I need to make a major decision about my life.

[Saint Nick]

I'm not relying on ATOT, but I just want to hear people's thoughts.

I've always wanted to be a doctor. I know the job and the path to get there is dirty, long, and expensive (sounds like a Las Vegas porn star, huh?). But its rewarding and pays good enough for me. So, in order for me to make any headway into that sort of career path, I need to get started on class this fall so that I can at least be a doctor by the time I'm 30 -- I'm 21 right now.

On the other hand, I'm almost done with my BS in Management Information Systems, I have 22 credits left.

So, I could focus on going to medical school or I could just finish my BS degree and go work. Major things I've thought about is my travelling adventures. I've always wanted to travel the world. If I go to med school and be a doctor, I won't get to do that for many years. I've also wanted to have a family and a good, steady relationship, and I don't feel like I'll get to enjoy that soon if I go to med school either. And, finally, I'm in a band and love playing guitar, recording, and writing music. A lot of those things are hard to enjoy if you are a doctor it seems because of the general committment you need to put into the work.

I've tossed it around, and have landed on finishing school so I can go work and make money so I can travel and enjoy those sorts of things before I get into my 30s. What do you guys think?

 

[moshquerade]

honestly, i would forget med school. you could be a volunteer fire dept. EMT (yes, you will have to get certified) or something along with your regular job.

 

[blackdogdeek]

i'd say finish school. try to make enough money to do a year of travelling.

after that, decide if you still want to be a doctor.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
honestly, i would forget med school. you could be a volunteer fire dept. EMT (yes, you will have to get certified) or something along with your regular job.

moshquerade is right this kind of job is more rewarding and you get to travel :thumbsup:

 

[Special K]

How many credits of your BS degree will count toward the medical school application pre-reqs? Unless you took them as electives, I wouldn't think an MIS major would have taken a year of chem, orgo, bio, biochem, and physics. That will also have an impact on how long it will take you to complete a medical degree, but maybe you already considered that.

Also, don't forget the opportunity costs. How much would you be making as an MIS major over the 4+ years you will spend training to be a doctor? What about the loans?

 

[Capitalizt]

I forced myself to finish a degree in IT and I HATED IT. I dont want to do that for the rest of my life. I say make the sacrifice (financially) and follow your passion. Do what interests you...what you love to do. It will be worth it in the end. Don't stick with tech just because youve already wasted time/money on it. Follow your dream...See where it takes you.

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: Special K
How many credits of your BS degree will count toward the medical school application pre-reqs? Unless you took them as electives, I wouldn't think an MIS major would have taken a year of chem, orgo, bio, biochem, and physics. That will also have an impact on how long it will take you to complete a medical degree, but maybe you already considered that.

Also, don't forget the opportunity costs. How much would you be making as an MIS major over the 4+ years you will spend training to be a doctor? What about the loans?

UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) costs about $35,000 a year including room and board. My humanities, social sciences, stats, calculus, and english classes would go towards medical school requirements. However, you are right -- I would have to take two semesters of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. And on top of all that, biochemistry and genetics (one semester each). I would be an undergraduate for another two years probably.

I think I'll be making about $40,000+ out of college presuming I get a job. The loans to take more undergrad and then medical school would just suck. I'd be looking at $180,000 worth of loans at the end of six years.

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: NightDarker

Originally posted by: Special K
How many credits of your BS degree will count toward the medical school application pre-reqs? Unless you took them as electives, I wouldn't think an MIS major would have taken a year of chem, orgo, bio, biochem, and physics. That will also have an impact on how long it will take you to complete a medical degree, but maybe you already considered that.

Also, don't forget the opportunity costs. How much would you be making as an MIS major over the 4+ years you will spend training to be a doctor? What about the loans?

UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) costs about $35,000 a year including room and board. My humanities, social sciences, stats, calculus, and english classes would go towards medical school requirements. However, you are right -- I would have to take two semesters of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. And on top of all that, biochemistry and genetics (one semester each). I would be an undergraduate for another two years probably.

I think I'll be making about $40,000+ out of college presuming I get a job. The loans to take more undergrad and then medical school would just suck. I'd be looking at $180,000 worth of loans at the end of six years.

And then you would be making $40-50,000 for the next 3-10 years depending on what you wanted to do for a specialty. Being a doctor isn't guaranteed money and you have to spend a lot and make a little for quite a while before you finally make the big bucks.

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: NightDarker

Originally posted by: Special K
How many credits of your BS degree will count toward the medical school application pre-reqs? Unless you took them as electives, I wouldn't think an MIS major would have taken a year of chem, orgo, bio, biochem, and physics. That will also have an impact on how long it will take you to complete a medical degree, but maybe you already considered that.

Also, don't forget the opportunity costs. How much would you be making as an MIS major over the 4+ years you will spend training to be a doctor? What about the loans?

UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) costs about $35,000 a year including room and board. My humanities, social sciences, stats, calculus, and english classes would go towards medical school requirements. However, you are right -- I would have to take two semesters of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. And on top of all that, biochemistry and genetics (one semester each). I would be an undergraduate for another two years probably.

I think I'll be making about $40,000+ out of college presuming I get a job. The loans to take more undergrad and then medical school would just suck. I'd be looking at $180,000 worth of loans at the end of six years.

And then you would be making $40-50,000 for the next 3-10 years depending on what you wanted to do for a specialty. Being a doctor isn't guaranteed money and you have to spend a lot and make a little for quite a while before you finally make the big bucks.

That was another major factor. I know people say doctors get paid a lot, but that isn't until years after they are done with their residency. I think a lot of doctors don't pay off their loans until some of their kids are out of high school.

A friend of mine and I have always dreamed of travelling the world together, just like puffff did (if you remember that thread). We talk about it every time we hang out. And I don't want to leave that dream behind.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: NightDarker

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: NightDarker

Originally posted by: Special K
How many credits of your BS degree will count toward the medical school application pre-reqs? Unless you took them as electives, I wouldn't think an MIS major would have taken a year of chem, orgo, bio, biochem, and physics. That will also have an impact on how long it will take you to complete a medical degree, but maybe you already considered that.

Also, don't forget the opportunity costs. How much would you be making as an MIS major over the 4+ years you will spend training to be a doctor? What about the loans?

UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) costs about $35,000 a year including room and board. My humanities, social sciences, stats, calculus, and english classes would go towards medical school requirements. However, you are right -- I would have to take two semesters of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. And on top of all that, biochemistry and genetics (one semester each). I would be an undergraduate for another two years probably.

I think I'll be making about $40,000+ out of college presuming I get a job. The loans to take more undergrad and then medical school would just suck. I'd be looking at $180,000 worth of loans at the end of six years.

And then you would be making $40-50,000 for the next 3-10 years depending on what you wanted to do for a specialty. Being a doctor isn't guaranteed money and you have to spend a lot and make a little for quite a while before you finally make the big bucks.

That was another major factor. I know people say doctors get paid a lot, but that isn't until years after they are done with their residency. I think a lot of doctors don't pay off their loans until some of their kids are out of high school.

Another thing to keep in mind is that student loan interest rates suck right now. Stafford loans are at 6.8% fixed, and the grad plus loans are at 8.5% fixed. The days of being able to lock student loans in at 2% interest are gone. Not only that, but the interest begins to accrue immediately. If you compound the debt at 6.8%/8.5% over the life of your medical school training, the result is not pretty.

Obviously that would probably not stop someone whose life goal was to become a doctor, but I just thought I'd mention it.

 

[JS80]

Study for and take the MCAT and see how you do.

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: NightDarker

Originally posted by: BornStar

Originally posted by: NightDarker

Originally posted by: Special K
How many credits of your BS degree will count toward the medical school application pre-reqs? Unless you took them as electives, I wouldn't think an MIS major would have taken a year of chem, orgo, bio, biochem, and physics. That will also have an impact on how long it will take you to complete a medical degree, but maybe you already considered that.

Also, don't forget the opportunity costs. How much would you be making as an MIS major over the 4+ years you will spend training to be a doctor? What about the loans?

UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) costs about $35,000 a year including room and board. My humanities, social sciences, stats, calculus, and english classes would go towards medical school requirements. However, you are right -- I would have to take two semesters of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. And on top of all that, biochemistry and genetics (one semester each). I would be an undergraduate for another two years probably.

I think I'll be making about $40,000+ out of college presuming I get a job. The loans to take more undergrad and then medical school would just suck. I'd be looking at $180,000 worth of loans at the end of six years.

And then you would be making $40-50,000 for the next 3-10 years depending on what you wanted to do for a specialty. Being a doctor isn't guaranteed money and you have to spend a lot and make a little for quite a while before you finally make the big bucks.

That was another major factor. I know people say doctors get paid a lot, but that isn't until years after they are done with their residency. I think a lot of doctors don't pay off their loans until some of their kids are out of high school.

Another thing to keep in mind is that student loan interest rates suck right now. Stafford loans are at 6.8% fixed, and the grad plus loans are at 8.5% fixed. The days of being able to lock student loans in at 2% interest are gone. Not only that, but the interest begins to accrue immediately. If you compound the debt at 6.8%/8.5% over the life of your medical school training, the result is not pretty.

Obviously that would probably not stop someone whose life goal was to become a doctor, but I just thought I'd mention it.

I figured being a doctor would be better than a typical desk job where I fix people's crap all day and sit in a big glass box. I always thought it'd be fun to help people and affect people personally in a positive way. A way that people would remember. Maybe an EMT is a good idea.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i'd say finish school. try to make enough money to do a year of travelling.

after that, decide if you still want to be a doctor.

 

[Mxylplyx]

One thing to consider is what's going to happen to doctor salaries after the government starts to socialize medicine. I personally believe the days of doctors being paid like rock stars is coming to a close in the next 10-20 yrs.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: JS80
Study for and take the MCAT and see how you do.

Not a good idea having taken none of the pre-req courses. He isn't going to teach himself mcat bio, physis, and chem in any timely manner.

