Doctors, have you been sure about your career when you decided to go to med school?

Question

I am thinking of it and I am not sure? What are some good questions to ask myself when choosing medicine as career?

I posted this question before but I was hoping to get more answers now as it is evening and more people on here.

Answer 1

I was 29 years old when I was accepted to medical school. I had a career, which I liked but was somewhat bored with. I applied to medical school, somewhat on a lark, somewhat due to competition with my brother who had been accepted.

When I got accepted to medical school, I faced this same dilemma. Do I *really* want to go? I will be almost 34 when I finish! I voiced this concern to a friend, and she had a very wise observation. She said "you will be 34 that same day even if you have not gone through med school."

With that it was decided. I did go into debt getting through, and had a five year residency. I refinanced after residency, continued to live like I was a student for two years and paid it off. It has been a very nice career, I would do it again, but I did get burned out and am currently taking a 6 month sabbatical, which I am enjoying and getting lots of "back burner" projects done before I begin my new employment in January.

You don't need to ask yourself what specialty at this point. When you are in med school, you will find out much more about each and what kind of profession you are willing to incorporate into the life you want to create.

Bottom line: You won't regret it.

Answer 2

Well, I have been a physician since 1992 when I finished my residency and I have been in and out of private practises since 1995 when I finished my fellowship. I have had a very uneven career with politics, personal and financial difficulties affecting it.


First of all I enjoy the practice of medicine especially Pediatrics, However once you enter the medical field, from student through attending- your whole life is scrutinized (especially if you go from one hospital to the next) Can you afford this scrutiny and judgement?

Next is what type of Dr. are you thinking of becoming and how is it going to affect my lifestyle. (Primary care - Family practice vs. specialist or Radiologist)
Also who are your support systems. Are they your parents, significant other, friends, because your going to need to rely on them through your residency and through your career.
Are you committed to being a physician and have you had good grades in college (did you go to a premed college).
Where do you want to live? In your home town (are there Dr.'s planning to retire when you graduate)? Do you mind moving to get a job? Do you have access to relatives or friends who can help you with a career in medicine
(it always helps if dad is planning to give you his practice).
Have you done any volunteer work in a medical field and did you like it (I would strongly sugggest this, either working in an emergency room or as a "candy striper" (don't laugh, you can see how Dr's act....)

If you have specific questions I may be able to help you at [e-mail] so you don't make the same mistakes in medicine that I have made. (but you can come up with great 'best answers" on Yahoo.

Answer 3

I'm a student and I never had any doubt. If you want to talk o ask something, write an email to me. Bye