Is it better to try and become a doctor, or keep it on the wish list and not let it go asny farther? Failing would be horrible, but how do you know until you try? Right?
133848
Consider what makes you happy. Why are you considering medical school - for you? for prestige? Trust me - undergrad is tough. Then 4 years of med school - read - no life no sleep rotating shifts. Then between 3 and five years of residency, read - no sleep no money no time off, and then a fellowship - read - still no time, money, or fun, and then you get to work with the public - good and bad, with some insurance company deciding how much you earn and what hours you work, \nConsider your motivation. If you are pasisonate about helping people, consider the fact that most doctors only spend a few moments with each patient. Consider social work, nursing, physical therapy if you want to help people. If you are interested in the clinical aspects, consider physician's assistant programs. \nI speak from experience. I started out as a pre-med major, and did very well - full scholarship. But after volunteering at a hospital, i realized it was not for me. Consider asking a few local doctors if you can "shadow "them for a day or two - that will help you see what their jobs are really like. If you still want to do it, God bless you! It takes dedication! If you choose another path, that's fine. Just please, don't commit the best years of your life and hundreds of thousands of dollars unless you are sure.
535681
I spent twenty-year years working at the University of California and one thing I told students was to pick a major they enjoyed.  There is a misconception that in order to be a doctor you have to take nothing but courses related to medicine.  Not true.  There are people in medical school who have bachelor's degrees in all different fields.  For example, should you decide during you BS degree that medicine is where you want to be, you start taking the preparatory courses.  My biggest pain were parents who insisted their children take degree programs in which they sucked.  If you can't do Math, then an accounting degree is a poor choice.  You aren't likely to succeed.  *smile*.  There is no limit to what you can achieve with a BS in Liberal Arts or Communication because you can always add courses to prepare you for another avenue should you so decide.  I had students who were shocked to learn that Sociology degrees would help them in Law Enforcement.    Hope this was helpful.
662815
What makes your doctor an expert in love?  Is this doctor a relationship therapist?  Does he/she have specific training in this area?  What makes them qualified to suggest what you should or shouldn't persue in a relationship?\n\nNevermind what your doctor tells you.  What do you want?  How much are you willing to settle for, or will you settle?  Finding the perfect partner can take a lifetime, some people never do.\n\nIt could be your doctor simply thinks your standards are too high.  But if you're anything like me, then you simply won't settle for anything less than what you feel you deserve, and no I don't mean materialistically.\n\nYou deserve to be loved, to be treated with respect and kindness and to be revered as an equal.  You deserve to be with someone who wants you to be successful in everything you do, someone who will challenge you and encourage you to grow.  You deserve all the romance your heart desires.  Why should you settle for anything less?\n\nIf the objective is to reproduce or physical pleasure, well you don't need a man for that.  Science has produced all the alternatives we need.\n\nIt's better to be happy and alone, than to be miserable in an unsatisfactory relationship.
42235
Um, yeah, that last guy is just a jerk.  There's no shame in wanting to be a surgical tech or a nurse.  Spending loads of money and several years to become a doctor isn't a trade-off everyone is willing to make.  Anyway, you could always put off nursing school and see how you like the field first.  My dad used to be an OR tech and loved it.  The hours are great and the pay could be worse.
93000
Think of it like this. Would you want to wake up every day for the next 30 yrs being a doctor?or a wedding planner?\n\nMoney shouldn't be a factor.
563895
As a physician, I think I'd encourage you to strongly consider a career in medicine.  Certainly, as a physician, you could pursue fields where being artistic/creativity is a bonus---plastic or cosmetic surgery would be one such field.  \n\nI would also say, however, that preparation for college and medical school would definitely require an affinity for science.  It also requires a willingness and ability to delay gratification---I studied for 14 years after high school before starting practice as a cardiologist at the age of 32.  And of course, you have to do well in school, be at the top of your class, and pursue pertinent extracurricular activities to gain admission to medical school.  Not to mention the MCAT (medical college admission test) in your Junior year of college.\n\nSo, it's a really rewarding career, and we need good women in many medical fields, but it surely is not for the faint of heart or timid.  \n\nGood luck.
662440
I am encouraging my children to go into the medical field.  I think that if you are smart enough,,then the world needs all the caring professional Dr's that we can!\n\nTo me? that is the most rewarding job.. My husband is on call every 3 weeks at all hours of the night and day, and he isn't a dr. so that shouldn't  discourage students from the medical field.. \nMy philosophy is.. why not work really hard for 6 years, and have a wonderful career...instead of rushing through college w/ a "decent" degree,, and have to spend the next 20 years working your way up to a decent pay scale..when you could of started out w/ that same scale if only you would of chosen a profession that was worth something.
109593
It sounds like you need to have a good Sit-down talk with them.  (Not just in-passing mentioning that you don't want to be a doctor.)  Their hearts are set on it because for years, YOU said you wanted to be one.  Just tell them that you NEED to talk.  Let them know you are serious.  If you already know what other fields you have taken an interest in are, maybe you should mention that as well.  If they insist on sending you to a camp (tell them you don't want to go and you are STILL not interested in the medical field)  If they bring home pamphlets or whatever, remind them again that you've had this discussion and would appreciate it if they would stop pursuing this career choice and if they keep it up, tell them to go to medical school. :)  Good luck.
379170
anyone wanting to be a" doctor" in any field knows in advance there is only very hard work and little play in their future--until out of school and residency programs--there are people who "have the calling"--they make the best md's and nursies.  if you do not feel that this is your field calliung, then , find the area that is.
