Why do we pick the hardest path?

[DrMidlife]

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I seem to be one of a gang of folks here over 30 or so, leaving an unfulfilling career, working our way into med school. Why on earth have we chosen the longest, hardest way to be in health care, instead of being a PA or a nurse or a physical therapist or raising funds for international health or coordinating clinics for the homeless? Why not keep the high paying job just so that we can make large donations? Why not run for office and try to influence public policy? Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient? Why do we need to be on this big fat huge 10 year scary exhausting quest?

I'm not always sure I can justify this choice, so I'm interested to know how others are justifying it. And I have to write my PS in 9 months and I'd better have this solid. 🙂

For me, the answer is that I think I'd be a good doctor, and I really want to be one, and there's a "just" in nursing or PA that I can't quite get over (don't want to "just" be a nurse or PA), and I found myself childless and debt-free and healthy at 40. Basically I'm doing it because I think I can.

Looking forward to your input,
Dr. Midlife

 

[uclahopeful]

I seem to be one of a gang of folks here over 30 or so, leaving an unfulfilling career, working our way into med school. Why on earth have we chosen the longest, hardest way to be in health care, instead of being a PA or a nurse or a physical therapist or raising funds for international health or coordinating clinics for the homeless? Why not keep the high paying job just so that we can make large donations? Why not run for office and try to influence public policy? Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient? Why do we need to be on this big fat huge 10 year scary exhausting quest?

I'm not always sure I can justify this choice, so I'm interested to know how others are justifying it. And I have to write my PS in 9 months and I'd better have this solid. 🙂

For me, the answer is that I think I'd be a good doctor, and I really want to be one, and there's a "just" in nursing or PA that I can't quite get over (don't want to "just" be a nurse or PA), and I found myself childless and debt-free and healthy at 40. Basically I'm doing it because I think I can.

Looking forward to your input,
Dr. Midlife

I can't say much about switching careers, seeing as though I'm only 23, but I think I'm going to go this path for me. I've been told my whole life, "you can do anything you put your mind to." School for me this far has been pathetically easy. I am a senior getting a finance/business honors degree, with a 3.7 gpa (probably could be higher if I actually tried). It's just easy and boring. I've seen the types of careers that I can have with my degree, and it's sitting behind a desk, sure you make a lot of money, but that's boring. I guess I want something with meaning, something with substance, something relevant. Plus, when I do get a MD, I can help myself, my friends, my family, the community, etc.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

in terms of stats, i believe clinical psychology and vet schools are tougher to get in to.

 

[makingmd]

Do it because you want to...truly, in the depths of your soul, with every peice of your being.

I suspect that you do which answers your own question about why we do this. We don't truly desire to do anything else. We are leaving careers that we should be fulfilled in and (for some of us) making very good $$$ doing. We are not fulfilled. Doctors are like teachers. We are helpers. We want to save the world from all its heartaches (and broken bones). I know there are teachers on this board (I am a previous HS teacher) and social workers (yup did that too) and lawyers and nurses etc etc. These are all helping professions that one should feel fullfilled in. I questioned it because I wasn't. My students begged me not to leave. To my dually diagnosed, abused, neglected, and psychotic children I previously worked with I was just another person to add to the list that had abandoned them. I now have an extremely fullfilling career ( I never had the burden of a heavy paycheck however) in which I am needed and thanked every day. I am not leaving my clients or abandoning my previous students. I am giving them what they deserve...someone that wants to be there. When the time comes hopefully I will have the opportunity to train someone else to do what I do; thereofre not leaving a hole in the continum. Bottom line we pursue it because we wouldn't be fullfilled otherwise; because we are willing to sacrifice and jump through hoops, because something in us keeps driving us, because it is our destiny.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for.

If you doubt any of the above please keep doing what you are doing and leave room for those of us that know for sure because we all know it is not an easy path or profession either. Your heart has to be in every step or it is not going to work. The world needs great teachers and lawyers and nurses and parents. Business people and philanthropists. CNA's, MBA's and PA's. Finally, nothing is just anything if that is what you truly want to do. You would not be 'just' a PA if your desire was to be a PA. Do you think there is not going to always be someone that thinks of you are a just. We have all witnessed the banter. MD think DO's are 'just' DO's. Ortho's think DPM's are 'just' foot doctors. To each their own that is why there are so many professions in this free world for us to chose. You will never be a just if you follow your own desires and not worry about what others views are.

Best to all of you along this path!!

I've been makingmd for 5+ years now. Don't ever give up on your true dreams!

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

Do it because you want to...truly, in the depths of your soul, with every peice of your being.

I suspect that you do which answers your own question about why we do this. We don't truly desire to do anything else. We are leaving careers that we should be fulfilled in and (for some of us) making very good $$$ doing. We are not fulfilled. Doctors are like teachers. We are helpers. We want to save the world from all its heartaches (and broken bones). I know there are teachers on this board (I am a previous HS teacher) and social workers (yup did that too) and lawyers and nurses etc etc. These are all helping professions that one should feel fullfilled in. I questioned it because I wasn't. My students begged me not to leave. To my dually diagnosed, abused, neglected, and psychotic children I previously worked with I was just another person to add to the list that had abandoned them. I now have an extremely fullfilling career ( I never had the burden of a heavy paycheck however) in which I am needed and thanked every day. I am not leaving my clients or abandoning my previous students. I am giving them what they deserve...someone that wants to be there. When the time comes hopefully I will have the opportunity to train someone else to do what I do; thereofre not leaving a hole in the continum. Bottom line we pursue it because we wouldn't be fullfilled otherwise; because we are willing to sacrifice and jump through hoops, because something in us keeps driving us, because it is our destiny.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for.

If you doubt any of the above please keep doing what you are doing and leave room for those of us that know for sure because we all know it is not an easy path or profession either. Your heart has to be in every step or it is not going to work. The world needs great teachers and lawyers and nurses and parents. Business people and philanthropists. CNA's, MBA's and PA's. Finally, nothing is just anything if that is what you truly want to do. You would not be 'just' a PA if your desire was to be a PA. Do you think there is not going to always be someone that thinks of you are a just. We have all witnessed the banter. MD think DO's are 'just' DO's. Ortho's think DPM's are 'just' foot doctors. To each their own that is why there are so many professions in this free world for us to chose. You will never be a just if you follow your own desires and not worry about what others views are.

Best to all of you along this path!!

I've been makingmd for 5+ years now. Don't ever give up on your true dreams!

Well said...

The bottom line for me... The desire to be a doctor... Can you feel it pumping through your heart? Can you hear it calling with each contraction of your diaphragm? Would you still choose to do it if the salary topped out at $80K (assuming the loans were such that you could reasonably pay them back)? Yes, it's a profession that requires a bright intellect and much dedication - traits that would make you successful in any field. But... given a choice, say in 170 AD, would you rather be the great Marcus Aurelius or Galen (or even a student/apprentice of Galen)? As cliche as it sounds... it's a calling for many (I would hope most). What words you choose for describing it, in what context you frame it, what factors you highlight as having contributed to it largely depend on your experiences and the path that has brought you to this junction in your life.

Really... how did you get to this point? That might be a good start for a PS rough draft.

 

[njbmd]

I seem to be one of a gang of folks here over 30 or so, leaving an unfulfilling career, working our way into med school. Why on earth have we chosen the longest, hardest way to be in health care, instead of being a PA or a nurse or a physical therapist or raising funds for international health or coordinating clinics for the homeless? Why not keep the high paying job just so that we can make large donations? Why not run for office and try to influence public policy? Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient? Why do we need to be on this big fat huge 10 year scary exhausting quest?

Looking forward to your input,
Dr. Midlife

How about simply because "this is what you WANT to do" and because you are capable of doing it? My previous careers were not "unfulfilling" just not as interesting as being a vascular surgeon.

I approached medicine (and now surgery) the same way I approach anything else in life that I want, I found a way to get it done. If I had wanted to become a PA, nurse, physical therapist or fund raiser, I would have done those things.

Haven't given up on running for office and I have influenced plenty of public policy (I am the author of the Virginia Coastal Resources Management Act).

I have to live for the next 10, 20 or even 50 years so I might as well be doing what I want to do and what I enjoy doing and what I am capable of doing. I love my job!!

 

[Quix]

For the moment, I'll leave it at Dr. Cox's explanation for entering medicine:

"Chicks, money, power, and chicks."

I'll have something seriously to contribute later tonight (have to run to a research meeting).

 

[little_late_MD]

For me, this is the easy path. I want to contribute more to this world than I take from it, and medicine seemed the simplest way to do that. I could have done something else in the field I suppose, but my personality would not allow that. I'm used to being the quarterback, and med school is where healthcare's quarterbacks are trained .

 

[Law2Doc]

You only live once, might as well spending doing something you enjoy. And some people thrive on hard paths that are exciting and interesting and less the norm -- Life without challenges is boring -- just waiting to get old and die.

 

[scpod]

Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient?...For me, the answer is that I think I'd be a good doctor, and I really want to be one, and there's a "just" in nursing or PA that I can't quite get over (don't want to "just" be a nurse or PA)....Basically I'm doing it because I think I can...

I volunteered for years in the ER and absolutely loved it. However, I hated going to work day after day. One day it dawned on me that if I was going to have to work for the rest of my life, that I ought to find something that I loved doing. Medicine was the obvious choice. The reason why I quit work (going from a good salary to zero salary overnight) and spent three years on pre-reqs, studying for the MCAT, and undergoing a miserable application process is because i love medicine. The reason why I study a minimum of eight hours a day, 7 days a week, and have no time for food, sleep, or a personal life is because I love medicine. There are quite a few people in my class now who don't "love" it...and they are miserable. I hope you "love" it too.

Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor and, believe it or not, not everyone wants to be a doctor. There are people who genuinely prefer being a PA or nurse because of the differences. The thing that worries me, though, is I hope that you don't look at other people who do choose PA or nursing as "just a PA" or "just a nurse".

 

[MJB]

I seem to be one of a gang of folks here over 30 or so, leaving an unfulfilling career, working our way into med school. Why on earth have we chosen the longest, hardest way to be in health care, instead of being a PA or a nurse or a physical therapist or raising funds for international health or coordinating clinics for the homeless? Why not keep the high paying job just so that we can make large donations? Why not run for office and try to influence public policy? Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient? Why do we need to be on this big fat huge 10 year scary exhausting quest?

I'm not always sure I can justify this choice, so I'm interested to know how others are justifying it. And I have to write my PS in 9 months and I'd better have this solid. 🙂

For me, the answer is that I think I'd be a good doctor, and I really want to be one, and there's a "just" in nursing or PA that I can't quite get over (don't want to "just" be a nurse or PA), and I found myself childless and debt-free and healthy at 40. Basically I'm doing it because I think I can.

Looking forward to your input,
Dr. Midlife

My new favorite basketball coach's mantra is "why play for 2nd when first is available"....I think that pretty much sums it up.

 

[MJB]

I can't say much about switching careers, seeing as though I'm only 23, but I think I'm going to go this path for me. I've been told my whole life, "you can do anything you put your mind to." School for me this far has been pathetically easy. I am a senior getting a finance/business honors degree, with a 3.7 gpa (probably could be higher if I actually tried). It's just easy and boring. I've seen the types of careers that I can have with my degree, and it's sitting behind a desk, sure you make a lot of money, but that's boring. I guess I want something with meaning, something with substance, something relevant. Plus, when I do get a MD, I can help myself, my friends, my family, the community, etc.

Reading this, I'm reminded of why I should have been a business major... 🙂

 

[uclahopeful]

Reading this, I'm reminded of why I should have been a business major... 🙂

yep, it's pathetic how easy it is. i'm bored beyond belief.

 

[DrMidlife]

...The thing that worries me, though, is I hope that you don't look at other people who do choose PA or nursing as "just a PA" or "just a nurse".

That's a good worry. But no, I have huge respect and admiration for PAs and nurses, and I wish I wanted their jobs. It would be so much quicker. The stat nurses in the ER in which I volunteer save the most lives, I think.

I like what people are saying about wanting to win if winning is an option.

One of the things I've been trying to do is to speak of what I want to do without the label. I want my job to be caring for and listening to individuals, and having responsibility for hard decisions and execution based on a vast body of knowledge that fascinates me. That's what I did in engineering, without ever feeling like the results mattered very much.

 

[divinemsm]

..As someone who entered medical school at 28 , now entering the match at 31, and will graduate at 32, I would like to impart some truths I have learned along the way.
1. Medical school and being a medical student/ physician does not somehow
" magically" put the rest if your life in order, or make your outlook on life and its possibilities seem that much brighter: I am guilty of having had this nebulous idea, (from WHERE, I do not know) that being in medical school would make all other issues " better". It does not.

2. If you think you are going into the profession to " help people" , beware: Spending time in hospitals/clinics/private offices seeing an average of 40 people daily, many of whom are non compliant in one way or another is psychologically draining on so many levels,I can't begin to address it here. You run the risk of becoming jaded/disillusioned ( like myself 😳 )

3. The debt can be enormous: financially and emotionally. Medicine as a a whole, thrives on a system of paying dues, literally and figuratively ( read: subtle and not so subtle forms of abuse). It is a culture, and although there are exceptions to the rule, no one is spared the process. No one.

4.You think you will have " autonomy " as a physician🙁 I did ) NOPE. Never.

..Do I think that medicine and " being a doctor " is rewarding? : at times. Are there other means by which to be rewarded and find fulfillment: absolutely.Do I think it's worth it? : There is a large , and I mean large, part of me that wishes i had listened to the numerous docs who told me that it is not. Somehow I thought as a pre-med, that I knew better than they did or " it would be different for me ". I now laugh at my naivete. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Trismegistus4]

Would you still choose to do it if the salary topped out at $80K (assuming the loans were such that you could reasonably pay them back)?

Of course not. What a ridiculous question. Anyone who answers "yes" to that question is either lying or a complete *****. Having to get up every day and do what doctors do isn't worth $80k, and if that's all it was possible to earn, no one would do it.

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

🙄

Anyone who answers "yes" to that question is either lying or a complete *****. Having to get up every day and do what doctors do isn't worth $80k, and if that's all it was possible to earn, no one would do it.

I said earlier, somewhere else on this board... Generalizations are like a monkey's rear end - obvious, obnoxious, and largely useless in an intelligent conversation. In addition to that, this particular generalization is insluting... calling people you have never met "liars" or "*****s" is in poor taste and reflects a lack of maturity on at least one level. 😱

The majority of practicing physicians in this world work for *much* less than $80K a year and are (perhaps arguably) faced with more difficult working conditions than their US counterparts. Many of them could choose a different, more comfortable, better earning job (they definitely have the brains for it), a good number of them could choose to come to the US (where we UNarguably have a shortage and are quite willingly taking FMGs in increasing numbers each year), but many choose to continue their work... because it is their *calling*, because like someone said it earlier... they "love" it... *it* being medicine, *not* the money.... they have made a commitment, taken on the duty and the noble obligation to serve their patient population, regardless of the challenges.

Trismegistus: If you have taken the time to read a post by someone you obviously believe is a "liar" or a "*****"... your largesse is leaving me speechless and teary-eyed... thank you for descending to my lowly mortal level.

 

[Sainttpk]

..As someone who entered medical school at 28 , now entering the match at 31, and will graduate at 32, I would like to impart some truths I have learned along the way.
1. Medical school and being a medical student/ physician does not somehow
" magically" put the rest if your life in order, or make your outlook on life and its possibilities seem that much brighter: I am guilty of having had this nebulous idea, (from WHERE, I do not know) that being in medical school would make all other issues " better". It does not.

2. If you think you are going into the profession to " help people" , beware: Spending time in hospitals/clinics/private offices seeing an average of 40 people daily, many of whom are non compliant in one way or another is psychologically draining on so many levels,I can't begin to address it here. You run the risk of becoming jaded/disillusioned ( like myself 😳 )

3. The debt can be enormous: financially and emotionally. Medicine as a a whole, thrives on a system of paying dues, literally and figuratively ( read: subtle and not so subtle forms of abuse). It is a culture, and although there are exceptions to the rule, no one is spared the process. No one.

4.You think you will have " autonomy " as a physician🙁 I did ) NOPE. Never.

..Do I think that medicine and " being a doctor " is rewarding? : at times. Are there other means by which to be rewarded and find fulfillment: absolutely.Do I think it's worth it? : There is a large , and I mean large, part of me that wishes i had listened to the numerous docs who told me that it is not. Somehow I thought as a pre-med, that I knew better than they did or " it would be different for me ". I now laugh at my naivete. Just my 2 cents.

This is an excellent post, defintly follow your dreams, but realize that life is much more then a career.

 

[NonTradMed]

I am doing medicine because it is something I have always wanted to do and I feel it will challenge me to be my best....and I dig all the superficial reasons for it as well! 😀

I think it's easy for people who are switching careers to idealize their new career as this life-altering-now-all-my-problems-will-be-resolved attitude, and while a new career may be a better fit than the old career, that does not mean there aren't problems in the new profession. I hope I will not be as disillusioned as some on this board seems to be. I have tried to go into medicine with both eyes open.

Why do people secure in other professions still feel this calling to medicine?

I think it's a combination of things. It's one of the few professions that most people can switch into without seeing a permanent depression in their finances---i.e our family won't indefinitely suffer financially for our choice. Chances are, people who succeed in this process tend to be hardworking, intelligent and ambitious and probably did fairly well in their former profession. This means the switch to another career creates a financial deficit. Medicine is a field where people can still make a comfortable living (i.e, have a comfortable income floor) as compared to most other professions out there. So that takes care of the financial aspect of choosing medicine.

