Is becoming a doctor worth it?

Question

I want to become a doctor, and I want to know, acording actual physicians, whether or not you consider all of the schooling and years working to become a doctor was worth it.

Answer 1

As someone graduating from medical school this year, I think it has been worth it, but I don't think I could do it over again. When I started undergraduate school in my late twenties, I was a single-mom and tired of being poor. I did not know what I wanted to do, but I knew education was the key to a better future in many ways, not only financially. A chemistry professor was really key in helping me decide, and when I looked back at the courses I'd taken and the volunteer work that I had done, it was exactly what medical school admissions committees wanted to see. Really, I had been studying as if my life depended on it, so convinced was I that making it without a degree would be next to impossible. My experience taught me, really. And the beauty of medicine is this: it is one of the most poverty resistant professions there is. Your salary will depend on what you specialize in. Family Medicine is one of the lower paying fields, if you consider over 100K a "low-paying" job. Specialist surgeons make anywhere from 200-400K, depending on the type of surgeon,other physicians can make more, depending on how hard you work and where you live and malpractice insurance depends on the type of medicine you practice (very expensive for OB/GYN and Neurosurgery) to lesser amounts (Psychiatry or Pathology) The time you put in? That amount of time will pass no matter what you do, so why not make it count? Medical school generally forces people to grow in ways they never knew they could, and even though I talk about the financial rewards, because they are important in today's world, by no means is this the best criteria to go into medicine. In fact, there are many ways that are easier to make money than medicine, and it is generally not enough to make most people put up with the long hours and stress that becoming a physician requires. Love of humanity, compassion and empathy for the suffering of others are sorely needed in this field, and if you are a person who has these qualities in abundance, please consider joining us. ~A future Psychiatrist

Answer 2

i would say a doctor, yes. try to own your own practice, or sign on a place where its just general care physicians, or like you said dermatology, etc. I think you should be a doctor is you are a workaholic, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, but working in a hospital I think is def. not worth working 100 hr weeks and never seeing your family. at least at a practice, where you dont do too many surgerys or have other people that can share the work with you, you have nights off and pretty much all weekends, except i know some doctors work some saturdays. As far as the pay goes, yeah your going to make a shitload more than someone without thier PHD, and that goes for any field, no matter what it is... it depends on what kind of lifestyle you want to live, one where you might be rich, but those people tend to have no time to themselves...or just be well off where you have a great family to retire to when you get old and enough 401k money saved up. Determination can get you anywhere!!! So- yeah if you really really want to become a doctor more than anything, do it, but dont just pick something else becasue it seems easier...but then again people do it all the time!! stay determined, youll figure it out!

Answer 3

I graduated from medical school 6 years ago, and I did it because I wanted to since I was a kid, I found medicine was so interesting and I wanted to make a difference and help people. I have never thought I was in it for the money. Would I go through med school again knowing all I know and feeling how I do now? No. It is a very difficult career, not impossible of course; the studying part wasn't the hard part at all. It is different for each one of us. You consider how different your life would have been if you studied something else.
I've worked on ER so far, and most of the time you feel like the Customer Service Manager at a huge store with all these clients complaining and not been able to "give your money back or exchange what is causing the problem" all the time. But there are times, when all the sacrifice you went through pays off and you feel that huge satisfaction when you know you have saved someone, you have helped getting them another chance in life, that I can't put down into words.

Answer 4

I want to become a Pediatric Neurologist or Neurosurgeon studying the brain well it seem good to become a Doctor cause you help and care for people so yes its worth becoming a Physician follow your dreams

Answer 5

Well i'm gonna tell you an incident that i came acrcross and let you decide. i have a family friend that had been studying at university since i remember. When he graduated he went to work interstate as a chiropracter and he came over one time and i asked him the exact same question. he goes to me that it is one of the best decisions he's made. i asked him how much he earns and this is just after 6 months of graduating and he goes to me that he earns $200 an hour and his boss earns $800 an hour. I know it's not about the money but it does help. when i told him "Wow that's heaps" he goes to me " Well after working really hard at university for eight years, i think i deserve it." But it is really hard work to become a doctor so if you're determined to work hard, i rekon that you should do it..

Answer 6

If you just want to get into it for the money then no it may not be worth it. If you really want to do it then it won't matter. You should want to be a doctor to make a difference in people's lives. If you would find more personal fulfillment in a job with fewer hours and more time to spend with family then you may want to reconsider. I'm working on finishing undergraduate school and want to be a pediatrician. To me the years of school are definitely worth it.

Answer 7

I studied medicine for 31/2 years, and after realizing that an average primary care physician only makes $102,000 per year, I decided that it was not the right path for me. You must be passionate enough about it in order for you to be pleased with your carer. I am a residential mortgage broker, and make well over $100k per year, not to mention not having to pay malpractice insurance which is on average $30,000 per year. You pay that out of YOUR salary. No one else will pay it for you. Just something to think about.

Answer 8

It depends why you want to do it....
Is it for money or prestige? then I would say forget it!

If you want to be a Dr to make a difference...not only in a few people but like a whole COUNTRY (doctorswithoutborders.com)
then I hope you go for it...because you will see rewards EVERY
day....
And the world NEEDS more people like that.

Answer 9

the only thing that matters is that it matters to you and seems worth it to you. it also means if its important to you then you should pursue it.

Answer 10

No! Please don't! become a dentist! Doctors have terrible hours! Dentists get off on Fridays!