to be a doctor. Okay, new question: what are your reasons for having those reasons?

 

[SMW]

Welcome to SDN, Pip413!! 😀 🙂 😀

My reasons for deciding are embedded in my family history -- partly medical conditions of family members, and partly the way I was raised in a very medically educational/ preventive medicine type way by my Mom. I didn't always know I wanted to be a doctor. In fact, I started college convinced I didn't. I had a hard time settling down and being pre-med. I wanted to travel, and do music, and explore other areas besides the sciences. Some eye-opening experiences I had volunteering and at school, some classes I took where I loved the science, some good and bad experiences with doctors, and my love of teaching all combined to make me think I would be a good doctor and enjoy doing it. A couple of long-term shadowing experiences were very influential in finally enabling me to commit to the idea. OK, I think that's as specific as I can be without giving you my entire personal statement. Hope this helped in some way, although I have to admit that I wonder how it will. But it's interesting to talk about, and I'd love to hear from others. C'mon UCLA, give us a hint!!

Dra. Foxy, sounds like you have a great answer for interviewers asking this question (very similar to mine! :wink: ).

C'mon people, let's hear some other reasons. It's better than sitting around waiting for the phone to ring, or someone to post that the phone rang!! (Good luck to all those waiting for the phone to ring.) 😀 <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />