Which option Medical or dental? please help

[krazydesi]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Was not sure where to put this but I am in a dilemma sorta.

For as long as I have known I always wanted to be a doctor and go into medical school. But recently I am having second thoughts. Now I am thinking dental school might be good too. Sure they are both hard to get into not saying anything.

I find a dentists lifestyle very appealing such as having own business and working 5 days a week regular hours. But I also love the doctors HECTIC lifestyle. Working 50 hours or working 70 hours isn't an issue for me. I am willing to put in what it takes. Only thing is that I come from an indian background and my parents are basically putting all their money into my education (not all they still hold a lot of properties and stuff)

But they are relying on me to support them when I grow up and such and thinking they can retire in 5 years. But by then if I did medical school ill only be in residency and not even making that much to barely support myself.

I mean they are paying half of my medical school expense (not sure what they will say about dental) but it seems like my parents are forcing medical school on me

Am I having second thoughts cause I feel like I dont have a say even though I LOVE MEDICINE?

I just am not sure which to pick dental or medicine ... or am I also afraid I wont get into either dental or medical? When I go home for break I am going to shadow a dentist and see how I like it ... i love the fact of owning my own business and being able to do something else on the side with the time I will have left if I did dental school and became a dentist ...

However, I am just as passionate about medical school and realize that even though I may not be very rich in the future I will enjoy what I do. Only thing scaring me is the fact that as a doctor will I have money to even give to my parents?

I am just so confused right now. Any tips on anything ? lol

 

[SuperTank]

Was not sure where to put this but I am in a dilemma sorta.

For as long as I have known I always wanted to be a doctor and go into medical school. But recently I am having second thoughts. Now I am thinking dental school might be good too. Sure they are both hard to get into not saying anything.

I find a dentists lifestyle very appealing such as having own business and working 5 days a week regular hours. But I also love the doctors HECTIC lifestyle. Working 50 hours or working 70 hours isn't an issue for me. I am willing to put in what it takes. Only thing is that I come from an indian background and my parents are basically putting all their money into my education (not all they still hold a lot of properties and stuff)

But they are relying on me to support them when I grow up and such and thinking they can retire in 5 years. But by then if I did medical school ill only be in residency and not even making that much to barely support myself.

I mean they are paying half of my medical school expense (not sure what they will say about dental) but it seems like my parents are forcing medical school on me

Am I having second thoughts cause I feel like I dont have a say even though I LOVE MEDICINE?

I just am not sure which to pick dental or medicine ... or am I also afraid I wont get into either dental or medical? When I go home for break I am going to shadow a dentist and see how I like it ... i love the fact of owning my own business and being able to do something else on the side with the time I will have left if I did dental school and became a dentist ...

However, I am just as passionate about medical school and realize that even though I may not be very rich in the future I will enjoy what I do. Only thing scaring me is the fact that as a doctor will I have money to even give to my parents?

I am just so confused right now. Any tips on anything ? lol

Talk to your parents about the finances, let them know what to expect so that they don't invest in your education thinking they will see a return far sooner than possible.

I would shadow a dentist to see how you like it, but it sounds to me like you're more geared towards medical school. When you said "I may not be very rich in the future I will enjoy what I do," I think that you may have found your answer. Money is not what's important. What's important is loving your job. I know a dental specialist who makes over a million a year, and he hates his job... he is unhappy, even with that much money. Do what makes you happy.

 

[dmoney2010]

omg...your stressing out is stressing me out haha. do some shadowing for a dentist and see what you like. Unfortunately, the financial ideas that you have for five years out are pretty unrealistic. Even if your are matriculating this coming fall I dont see how you could be starting up a practice and funding your parents retirement in five years. Ten years and I could believe it. You need to decide what you like doing, diagnostics or root canals. give us some background stats to work with...age, year in school etc

 

[DrDDSman]

Was not sure where to put this but I am in a dilemma sorta.

For as long as I have known I always wanted to be a doctor and go into medical school. But recently I am having second thoughts. Now I am thinking dental school might be good too. Sure they are both hard to get into not saying anything.

I find a dentists lifestyle very appealing such as having own business and working 5 days a week regular hours. But I also love the doctors HECTIC lifestyle. Working 50 hours or working 70 hours isn't an issue for me. I am willing to put in what it takes. Only thing is that I come from an indian background and my parents are basically putting all their money into my education (not all they still hold a lot of properties and stuff)

But they are relying on me to support them when I grow up and such and thinking they can retire in 5 years. But by then if I did medical school ill only be in residency and not even making that much to barely support myself.

I mean they are paying half of my medical school expense (not sure what they will say about dental) but it seems like my parents are forcing medical school on me

Am I having second thoughts cause I feel like I dont have a say even though I LOVE MEDICINE?

I just am not sure which to pick dental or medicine ... or am I also afraid I wont get into either dental or medical? When I go home for break I am going to shadow a dentist and see how I like it ... i love the fact of owning my own business and being able to do something else on the side with the time I will have left if I did dental school and became a dentist ...

However, I am just as passionate about medical school and realize that even though I may not be very rich in the future I will enjoy what I do. Only thing scaring me is the fact that as a doctor will I have money to even give to my parents?

I am just so confused right now. Any tips on anything ? lol

You should really observe some dentists to see exactly what they do and what how they interact with patients. It may or may not be something of interest to you.

Although there are less insurance and malpractice headaches, dentists have a much higher overhead compared to MD/DO. Med and dent both have their pros and cons, but for the most part they are compensated fairly well, so money shouldn't be a huge factor. Your parents should no (and if they dont, inform them) that you will not be earning any sort of significant pay for another 7-10 years, depending on med residency.

Do what makes you happy- you dont want to be a miserable dentist 10 years down the road.

 

[peanutb123]

First of all ask you parents, why are they investing in your educations & do they expect you to take care of you in 5 years down the road... Ask these types of questions... Most of the desi kids I talk to think that just b/c their parents are loaded and pay for their school they feel obligated to take care of their parents. I assume you are Inferring that you HAVE to take care of you parents and they are not even asking for your help. You said they have properties... guess what 95% of the desi people who come to America have land in this country and their own... which generates profits till they die... I am pretty sure your parents are not RELYING on your education to feed them... they can feed themselves... trust me...

Here is the reason that they are investing money in your education:
1. They want you to be happy so you should choose whatever makes you happy... thats why they are spending the money they are spending
2. also they want you to be successful

get the facts right w/ your parents before inferring.

 

[Marker008]

Although I don't understand what you mean when you say you come from an Indian background, my advice is make your decision based on ONLY what you feel is right for you. From what you say, sounds like your parents are wealthy enough to get by and pay your tuition anyway. Let them if they want, but do what you feel is best for you without their influence. In either career, you will be able to take care of them financially if that's what you choose to do.

 

[supraeli]

I find a dentists lifestyle very appealing such as having own business and working 5 days a week regular hours.

you need to shadow a NEW dentist before coming to conclusions like this... establishing a practice takes ALOT of work... only well established dentists with older practices can afford to live easier.

But I also love the doctors HECTIC lifestyle. Working 50 hours or working 70 hours isn't an issue for me. I am willing to put in what it takes.

Some doctor specialties dont need to put in that amount of work... usually such insane work weeks are only typical of med school and residency periods.

Only thing is that I come from an indian background and my parents are basically putting all their money into my education (not all they still hold a lot of properties and stuff)

But they are relying on me to support them when I grow up and such and thinking they can retire in 5 years. But by then if I did medical school ill only be in residency and not even making that much to barely support myself.

if they have multiple properties, they have income. they probably CAN retire in 5 years, and live conservatively off of residual income from properties... also if there are multiple properties, those are essentially investments for retirement funds, if sold. you will need maybe 10 years for either careers to start bringing in enough money to support more than yourself (especially if you want to buy a house).

I just am not sure which to pick dental or medicine ... or am I also afraid I wont get into either dental or medical? When I go home for break I am going to shadow a dentist and see how I like it ... i love the fact of owning my own business and being able to do something else on the side with the time I will have left if I did dental school and became a dentist ...

you can be a doctor and own your own practice as well. depends on specialty... seems like you need to get more information on both fields. saying "i love medicine" tells me nothing about what you want to do.. a radiologist has a very different life from an emergency specialist, while a dentist and a primary care physician probably have much more in common (especially salary LOL).

search and read the many existing dental vs. medical threads.

 

[sketo43]

How about this idea: don't let your parents pay for your education. That way they can keep their own money for retirement - you're no longer their retirement plan. Also, since you would be taking out loans to pay for your education, you can go to whichever medical or dental school you want - you don't have to go where your parents want you to go.

Shadow some physicians and dentists to find out what you like. All jobs have their flaws, so don't expect either career to be perfect all the time.

 

[Aceofspades]

you need to shadow a NEW dentist before coming to conclusions like this... establishing a practice takes ALOT of work... only well established dentists with older practices can afford to live easier.

I doubt the OP will get to shadow a new dentist. It's hard enough shadowing a dentist, but a new dentist needs to make money more than anyone. I doubt they will appreciate some pre-dent standing around and potentially disrupting business. They may not even be comfortable with themselves as a private practice owner let alone operating a shadowing clinic.

 

[supraeli]

I doubt the OP will get to shadow a new dentist. It's hard enough shadowing a dentist, but a new dentist needs to make money more than anyone. I doubt they will appreciate some pre-dent standing around and potentially disrupting business. They may not even be comfortable with themselves as a private practice owner let alone operating a shadowing clinic.

very true, thanks for correcting me... i think i was just trying to convey the message that a dentists career is very different at its conception from its later stages of maturity and it is important to be aware of this, due to the fact that most people interested in dentistry shadow successful, established practices.

 

[Doctor Thriller]

Was not sure where to put this but I am in a dilemma sorta.

For as long as I have known I always wanted to be a doctor and go into medical school. But recently I am having second thoughts. Now I am thinking dental school might be good too. Sure they are both hard to get into not saying anything.

I find a dentists lifestyle very appealing such as having own business and working 5 days a week regular hours. But I also love the doctors HECTIC lifestyle. Working 50 hours or working 70 hours isn't an issue for me. I am willing to put in what it takes. Only thing is that I come from an indian background and my parents are basically putting all their money into my education (not all they still hold a lot of properties and stuff)

But they are relying on me to support them when I grow up and such and thinking they can retire in 5 years. But by then if I did medical school ill only be in residency and not even making that much to barely support myself.

I mean they are paying half of my medical school expense (not sure what they will say about dental) but it seems like my parents are forcing medical school on me

Am I having second thoughts cause I feel like I dont have a say even though I LOVE MEDICINE?

I just am not sure which to pick dental or medicine ... or am I also afraid I wont get into either dental or medical? When I go home for break I am going to shadow a dentist and see how I like it ... i love the fact of owning my own business and being able to do something else on the side with the time I will have left if I did dental school and became a dentist ...

However, I am just as passionate about medical school and realize that even though I may not be very rich in the future I will enjoy what I do. Only thing scaring me is the fact that as a doctor will I have money to even give to my parents?

I am just so confused right now. Any tips on anything ? lol

Hey man I am in a similar, but more advanced boat. I am currently a first year MD student and just got accepted into my number choice dental school yesterday 😀. I am 99% sure I am going to be making the switch in June, yet I am finishing out my first year just in case I happen to change my mind throughout my 2nd semester.

Dental school is something never really put much thought into as a profession until went on a Medical/Dental mission trip summers ago. As I was party of the medical crew, I still got to see what the pre-dental students got to do (btw we were in costa rica so they got to give shots and do extractions which we could not do over here in the states for obvious reasons) So one day I said I was going to spend the day with the dents and I loved it. One thing I realized was that dentist are doctors as well and it is just important as having a great dentist as having a physician. I always believed throughout my undergraduate years that people just settled for dentistry b/c they were afraid to be rejected from med school (obviously I was ignorant).

Ultimate deciding factor for me is the fact I want to work with my hands the rest of my life and being in medicine that is not guarantee since residency is competitive. DO what you could see yourself doing the rest of your life. forget the misc BS and seeing that nice, healthy, and painless smile on your patient make it worth it.