Why do you want to get into Medicine.

[Samiamm]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Seeing as this question will be asked directly or indirectly to every med school applicant, I was just trying to see some of the different reasons people choose a career in medicine. I'm an incoming freshman, so I really have yet to see if medicine is what I REALLY want to get into. (I set up a volunteering program through my local city hospital, so I guess this summer I'll find out a little more about working in hospitals, etc. etc.)

Right now the only reasons I could come up with is that I've always admired doctors, past family problems that were easily solved by doctors, this feeling of a sort of security blanket or safety when you're in the hands of a good doctor (which I also love to hold that responsibility), my love of all things science (especially physics, which I doubt I'd use as a doctor 🙁 ) my OCD about taking care of people that REALLY need me, and the sense of accomplishment I get from it (over the past 2 years I've been taking care of me ex gf's dying grandmother who, unfortunately, has cancer, and caring for her has literally been a life changing and maturing event for me), and my love of working in high pressure, adrenaline rushing environments (I'm thinking about going into emergency medicine) Then on top of all that, the prestige that comes with being a doctor. Whether you guys want to admit it or not, you work your ASS off to become a doctor, especially a good one, so when it's all said and done, you will most likely be sitting up on your high horse.

I don't really know if these are reasons to go into medicine, like I said I'll found out more in my undergrad years, but I'm really curious in what other peoples' reasons are.

 

[NYCMS2]

I don't really know if these are reasons to go into medicine, like I said I'll found out more in my undergrad years, but I'm really curious in what other peoples' reasons are.

So what are you, in high school? Get off SDN right now, and go ride a bike, or hang out with some friends.

Oh, and it is irrelevant what other people's reasons are. The only reasons that matter are yours...and you are too young to have good reasons.

 

[Samiamm]

I'm an incoming undergrad, so freshman In college

 

[Cozell]

1. I simply cant see myself doing anything else

most people just want the Moula.

2. I need a career where I make an impact everyday almost any specialty has that opportunity whereas being an accountant,engineer,computer scientist, social worker, not so much.

 

[Samiamm]

1. I simply cant see myself doing anything else

most people just want the Moula.

2. I need a career where I make an impact everyday almost any specialty has that opportunity whereas being an accountant,engineer,computer scientist, social worker, not so much.

Lol I do agree that there's a lot of d***heads on this forum, but I think he was being sincere and t elling me not to stress it right now. I'm not stressing though, just curious.

 

[Fivo]

Lol I do agree that there's a lot of d***heads on this forum, but I think he was being sincere and t elling me not to stress it right now. I'm not stressing though, just curious.

Unless he edited his initial post, what heck are you talking about?


That said, I'm in it for the money, power, and the women.

In the 10 years from now question, I'll say that I see myself poppin bottles and models. It's the only way to live.

 

[Cozell]

Unless he edited his initial post, what heck are you talking about?

LOL I guess I was too late but I edited out : Dont stress haters it is good that you are interested in other opinions no matter how early:

I took it out because the second guy was not being a "hater" and It would have seemed like I meant him directly(he inspired it but it was not directed at him).

LMAOOOO at what you edited in LMAOOO most of these people will not admit that is their end goal even if its just one night lol.

 

[coyotelime]

Do some shadowing and volunteering. Don't let your premed class dictate your potential future in medicine (unless you straight up fail).

Come back in a year or two. You need to experience it firsthand. More importantly, it should be a decision made for yourself. Our opinions shouldn't matter. Good luck!

 

[Blaughable]

I feel like everyone has two ways to answer this question. The version they tell adcoms, and then the version they quietly tell themselves.

For me the truth is complicated. Do I really love helping people? Yes, but that's not really it. Do I like the idea of money, prestige, and respect? Yes but that's not it either. It's really about my crave for the knowledge that doctors possess. To me there's nothing quite as interesting as biology, medicine, the human body, and how it all comes together to either work or not work in the most complicated system known to man. I'm so excited to take on the challenge of acquiring this vast amount of knowledge and ultimately using it to heal. There is a certain confidence that you see in doctors that comes with all that knowledge that I envy. Not that I'm not confident, but there's nothing quite like being able to effortlessly perform a differential diagnosis. I know I will get to that point one day and It's exciting. Additionally, science is continually advancing and I know there will always be so much more for me to learn in the field of medicine.

I'm sure people have had very different experiences than I have and maybe I've just been lucky with the doctors I've shadowed, but each one seems to absolutely love their job. Yeah they will always say, become a PA or RN. But, when I see them working I know they wouldn't rather be doing anything else in the world. They love the science behind it all, they love their patients, and they love the combination. I also seem to instantly connect with physicians. They're my type of people. Is that weird to say?

Really throughout my whole life I've always been in leadership positions and I love how much that carries over into work as a doctor. I love the team aspect of medicine. It's basically nurses, doctors, surgeons, and administration all coming together to create the most efficient care. It may not always work, but it's beautiful to watch it try to. There's really no position I wold rather be in than playing a role in leading that team as a physician.

Oh and I love healthcare policy. Such a nuanced topic 😀

I'm sure when speaking to adcoms, I will stress the my love for patient care more so, but these are the real reasons I'm going into medicine. Kinda just wrote a mini PS there....

