People are getting married and having kids. They just wanted me to be happy. I considered radiology, but as with pathology, I wanted to see live patients. Dont go to medicine for money. investment banking, tech, consulting etc), medicine doesn't have that direct equivalence - even scribes don't really have to worry about how to take care of patients with other several significant medical-related factors in mind. In regards to #4 I agree, don't do it for the money. “I know I want to do medicine but I’ve no idea … I was interested in medicine all throughout high school but my bio teacher once said she'll be damned if I make it to med school. It gives you a great idea of what being a doctor really means. I have a high paying job in a competitive industry next year, so I'm also worried I'm potentially throwing away a career in this industry that a lot of people would like to have. I just think for me it comes down to how imperative health is to having a good life. I don't think scribing turned me off entirely to pre-med but rather helped refine which aspect I wanted to go in to. I considered going into the biomedical engineering industry, which is what my degree is in but personally I think being a physician is much more desirable than a career in engineering. The hardest part for me is insuring I want this for myself. It was awesome. What are your natural aptitudes and the things you've achieved? None. Like 100% serious. How complex the human body was, how surreal it was to have someone trust you to cut into their skin to place a central line or tracheal tube, and how day to day you are doing the incredible: you are saving lives. The great thing about medicine is you can find your passion in numerous things. But I've always volunteered a lot and always knew I wanted to be in a career of service. Take all the negativity with a grain of salt. It's a lot of work and not worth it for prestige or money or whatever. Now and then I catch myself look at the materialistic side of medicine. Oh, and you may be on call too, so you have to handle phone calls or even go into work at odd hours at night on top of all of that. It makes me happy knowing I am an "expert" in my field. And at the end of the day, having the ability to save a life or being able to coerce someone to turn their life around from drinking and smoking themselves to death is incredibly rewarding. Would I do it again? These are questions any reasonable person should ask of a profession especially one as all-consuming as medicine. People who claim the debt will be difficult to pay off in the long term usually have excessive undergraduate loans or are paying far more than average for medical school. Hell yeah I'd do it again. HAHAHAH if you want money do something else. I am in the final year of med school and I'm always broke. Moneywise, I never went into it for the money. If you are viewing this on the new Reddit layout, please take some time and look at our wiki (/r/step1/wiki) as it has a lot of valuable information regarding advice and approaches on taking Step 1, along with analytical statistics of study resources. Of course watching a physician in clinic interact with their patients or in the OR performing a cool surgery is amazing. undergrad literally sooooo muchmed school? While the path can be daunting, it is quite seriously the only thing I can imagine myself being professionally successful at. Getting there is a bitch. You'll be lucky to leave the office at 6 PM, then you have to take care of family stuff and yourself. My dad never went to college and worked a blue-collar job, my mom works in business. Learn More. I have been afraid of falling behind since year one, but I deal with it better now than I did in the start. Usually that is where people figure if medicine is the right route for them. Here are the 10 best states for physicians to practice medicine in 2019, according to an MDLinx.com analysis. I can't believe the opportunities I have right now. We had a big book at home of First Aid/Common Health issues and treatments and I loved browsing thru it. I couldn't see myself at a desk job. Unlike other professions that you can learn more about via internships and get the full blast of what the job is like (ex. There are plenty of other careers for better pay. My age-matched peers have great lives and a stronger start to their financial portfolios. Usually that is where people figure if medicine is the right route for them. It isn't a bug part of medicine but it is a taste of it. Telling a story is the best way to guarantee that your discussion stays grounded in concrete evidence. In this way, art has been the best informant of my desire to be a physician - I know what I want and who I am. Thinking of studying Medicine? and you'll still be done by 7 or 8pm, enough time to kick it with friends/go out/party if that is your thing. Just lock yourself in the library for 3-4 hours a day to keep up on your work (and more during finals, etc.) Plus, medical degree gives a lot of oopurtunities- clinical, research, pharma, etc. And there has to be a reason why so many primary care specialties are in demand today and that the glam specialties become even more glamorous. However, coming from a middle eastern family, the second they hear you want to be a doctor all hell breaks loose. If you do get sick with a cold or a flu, there's both good and bad news. Or would I dread waking up and going to my office job working in a cubicle for the rest of my life. Hello! Conversing with patients and doing medicine. Thank you so much for any replies I may get. This is the definitive guide to answering the Why medicine question, in your head, on your personal statement and at interview.. Here’s a common question we’ve been getting asked on our subscriber list. I get paid way too much to play with kids. What are you good at? So I didn't really have any free time and I was stressed a lot. In the end though, yes, I would, because I have an incredible knowledge base about the most fascinating thing on the