What would yo do? Youtube or Medicine?

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DrLuca

DrLuca

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Hello everyone! I'm an IMG living in Europe. If possible, I will like some feedback from some of you in regards to my current situation.

I graduated in 2013 and received my ECFMG certification in 2015. Step 1: 231, Step 2 CK: 230, and Step CS: Passed, all first attempt. Will take Step 3 this year. No research. No Visa.

That same year (2015), I started a Youtube channel to make money since I didn't even had a bank account and was relying on my mother (sad). To make things short, before September of 2015 I had already more than a million followers on my channel and was making more than 5K/month. I did not apply to residency that year because I decided to work on Youtube until I was financially stable. In 2016 I did not apply for residency again, why? I had more than 5 million followers and was making 25K/month, something surreal and I know it sounds crazy but it's true.

On December of 2016, I decided to stop making videos and get back to medicine. I had money to be independent and take care of my expenses. On 2017 I did a 3 month clerkship rotation in NY and applied to more than 50 IM and Psychiatry Residency Programs but did not match, so this year I'm planning to try again.

I want to pursue medicine in the US and I don't see myself making Youtube videos when I'm 50 (even do the lifestyle is better and it's easy money), BUT I'm also 33 years old and matching into a residency program can take years.

What would you do in my situation?

Thanks!
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DrLuca said:
Hello everyone! I'm an IMG living in Europe. If possible, I will like some feedback from some of you in regards to my current situation.

I graduated in 2013 and received my ECFMG certification in 2015. Step 1: 231, Step 2 CK: 230, and Step CS: Passed, all first attempt. Will take Step 3 this year. No research. No Visa.

That same year (2015), I started a Youtube channel to make money since I didn't even had a bank account and was relying on my mother (sad). To make things short, before September of 2015 I had already more than a million followers on my channel and was making more than 5K/month. I did not apply to residency that year because I decided to work on Youtube until I was financially stable. In 2016 I did not apply for residency again, why? I had more than 5 million followers and was making 25K/month, something surreal and I know it sounds crazy but it's true.

On December of 2016, I decided to stop making videos and get back to medicine. I had money to be independent and take care of my expenses. On 2017 I did a 3 month clerkship rotation in NY and applied to more than 50 IM and Psychiatry Residency Programs but did not match, so this year I'm planning to try again.

I want to pursue medicine in the US and I don't see myself making Youtube videos when I'm 50 (even do the lifestyle is better and it's easy money), BUT I'm also 33 years old and matching into a residency program can take years.

What would you do in my situation?

Thanks!
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YouTube, man! Are you kidding me?! It will take years before you make $25,000/month doing medicine. Substract taxes and the decision is clear.

What was your channel about? 🙂
 
I'd definitely say YouTube but with one caveat though. Do you have any additional sources of revenue other than youtube? As in a side platform or merchandise? YouTube's algorithm is always changing as well as its adsense rules and you don't want to find yourself going from 5k a month to 2.56 a month.
 
Only you can answer this, as it completely depends what your passion and motivation is. As others pointed out, 25K/month is financially great and quite possibly more than you'd make as a physician; but the big question is whether or not you are personally fulfilled in your Youtube career, or do you have a strong life goal and desire to practice medicine? If you don't feel like you'd be fulfilled in your current direction, then certainly continue your medical pursuits. (I do question if it would have to be an "all or none" proposition: there are plenty of physicians who also do Youtube part time...)
 
DrLuca said:
Yes, actually I don't want to give up on Medicine after so many years of preparation and even do it's not always peaches and cream, it's much more rewarding than being a Youtuber.
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So why even make this thread?
 
PlutoBoy said:
YouTube, man! Are you kidding me?! It will take years before you make $25,000/month doing medicine. Substract taxes and the decision is clear.

What was your channel about? 🙂
Click to expand...

Yes you're right, making the amount of money I was making on Youtube will be very hard as a physician, but I think I'll make enough to have a nice life. I'm not a money hungry type of person and I would really like to live in the US, so if things go well, I'll keep pursuing a residency position.

My channel was about Top 10 and/or Top 5 ranking videos. If you want the link send me a PM.
 
NRP said:
I'd definitely say YouTube but with one caveat though. Do you have any additional sources of revenue other than youtube? As in a side platform or merchandise? YouTube's algorithm is always changing as well as its adsense rules and you don't want to find yourself going from 5k a month to 2.56 a month.
Click to expand...

I was making more than 20K/month on average and only making videos, no other source. I was thinking about merchandise but since I was not partnered with any network (usually they take care of this), time was an issue. Making videos was also time consuming and other things that come up when you are a Youtuber.
 
hamstergang said:
So why even make this thread?
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I'm curious to know what others would do in my situation. That's why I wrote at the end of my original post "What would you do in my situation?"
 
KU Brendan said:
Only you can answer this, as it completely depends what your passion and motivation is. As others pointed out, 25K/month is financially great and quite possibly more than you'd make as a physician; but the big question is whether or not you are personally fulfilled in your Youtube career, or do you have a strong life goal and desire to practice medicine? If you don't feel like you'd be fulfilled in your current direction, then certainly continue your medical pursuits. (I do question if it would have to be an "all or none" proposition: there are plenty of physicians who also do Youtube part time...)
Click to expand...

Yes, actually I don't want to give up on Medicine after so many years of preparation and even do it's not always peaches and cream, it's much more rewarding than being a Youtuber.

