It's really upsetting to know that we're probably missing out on doctors with excellent bedside manners and moral because of the fear of extreme debt..
not even the debt, even while applying or in premed, those kind compassionate people can't afford to volunteer or pay for mcat prep or do all these programs and drop thousands on applications. so its the douchy privileged kids get through into med school instead
Honestly its not even that, its just the grueling experience and giving up freedom for the most healthy decade of life (20s). If humans had longer lifespans I would've considered it.
We're all given roughly 75 years to live if you're lucky. What is the most fulfilling way to spend those 75 years? Do what ever is going to fulfill you. For me ,and I'm sure many others, fulfillment will come from saving/repairing people's life's in their time of need. I saw/see the power of medicine first hand in my own life & I intend to pay it forward.
People nowdays just focus on what media Its portraying which is a glamorous lifestyle. And youth had been desentized about choosing the wisest career in college for their persona
As a undergrad considering medical school as an option, I've always heard med school is hard and the optimist in me thinks I'll be fine but this really made me think about whether the sacrifices are worth the gains.
Joseph, I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I'm thinking of pursuing PA school instead of medical school, and the decision is something I've really been wrestling with. I can't quite get over the feeling that I love medicine, and I want to be a doctor and be there for people. But I don't think medicine is my only passion, and I worry that giving up time for everything else that matters to study it for seven years wouldn't be the thing that makes me happy. On the flip side, I worry that being a PA and not having as deep a breadth of knowledge will leave me feeling unfulfilled. As a doctor who might have worked with PAs, what is your honest opinion?
hey im a med student, dont worry about loans youll pay them and get scholarships, being in school is better than having a job, just make sure you love medicine everything else dont matter just bluff.
THANK YOU! People always say "become a doctor or a lawyer", but do we teach kids to really plan out their lives properly? Sure, a good career is important, but what about hours per week, scheduling, options for overtime, family planning and time devoted to raising kids? As a woman this is an even harder pill to swallow; we ladies have to have our shit together by 30 if we want a family. The most disappointing thing someone said to me about medicine was not regarding the career itself; it was about how it affects the family-- he asked me: "do you want your kids to be raised by nannies?"
That's why I never gave this a thought in my 20s. I am 35 now and ready. Many who choose this path too young feel a sense of youth lost when they reach my age. I don't.
I was lost. I dropped out of high school at 16. I eventually got an adult education diploma by age 20. I went to work as a security guard and taxi driver for some years. I always wanted to go to college but I was scared. Failing scared me. I was taking a class here and there until I landed a scholarship. That's when I got serious because the award had strict requirements as it concerns the quantity of classes per semester and the continuity of the same. My story has many more pitfalls, failures and obstacles. The short of it is I graduated with a 3.97 GPA in sociology and biology. So it's never too late to change and achieve your dreams. Next goal MED school. I have an automatic interview with my college. Hope this helps those out there who are not perfect. I sure wasn't and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I'd like to add that I enjoyed being a security guard and taxi driver. They were exciting jobs. I still keep my licenses active in both fields and will do so. I was not the type who felt miserable or lowly in those jobs. I'm Simple Sam. I went back to school because I wanted to learn and had certain goals but never because of my status. That's garbage to me.
Even though I have an automatic interview with my college, I am analyzing exactly how to play this. I also want to enjoy a little my accomplishment. Specialty would be either critical care or pathology. I love the lab and I have been quite obsessed with death since I was 12. Autopsies would satisfy that curiosity I have about biological death. We can achieve our academic goals if we put in the work and analyze along the way the functional form to assimilate information. Thanks. What is your story?
Sine Analysis I Hope you succeed, your story is similar to mine. Last December I was in the hospital for a number of days and it inspired me possibly pursue medicine. Good luck brother, kick life in the ass!
Thank you for this video. I'm a senior in high school and considering a career in medicine but I'm having some doubts and questions. This really helped me see the different aspects that nobody really talks about. I might reconsider going into medicine.
We're glad that we could help you think a bit more about the decision! Share our channel with your friends that may also need an insider's perspective on the medical field!
Guys that last point he made hit me real hard. I am a 19 year old currently in the 2nd year of studying Diagnostic Radiography in the UK. When I was in College as a 1st year, I was doing my A-Levels and was seriously in love with Film & Theatre / Drama, but still had a passion for one day becoming a Doctor and helping others. BEING A DOCTOR IS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT. I then asked myself, "You have 2 options, become a Doctor for the rest of your life and enjoy what you do, or do an alternative degree similar to Medicine that'll give you the opportunity to also work on another career." I took the leap of faith and went with the 2nd option. To all College students or High School students, if you see yourself doing other potential future careers along with Medicine, DO NOT GO INTO THE COURSE. You'll waste 6-8 years for nothing. Do something that is similar to what your doing that'll be a little easier and take the chance to also balance that out with your other passion. Being a Doctor does not mean one day you can go and do this and the next day you can go on to work as a Film Director, it means that you'll have to commit you entire energy to it for the rest of your life.
Khalifàh not true.. i know tons of people are who doctors but are doing other things as well... why is it that there’s this stigma that if u wanna do medicine, you have to give up your other passions.. that’s so annoying
I am in PA school and I think for me it was a good path and some thing pre-med undergraduates should be look into as another option. Becoming an MD or DO are not the only ways to practice medicine.
Can I speak with you more about this? I'm currently considering switching to pre-PA instead of pre-med, and I'm having a really hard time making the decision honestly.
Erica Muse It depends on your goals and that's why you should do some soul searching. If all you want to do is practice medicine, then a PA is a good option. If you want to be innovative, have more autonomy, have more opportunities, or if you want to work as a medical officer in Public Health or be the head of the CDC or the NIH, then you should get an MD or a DO (and for public health, an MD/MPH).
sharpasnails thank you for clarifying this! I'm stuck between PA or MD/DO route. I'm having problems trying to find a career counselor at my university who can help me with these questions. I'm also unable to find a PA and/or MD/DO to ask these questions. (I just graduated with my Bachelors in May '17). I'm also concern about the hours spent in practice. I still would like to work decent hours to presume my other interests (I'm an artist & paint in my spare time). At least 45 hours a week but I hear that PAs can work longer than physicians. I don't want to be lured into the idea that PAs work shorter hrs (decent hrs) only to find out that PAs work hrs longer than physician (& I know it depends on speciality but I know that I'm definitely not interested in surgery speciality). Do you know a site or video that honestly answer this question?
The PA profession in general is as diverse as the medical field--you can find a job that suits your needs (strict 40 hours a week, no home/house call, etc.) You gotta search a bit, but you can find it. It will most likely be ambulatory/out patient/private practice though. You won't see as many interesting cases as, say, EM/Trauma/Surgery at a level 1 trauma center. However, you can paid pretty well for doing any of these options
good vid, i'm a 4th yr podiatry student and can say the hardest parts are the "checkpoints" like boards, matching, etc, as well as how you are treated as a student. They aren't just bad report cards, it can truly derail your plans or opportunities further in your career. Sometimes it's abysmal, and the stress of the checkpoints is crippling at times. Most will be obligated to have a high earning income for many years to pay off everything and prepare for retirement. A big upside is you can go through this if you stick with it, work super hard for 15-20 years and switch to a less demanding job or just take on less obligation as a doctor. Not many people have that luxury, the problem is you will pay for it with years of your life, mental well being, and relationships.
I feel blessed to hear his thoughts as a doctor who happen to be a teacher also. I am a graduating student under a teacher-education program, and I myself loves to talk, teach, and learn with children also. Due to some financial incapability, and some family responsibilities that I have such as helping my younger siblings to finish college, I think I must spend 7 years in teaching first before I can enter the med school. Hopefully by that time, when I already experienced my "other career option", I am already decided whether or not I must pursue "the lifetime commitment" of becoming a Physician.
I've watch and listened to a few similar discussions on line and most are very deficient. This was by far the best and actually conforms well to reality. I speak from experience having been through undergraduate, medical school, internship, residency, fellowship, staff specialist and sub-specialist, faculty and private practice.
Congrats ! I started right before covid when the recession hit. I held those stocks and made a killing. I bought dividend stocks and made a lot during covid.
I'm convinced that the big investors and analysts are trying to scare us to keep us poor and ignorant to the market.. because its steady doing good after all the jobless and market crash talks
The one effective technique I use is staying in touch with a financial coach for guidance, it might sound basic or generic, but getting in touch with a financial adviser was how I was able to outperform the market during the pandemic and raise a profit of roughly $400k
I was reconsidering if I wanna do this or not and this really helped me realise that I don't have anything else I'll rather be doing in my future. Thank you!
This doctor of 40 years finds this to be a very realistic and worthwhile starting-point-video if one is considering becoming a doctor. But it is just a beginning for one's research into the matter---which should continue exhaustively: too much depends on getting a career choice correct! Start a list of all the best and worst aspects of your career choice; ask doctors--lots of them--about the goods and the bads. Become the expert. Know the TEN worst things about ANY career you consider.
