Thinking about giving up premed depending on the MCAT score

[Sekiray]

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Anyone ever thought of giving up, so you can forget the worrying of getting letters of rec, and all that other BS involved with the application process? Also the fact that you pay over 100k To be a doctor instead when you could be paid as a bio major in a business firm or something and make 50-70k a year? My friends who are in engineering schools are applying for genentec and stuff, and their GPA doesnt even seem to matter all THAT Much. Also they dont really need letter of recs (no kissing ass to the prof) or go through crazy competition. They get a 9-5 job, have time to make a family, and etc...

For me, this was the first time I Took the MCAT and I decided that if I get a certain score or below, I am going to give up this field. I can apply for a job and be able to spend that money on things besides a car and a house. ANd actually have time for a family. Although the satisfaction of being able to help ppl as a doctor is probably one of the highest tihng you can do in this society. Anyone have similar thoughts?

 

[richarms]

I hope this comes across the right way. In my opinion, only the most obsessed can become good doctors. You must have such a drive to succeed, and to help others, that you would be willing to take ten MCATs if that's what it took to achieve your dream.

Does that mean that good doctors can never doubt their career choice? Not at all. Doubts about entering such a demanding field are common and normal. But if someone takes the view that "if I have to repeat this work, I'll quit and find something else" than he/she does not currently have the mindset to make a good doctor.

If I bomb this MCAT (which is quite likely), than I will repeat it. If I fail the next one, I'll repeat it again. If I fail that one, I'll bribe the admissions officers with sexual favors. If that doesn't work, I'll consider a D.O. If that doesn't work, I'll learn spanish and become the best doctor I can be in Guam.

 

[little_late_MD]

I hope this comes across the right way. In my opinion, only the most obsessed can become good doctors. You must have such a drive to succeed, and to help others, that you would be willing to take ten MCATs if that's what it took to achieve your dream.

Does that mean that good doctors can never doubt their career choice? Not at all. Doubts about entering such a demanding field are common and normal. But if someone takes the view that "if I have to repeat this work, I'll quit and find something else" than he/she does not currently have the mindset to make a good doctor.

If I bomb this MCAT (which is quite likely), than I will repeat it. If I fail the next one, I'll repeat it again. If I fail that one, I'll bribe the admissions officers with sexual favors. If that doesn't work, I'll consider a D.O. If that doesn't work, I'll learn spanish and become the best doctor I can be in Guam.

I have to disagree a bit. I know that many see medicine as a "calling," but really what makes this profession any different from the thousands of others that keep the world going? Sure the training is long and requires dedication, but many other fields require extensive amounts of both time and intelligence to succeed in. I would even venture to say that the amount of training doctors are put through is too much, but that is another argument entirely.

So what makes medicine so special. Is it the life and death choices doctors make? Really, when it comes down to it, the vast majority of doctors do not makes these types of decisions, and if they do it is a rare occassion. For most specialties, even making mistakes does not have life-threatening ramifications.

Is it that only the best and brightest are capable of performing the functions of a physician? Anyone who has ever worked in a hospital knows that the number of mistakes made in a hospital would quadruple if nurses were not there to check and double check the work of the doctors. I wouldn't say that doctors have a lock on intelligence in the medical field.

So why is medicine special? Why is one of the only professions that requires its practitioners to virtually sacrifice their best years at the altar of edification, and work themselves into stress-related cardio-vascular disease by the age of 30? Really, does someone who decides that having a family, children, or a life are important really not have "what it takes" to succeed in medicine? Does their refusal to play the game evidence some innate inability to read a chart, talk to a patient, and make a diagnosis?

Is medicine really so special that it needs to have its thralls jump through 12 years of hoops with laser-guided accuracy in order to join its ranks? Or is it that the system is broken? Is it there is too much aggrandizement, ego, arrogance, and elitism? Is it that there is too much resistence to necessary changes? Is it that once a few cracks start to show, the entire facade will fall down, and people will see the practice of medicine for what it is, and then wonder why they are paying so much for it. I don't know for sure, but I would say that there is a problem in the system, and the weakest among us are the only ones who suffer.

 

[silverjelly]

I have to disagree a bit. I know that many see medicine as a "calling," but really what makes this profession any different from the thousands of others that keep the world going? Sure the training is long and requires dedication, but many other fields require extensive amounts of both time and intelligence to succeed in. I would even venture to say that the amount of training doctors are put through is too much, but that is another argument entirely.

So what makes medicine so special. Is it the life and death choices doctors make? Really, when it comes down to it, the vast majority of doctors do not makes these types of decisions, and if they do it is a rare occassion. For most specialties, even making mistakes does not have life-threatening ramifications.

Is it that only the best and brightest are capable of performing the functions of a physician? Anyone who has ever worked in a hospital knows that the number of mistakes made in a hospital would quadruple if nurses were not there to check and double check the work of the doctors. I wouldn't say that doctors have a lock on intelligence in the medical field.

So why is medicine special? Why is one of the only professions that requires its practitioners to virtually sacrifice their best years at the altar of edification, and work themselves into stress-related cardio-vascular disease by the age of 30? Really, does someone who decides that having a family, children, or a life are important really not have "what it takes" to succeed in medicine? Does their refusal to play the game evidence some innate inability to read a chart, talk to a patient, and make a diagnosis?