I also think people choose medicine for the combination of prestige and the 'helping people' affect. It's one of the few high paying jobs that society respects which still allows us to truly help people. This combination encourages more people to want to enter the healthcare fields....and of course, when one thinks of treating patients in the medical field, the most popular idea is to become a 'doctor', thus making it a popular area of study for ambitious college students (most of whom quickly switch to a much easier major when they realize they can't hack orgo LOL).

For nontrads, we may find our current job unfullfilling and the idea of being a physician appeals to us as stated above. We like to think of a career where 'prestige' is given by society in general and where we can 'make a difference'. Does it work that way? Sometimes, sometimes not, but the stereotype is reinforced by society and popular culture. The potential money made in medicine means that most nontrads aren't giving up too much materialistically to make this switch....hence the increasing popularity of nontraditionals going into medicine.

 

[TonyMelton]

I seem to be one of a gang of folks here over 30 or so, leaving an unfulfilling career, working our way into med school. Why on earth have we chosen the longest, hardest way to be in health care, instead of being a PA or a nurse or a physical therapist or raising funds for international health or coordinating clinics for the homeless? Why not keep the high paying job just so that we can make large donations? Why not run for office and try to influence public policy? Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient? Why do we need to be on this big fat huge 10 year scary exhausting quest?

I'm not always sure I can justify this choice, so I'm interested to know how others are justifying it. And I have to write my PS in 9 months and I'd better have this solid. 🙂

For me, the answer is that I think I'd be a good doctor, and I really want to be one, and there's a "just" in nursing or PA that I can't quite get over (don't want to "just" be a nurse or PA), and I found myself childless and debt-free and healthy at 40. Basically I'm doing it because I think I can.

Looking forward to your input,
Dr. Midlife

When I was 18 right after high school I didn't want to go back to school anymore. So, I decided to work at a casino in Vegas. Five years later I'm in the Navy as an IT. Still to this day I can't stop thinking about becoming a dentist. Its like a voice in my head keeps tapping my brain and let me know that I'm not happy. Why not just work my way to become a dentist. I'm 34 years old now. In a few months I'll be heading to Bahrain for a 1 year tour. I plan to leave the Navy when I get my bachelors then go back to Vegas and work and finish up pre-dents that I need then apply to UNLV Dental School. Only then when I get accepted to dental school will I start to be happy. "It's my calling".

 

[8744]

Well said...

The bottom line for me... The desire to be a doctor... Can you feel it pumping through your heart? Can you hear it calling with each contraction of your diaphragm? Would you still choose to do it if the salary topped out at $80K (assuming the loans were such that you could reasonably pay them back)? Yes, it's a profession that requires a bright intellect and much dedication - traits that would make you successful in any field. But... given a choice, say in 170 AD, would you rather be the great Marcus Aurelius or Galen (or even a student/apprentice of Galen)? As cliche as it sounds... it's a calling for many (I would hope most). What words you choose for describing it, in what context you frame it, what factors you highlight as having contributed to it largely depend on your experiences and the path that has brought you to this junction in your life.

Really... how did you get to this point? That might be a good start for a PS rough draft.

Yikes. You are going to be so disappointed.

 

[beephlatPT]

Its funny, I'm a physical therapist and now a pre-med. I have actually fought with myself for the last six years trying to convince myself that just dropping the med school thing and staying with PT would be the best thing to do b/c the money is good enough and I can buy my pimped out house and have time to travel and no be paying for school forever, etc. However, each time I talked myself out of it, It would continue to surround me, at work, television, in my head. From the first time that I went to the OR back when I was a PT student, I was hooked. I wasn't just going to drop out of my PT program though, as it was hard to get into and I DO actually like physical therapy. It is a very rewarding and flexible profession. So flexible that I can actually do pre-med and work whenever I feel like it. If you hustle, you can make killer $$. For me, the only problem is, there are a group of people that would frown upon a PT doing surgery on someone, so I'm taking the legal route. In fact, for me it's even lower risk, b/c if getting into med school somehow doesn't work out, I already have a perfectly suitable job to more that cover the bills and a comfortable life. It does get frustrating at times though, especially when there's a much easier route to take (e.g. PA, PT, RN, or whatever your current profession is). Good luck to everyone in your journeys!!
-B

 

[prepharmacys]

I dont understand the "just a nurse" or "just a PA" comment. I dont think thats the way everyone views nurses or PA's. I know nurse's who stay LPN's because they like patient contact (to actually avoid higher pay as an RN).

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

Yikes. You are going to be so disappointed.

