I'm looking to go into Medical school for Anesthesiology. I'm a pre-med student (going into my 2nd year) and keep going back and fourth. What pushed me to decide is all of the time I have spent around the field. I have Lupus and have pretty much spent the last 7 years of my life in the Hospital. It feels like home. I know so much and really think I am cut out for it. But I am also very social and creative. The question in this all is if I will be able to have somewhat of a life before I am a doctor(through medical school and all) or will there be no room for this all? Also, with Obamas health bill would it be better to go into nursing ?? By the time I am a doctor the health bill would be in affect(ugh). Any advice?!?!?!? 😎
The good life?
- Thread starter hotshottt
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Yeah, I have some advice. Don't pick a specialty before you even take your prerequisites. It makes you seem like a jackass.
Otherwise: first post and you manage a "premed with a specialty", "I know so much", "I don't want to have to work too hard", and "Obama's health care bill sucks".
May I just say: Troll.
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The long hours or lack of free time aren't the real downsides to medicine. Consider this:
Physicians are human. Thus, they will make mistakes. Those mistakes can cause permanent disability or worse. If you become a physician, could you live with yourself after you've made such a mistake?
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Totes. At least he said "Obama's health care bill" and not Obamacare
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Okay to clear things up, I am willing to work extremely hard and know I will have to. I have chosen that specific area for reasons specific to me. Again, I have been in the hospital well over 400 times for surgery, chemo therapy you name it. So no, that doesn't make me a "jackass" I happen to have my reasons. Even without all the schooling I know this is un-orthodox. Its also not exactly unusual for doctors or aspiring doctors to hate this bill it will change the career, esp since doctors are not union. If you aren't thinking about it that makes you a jackass. I am looking for constructive advice here. Isoprop- yes I could, although there are going to be some tough things there are going to be even more lives that are made better. I am willing to deal with those ups and downs.
D
deleted307836
"hotshott,"
If you are sincere in your inquiry, know that nothing constructive can come about by asking such a broad question on the internet. The only way you will know if medicine is right for you is by educating yourself about the realities of becoming a physician and understanding if the sacrifice is something you are willing (and want) to deal with. Shadow, get experience, and learn about the politics -- but you'll have to do all of that yourself.
Again, it is of ZERO use to ask others if you should pursue medicine. If you have to ask a random internet audience... well, you know.
If you are sincere in your inquiry, know that nothing constructive can come about by asking such a broad question on the internet. The only way you will know if medicine is right for you is by educating yourself about the realities of becoming a physician and understanding if the sacrifice is something you are willing (and want) to deal with. Shadow, get experience, and learn about the politics -- but you'll have to do all of that yourself.
Again, it is of ZERO use to ask others if you should pursue medicine. If you have to ask a random internet audience... well, you know.
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You mean besides it being tedious, requiring ridiculous training, and paying well?
Over 400 times? I knew lupus sucked, but I didn't know it sucked that much. Sorry if I offended you by stating that it was presumptuous of you to state that you know so much about the workings of a hospital OUTSIDE what the patient experiences!
You're right that we need to think about it. And the truth of the matter is: I have! So I'm not a jackass. I may be a jerk for thinking you're hating the bill a little prematurely, but that's all. And if you're honestly asking if you should be a doctor or a nurse just because of it, clearly your interest in becoming a doctor is half-baked at best.
You want something constructive? Stop thinking of all your experiences as a PATIENT and seek out some as a volunteer or a shadow. Your experience as a patient is great for your PS (if you even make it that far) and is a great reason to be interested in medicine, but in terms of giving you a good idea of what life in medicine really means, it's pretty flimsy. If you really want to figure out if medicine is right for you, do your own hands-on research. Don't ask people on an anonymous forum to make that call for you. Because honestly? I will say NO until you give me enough reasons to say yes.
Sorry, but in two posts you've already set off my troll-dar harder than Bannie. That takes skill. Props to you! 👍
Well, thank you. Actually, I have worked under two different surgeons and loved every second. But I think what I am looking for is what my life is going to be like during medical school. This is not because I want to party my life away, it is due to needing SOME down time to make sure that I don't fall apart physically. Yes, I know this is a lot to ask of a place like this however many people on here have some tie to the field and I am just looking for any input possible at this point. I'm the patient and always have been that asks the doctor about their job, there has not been a doctor that I haven't talked to about my future. The hospital feels like home to me but I don't want it to be the death of me either ! Yes Lupus does tend to suck. I am a national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America so I've seen all shapes and forms of Lupus.
As for the nursing/ doctor thing. It is not half baked at all. Most doctors I have talked to say that I should not become a doctor and to become a nurse anesthetist due to this bill. I actually have a cousin who is one and she loves it, but I do have my heart set on "going the distance"
Cayucos: Nice House reference ! hah
As for the nursing/ doctor thing. It is not half baked at all. Most doctors I have talked to say that I should not become a doctor and to become a nurse anesthetist due to this bill. I actually have a cousin who is one and she loves it, but I do have my heart set on "going the distance"
Cayucos: Nice House reference ! hah
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i love how every kid on here that's had an illness thinks that they know so much about medicine and are cut out for the profession. 🙄
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The problem here is you're asking pre-meds what medical school is going to be like. A lot of the allopathic students look at the threads in these forums, but this is more a place for pre-meds. We can't explain how medical school is because most of us have not been yet.
If you'd like a description of what medical school is like, frequent the threads in the Allopathic and Osteopathic parts of the forums. Use the search function. You're probably apt to find tons upon tons of information. Long story short, medical school won't be a complete walk in the park. You'll have easy weeks and stressful weeks, but from what I hear, not everyone matriculating in medical school is a complete hermit.
