| Topic Name: |
26 years old Finance guy who now wants to become a doctor... |
| Message Name: |
my opinion |
| Date Posted: |
01/09/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I'm 26 years old and getting closer to 27. I graduated college with a business degree and quite frankly, business sucks. Over the last couple of years I've considered the idea of actually going back to school to become a doctor. I would have to go through at about of year of post-bac classes and take the MCAT. Then, I'd have to wait a year before getting into a school. I'd then have 4 years of Med School, and finally the 3 years of residency. This puts me at age 35 before I start making a true living as a doctor. I'm currently involved with a woman my age (26) who has a 7 year old child. Marriage and such is a definite option for our relationship. Here's my question...
Does anyone out there have experience about starting a family while in med school? How hard is it to do? What do you do about money? What does the stress of medical school and doctoring do to a relationship? Any advice would be greatly appreciated... |
| Message: |
Think hard about this one. I have pretty firm opinions on Medicine. I'm not a doctor but I did all the prerequisites in college, took MCAT twice, went to grad school (to go to Med School), and ended up not doing it (I'm now a healthcare consultant). My friends who went on to medical school, residency, and practice HATE their lives now. It's almost funny how you can group your friends into the ones that are (aspiring) physicians, and the ones that are not. You never see the former, they completel fall out of the loop, they don't relate as well, always tired, etc.
My friends have the gripes that are not new: 1) sick hours, 2) ridiculous student loans, 3) no time for girlfriend/wife/children.
I think I'd be less reserved if I saw that you were a pre-med, and not a business major. I don't know if you've taken any chemistry, physics or bio courses yet, but it is a far different game from accounting/finance. I'm not that you can't do it; but I'd suggest taking a couple of the courses (while still working your current job) and see if you like it. Then, you can decide if you want to go full-steam ahead.
Definitely seriously consider this. It is a 10 year committment you are making with practically no salary...then you start paying loans. You may be 50 by the time you stop paying off loans...and with a family to support can be tough.
I don't want to be a downer, but I'm relaying my experience and those of my buddies that are in residency programs and those who have finished.
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