Should I become a doctor?

Question

I moved to the U.S about 3 years ago, I'm in 10th grade right now and my dad wants me to become a doctor.
I am a real history buff and I am well learned in so many different areas of life, HISTORY, politics, military science, technology, facts, religion, etc
Something as big as Medicine sure demands commitment and PASSION and I don't think I have either, especially the latter.

I know a lot of people will tell me to follow my own dreams and do my own thing but with the kind of things I'm interested, It seems it would be hard to build a successful career and make MONEY from them.
I doubt if I will make a good lawyer (arguer) or a good teacher (history).

What is out there for someone like me?

Answer 1

You ask excellent questions for a 10th-grader. I wish everyone your age was thinking like you.

Unfortunately, anyone on this forum who gives you a firm response is speaking from ignorance. There's no way that any of us can get to know you well enough to make an intelligent recommendation--and few of us have the right kinds of knowledge.

What you need is one-on-one work with a career development specialist. Someone who can test you for attitude and aptitude, and then provide you with a range of professions that you'd find enjoyable--and then who can tell you the projected demand and salaries for each of those professions.

The place where you can most easily access those services is probably your local community college. Go ahead and phone them and ask for their career development service--in most cases I expect that they'll work with you; you represent a potential student for them, as well as an opportunity to do community service.

Overall, your instincts seem right. You will certainly be miserable as a doctor if you lack passion for it. You might find that a career as a history professor at a major research university is for you (little teaching, lots of research); your interests in technology suggest a rich vein of opportunities to mine. But I'm just guessing there--I'd be much happier if you got recommendations from a professional who could assess you more thoroughly.

Answer 2

The only thing is Lawyer and Doctor make $$$

I have a friend with a PHD In History and she made $20K her first year out (of course she's a Communist and refuses to work for Fortune 500 type companies).

Sounds like your inclination is to archivist, non-fiction writer or possibly librarian. None of those pay very well you'll make under $40 most of your life until you maybe start your own business or get a MS and work for a school or government for 15 years.

I guess you really have to ask how important $$$ is and buying a car when you want and owning a house instead of renting.

Answer 3

Check out pharmacy school:

1) Great salary, expect to be paid 75-150k per year starting out!

2) flexible working schedule, what other profession allow you to choose the hours you want to work

3) many profession in one, if you don;t like retail or hospital you can do sales or management of a PBM firm and etc.

4) You will have time to start a family

5) http://www.pre-pharm.info

Answer 4

If you are asking if you should become a Doctor -- the answer is NO. Only those who know the answer to that question should even attempt it.

No one should become a doctor unless he knows for sure that he wants to dedicate his life to that field. You do not fit the description. I certainly wouldn't want yo as my doctor.

Answer 5

I agree with TR.

If I were a level 2 I would have given him/her a thumps up. ^ ^