Should I go to medical or dental school?

Question

What worries me most is the time and money I need to spend on education...I just want to go into the health field but what do you think?

Answer 1

If you are just interested in the health industry in general, you may want to find medical and dental practices where you can volunteer/intern and see what you like about it. If you don't like what you are doing, you probably wouldn't be motivated to make it through any formal educational program.

Your first step is to see what it is that you would like. There are so many ways to finance a good education - what degree you choose has no bearings on most of the major financial aid packages available.

For example, I wanted to be a heart surgeon, then I wanted to be a vet. Didn't know what I wanted to do, so I volunteered at a hospital (hated it), then at an SPCA (couldn't deal with an animal put to sleep). The moral of the story is that I wound up going into a computer science degree program, but it took lots of trial and error to find out that's what I wanted. When I interned at the college I was at, I knew I'd found what I wanted, and that was reflected in my grades, performance, and ultimately finding a very good, well paying position.

After you get out of college, any medical position is going to pay well if you get into a job you like/want. The money will come later if you are a good enough student and a good enough medical practitioner.

Answer 2

It sounds to me that you have very little college experience and are unsure that you will be able to complete such a program. You should not set your goals so high, or at least not right now.
Take some classes to find out what you really like about the health field. Get your two year degree (Associates of Arts) first then you will know more about what you want as a career. To be able to complete a program such as dentistry or MD you have to love it, want it and you cant have that desire until you know something about the field. Dont worry about it now, after a few classes you will have the information you need to make that decision.

Im not telling you that you shouldnt think about your future and plan for it but, it is ok to have an undecided major, it will allow you to figure a few things out before you get in to deep and find out its not for you.

The money and time should not even be a concern. If you want to be something (ie. MD, dentist, physical therapist) it is a small price to do what you love. You should love it, if you dont its not for you.

Answer 3

What do I think? I think that I wouldn't want to go to a doctor or a dentist who is ambivalent about it and doesn't want to spend the time needed to be a great doctor or dentist.

If all you want to do is work in the health field, then become an EMT, nurse or phlebotomist & let someone who is willing to do the work become a doctor or dentist.

As for the money -- both fields pay quite well -- so you should think of that as an investment that will pay off.

Answer 4

be a shrink! ain't they always asking "but what do you think?"...you're a natural.