Would you rather....

[neuro1617]

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To everyone saying they'd take the money so they can help more people or to build a medical school, you still aren't getting to practice as a doctor (unless you make yourself a doctor at your new med school). You'll be helping a lot of people by doing s/t else or running a med school, but won't you feel as though you're missing out on doing what you wanted? And if all you want to do is help people but you wouldn't mind not being a doctor, why don't you pick another career that's a lot easier but you can still help all you wanted?

 

[H_Caulfield]

Some of you are just full of...excrement. None of you who want so badly to get into medical school are doing it because you want to help people, so just cut it out. I mean...you keep up that act even online? You've got total anonymity, and you're still full of it. Anyone who truly wants to help people will join that peace core thing, or become a NURSE, elementary school teacher, etc. Getting up on a pedestal where you'll make lots of money and be able to look down upon those you're "helping" just isn't so kind and meaningful as you think it is.

None of you know it yet, but you'll do a lot more subtle analysis of liver enzymes and T4 levels, only to direct the patient to the nearest bed where they'll resume dying (until the hospital kicks them out to pay for the crackheads who use the emergency room for their kids' yearly checkups), than you will HELPING people. You want to go into medicine because you think it makes you money and people will respect you. Or because your parents are doctors and they told you to. Period. End of story.

 

[lisichka]

You want to go into medicine because you think it makes you money and people will respect you. Or because your parents are doctors and they told you to. Period. End of story.

woah, just because you chose medicine for those reasons, does not mean everybody did your post depresses me a lot b/c i realize many of my future colleagues will be ur clones 🙁

 

[Drogba]

Some of you are just full of...excrement. None of you who want so badly to get into medical school are doing it because you want to help people, so just cut it out. I mean...you keep up that act even online? You've got total anonymity, and you're still full of it. Anyone who truly wants to help people will join that peace core thing, or become a NURSE, elementary school teacher, etc. Getting up on a pedestal where you'll make lots of money and be able to look down upon those you're "helping" just isn't so kind and meaningful as you think it is.

None of you know it yet, but you'll do a lot more subtle analysis of liver enzymes and T4 levels, only to direct the patient to the nearest bed where they'll resume dying (until the hospital kicks them out to pay for the crackheads who use the emergency room for their kids' yearly checkups), than you will HELPING people. You want to go into medicine because you think it makes you money and people will respect you. Or because your parents are doctors and they told you to. Period. End of story.

I've got to agree with lischika here. You are being mighty presumptious. Anyway who would name themselves after the anti-hero of Catcher in the Rye? It's obvious you've got a lot of angst but maybe you could have chosen a more... mature figure to represent your online persona.

 

[Jolie South]

Some of you are just full of...excrement. None of you who want so badly to get into medical school are doing it because you want to help people, so just cut it out. I mean...you keep up that act even online? You've got total anonymity, and you're still full of it. Anyone who truly wants to help people will join that peace core thing, or become a NURSE, elementary school teacher, etc. Getting up on a pedestal where you'll make lots of money and be able to look down upon those you're "helping" just isn't so kind and meaningful as you think it is.

Been there done that, my friend. Medicine is just a job. I'm not that idealistic. However, have you ever let the days pass by with zero objectives/tasks planned? It's difficult. I don't even know what to do with 2 days just for myself let alone a lifetime.

Thus, the reason that even if I had the money, I would still pursue medicine because living without any purpose kinda sucks.

If Peace Corps taught me anything, it's that I hate living without intellectual stimulation/learning.

 

[neuro1617]

Some of you are just full of...excrement. None of you who want so badly to get into medical school are doing it because you want to help people, so just cut it out. I mean...you keep up that act even online? You've got total anonymity, and you're still full of it. Anyone who truly wants to help people will join that peace core thing, or become a NURSE, elementary school teacher, etc. Getting up on a pedestal where you'll make lots of money and be able to look down upon those you're "helping" just isn't so kind and meaningful as you think it is.

None of you know it yet, but you'll do a lot more subtle analysis of liver enzymes and T4 levels, only to direct the patient to the nearest bed where they'll resume dying (until the hospital kicks them out to pay for the crackheads who use the emergency room for their kids' yearly checkups), than you will HELPING people. You want to go into medicine because you think it makes you money and people will respect you. Or because your parents are doctors and they told you to. Period. End of story.

Soo..there is no good reason for going into medicine? Why are you in it then?