Making both things at the same time will depend on the schedule, but it's difficult. It takes me at least 16 hours to make a video which includes the script, the audio editing and video editing (Top 5/10 ranking videos). I might make some videos after I'm done with the Step 3 exam this year, but at the moment I have no time to do so.
 
DrLuca said:
Yes you're right, making the amount of money I was making on Youtube will be very hard as a physician, but I think I'll make enough to have a nice life. I'm not a money hungry type of person and I would really like to live in the US, so if things go well, I'll keep pursuing a residency position.

My channel was about Top 10 and/or Top 5 ranking videos. If you want the link send me a PM.
Click to expand...

Dude... sounds like you are living the dream! It would be awesome if you could come to America but why would you do that and (possibly) end up paying very high taxes, deal with the stress, the litigious society, etc?

Sounds to me like you are where most people want to be when they retire!
 
I appreciate you making the thread. That’s a real unique situation. I’d still practice medicine if I won the lottery today. And i don’t imagine YouTube will give you something interesting and meaningful to do for decades. You’ve got the financial means to pursue your dream, why not do it.
 
PlutoBoy said:
Dude... sounds like you are living the dream! It would be awesome if you could come to America but why would you do that and (possibly) end up paying very high taxes, deal with the stress, the litigious society, etc?

Sounds to me like you are where most people want to be when they retire!
Click to expand...
PlutoBoy said:
Dude... sounds like you are living the dream! It would be awesome if you could come to America but why would you do that and (possibly) end up paying very high taxes, deal with the stress, the litigious society, etc?

Sounds to me like you are where most people want to be when they retire!
Click to expand...


Youtube is way more comfortable but making videos still requires time and effort (new content every week), nothing compared to medicine of course but it can get pretty boring. You also deal with spammers, trolls, illegal copyright notices, etc.

Taxes are very high here in Italy.

In the long run I see being a MD as a more gratifying job, more secure, and I'll be able to live in the US which is awesome. Doing Youtube I wouldn't be able to live permanently in the US, just visit as a tourist.

How about you? Are you in residency? Working?
 
DrLuca said:
Youtube is way more comfortable but making videos still requires time and effort (new content every week), nothing compared to medicine of course but it can get pretty boring. You also deal with spammers, trolls, illegal copyright notices, etc.

Taxes are very high here in Italy.

In the long run I see being a MD as a more gratifying job, more secure, and I'll be able to live in the US which is awesome. Doing Youtube I wouldn't be able to live permanently in the US, just visit as a tourist.

How about you? Are you in residency? Working?
Click to expand...

I'm "living the dream."
 
Those pushing youtube I think are being a little short sighted. This guy is fairly far along in the training process. YouTube fame and popularity of a very fleeting thing. One rule change, regulatory change, whatever and you could be gone.

OP I would do both. One is a hobby that you got lucky on but will fizzle out in a few years and one is a career. Go for the medicine.
 
IM2GI said:
Those pushing youtube I think are being a little short sighted. This guy is fairly far along in the training process. YouTube fame and popularity of a very fleeting thing. One rule change, regulatory change, whatever and you could be gone.

OP I would do both. One is a hobby that you got lucky on but will fizzle out in a few years and one is a career. Go for the medicine.
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Agree with the sentiment here. Whatever it is you're doing on YouTube is one thing, but it doesn't strike me as exactly financially secure long-term. I think the issue is more a matter of how long you continue to do what you're doing to take advantage of the income stream.
 
The youtubers with big number subs have to vbog daily.
 
Can't you do both? At least for a while? If you enjoy making videos and do medicine you can easily do both if you budget your time wisely. True you won't have nearly as much time for the YouTube videos but if you're not worried about the viewer count you don't have to put as much scrutiny into making them.

Either way, if you want to reapply, you should at least continue making them while you reapply. Then you can decrease the content when you match.

I'd love a link to your YouTube, I think its really cool.
 
flatstanley said:
Can't you do both? At least for a while? If you enjoy making videos and do medicine you can easily do both if you budget your time wisely. True you won't have nearly as much time for the YouTube videos but if you're not worried about the viewer count you don't have to put as much scrutiny into making them.

Either way, if you want to reapply, you should at least continue making them while you reapply. Then you can decrease the content when you match.

I'd love a link to your YouTube, I think its really cool.
Click to expand...

Right now I can't, it takes a lot of time and I'm studying for the Step 3 exam. I will probably get back to Youtube in September, but if I don't match next year, I'll go live in an apartment I have on a beach in South America, surf, work part time as an MD and make videos.

Send me a PM for the link.
 
Dude you are living the dream. Stick with youtube and maybe you might transition to TV. You are doing better than a lot of physicians income wise. Stick with youtube. Medicine is not promised.
 
twospadz said:
Dude you are living the dream. Stick with youtube and maybe you might transition to TV. You are doing better than a lot of physicians income wise. Stick with youtube. Medicine is not promised.
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Bears repeating that medicine is also likely a lot less volitile than YouTube income - which is why I said the bigger issue is how long to ride that wave and benefit from it.
 
Veil said:
Bears repeating that medicine is also likely a lot less volitile than YouTube income - which is why I said the bigger issue is how long to ride that wave and benefit from it.
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Well, nothing is a given. The trade off is enjoying life now instead of enslaving himself to medicine and the proverbial powers that be for the next ten years.

Being in a less formal career has many benefits.

For instance, you would be able to speak your mind without worrying about the consequences.
 
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