Trying to make sense

[Sweet Cheery]

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Hiya,
I'm a very confused person at the moment who is trying hard to understand why would she want to do medicine at this age, specially after studying for so long in a completely different field. Before I was happy to be the family woman and just have a job to keep me away from boredom. But now I would really want a job that pushes me to my limit and challenges me at every step of my life.I feel that medicine is the field. But then if I go through this path, I'll end up being in more debt and probably still at the mercy of my parents till my late thirties.On the other hand there is the possibility of doing a Phd. I mean with a Phd, I'll be almost settled in 4-5 years. I don't know. I'm just too confused I guess. I haven't worked a lot in my life. Therefore I was just wondering if you could please share your experiences of why you left your financially secure jobs and decided to go through a long and painful study program. Perhaps that might help me see sense.
Thanks
D.​

 

[njbmd]

Hiya,
I'm a very confused person at the moment who is trying hard to understand why would she want to do medicine at this age, specially after studying for so long in a completely different field. Before I was happy to be the family woman and just have a job to keep me away from boredom. But now I would really want a job that pushes me to my limit and challenges me at every step of my life.I feel that medicine is the field. But then if I go through this path, I'll end up being in more debt and probably still at the mercy of my parents till my late thirties.On the other hand there is the possibility of doing a Phd. I mean with a Phd, I'll be almost settled in 4-5 years. I don't know. I'm just too confused I guess. I haven't worked a lot in my life. Therefore I was just wondering if you could please share your experiences of why you left your financially secure jobs and decided to go through a long and painful study program. Perhaps that might help me see sense.
Thanks
D.​

There was nothing "painful" about the study of undergraduate school, graduate school, medicine school or residency for me. I have a very rewarding and interesting profession that I thoroughly enjoy and almost no debt (scholarship). If I had anticipated any part of this process as "painful", I would not have opted to do this.

 

[HU34ESw]

Hiya,
I'm a very confused person at the moment who is trying hard to understand why would she want to do medicine at this age, specially after studying for so long in a completely different field. Before I was happy to be the family woman and just have a job to keep me away from boredom. But now I would really want a job that pushes me to my limit and challenges me at every step of my life.I feel that medicine is the field. But then if I go through this path, I'll end up being in more debt and probably still at the mercy of my parents till my late thirties.On the other hand there is the possibility of doing a Phd. I mean with a Phd, I'll be almost settled in 4-5 years. I don't know. I'm just too confused I guess. I haven't worked a lot in my life. Therefore I was just wondering if you could please share your experiences of why you left your financially secure jobs and decided to go through a long and painful study program. Perhaps that might help me see sense.
Thanks
D.​

I agree with the above. If your view of med school preparation is "painful" you may want to consider other professions. Obviously everyone entering the medical field understands the challenge inherent in the courses they have to take and may have occasional passing thoughts of "I wish I didn't have to go to organic chemistry today" but if you're dreading the whole idea of doing chemistry, physics, and biology (among others) that's not a good sign. On the whole -- if you want to succeed -- you should have a genuine interest in the subject matter and feel excited to embrace it and learn as much as you can from it. Perhaps if you view the coursework as too daunting, you should consider a profession in medicine with a "shorter" course load. The requirements for some PA schools, for example, are only 4 or 5 courses (which is not to say they're not challenging in themselves or that getting into PA school is easier). Just something to consider. But to answer your last question: people leave their financially secure jobs to pursue medicine because they're not happy in those jobs (as you have expressed) and they have a genuine interest in medicine and science and a desire to help people. But more importantly, they have the drive and motivation to make it happen. As I like to say, you don't get anywhere in life without taking a few risks.

 

[facetguy]

Hiya, ​

I'm a very confused person at the moment who is trying hard to understand why would she want to do medicine at this age... But then if I go through this path, I'll end up being in more debt and probably still at the mercy of my parents till my late thirties.​

If it makes you feel any better, I too am considering entering medicine, and my late thirties are already in my rearview mirror! Dig deep, and if you really want to do it, then do it. And are your parents really that bad??

 

[efex101]

You better want this 300% because the path is full of extremely hard work. I think that for non-trads this is even more of an issue because we have "other" obligations while pursuing medicine. Is it worth it? yes, is the hardest thing I have EVER possibly imagined? yes. Think about this, you are constantly taking exams for classes (which is not biggie), but then you are always taking licensing exams (this seems to never end) which hold you by the gonads until you pass, passing is NOT enough if you desire X or Y specialty or fellowship so the pressure is HUGE. Sure, for those few that are excellent test takers there is no problem but for normal folk it can be a pain in the arse. You are always, I mean ALWAYS being evaluated until you become an attending (and I am sure at that point there still may be someone evaluating you). Everything gets evaluated and sometimes it is extremely subjective and dependant on how you get along with the individual evaluating you. So again, if you want to be under the microscope for the next 7-11 years or more, sure this is the path for you. If OTOH you do not take criticism well, do not like to take hundreds of exams, have issues with working 80 hr/week or more, then NO medicine may not be for you. Good luck and choose wisely.

BTW, I love this but it has taken a toll on me and my family.

 

[sawood]

"No amount of security is worth the suffering of a life lived chained to a routine that has killed your dreams" ~Kent Nerburn

Before deciding to apply to med school, I had many of the same thoughts and fears: how much money it will cost, debt, how old I will be, how long of a road it seemed to be. And those fears are natural because you are essentially standing at the foot of Mt Everest (at least it feels like that). But wouldn't you rather spend 10 years of your life climbing Mt. Everest than a whole lifetime staring at it wondering "what if.....?" You have only one life to lead, you don't get another shot at it.

I think its harder for non-trads sometimes because we're not going from being a starving undergrad student to a starving med student. We're going from being financially independent, stable adults back into a world of debt and instability (most of us).

Also please listen to the above poster who described the nature of what is ahead and the toll it can take. Don't let your fears rule you, but be realistic about what you are choosing into. And if you choose in, don't look back ....

 

[Sweet Cheery]

Thank you to you all who have replied. It does help a lot. I am debating between a Phd in medical anthropology or a medical degree. However I hear what you are saying and feel more confident in deciding whether "to climb Mount Everest or keep on contemplating it for the rest of my life ". So once again thank you.
D.