 

[BruceBanner]

Some of you are just full of...excrement. None of you who want so badly to get into medical school are doing it because you want to help people, so just cut it out. I mean...you keep up that act even online? You've got total anonymity, and you're still full of it. Anyone who truly wants to help people will join that peace core thing, or become a NURSE, elementary school teacher, etc. Getting up on a pedestal where you'll make lots of money and be able to look down upon those you're "helping" just isn't so kind and meaningful as you think it is.

None of you know it yet, but you'll do a lot more subtle analysis of liver enzymes and T4 levels, only to direct the patient to the nearest bed where they'll resume dying (until the hospital kicks them out to pay for the crackheads who use the emergency room for their kids' yearly checkups), than you will HELPING people. You want to go into medicine because you think it makes you money and people will respect you. Or because your parents are doctors and they told you to. Period. End of story.

It's obviously a purely hypothetical question, and a fun one to debate, but i agree that a lot of you are full of crap. Dont tell us you would 'use the money to help people, build a hospital, etc'. Give me an f'in break. You would spend it all on yourself. Maybe give a small percentage to a charity or someone in need so you wouldnt feel guilt-ridden over your massive wealth which took zero work to acquire.

That being said, I would still choose admittance to a top med school, and here's why:

If i just took 100 mil my life would eventually be unfulfilling. Im old enough to know this. Sure it would be fun as hell for a while and the possibilities would be vast, but at some point a life of leisure and gratuitous spending without ever having worked for it would become empty.

Secondly, going to a top school would stack the deck in my favor for matching into a great program for my choice specialty. Eventually there will come a time when I will make an appreciable living. I might not be out building a personal submarine with laser cannons, but i dont need extravagance to enjoy life.

Lastly, im not one of those folks who claims to be going into medicine out of an undying passion to 'help people'. If i only wanted to help people, not caring about things like an intellectually fulfilling job, a chance to do research, teach, and practice, and yes even professional respect---i would just become a firefighter or paramedic. Both great jobs, btw.

Of course there is a humanitarian aspect to my career ambitions, but im also honest with myself. PA, CRNA, nurse, etc--all great careers, but not for me. Why? 'Cause I want to be the boss.

EDIT-- I will also acknowledge that its easy for me, or anyone, to sit here and say we wouldnt take the $$, but 100 mil of cool green cash waving in your face could have amazing persuasive power 🙂

 

[myKuduSlewaZulu]

Been there done that, my friend. Medicine is just a job. I'm not that idealistic. However, have you ever let the days pass by with zero objectives/tasks planned? It's difficult. I don't even know what to do with 2 days just for myself let alone a lifetime.

Thus, the reason that even if I had the money, I would still pursue medicine because living without any purpose kinda sucks.

If Peace Corps taught me anything, it's that I hate living without intellectual stimulation/learning.

Oh c'mon, I'm sure you'd be quite capable of planning your objectives yourself, without having someone else do that for you. You can't lack self motivation, you were in the PC. Not being able to pursue medicine would be a VERY small price to pay. You would end up a more well rounded and learned person (if you wish) by taking the money, and you'd find another purpose to live by, no doubt just as fulfilling, if not more so.

 

[DoctorPardi]

I think you have to take the money. There are a lot of other things to do very related to being a doctor that one might do besides being an MD.

There are plenty of other options, now I don't know if this poll is meant to mean you can't go to any medical school including osteopathic as well. If DO is an option then I would be very pleased to have $100M in the bank and be a DO, you do the exact same job and never have to worry about bills (not to say I wouldn't be happy as a DO without the $100M, I would).

If DO/Doctoring of any kind is out then you could get a PhD, be a PA, Nurse Practitioner, or CRNA. One of the draws of medicine is that hopefully once you're done you earn enough money to live comfortably. Maybe that isn't everyone's attraction to the field but it is one attribute of the field. So given that money will never be an issue, for some, other fields may be more appealing like nursing, teaching, research etc.

Either way I think you have to take the for sure money and find a way to be happy with your career, because with that amount of money you're securing the livelihood of not only yourself but several generations to come. Plus if you're interested in philanthropy you can do enormous work there as well.

 

[Jolie South]

Oh c'mon, I'm sure you'd be quite capable of planning your objectives yourself, without having someone else do that for you. You can't lack self motivation, you were in the PC. Not being able to pursue medicine would be a VERY small price to pay. You would end up a more well rounded and learned person (if you wish) by taking the money, and you'd find another purpose to live by, no doubt just as fulfilling, if not more so.

Surely, I could make goals/objectives for myself, but I've always seen myself getting an advanced degree. I know it sounds stupid, but without the letters after my name I would feel as if I sold myself short.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Surely, I could make goals/objectives for myself, but I've always seen myself getting an advanced degree. I know it sounds stupid, but without the letters after my name I would feel as if I sold myself short.