Secondly, don't ask us if we think you'd be better doing nursing because of the bill. If anything, most of us would tell you to go nursing simply because we want more medical school spots open for ourselves. Yes, this bill might/will affect our careers, but if you really love medicine (and not because you've been in the hospital a million times) then it won't matter to you and you will be happy. Shadow doctors, volunteer, get some experience that isn't a patient one. It's very different. The hospital obviously would feel like home to you because you've been there so often, but as a patient. It's a whole different thing when you're doing the procedures, or as a volunteer a.k.a fly on the wall.
Third, while it's great you think you've found a niche in Anesthesiology, don't set your heart on a specialty yet. Everyone thinks they know what they want, and they end up never picking it. Go into medical school with an open mind. You might find out during your rotations that you love Peds, or IM, or something like that. But if you set your sights on one specialty while you're only pre-med, you might become disappointed later.
Lastly, we can't make the decision for you. This whole process is so huge; asking whether or not WE think you should do it is just not the way to go. You have to make the choice, and you should make it for the right reasons.
Good luck.
I love how you would make such a broad, statement. Maybe are you a little insecure? Or just that unbelievably rude? Whatever it is try to keep in mind this is an anonymous forum so you know just about nothing about me. I may be sick, like I have said and have spent a lot of time in the hospital but it just so happens I've wanted to be a doctor since long before that. I have been working for this since I can remember and the only grade lower then A i have ever gotten was a B and that was twice. Another thing is, if you have something against sick kids you should NOT be a doctor. You've already managed to show empathy and passion here !...NOT
Your concerns are well-founded. If you are looking for 'good life' then medicine is probably not for you. The nominal and opportunity costs are too big for a hard-working, bright young person. The benefits are shrinking, and the healthcare reform will accelerate the process. You would be better off to apply your talents and efforts elsewhere.
In your case, you also have to consider your chronic disease and what impact it might have on your career and your priorities. You will NOT get an 'easy' treatment in medical school and residency because of your condition.
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Why does everyone feel they have the right to criticize others when they express interest in going into the medical field? Just because their reasons and inspirations don't correlate with yours or what you think is "right" doesn't mean you have to act like you're on your period.
Well I guess you CAN. But then you just look like an *******.
Well I guess you CAN. But then you just look like an *******.
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There are quite a few threads bouncing around about what medical school is really like. People post and tell their typical day.
The problem is we have no idea what you mean about "some" free time. Me personally, I don't need a whole lot. If you looking for 1 hour a day for free time relaxation, rest, everything, then you will be MORE than OK in medical school. If you are looking for 6-7 hours a day of that type of stuff, you probably won't make it. You really have us little information to work with.
The problem is we have no idea what you mean about "some" free time. Me personally, I don't need a whole lot. If you looking for 1 hour a day for free time relaxation, rest, everything, then you will be MORE than OK in medical school. If you are looking for 6-7 hours a day of that type of stuff, you probably won't make it. You really have us little information to work with.
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MMM I have to say if I could do it over again I wish I would have done a BSN to MS in CRNA. Sweet pay, way less loans (don't know if this is true for med school but dental school is hella expensive) and you start much younger!! Yet Alas I am almost done with my B..S... in BS lol (biological sciences)
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Generally agree with the above. I'm always glad to quote someone else who puts my words already on there bc i'm generally too lazy to write out a long response.
People on SDN are quick to accuse of troll and I find can really be dicks sometimes. It's a good thing I never discovered this site til after I was already on the interview trail...The truth is, the OP is not starting a flame war or causing trouble. He's a rising sophomore in undergrad and it's common to have questions (a lot of them) at this stage. OP learn how to use the search function, and you can discover many previous threads addressing issues you may have. People will be very quick to get in your face if you ask something that was already previously discussed extensively.
The only thing I'll mention with respect to specialty is to go into medical school with an open mind. It's VERY possible you will change your mind as you go through...personally suffering through lupus may lead you to want to help people out like yourself, and you may want to do internal medicine with a fellowship like rheum or immuno, or you may end up loving the OR and want to go die-hard surgery route. You never know. Give everything an equal shot. You may surprise yourself. I started off med school swearing that I wanted to do cardiothoracic surgery, and well, not so much anymore that's for sure.
Well,it looks like the common (well for those who are giving actual advice ) that many of you are saying is to go into this all with an open mind. I must say that i have ti agree with this and i will. It probably isn't the best way to go into that. As much as i think i love the field the truth is after i learn more, i may love something more or or not even like that at all. So we'll see! One thing that I simply do not get is why so many people in here are so willing to criticize others. I completely agree with the fact that people in here are very judgmental. As much as i appreciate advice and some of you are actually giving me very good advice but the people all over this site that are so ridiculous I'm wondering why you even bother?
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:troll::troll::troll::troll::troll::troll:
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I think you're taking a ton of the comments to heart.
SDN is a forum for people who want to be doctors, vets, dentists, etc. as well as people who have already achieved this goals. Especially in these forums, you have pre-meds who are fighting tooth and nail to get into medical school. Anyone here can be deemed as a threat. Some people are more hardcore about this than others.
A lot of the questions you posted have already been touched upon, and people get annoyed when the same threads pop up over and over again, because we end up sounding like a broken record. The search function is your best friend. If you can't find the answers you need from there, then go ahead and post something. But most of the time, your answers will already be in a thread that was made earlier.
Lastly, like you mentioned before, this is an internet forum. People don't know you, and you don't know us. Don't get upset based on some random person's comments. SDN has a ton of useful information and helpful people; just ignore the ones you don't like and move on.
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