What to be? MD, DPT, DVM, PA...? Please help!

[tmo2626]

I'm a junior neuroscience major at USC facing a tough decision about where to apply next year. While I have been pre-med since my freshman year, I'm starting to have serious doubts about my commitment to spending the next 8-10 years preparing for my real life to start when I definitely want to have a family. I'm starting to consider pursuing physical therapy school, veterinary school, physician assistant school, or research-based grad work instead. In terms of PT's, DVM's, and PA's, they seem to share similar responsibilities as doctors do, which I like. In terms of lifestyle, would those professions really differ that much from the daily life of an established MD?

Also, more and more people are warning me against pursuing an MD because of insurance costs. What percentage of a doctor's salary is taken out for insurance? I am interested in ob/gyn, sports medicine, and orthopedics.

So what's everyone's vote? MD, DPT, DVM, PA, or something else? I like science, medicine, animals, and people, but I need to be able to lead a well-balanced lifestyle and have time for friends and family. Surely there is a good fit out there!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[braluk]

This is way too broad of a question, and it seems that you are completely undecided in fields that are absolutely different from each other, in time, commitment, and background. I don't think anyone can here can answer this question for you. What you have to do is to shadow all different fields and see what YOU find interesting, not what some random posters opinions are.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

you have two options:

1. MD---->Derm residency
2. MRS degree you still got 3 semesters, start partying!

 

[Heimerfink]

why not try to be a lawyer or an economist?

you seem to have that broad of an idea.

The responsibility, daily life, responsibility, stress are all extremely varied between these positions. Try shadowing to get an idea rather than listening to us yokels on sdn.

 

[sprinkibrio]

I'm a junior neuroscience major at USC facing a tough decision about where to apply next year. While I have been pre-med since my freshman year, I'm starting to have serious doubts about my commitment to spending the next 8-10 years preparing for my real life to start when I definitely want to have a family. I'm starting to consider pursuing physical therapy school, veterinary school, physician assistant school, or research-based grad work instead. In terms of PT's, DVM's, and PA's, they seem to share similar responsibilities as doctors do, which I like. In terms of lifestyle, would those professions really differ that much from the daily life of an established MD?

Also, more and more people are warning me against pursuing an MD because of insurance costs. What percentage of a doctor's salary is taken out for insurance? I am interested in ob/gyn, sports medicine, and orthopedics.

So what's everyone's vote? MD, DPT, DVM, PA, or something else? I like science, medicine, animals, and people, but I need to be able to lead a well-balanced lifestyle and have time for friends and family. Surely there is a good fit out there!

You sound like you would be happy in any of those fields, not necessarily only being an MD. In that case, I wouldn't recommend being a doctor. I too want a good lifestyle, to have a family, etc, and I can do all that as a doctor, but it's going to be really difficult. But pursuing medicine has always felt very much a part of my core identity, and if I didn't pursue my dream I would be heartbroken. That doesn't seem to be true in your case.

I also think being a vet might make any sort of relationship/lifestyle hard for the next four years. After that, though, I'd think you could easily handle everything. Don't go to grad school and do research in biology if you're interested in working with people. For me, being a PA would always remind me that I could have been a doctor. And so, a PT might be good to look into (as well as everything else b/c my advice is just a guideline).

 

[tmo2626]

Shadowing is definitely in the works...thanks for the supportive advice.

I know that the fields seem broad, but all of these choices seem very similar to me -- all are within the realm of heath sciences and require very similar pre-requisites and curriculum. People frequently try to weigh the pros and cons of MD vs. Dentistry, etc., and I was merely trying to do the same.

 

[braluk]

They are all within the realm of health care yes, however, if you aren't all for an MD now, you might be making a mistake if you go for MD. From the sound of your post, you sound very hesitant about putting a 10 year devotion to becoming an MD- all the horror stories you hear are true so going for MD is definitely not for the faint hearted. Go with what your instincts tell you, more than not, it'll be telling you the right thing. GOod luck!

 

[foofish]

Shadowing is definitely in the works...thanks for the supportive advice.

I know that the fields seem broad, but all of these choices seem very similar to me -- all are within the realm of heath sciences and require very similar pre-requisites and curriculum. People frequently try to weigh the pros and cons of MD vs. Dentistry, etc., and I was merely trying to do the same.

Well, the MD/Dentistry thing is a little like comparing apples and oranges, too....and frankly it seems more common that it's the people who are ambivalent about both that are asking the question (instead of super-passionate about both, meaning they would likely be happier doing something different altogether).