Move to Maryland.

 

[Jolie South]

Move to Maryland.

will do.

 

[0Complications]

why? would you like to adopt me?😛

I would never adopt sight unseen. Maybe with a few pics I could make a better decision.

No, I was just curious. It seems to me that most of the younger posters are the idealistic ones that would go for MD over 100 Mil. It's not bad, just not realistic. But, since this is purely a hypothetical you will never need to test it. I have chosen medicine because it's a passion of mine, but with 100 mil I could ensure that my family and friends are taken care of, then I could pursue some other avenue of health care that I also find interesting. Not to mention, I could fund my own research to get started. 😉

 

[GoldShadow]

One day, when I become a trillionaire (USD), I'm going to pick a med school applicant and pose this question. It'll be awesome. I could make a game show out of it. You know what? That's exactly what I'm going to do. If this guy doesn't beat me to it first.

 

[0Complications]

One day, when I become a trillionaire (USD), I'm going to pick a med school applicant and pose this question. It'll be awesome. I could make a game show out of it. You know what? That's exactly what I'm going to do. If this guy doesn't beat me to it first.

But you're show won't attract that many viewers, because everyone will already know the outcome. People will all take the money and those that don't (if there really would be such a person) will forever become the outcast of society for their silly decision.

 

[Vihsadas]

Some of you are just full of...excrement. None of you who want so badly to get into medical school are doing it because you want to help people, so just cut it out. I mean...you keep up that act even online? You've got total anonymity, and you're still full of it. Anyone who truly wants to help people will join that peace core thing, or become a NURSE, elementary school teacher, etc. Getting up on a pedestal where you'll make lots of money and be able to look down upon those you're "helping" just isn't so kind and meaningful as you think it is.

None of you know it yet, but you'll do a lot more subtle analysis of liver enzymes and T4 levels, only to direct the patient to the nearest bed where they'll resume dying (until the hospital kicks them out to pay for the crackheads who use the emergency room for their kids' yearly checkups), than you will HELPING people. You want to go into medicine because you think it makes you money and people will respect you. Or because your parents are doctors and they told you to. Period. End of story.

How about being adrenaline jockey, or wanting to push yourself to the limits? What about wanting to be part of a fast-paced challenging field that's going to make you go to extremes for success, and also allowing you to be a part of science? To me, there's no philanthropy in that answer...and that's why I want to do it. I'm an adrenaline jockey, and I want to challenge myself and keep testing myself with harder and harder trials.
In the end, if I'm also able to help someone, or contribute to science along the way, then that's awesome. So much the better. If I get to interact with people in a very real way, and add to their quality of life when possible, or at least try, then that's good too. Anyone who is going in with the attitude that they are somehow 'better' because they are sacrificing their own happiness is completely missing the point. If you're sacrificing your own happiness, then that's still one less happy person. To be able to do the job the best way possible, a person has to get something out of it. I think you're not considering all the ways that medicine can be a 'personal benefit' aside from reputation and money...

 

[badasshairday]

Do you guys think your opinion would change if the choices were, lets say 10 million dollars or even 5 million dollars versus getting into your top med school?

 

[StealthNerd]

Do you guys think your opinion would change if the choices were, lets say 10 million dollars or even 5 million dollars versus getting into your top med school?

Nope. I'd do it for a thousand bucks. ... aaaaaahhhh... but seriously, it would have to be in the millions. I ran the math and my opportunity cost for this crazy career change is about $1M (not counting investing/interest) so we'd have to be talking 7 figures here. That's what I like about the original question. $100M is such a f*cking ridiculous sum of money that I can't see how anyone in their right mind would turn it down just to pursue a specific diploma. ... If you had enough cash to never, ever, worry about money (or your kids, or their kids...) then who cares about the diploma? You can be a freakin doctor without it, you just can't legally practice in the States.

 

[AlexMorph]

Nope. I'd do it for a thousand bucks. ... aaaaaahhhh... but seriously, it would have to be in the millions. I ran the math and my opportunity cost for this crazy career change is about $1M (not counting investing/interest) so we'd have to be talking 7 figures here. That's what I like about the original question. $100M is such a f*cking ridiculous sum of money that I can't see how anyone in their right mind would turn it down just to pursue a specific diploma. ... If you had enough cash to never, ever, worry about money (or your kids, or their kids...) then who cares about the diploma? You can be a freakin doctor without it, you just can't legally practice in the States.

Exactly...legally. Illegally, you are free to pose as whatever kind of witch doctor you want to be.

 

[pakbabydoll]

Medical school, just because I have wanted to be a doctor for a long time.