I want to be a doctor for lots of reasons! can i make it happen?

[teya]

...I defy any current doctor to deny that mixed in amongst the more altruistic reasons, there were a lot of more superficial/shallow reasons too.

The man speaks the truth, especially for folks who specialize in derm, radiology, or some of the other "lifestyle" residencies. Sure, you chose derm because you are "fascinated by the skin." Give me a break.

Having worked in an interventional radiology practice for 10 years at a major clinical research hospital, some of those guys really do go into it because they are fascinated by the potential of the technology for changing human lives.

 

[warriorsfan]

At the moment im 19yrs old, and i am studying Radiography this is where you end up treating patients with Cancer, you pass radiation to the tumour to shrink it down and you deliver the treatment as well as plan it with other health professions.

But what i really want so much is to be a doctor I have always watched ER, House and stuff from when i was a young because i was fascinated by what a doctor/surgeon does, i think its the best job for me, i really enjoy it and what it actually involves, i dont care if i have to do nightshifts if it means i could get a chance, its a well respected job, good profession, everyone gives you prestige, you gets load of money, my family wont think i am dumb, and i am trying to compete for cousin who is one yr older then me she is clever and works hard and got into medical school. Maybe i can do it after i finish this degree, i have only 2 yrs left.

Gosh i NEED to get it. If i dont my life is doomed for ever!, no one even recognises my career, it is small profession my younger sister was teasing me the other day and saying you got a crap career.

Everyone wants to be a doctor when they start college. Hell, I'd say about a quarter of my undergraduate class was pre-med when they came in as Freshman. Of course, attrition took its toll. Microbiology and Organic Chemistry tend to weed people out.

I graduated, went to graduate school and got a master's and then got into medical school. I did a year of medical school and left to do a PhD program. I discovered my interests lie in research and not in clinical medicine.

Tons of people want to be doctors, very very few will actually make it. And it's not for lack of want and enthusiasm.

I don't want to sound mean, but it doesn't sound like you want to be a doctor for the right reasons. Money and prestige are nice, but that's not why you should pursue this career path. You sound very young and naive and I can't fault you for that because I probably sounded that way when I was 18, but if you're out to do it so that your "family doesn't think your dumb" or because you are "competing with your cousin", then I think you're not going to succeed. You should seriously consider something else.

 

[Spot's Meow]

If you truly want to do it then I am sure you can. But my advice would be to take as many classes in as many different subjects as you can. The ones that hold the most interest for you will indicate what field you should probably go in to. In 30 years when you are trying to support a family or even just pay for your own expenses, what your cousin and your sister think of your career choice won't be important. What will be important is that you are enjoying your life and feel fulfilled in your career. And of course having extra money would be nice, but being happy with what you have to spend several hours doing every day would be much nicer.

 

[Tim]

The man speaks the truth, especially for folks who specialize in derm, radiology, or some of the other "lifestyle" residencies. Sure, you chose derm because you are "fascinated by the skin." Give me a break.

It's possible, if unlikely. I know early on I was fascinated by the skin and tried to educate myself about it, most likely due to my own personal experiences. Is that the sole reason someone would choose dermatology? Probably not. But it can still be a fascinating subject to some.

...I defy any current doctor to deny that mixed in amongst the more altruistic reasons, there were a lot of more superficial/shallow reasons too.

The man speaks the truth, especially for folks who specialize in derm, radiology, or some of the other "lifestyle" residencies. Sure, you chose derm because you are "fascinated by the skin." Give me a break.

Having worked in an interventional radiology practice for 10 years at a major clinical research hospital, some of those guys really do go into it because they are fascinated by the potential of the technology for changing human lives.

Radiology was perhaps not as good an example as derm, but I stand by my point: many, many med students seem to carry on this dance of (self) deception about the motivations for choosing the profession. While nobler intentions no doubt play a part in many cases, Holdfast is absolutely correct that more selfish reasons are a key component. For some, those selfish reasons are the primary driver.