I didn't list *any* expectations in my post... so, what do you think would be the source of my disappointment? (I always thought you had to have expectations before you could be disappointed... 😉)

I have absolutely no illusions about either the education and training of physicians or the practice of medicine. If I had stated that I expect the practice of medicine to be greatly rewarding even most (not all) of the time... yes, I would be disappointed. If I had stated that I expect it to be glossy and heroic... yes, I would be greatly disappointed. I would be disappointed if I were to expect myself to be "saving lives" on a daily basis, if I were to think that my patients will appreciate my care, if I were to expect to give adequate time and attention to every patient and every problem, etc... even expecting it to be interesting every day might be a stretch... 😀

I'm curious... what is a good, non-disappointing reason to pursue medicine? 😕

 

[prepharmacys]

Its your dream.

 

[S-Mart]

I wanna be a doctor so I can have my own tv drama and limp around spurting sarcastic remarks to boost my ego. You can call me Dr. Home.

 

[siinew]

I seem to be one of a gang of folks here over 30 or so, leaving an unfulfilling career, working our way into med school. Why on earth have we chosen the longest, hardest way to be in health care, instead of being a PA or a nurse or a physical therapist or raising funds for international health or coordinating clinics for the homeless? Why not keep the high paying job just so that we can make large donations? Why not run for office and try to influence public policy? Why isn't volunteering and voluntouring sufficient? Why do we need to be on this big fat huge 10 year scary exhausting quest?

I'm not always sure I can justify this choice, so I'm interested to know how others are justifying it. And I have to write my PS in 9 months and I'd better have this solid. 🙂

For me, the answer is that I think I'd be a good doctor, and I really want to be one, and there's a "just" in nursing or PA that I can't quite get over (don't want to "just" be a nurse or PA), and I found myself childless and debt-free and healthy at 40. Basically I'm doing it because I think I can.

Looking forward to your input,
Dr. Midlife

I'm just here for the free donuts. Free donuts and nude jello-wrestling. That's what I heard anyway. It's true isn't it? I sure hope so, 'cause fulltime pre-med while working fulltime was a b*tch and a half, so I think it will be really cool when I can stand in that donut line and tell myself, "you know, this was definitely worth it."

 

[CookieBear]

.
Do I think it's worth it? : There is a large , and I mean large, part of me that wishes i had listened to the numerous docs who told me that it is not. Somehow I thought as a pre-med, that I knew better than they did or " it would be different for me ". I now laugh at my naivete. Just my 2 cents.

I couldn't help but add, in contrast to the above, every veterinarian that I have ever met has always said, "Go for it!"

Granted, many (not all, though) have said that monetary speaking, it's not worth it (however, speak to them after they're out 5+ years and I think the answer changes).

You've got to want it, and want it bad!

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm just here for the free donuts. Free donuts and nude jello-wrestling. That's what I heard anyway. It's true isn't it? I sure hope so, 'cause fulltime pre-med while working fulltime was a b*tch and a half, so I think it will be really cool when I can stand in that donut line and tell myself, "you know, this was definitely worth it."

I haven't seen any nude jello wrestling yet, but there is no shortage of free food (sometimes even donuts) if you are willing to sit through a meeting or talk.🙂

 

[CrazyPremed]

..As someone who entered medical school at 28 , now entering the match at 31, and will graduate at 32, I would like to impart some truths I have learned along the way.
1. Medical school and being a medical student/ physician does not somehow
" magically" put the rest if your life in order, or make your outlook on life and its possibilities seem that much brighter: I am guilty of having had this nebulous idea, (from WHERE, I do not know) that being in medical school would make all other issues " better". It does not.

2. If you think you are going into the profession to " help people" , beware: Spending time in hospitals/clinics/private offices seeing an average of 40 people daily, many of whom are non compliant in one way or another is psychologically draining on so many levels,I can't begin to address it here. You run the risk of becoming jaded/disillusioned ( like myself 😳 )

3. The debt can be enormous: financially and emotionally. Medicine as a a whole, thrives on a system of paying dues, literally and figuratively ( read: subtle and not so subtle forms of abuse). It is a culture, and although there are exceptions to the rule, no one is spared the process. No one.

4.You think you will have " autonomy " as a physician🙁 I did ) NOPE. Never.