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
One thing to consider is what's going to happen to doctor salaries after the government starts to socialize medicine. I personally believe the days of doctors being paid like rock stars is coming to a close in the next 10-20 yrs.

That day has already long since passed and I'd agree, it's only getting worse.

Regarding being an EMT, you just need to realize that you really don't get certified to do much at all (I mean basically nothing) depending on what state your in and how long you plan on getting training. You'll also most likely be working volunteer for a good time period and working awful hours (10-12 hour night shifts). It can be a heck of a lot of fun, though.



All in all, it's a tough one. Never force yourself to do anything you don't want to do, being unhappy is a terrible way to live. However, being a doctor these days can be a pretty rough lifestyle even after all is said and done with residency/fellowship. Being a doctor is a lifetime investment, you can't do it halfheartedly.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
One thing to consider is what's going to happen to doctor salaries after the government starts to socialize medicine. I personally believe the days of doctors being paid like rock stars is coming to a close in the next 10-20 yrs.

Doctors with Rock Star salaries are far and few - they are usually inventors and innovators. But you are right, socialized medicine will absolutely reduce innovation at a macro level and average salaries will come down.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
One thing to consider is what's going to happen to doctor salaries after the government starts to socialize medicine. I personally believe the days of doctors being paid like rock stars is coming to a close in the next 10-20 yrs.

Most doctors aren't being paid like rock stars. Insurance pressures have been really keeping the lid on fees, and medicare doesn't pay much.

If you really want to be a doctor, enough to make the commitment - years of schooling, big debt, long hours and low pay while a resident, being on call even while you're not working - then I say screw the IT stuff. If you don't want to make that commitment, don't become a doctor.

Travel now on the cheap while you're young and you can. Then get your requirements done and try to go to medical school.

If you get an IT degree and start working, it can be pretty easy to get the golden handcuffs. A situation where you're used to making $X, you get married and have kids and buy a house and all of a sudden you NEED to keep making that money to support your family. You can't just chuck it and start a new career at the bottom. So unless you actually want to do IT stuff, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Saint Nick]

I need to talk to a doctor to see how they like it. It may not be the best decision after all... I'm really stoaked about travelling, though. My friend and I think about it so much... one of these days we might just up and leave!

 

[Whisper]

You could always (in addition to talking with a few physicians, as you've mentioned) volunteer and/or work in a health care setting for a bit. That way, you'd get some first-hand knowledge as to what many MD's actually do on a daily basis. Having grown up with a surgeon in the house, I will say that it requires a LOT of personal investment.

I thought about going the med school route myself a few years back, but after having worked in an ER (and living with the aforementioned doc), I opted instead for grad school, as it was more in line with my interests.

Also, if you end up ditching the MD idea but still want to work in the health sector as a whole, you could always look into becoming a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant. The need for RN's is absolutely HUGE right now, and will only continue to increase over the next few years.

 

[tenthumbs]

If think being a doctor is your calling in life, you should follow that path regardless of your dreams to travel. 30 years old is not old at all. You'll have plenty of time to travel. If you want to be a doctor for the money, please finish your 22 IT credits.

 

[irishScott]

Depends on how much you're willing to sacrifice. I'd say get your degree as a safety net, build up some cash, go traveling, and then try it out. It's not like it a "once in never out" thing in terms of education. You take the classes. If you don't like the classes/field, you switch. After a couple of semesters of classes you can start to judge if you want to go all the way or not.

 

[Saint Nick]

Health care seems like it might be where we will find "the next big thing". It'd be cool to be part of it... even if I don't become an MD. I wonder what other types of jobs I could do?

 

[everman]

You have to "really" want to be a doctor, and it doesn't sound like you're interested in all of the sacrifices it entails.

 

[JDub02]

How about the military route? I've always heard that they'd pick up the tab for med school if you'd give them some years afterwards.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: NightDarker
I'm not relying on ATOT, but I just want to hear people's thoughts.

I've always wanted to be a doctor. I know the job and the path to get there is dirty, long, and expensive (sounds like a Las Vegas porn star, huh?). But its rewarding and pays good enough for me. So, in order for me to make any headway into that sort of career path, I need to get started on class this fall so that I can at least be a doctor by the time I'm 30 -- I'm 21 right now.

On the other hand, I'm almost done with my BS in Management Information Systems, I have 22 credits left.

So, I could focus on going to medical school or I could just finish my BS degree and go work. Major things I've thought about is my travelling adventures. I've always wanted to travel the world. If I go to med school and be a doctor, I won't get to do that for many years. I've also wanted to have a family and a good, steady relationship, and I don't feel like I'll get to enjoy that soon if I go to med school either. And, finally, I'm in a band and love playing guitar, recording, and writing music. A lot of those things are hard to enjoy if you are a doctor it seems because of the general committment you need to put into the work.

I've tossed it around, and have landed on finishing school so I can go work and make money so I can travel and enjoy those sorts of things before I get into my 30s. What do you guys think?

no brainer. you sacrifice toooooooooooooooooo many things in your post to be a doc. forget med school. it's not the tv show Gray's anatomy.