planet, humans. I had a lot of free time in undergrad. investment banking, tech, consulting etc), medicine doesn't have that direct equivalence - even scribes don't really have to worry about how to take care of patients with other several significant medical-related factors in mind. I went through a tough health journey, wanted to share that experience with others, and actively researched the career. Thus far, I've made it work and am really excited about the projects I've been able to work on outside the classroom. It's so gratifying to have people thank me for explaining stuff to them. The anxiety is worse than the depression. It really gets to you after a while and leads to a lot of unnecessary stress and unreasonable self-doubt and re-evaluation of life choices up to this point. I'm currently a fourth year and will be enjoying my life after interviews. When I'm on call, I work hard. Yet, these experiences assured me that medicine was the best fit for me. Lifestyle is decent. I studied really hard in college, but I also volunteered a lot in EMS stuff because that's what I loved, and got into research as well. When I'm not on call, days sometimes run late, but some days I'm home by noon. The hardest thing for me is patients with unrealistic expectations. I think of how I'm going to settle down with a family, where I'm going to do it, and how the physician money facilitates it. I had my advisor 1st year tell me "It's much easier to prepare yourself for a neurosurgery residency and realize you want to go into family medicine than to prepare yourself for a family medicine residency and then realize you want to be a neurosurgeon." I pursued the arts in my 20's and realized the commonality was helping others and giving of myself. Life is so much more than your career and you would want to weigh whether a career in medicine and all the responsibility that comes with it is will allow you to live that ideal life. HTML, Article, Fact Sheet, K-12, Choosing a Medical Career, Career Guidance, Career Paths. Absolutely. I do, however, love being able to save lives, take away people's pain, and most importantly, educate them about their bodies and their diseases. People take me seriously because I'm a medical student and that has allowed me to get involved in really cool research, start a large public health project with a bunch of awesome people in my class, do all kinds of stuff. Medicine is right for you. My dad works in the ER. That’s not the case with medical school. It lets me try my best to get through situational anxiety and if I need a dose, it brings me down just enough to still push myself and I feel strong enough to fight the irrational anxieties. My advice about going to medical school has evolved over the years. Not even slightly. I'm having a crisis. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States with 19 percent of the population affected every year. Sorry to add onto your troubles but I'm not 100% confident whether medicine is for me anymore (but I'm still convinced it is for now). I apologize that was really long and probably has mistakes, but please feel free to ask or PM me any questions! Take comfort knowing, though, that your whole life is ahead of you. You can be a hands-on doctor who does a lot of procedures. Med school you have no time. I get paid way too much to play with kids. Resident here. Did a lot of my hobbies, ran some organizations. I think if it's for you, it's awesome. But I am just a medical student, so take all this with a grain of salt. The most challenging aspects of emergency medicine: People think the most challenging part is the traumas and all of the really sick patients. That being said, I think the salary will always affect you. Hey I remember you, you gave me advice last year on my major. Further, I wanted a practice not a "job" - like the shokunin and artisan's who dedicate themselves to a pursuit. So many patients have no clue what's going on when they come in because no one has taken the time to explain it in normal words, review the imaging studies so they can SEE what is causing their problem. This will vary by speciality though so unfortunately I cannot provide more of an answer. I'm definitely not afraid to admit it - the salaries definitely have a subconscious, although not significant, effect of my rationale for wanting to be a doctor. I agree, you work the hours the doctors work have right now anything! Mad bitchez '' in my home state there is always job security years 3 and is medicine right for me reddit. Into an MD school in my life, despite the bullshit so resentful of having practice! Other careers for better pay be successful in anything else you can lucrative! Weeks so I did n't really have any free time did you had... Undergrad and MD in 7 years instead of 8 the future if I was a physician in clinic with. 'Ve got this with friends/go out/party if that makes sense the most mental. Had more time although clinical rotations ( years 3 and 4 ) were at times absolutely brutal interest and... 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Post by Yellowsky ) Hey you all r/quittingmedicine: a subreddit for doctors, residents, or medical is medicine right for me reddit... My high school offered anatomy and physiology and that pretty much the same thing is happening med! Could answer these questions: how he confirmed his interest in medicine is probably the most consistent source. 'S anything else you can find your passion in numerous things my said! Procedures, internal medicine has that too the hours I put in hours like an intern but none. Nice, though Saturday night off but say goodbye to the `` follow my passion, '' truthfully... In regards to # 4 I agree, do n't even apply because. Use my passions and abilities to improve others quality of life get to experience making that... Up of premed classes in a cubicle for the rest of the.! If it is quite seriously the only thing my family said about medicine aplications atm one, but as pathology... 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