..Do I think that medicine and " being a doctor " is rewarding? : at times. Are there other means by which to be rewarded and find fulfillment: absolutely.Do I think it's worth it? : There is a large , and I mean large, part of me that wishes i had listened to the numerous docs who told me that it is not. Somehow I thought as a pre-med, that I knew better than they did or " it would be different for me ". I now laugh at my naivete. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the honest post. I'm not in medical school but have worked in hospitals for 6+ years. It's amazing how my view of medicine has changed (I still want to be an MD, though 😉 )

CrazyPremed

 

[beary]

..As someone who entered medical school at 28 , now entering the match at 31, and will graduate at 32, I would like to impart some truths I have learned along the way.
1. Medical school and being a medical student/ physician does not somehow
" magically" put the rest if your life in order, or make your outlook on life and its possibilities seem that much brighter: I am guilty of having had this nebulous idea, (from WHERE, I do not know) that being in medical school would make all other issues " better". It does not.

2. If you think you are going into the profession to " help people" , beware: Spending time in hospitals/clinics/private offices seeing an average of 40 people daily, many of whom are non compliant in one way or another is psychologically draining on so many levels,I can't begin to address it here. You run the risk of becoming jaded/disillusioned ( like myself 😳 )

3. The debt can be enormous: financially and emotionally. Medicine as a a whole, thrives on a system of paying dues, literally and figuratively ( read: subtle and not so subtle forms of abuse). It is a culture, and although there are exceptions to the rule, no one is spared the process. No one.

4.You think you will have " autonomy " as a physician🙁 I did ) NOPE. Never.

..Do I think that medicine and " being a doctor " is rewarding? : at times. Are there other means by which to be rewarded and find fulfillment: absolutely.Do I think it's worth it? : There is a large , and I mean large, part of me that wishes i had listened to the numerous docs who told me that it is not. Somehow I thought as a pre-med, that I knew better than they did or " it would be different for me ". I now laugh at my naivete. Just my 2 cents.

This is a great post. I'm a first year resident (went the traditional route, not a non-trad) and this is the best answer I have read to the question "would you do it again?" My answer: I don't know. Right now, I can't imagine doing anything else because I am so immersed in my residency. But, I also did a basic science Ph.D. and felt the same way when I was doing that. The only thing that keeps me from flat out saying "no, I wouldn't do it again" is because I know that everybody is somewhat unhappy/disillusioned with their jobs. So I don't know for sure if anything else would be better.

 

[sunshinesunny]

I can't say much about switching careers, seeing as though I'm only 23, but I think I'm going to go this path for me. I've been told my whole life, "you can do anything you put your mind to." School for me this far has been pathetically easy. I am a senior getting a finance/business honors degree, with a 3.7 gpa (probably could be higher if I actually tried). It's just easy and boring. I've seen the types of careers that I can have with my degree, and it's sitting behind a desk, sure you make a lot of money, but that's boring. I guess I want something with meaning, something with substance, something relevant. Plus, when I do get a MD, I can help myself, my friends, my family, the community, etc.

you say you got a biz degree
i did BBA 90 credithours with 3.6 gpa
considering i did not take any science courses what should i do to fulfill the requirements

 

[Erato77]

I agree, I am in business without having a business degree and I am just as competent as all my colleagues who do. And completely bored beyond belief. But strangely, since I don't have a business degree, I am held back.

This is one of the big reasons I am thinking about pursuing medicine as a career. Yes there is political bull**** in any career, but at least in medicine you can go as far as you want on the merit of your hard work, education, and experience. If you don't crack the good ole boys club in business and/or don't have the resources to have your own business, you are screwed from day one.

And I am tired of being bored, sitting in the same cubicle, day after day, doing the same stuff over and over with no mental stimulation. 😴

yep, it's pathetic how easy it is. i'm bored beyond belief.

 

[Erato77]

Thanks for your honesty. Every field has its issues. Some are more tolerable than others. I guess it is up to the individual as to whether it is worth it to them.

One of my old roommates was a Dr, only because her parents wanted her to be one. She hated it and ended up quitting, moving into Computers and now creates databases for scientific research. She constantly tells me it isn't worth it...yet I have friends in Medicine who love it...all for the reasons that I don't like my current career. Stability, money, respect, intelletual stimulation, constant learning, mobility, change, challenges, etc, etc.

I have been on the fence on getting into medicine for a couple of reasons: loans, loss of social life, long educational process, and I am not 100% into allopathic care as a result of my own chronic health problems. So as a result I have been exploring Naturopathic and OD paths. Medicine is so varied and holds so many fields as well, I think I may make the plunge and try to find a niche that I would enjoy, ie Naturopath, International Health Policy or Medicial PR. 🙂

Good luck everyone!!