 

[JonathonWally]

I think I'm going to go for my RN first, then use that to make up my mind if I'm interested in Med School.

Being a Trauma Nurse is appealing, I don't know about being a doctor, yet.

 

[Tim]

I think I'm going to go for my RN first, then use that to make up my mind if I'm interested in Med School.

How are you at drinking from a fire hose?

 

[JonathonWally]

I think I'm going to go for my RN first, then use that to make up my mind if I'm interested in Med School.

How are you at drinking from a fire hose?

I got the skillz

 

[tomalak301]

Do you handwrite badly? That's a good start, along with going through all those schools and the such.

 

[teya]

The man speaks the truth, especially for folks who specialize in derm, radiology, or some of the other "lifestyle" residencies. Sure, you chose derm because you are "fascinated by the skin." Give me a break.

Having worked in an interventional radiology practice for 10 years at a major clinical research hospital, some of those guys really do go into it because they are fascinated by the potential of the technology for changing human lives.

Radiology was perhaps not as good an example as derm, but I stand by my point: many, many med students seem to carry on this dance of (self) deception about the motivations for choosing the profession. While nobler intentions no doubt play a part in many cases, Holdfast is absolutely correct that more selfish reasons are a key component. For some, those selfish reasons are the primary driver.

Oh, absolutely more selfish reasons play a part.

And radiology might have been a better example 20 years ago. But as tech has improved, more are being drawn to the specialty simply because it's cutting edge.

 

[Holdfast]

... I stand by my point: many, many med students seem to carry on this dance of (self) deception about the motivations for choosing the profession. While nobler intentions no doubt play a part in many cases, Holdfast is absolutely correct that more selfish reasons are a key component. For some, those selfish reasons are the primary driver.

I've bolded what I think is the scariest part of this equation. I don't actually think it's a problem if someone chooses medicine partly because of selfish reasons. As I said, they're there for every doctor in some measure. No-one is Mother Theresa. Not even Mother Theresa.

What concerns me is that there's a subset of doctors out there who somehow convince THEMSELVES that they entered medicine for whiter than white reasons when the truth is quite different. Then they burn out from exhaustion or break down by the time they're 40, with a severe martyr complex or substance misuse. Hmm, I wonder why.......

This is not unique to medicine of course, it occurs in all the "caring professions", but the pressure and intensity of a medical career (esp. in the specialities these masochistic self-deceivers tend to choose) brings it out in full bloom.

Be honest with yourself, have insight, understand your reasons for doing stuff and be comfortable with them! You'll be a happier person all round.

 

[Tim]

... I stand by my point: many, many med students seem to carry on this dance of (self) deception about the motivations for choosing the profession. While nobler intentions no doubt play a part in many cases, Holdfast is absolutely correct that more selfish reasons are a key component. For some, those selfish reasons are the primary driver.

I've bolded what I think is the scariest part of this equation. I don't actually think it's a problem if someone chooses medicine partly because of selfish reasons. As I said, they're there for every doctor in some measure. No-one is Mother Theresa. Not even Mother Theresa.

What concerns me is that there's a subset of doctors out there who somehow convince THEMSELVES that they entered medicine for whiter than white reasons when the truth is quite different. Then they burn out from exhaustion or break down by the time they're 40, with a severe martyr complex or substance misuse. Hmm, I wonder why.......

This is not unique to medicine of course, it occurs in all the "caring professions", but the pressure and intensity of a medical career (esp. in the specialities these masochistic self-deceivers tend to choose) brings it out in full bloom.

Be honest with yourself, have insight, understand your reasons for doing stuff and be comfortable with them! You'll be a happier person all round.

Fully agreed with you, naturally. Some honest introspection is required before embarking on such a career. In my case, the time spent pursuing graduate degrees has instilled a healthy dose of skepticism, which I think will be an asset along the line.