104555
I felt the same way after my first year.  It truly shows you how little you know and that the learning process continues forever.  Residency is a time to learn your limits, gain exposure to as much as possible, and carry that experience forward into practice.\n\nFor me, after I got over the pain of my first two years, the overall experience is one that I would do over and over again.  Greatest time of my life - even the first two years.\n\nJust knowing that you can improve, being humbled by the amount to learn as well as the privilige to care for other people means you are one of the good ones.\n\nAs far as keeping with it - the rewards of medicine are not monetary, nor do they relate to power or standing of any sort. If you seek these things - you wont be satisfied.  the owrk you do has to be the reward.  If you don't think that is the case - do something else.  I am certain you can.  Doctors are the brightest and best - not just in medicine - I beleive any god doc can put the same intensity and effort into any pursuit and achieve greatness.  Don't forget that.\n\nAs one of my mentors said "Have some respect for self for God's sake.  You're a surgeon!"\n\nWhen you are done with residency, ask me about practice.
621009
ROFL... so much fun!  Nice word play.  I'd say that the doctor needing the doctoring will have to submit to the doctor doing the doctoring on the doctor that needs the doctoring.  It would be unethical for the doctor who needs the doctoring to try to tell the doctoring doctor how to do his job.  That is why the doctor who needs doctoring went to the doctor doing the doctoring in the first place, right?  LOL  - fun.
314545
People have different abilities. Teachers are responsible for recognising that. Ok so the students get a D, it isn't the end of the world... that was about my average in school, and granted at 21 im still studying but this is not a negative thing as I believe im just building a foundation and getting a thorough understanding of the world before i really enter it. I remember these words from my childhood "if at first you don't succeed try and try again" it doesn't matter how long it takes, you should tell students in this sitution that it is ok and they should take their time, after all the snail once the race not the hare.
532425
Not only is a doctor a job that is about saving people's lives but you make the world a better place.  Now if you want to look at it from a financial stand point.  Many jobs come and go like being in the oil business.  One day maybe sometime soon we will run out of oil or stop using it.  So then all of those people lose their jobs.  But being a doctor, you never lose your job.  People are always getting sick or hurt so they are always needing help from  a medical authority.  If you are a "people person" or you like making new friends and talking to people this would also be a great opportunity. You get to meet lots of new people and you get to be friends with your patients.  I think that being in the medical field is a great job and has great points or things that you can do with it.  Another point of the financial stand point is that doctors are paid generously.  If anything above interests you I highly suggest you getting into the medical field. <3
137340
Both are good, it just depends on the desire of the unknown.  If you truly want it, nothing anyone says will deprive you of trying to achieve your goal.  On the other hand, is the grass really greener on the other side?  I have heard it is not.  So in this case, keeping what you have might be the better option.
440887
It's better to aim for the stars and hit the roof, than aim for the roof and hit the dirt.  I'd say go for it -- my cousin started studying to be a doctor in his 30s, and he's now a very happy M.D.  \n\nKnowledge like that will never go to waste, and who knows where the new contacts could lead you?
111287
I do agree with Dilla151 about the school.  Also, you must start believing in yourself if you want to succeed.  It is not going to be on anyone else as to whether you fail or succeed in Law.  It doesn't matter what you want to do, what matters is that you should do something you have a passion for and feel that you CAN do it (but my question to you is, how do you know that you will fail if you don't at least try???).  I would rather try and fail than not try at all!!
392643
Dear Friend,\n\nWhy do you want to become a doctor? \n\nIs it...\n\nyour strong desire to help people who are sick and hurting?\n\n\nhaving knowledge and skills that make you useful and productive anywhere in the world?\n\n\nthe respect and status associated with a career in healthcare?\n\n\nthe high annual income (between $150k– $500k)? \n\nensuring that no day is ever boring? \n\nthe fact that being a doctor ranks in the top three professions for job satisfaction?\n\nthe job security? \n\n\nImagine if you could take a very easy first step towards a fulfilling career as a doctor today, be 100% sure that a career in medicine is for you, and experience the thrill of performing medical task even before medical school.\n\nTo work as a surgeon, you must:\n\n\ncomplete a bachelor's degree\ngraduate from medical school\ncomplete an internship\npass a state licensing exam\ncomplete a five-year residency program in surgery\npass additional exams to become board certified\nwork well under pressure\nbe able to work as part of a team; and\nbe self-motivated.\n\nFormal Education\nTo become a licensed doctor, you must complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.M.) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and labs. You study anatomy, biochemistry, and medicines. You also learn how to take a medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of physicians.\n\nYou usually need a bachelor's degree to get into medical school. While you do not need to be a pre-medicine or science major, these programs are good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.\n\nOn-the-job Training\nWhile in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.\n\nAfter medical school, surgeons must complete a five-year residency program in surgery. While you are a resident, you are paid. Residents usually work in hospitals. After residency, you take additional exams in surgical medicine to become board certified.\n\nAreas of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)\n.\n\nAdvanced Dentistry and Oral Surgery\nBioethics\nMedicine\nPre-Medicine\nSurgical Nursing\nSurgical Technology\n\n\nHelpful High School Courses\nIf you are interested in this occupation, you should take courses in high school that prepare you to enter college.This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.\n\nYou should also take all the advanced courses you can in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school.\n\n.People in this career need to:\n\nCommunicate \nRead and understand work-related materials. \nExpress ideas clearly when speaking or writing. \nUnderstand spoken information by listening to others and asking questions. \nReason and Problem Solve \nIdentify problems and review information. Analyze options and apply solutions. \nIdentify ways to measure and improve system performance. \nJudge the costs and benefits of a possible action. \nNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. \nCombine several pieces of information and draw conclusions. \nFollow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order. \nUse reasoning to discover the answers to problems. \nDetermine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, or other factors will affect outcomes. \nRemember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures. \nUnderstand new information or materials by studying and working with them. \nConcentra