..As someone who entered medical school at 28 , now entering the match at 31, and will graduate at 32, I would like to impart some truths I have learned along the way.
1. Medical school and being a medical student/ physician does not somehow
" magically" put the rest if your life in order, or make your outlook on life and its possibilities seem that much brighter: I am guilty of having had this nebulous idea, (from WHERE, I do not know) that being in medical school would make all other issues " better". It does not.

2. If you think you are going into the profession to " help people" , beware: Spending time in hospitals/clinics/private offices seeing an average of 40 people daily, many of whom are non compliant in one way or another is psychologically draining on so many levels,I can't begin to address it here. You run the risk of becoming jaded/disillusioned ( like myself 😳 )

3. The debt can be enormous: financially and emotionally. Medicine as a a whole, thrives on a system of paying dues, literally and figuratively ( read: subtle and not so subtle forms of abuse). It is a culture, and although there are exceptions to the rule, no one is spared the process. No one.

4.You think you will have " autonomy " as a physician🙁 I did ) NOPE. Never.

..Do I think that medicine and " being a doctor " is rewarding? : at times. Are there other means by which to be rewarded and find fulfillment: absolutely.Do I think it's worth it? : There is a large , and I mean large, part of me that wishes i had listened to the numerous docs who told me that it is not. Somehow I thought as a pre-med, that I knew better than they did or " it would be different for me ". I now laugh at my naivete. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

Stability, money, respect, intelletual stimulation, constant learning, mobility, change, challenges, etc, etc.

These can be a part of *any* career - they are in *no way* unique to medicine and if these are the only reasons you are interested in medicine, from what I have learned over the years, you may be disappointed (but I am a person on the peripheries, even though I've had a lot of exposure, so take this with a grain of salt).

In your first post you mentioned that you are held back in business because you don't have the requisite education. Then you continued by saying that in medicine you can advance based on your merit, education, etc.... You are being contradictory: you recognize that education is necessary for advancement in medicine and contrast it with business where you are held back because you have no formal education... 😕 where's the contrast? How's that different?

If you think there is not an "ol' boys club" in medicine, you will be in for a rude awakening. I have worked in real estate, in the legal system, in the high-tech industry, in addition to being involved with medicine (on the peripheries) in some form or another, and from my experience... the "ol' boys club" is by far most pervasive in medicine.

I am in *no* way discouraging you from pursuing medicine... quite the opposite. (In my book, it is grossly hypocrytical to discourage someone else when you yourself are either hoping to get into medicine or are actively practicing medicine). I just think it is important to take into account all the factors, so that when you come out on the other end of the meat grinder you will not be disillusioned, jaded, miserable, etc. It sounds like you are looking at several options and examining things from different angles... so, best of luck.

To Panda Bear: I'm still hoping you will let us know what a good, non-disappointing reason for pursuing medicine would be. 😀

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

.

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

Here is a question for everyone: If you had all the money you could possibly want right now, and a continuous unlimited supply of it for the future... would you still continue on a path to med school, or remain in med school if you're already there, or continue with residency, or continue practicing medicine (note: I am not asking whether you would continue practicing in the same location and under the same circumstances... you can open your own clinics, you can run your own show, you can forget about insurance companies, whatever... but would you still *practice medicine*)?

To Panda Bear: I'm still hoping you will let us know what a good, non-disappointing reason for pursuing medicine would be. 😀

 

[S-Mart]

Here is a question for everyone: If you had all the money you could possibly want right now, and a continuous unlimited supply of it for the future... would you still continue on a path to med school, or remain in med school if you're already there, or continue with residency, or continue practicing medicine (note: I am not asking whether you would continue practicing in the same location and under the same circumstances... you can open your own clinics, you can run your own show, you can forget about insurance companies, whatever... but would you still *practice medicine*)?

To Panda Bear: I'm still hoping you will let us know what a good, non-disappointing reason for pursuing medicine would be. 😀

I would still continue on the path to med school. The money is just a perk.

I think a more intriguing question would be "Would you practice medicine if you only made 30k per year?" I might change my major at that point.

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

I think a more intriguing question would be "Would you practice medicine if you only made 30k per year?" I might change my major at that point.

I asked that question, except I gave the top-out pay as $80K and I stipulated that the debt would be "balanced" with the pay (i.e. manageable, even with the low income), earlier in the thread and someone called me some nasty names... 🙄

 

[S-Mart]

I asked that question, except I gave the top-out pay as $80K and I stipulated that the debt would be "balanced" with the pay (i.e. manageable, even with the low income), earlier in the thread and someone called me some nasty names... 🙄

No one called me nasty names. I feel left out.🙁