Why Medicine?

[Hopefulpremed123]

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Hello Everyone,

So I know this question has probably been asked thousands of times, but here goes:

Ever since I was young I always wanted to be a doctor, because I wanted to help those who are suffering and to take away their pain (too simplistic I know). However, I always stuck to this mindset and in college I chose to take part in various activities that would give me a new perspective on medicine and the groups of patients i would be serving. This included hospice, working with the underserved and teaching to those less fortunate than me.

Now that I am applying to medical school this June, and am beginning by personal statement I realize how lost I am. Mainly because it seems to me that the main reason I want to be a doctor is because i want to help people and I have felt this way since I was young.
- At the crux of it, I want to learn the necessary skills and utilize that knowledge base to ensure that I make a difference in someone's life and I can make them feel safe under me. In addition, I want to be on the forefront of making smart choices through working with a multidisciplinary team to make sure that the patient receives the highest quality of care.

Can anyone please give me advise? @Catalystik @gonnif @gyngyn @Goro

Thanks you so much

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Seems like a fine “why medicine” to me. What are your concerns?

Also “advice” is a noun. “advise” is a verb.

 

[Master Thinker]

In my opinion, this question is one that all interviewees will pretty much answer in the same way. A combo of helping others, science, and research. The distinction really comes from how you tie your personal experiences to these factors.

 

[chlorocruorin]

You need to tell a story. Why do you want to help others? A longtime committee member at a T20 was giving me advice and every answer I had he challenged me saying "but why". they want deep/personal answers. Is there a significant event which made you want to help others?

 

[chlorocruorin]

In my opinion, this question is one that all interviewees will pretty much answer in the same way. A combo of helping others, science, and research. The distinction really comes from how you tie your personal experiences to these factors.

Many will, the best won't

 

[Select All That Apply]

Many will, the best won't

Neither will the worst.

 

[chlorocruorin]

Neither will the worst.

touche

 

[CalBear456]

No one is answering OP's question at all here....

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Many will, the best won't

And? Is your advice to give a generic answer that avoids getting personal and unique because some terrible applicants do that too?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Hello Everyone,

So I know this question has probably been asked thousands of times, but here goes:

Ever since I was young I always wanted to be a doctor, because I wanted to help those who are suffering and to take away their pain (too simplistic I know). However, I always stuck to this mindset and in college I chose to take part in various activities that would give me a new perspective on medicine and the groups of patients i would be serving. This included hospice, working with the underserved and teaching to those less fortunate than me.

Now that I am applying to medical school this June, and am beginning by personal statement I realize how lost I am. Mainly because it seems to me that the main reason I want to be a doctor is because i want to help people and I have felt this way since I was young.
- At the crux of it, I want to learn the necessary skills and utilize that knowledge base to ensure that I make a difference in someone's life and I can make them feel safe under me. In addition, I want to be on the forefront of making smart choices through working with a multidisciplinary team to make sure that the patient receives the highest quality of care.

Can anyone please give me advise? @Catalystik @gonnif @gyngyn @Goro

Thanks you so much

Everyone (almost) who wants to be a doctor wants to help people. Your reason needs to be the story of how you realized you want to help people and how you came to realize medicine was the best way to do that.

You can briefly mention your long-term interest in being of service to people (why? What brought that on?), then talk about how hospice shaped that desire into wanting to help people through medicine/healthcare, and how working with the underserved helped confirm that because of whatever (maybe you saw how they have poor access to care that is a root of many of their health issues). And then maybe you decided that being a physician was best over PA or nurse or whatever because you have leadership and teamwork experience in [insert activities here] and you really enjoy working in a team in a quarterback or head coach capacity.

Your story doesn’t have to be some crazy Oscar bait story. It just has to be YOUR story. They want to know you’ve really explored your motivations.

 

[LizzyM]

Have you ever helped someone? How did that make you feel? What other helping professions are there? Why medicine and not one of those other professions? What have you done to learn about the day-to-day, week-to-week life of a physician beyond the "help someone" trope? what do you expect will be the most frustrating or anxiety producing thing that will happen to you on a daily basis as a physician? What do you think will be the hardest thing you have to do as a physician?