I think chosing a career based on prereqs, or choosing between fields just because they have similar prereqs and classes, isn't a great idea. The prereqs--and even med/nursing/etc. school--are only a few years of your life, whereas actually being a ____ is what you'll be doing for decades. What you really need to learn about is the life of a doctor/pa/etc., and if you really think that they're all pretty much the same, then you really aren't ready to go into any of those fields.

Talk to the pre-health advisor(s) at your school, they can probably point you in the right direction for reading material on the different careers you're thinking about....that would be a much better resource than us neurotic premeds on SDN. 😀

 

[NonTradMed]

I'm a junior neuroscience major at USC facing a tough decision about where to apply next year. While I have been pre-med since my freshman year, I'm starting to have serious doubts about my commitment to spending the next 8-10 years preparing for my real life to start when I definitely want to have a family. I'm starting to consider pursuing physical therapy school, veterinary school, physician assistant school, or research-based grad work instead. In terms of PT's, DVM's, and PA's, they seem to share similar responsibilities as doctors do, which I like. In terms of lifestyle, would those professions really differ that much from the daily life of an established MD?

Also, more and more people are warning me against pursuing an MD because of insurance costs. What percentage of a doctor's salary is taken out for insurance? I am interested in ob/gyn, sports medicine, and orthopedics.

So what's everyone's vote? MD, DPT, DVM, PA, or something else? I like science, medicine, animals, and people, but I need to be able to lead a well-balanced lifestyle and have time for friends and family. Surely there is a good fit out there!

Don't base your life on your pre-reqs. As another poster pointed out, it is only a small portion of your life as compared to the years of training, thousands of dollars and decades of working that your choices will impact.

Your best bet is to shadow people in these professions and do some research on your own rather than asking people on a annoymous forum (many of whom are premeds themselves) about which career is a better fit for you.

FYI, doctor's salary is the money they get AFTER costs paid out to their practices and that includes insurance. Doctors don't get a percentage of their income taken out as malpractice insurance, rather it is taken out of their revenue as part of their expenses of running a practice (just like utilities, employee salaries etc). Do a search on doctor's salary and that is the pre-tax salary that doctors will take home, which would be after the price of malpractice insurance has been deducted from their initial revenue. Although physicians will make a comfortable salary, you will earn every penny (to quote my OB). Doctors job can range from 45-60 hours depending on speciality and how much call you take. Some doctors work part time but I that can also vary depending on speciality.

 

[dutchman]

I'm a junior neuroscience major at USC facing a tough decision about where to apply next year. While I have been pre-med since my freshman year, I'm starting to have serious doubts about my commitment to spending the next 8-10 years preparing for my real life to start when I definitely want to have a family. I'm starting to consider pursuing physical therapy school, veterinary school, physician assistant school, or research-based grad work instead. In terms of PT's, DVM's, and PA's, they seem to share similar responsibilities as doctors do, which I like. In terms of lifestyle, would those professions really differ that much from the daily life of an established MD?

Also, more and more people are warning me against pursuing an MD because of insurance costs. What percentage of a doctor's salary is taken out for insurance? I am interested in ob/gyn, sports medicine, and orthopedics.

So what's everyone's vote? MD, DPT, DVM, PA, or something else? I like science, medicine, animals, and people, but I need to be able to lead a well-balanced lifestyle and have time for friends and family. Surely there is a good fit out there!

Real life is happening right now.

 

[postbacdad]

This decision should be coming from you, not SDN.

Take a trip to Indonesia or climb a mountain or something.

 

[deleted103644]

This will delay the start of "real life" by yet another year, but take the year after you graduate to do a job related to one of those profession... Get a good idea of what you'd be getting into/missing out on. It will take another year, but give you a better perspective.

 

[MasonPrehealth]

Talk to your career center and your prehealth advisor. Even better, search the internet regarding each of these careers (my page and NAAHP's page).

 

[Heimerfink]

I know that the fields seem broad, but all of these choices seem very similar to me -- all are within the realm of heath sciences and require very similar pre-requisites and curriculum. People frequently try to weigh the pros and cons of MD vs. Dentistry, etc., and I was merely trying to do the same.

Why do you want to be in the health sciences at all?

Don't worry about Pre-Reqs and curriculum. Do you want to be doing lab research? Do you want to teach? Do you want to be a practicing physician making decisions? Do you want to be staring in people's mouths all day? Do you want to be working with animals?

Which of these do you think would be most satisfying? Which of these can you see yourself being?

PS: The MD vs. Dentistry is a stupid comparison.

Start shadowing.