 

[Samiamm]

I feel like everyone has two ways to answer this question. The version they tell adcoms, and then the version they quietly tell themselves.

For me the truth is complicated. Do I really love helping people? Yes, but that's not really it. Do I like the idea of money, prestige, and respect? Yes but that's not it either. It's really about my crave for the knowledge that doctors possess. To me there's nothing quite as interesting as biology, medicine, the human body, and how it all comes together to either work or not work in the most complicated system known to man. I'm so excited to take on the challenge of acquiring this vast amount of knowledge and ultimately using it to heal. There is a certain confidence that you see in doctors that comes with all that knowledge that I envy. Not that I'm not confident, but there's nothing quite like being able to effortlessly perform a differential diagnosis. I know I will get to that point one day and It's exciting. Additionally, science is continually advancing and I know there will always be so much more for me to learn in the field of medicine.

I'm sure people have had very different experiences than I have and maybe I've just been lucky with the doctors I've shadowed, but each one seems to absolutely love their job. Yeah they will always say, become a PA or RN. But, when I see them working I know they wouldn't rather be doing anything else in the world. They love the science behind it all, they love their patients, and they love the combination. I also seem to instantly connect with physicians. They're my type of people. Is that weird to say?

Really throughout my whole life I've always been in leadership positions and I love how much that carries over into work as a doctor. I love the team aspect of medicine. It's basically nurses, doctors, surgeons, and administration all coming together to create the most efficient care. It may not always work, but it's beautiful to watch it try to. There's really no position I wold rather be in than playing a role in leading that team as a physician.

Oh and I love healthcare policy. Such a nuanced topic 😀

I'm sure when speaking to adcoms, I will stress the my love for patient care more so, but these are the real reasons I'm going into medicine. Kinda just wrote a mini PS there....

It might not be much coming from me, but for what it's worth, I wouldn't question your commitment tomedicine if I was on the adcom after that, and yeah he edited his post to the other reply.

 

[71012]

For awhile I had no clue what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I've always had an interest, but due to lack of self confidence and misconceptions, I always pushed the idea of becoming a doctor out of my head. Now I've decided I want to be a surgeon, every other job seems extremely boring in comparison.

 

[TheShaker]

Because I like science and want to directly help people.

What I will tell adcoms: A more fleshed out version of how I like science and want to directly help people.

 

[Plue00]

The thing I hate about this question on SDN is that people look down on you for saying money. Sure, money shouldn't be the number 1 reason for being a doctor, but it's a good reason after interests/wanting to help people.

If I had to to say why I wanted to go into medicine, I'd rank it as:
-I find it very interesting
-You are always learning something new
-You get to help people (sorry I'm a horrible person and this isn't my first)
-Job stability/Income

 

[Doctor Strange]

This thread has been done so many times.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I just want to (legally) cut someone open.

 

[JESSFALLING]

I started looking into other careers after I lost interest in my first one.....that's when medicine won my heart 😍 .

 

[darkhope]

Money, gold, cash, and maybe a cow...definetely a cow. i like milk

 

[Blaughable]

I just want to (legally) cut someone open.

haha, so true

 

[La Presse]

Personal experiences overseas. Nuff said.

 

[911 Turbo]

So I can introduce myself to women as venom5, md at bars.









And yes I am changing my legal name to venom5

 

[Xenops]

For me the truth is complicated. Do I really love helping people? Yes, but that's not really it. Do I like the idea of money, prestige, and respect? Yes but that's not it either. It's really about my crave for the knowledge that doctors possess. To me there's nothing quite as interesting as biology, medicine, the human body, and how it all comes together to either work or not work in the most complicated system known to man. I'm so excited to take on the challenge of acquiring this vast amount of knowledge and ultimately using it to heal. There is a certain confidence that you see in doctors that comes with all that knowledge that I envy. Not that I'm not confident, but there's nothing quite like being able to effortlessly perform a differential diagnosis. I know I will get to that point one day and It's exciting. Additionally, science is continually advancing and I know there will always be so much more for me to learn in the field of medicine.

Exactly! PA's I think like science, but they don't have the autonomy. Nurses, in my experience, don't like science at all (except NP's). At my school the pre-meds took the hard-core science classes, while the nursing students wanted to be spoon fed. 🙁

 

[elbowss]

Autonomy and having a useful skill.

 

[NYCMS2]

1. I simply cant see myself doing anything else

most people just want the Moula.

2. I need a career where I make an impact everyday almost any specialty has that opportunity whereas being an accountant,engineer,computer scientist, social worker, not so much.

You insult accountants, engineers, computer scientists, and social workers. Teachers, too.

Within medicine, nurses make an impact everyday. Same with NPs, PAs, etc. Why MD instead of one of these other tracks?

 

[V5RED]

The most competitive specialties are the most highly paid specialties. The least competitive specialties are the lowest paid specialties. It seems pretty clear what one huge factor is in driving people to medicine.

 

[newkid1]

I can't see myself doing another job. My dream profession - astronaut - is no longer possible given that I went through 2 pairs of glasses in college. Medicine is good money and it is a rewarding profession.

 

[PooManchu55]

Frikkin noobfest in here.