Is medicine really so special that it needs to have its thralls jump through 12 years of hoops with laser-guided accuracy in order to join its ranks? Or is it that the system is broken? Is it there is too much aggrandizement, ego, arrogance, and elitism? Is it that there is too much resistence to necessary changes? Is it that once a few cracks start to show, the entire facade will fall down, and people will see the practice of medicine for what it is, and then wonder why they are paying so much for it. I don't know for sure, but I would say that there is a problem in the system, and the weakest among us are the only ones who suffer.

Nice speech. Don't totally agree, but nice.

 

[medworm]

Sekiray, agreed.

I held a 9-5 job for 6 yrs before turning to medicine a year ago. Those 6 years were great -- I partied, grew up, took up some new hobbies, and still made my way up the corporate ladder into a challenging managerial position. I was determined to become a physician, so I quit my job, postponed buying a house, and accelerated through my prereqs.

But frankly, it wouldn't be so bad if I screwed up the MCAT. I would just go back to a normal job and enjoy life. I'm not that young anymore, and I want to start on a decent life with my own house, take long vacations, save for rainy days and retirement, and enjoy my hobbies and the company of family and friends.

I have no regrets taking a year off to dabble in premed, because it really gave me a new appreciation for life, science, medicine, and nature. So, it's really not so bad. Life outside of medicine is equally as good. 🙂

That said, I'm logging off now, going to chill at the bookstore, and by 10pm my fate will be decided. Medicine or not, Good Luck everyone!

 

[Scrub MD]

A wise man once said "Keep on keeping on".

Joe Dirt said it for you philosophical types.

 

[Fatima]

I have to disagree a bit. I know that many see medicine as a "calling," but really what makes this profession any different from the thousands of others that keep the world going? Sure the training is long and requires dedication, but many other fields require extensive amounts of both time and intelligence to succeed in. I would even venture to say that the amount of training doctors are put through is too much, but that is another argument entirely.

So what makes medicine so special. Is it the life and death choices doctors make? Really, when it comes down to it, the vast majority of doctors do not makes these types of decisions, and if they do it is a rare occassion. For most specialties, even making mistakes does not have life-threatening ramifications.

Is it that only the best and brightest are capable of performing the functions of a physician? Anyone who has ever worked in a hospital knows that the number of mistakes made in a hospital would quadruple if nurses were not there to check and double check the work of the doctors. I wouldn't say that doctors have a lock on intelligence in the medical field.

So why is medicine special? Why is one of the only professions that requires its practitioners to virtually sacrifice their best years at the altar of edification, and work themselves into stress-related cardio-vascular disease by the age of 30? Really, does someone who decides that having a family, children, or a life are important really not have "what it takes" to succeed in medicine? Does their refusal to play the game evidence some innate inability to read a chart, talk to a patient, and make a diagnosis?

Is medicine really so special that it needs to have its thralls jump through 12 years of hoops with laser-guided accuracy in order to join its ranks? Or is it that the system is broken? Is it there is too much aggrandizement, ego, arrogance, and elitism? Is it that there is too much resistence to necessary changes? Is it that once a few cracks start to show, the entire facade will fall down, and people will see the practice of medicine for what it is, and then wonder why they are paying so much for it. I don't know for sure, but I would say that there is a problem in the system, and the weakest among us are the only ones who suffer.

Even though I didn't agree with you totally, i cann't help but feel sad after reading you post. There is some truth about it but everyone that ever had a dream will get it and at the end of the day it doesn't matter if the system is broken or if you reach there with your legs cut off- it will be worth after all. Don't give up.

_______________________

 

[Fatima]

The hardest step is sometimes the first one and since you all have already taken it- you are already there.
Never quit to help others if your means to do so is to be a doc.

 

[Sicilian]

Medicine is overrated. Do what makes you happy.

 

[EndSong]

For me medicine was not something I want to give up even if I got into a horrible car accident and had to roll in on a wheelchair the first day of Med School. But I guess its different for everybody.

 

[Dr. Who MD]

I can honestly think of only a few things I would be unwilling to sacrifice to become a doctor (and even then I'd have to think about it). For me, right now, becoming a doctor doesnt feel like a matter of IF, but a matter of how much I need to give up and how long. The thought of working in a cubicle makes me want to scream.

 

[LuckBALady]

I hope this comes across the right way. In my opinion, only the most obsessed can become good doctors. You must have such a drive to succeed, and to help others, that you would be willing to take ten MCATs if that's what it took to achieve your dream.

Does that mean that good doctors can never doubt their career choice? Not at all. Doubts about entering such a demanding field are common and normal. But if someone takes the view that "if I have to repeat this work, I'll quit and find something else" than he/she does not currently have the mindset to make a good doctor.

If I bomb this MCAT (which is quite likely), than I will repeat it. If I fail the next one, I'll repeat it again. If I fail that one, I'll bribe the admissions officers with sexual favors. If that doesn't work, I'll consider a D.O. If that doesn't work, I'll learn spanish and become the best doctor I can be in Guam.

LOL, I'd definately leave Guam for last. Although spanish isn't the language you would need here..its Chamorro Guam is a beautiful place to visit..dreadful place to live IMO. I agree that drive is an important characteristic to have to be a doctor. I personally wouldn't want to live out the rest of my life thinking "what if". I'm with you...I'm gonna retake the MCAT as many times as it takes if need be, and volunteer many more hours. "Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death" --Bymes--