I don't know.Why I keep watching things like this, about why you shouldn't be on medical school, like choosing another career/path and anything 'realistic' about what medschool and becoming a doctor feels like and what sacrifices are there when you enter medschool but I don't get less attracted on becoming a doctor at all. I'm aware that it is hard, time consuming and you focus your time on studying everyday for almost 10 years of your life and I think that's what medschool all about, becoming stress and everything but then feeling satisfied helping other people and washing away the stress you're feeling in just a snap. I am still in SHS (Senior High School) And I really wanted to become a surgeon since I was 12. When I tell people about my "career goal" they would told me that, I'm still a kid and my goal will change just like any other kid's but it didn't and now I'm 16, then during our career guide 'talk' I told our guidance again and my parents that I really want to pursue medicine, not because I saw it on television but because whenever I see accidents I really wanna help, I just don't like sitting /watching outside my window car, the victims who suffered major injuries and just die in the road without me doing anything, I also hate just waiting for help to arrive (because I often see car accidents and road accidents whenever I'm out) I wanna give them first aid and later save them in the hospital by performing surgery, I also love hospitals, whenever I enter in hospitals, I feel comforted and I smell confidence and bravery, I always feel so alive and I'm curious about how doctors handle a person in an emergency room and surgery room. Most especially I wanna help people, I'm eager and excited about helping people/treating people. Becoming a doctor is fun, tough but fun. But then I thought about our state now, we don't have enough money for medical school. (Student loans does not exist here) Scholarships? I don't know if someone will take me in because of my grades. :( I was a straight A student in middle school, I was an honor student until I enter SHS :( I fell inlove with medicine, yes. But I chose to set aside my goal, my "life goal" because I wanted to help my parents early that's why I'm currently in Accountancy. :( When I entered accountancy, I felt lost and sad. Depressed and I just want to give up, my grades are wreck, my lifestyle become unorganized and I just don't care anymore about my grades. The hardship on becoming a doctor is what excites me and I know going into medschool is not just an interest for me. I know I fell inlove with my "life goal" already but i don't know how to get out. :(( HELP
You Sound like you really like medicine. People like you are the people who become doctors. If i loved a career as much as you did, I would never let go of it. Unfortunately I want to be a doctor but i don't have the necessary passion to become one. Please do what you love. You can do it. I also can imagine you being an emergency doctor who helps people to recover from accidents and things like that.
You're just describing me and basically that's why I haven't taken final exams this year I will graduate high school when im 20 years old Means next year ofc it's affecting me psychologically but I won't give up Im just scared of failure bc here if I haven't got the highest score from the first year I wouldn't have another chance to try it again and that scares me
I really don't want to apply to med school because the application process is extremely daunting, but the only way to advance my career as Medical Technologist is to become a Pathologist MD. I guess it's time for me to roll up my sleeves and get a little dirty.
I just got accepted for a one year second degree as a medical technologist program, but now I want to become a doctor again. I know it'll give me good experience when applying to medical school, but it'll also be a whole year wasted and ~$7,000. Idk what to do and I only have a few days to decide. Did you like being a MLS?
This was helpful, thank you! I was just concerned about one thing - I do want to be a doctor, but I'm introverted and shy and I was wondering if that would hurt my performance as a doctor or prevent me from excelling compared to more outgoing people in the same field.
You don't have to be extroverted to be a good doctor. There are plenty of docs who are introverts. What matters is communication. If you're shy, just try to practice your communication with people who are close to you. If you want some practice with patients, go volunteer at a hospital and interact with them. You'll become more comfortable over time, trust me.
So basically it will be harder if you have friends cause you will see your friends live normal lives in their 20s while you are in school or residency, and they will try to get you have fun with them and that would lead to hurt because you wont be able to. Well all I need in my life if my girlfriend and this career path so luckily i wont have to deal with the “friend burden”
Great points, but I want to rebut on the last one: multiple careers. Usually, I will agree it’s not ideal to leave medicine. I have yet to meet a professional athlete who was formerly a physician, and there are only so many Dr. Ken Jeongs in the word. However, it’s important to note that there are numerous options for physicians after residency beyond clinical work and research. Many private healthcare entities need physicians to support their endeavors as medical directors. It’s not unheard of for physicians to go into politics or law (MD/JD). We hear about entrepreneurs who were MDs, and those who did MD/MBA. Some physicians become authors, enjoy work in the arts, or other aspects of our society. So I don’t want people leaving this saying “crap, if I become a doctor, that’s all I’m gonna do between now and the grave.” Because it’s far from the truth despite medicine being a commitment and lifestyle.
Yeah but then basically you wasted a bunch of time in school when you could've been pursuing those passions in adjacent industries. That's what he meant
I’m currently a 15 year old get decently good grades and am hoping to become a doctor and even looking through all these videos I still dont regret the life decision I’m making sure it’ll take 10 years so what I’ll be 28 18-28 but I’m set on that I hate seeing people get hurt and get in accidents and just wanna help, but can’t cause u don’t know how to get I will never change my life career I wanted to be a doctor since I was 11. My parents and relitaves all said you’ll change your mind I’m certainly. Not going to don’t care how hard it is I know it’s hard but I’m willing to take that risk I have distance aunts that are doctors and are 28
This is mind-opening for some students who are still hesitating to take medicine like me. I think I'll take your advice, I'm gonna go to my other career choice although I wanted to be a doctor. It's just too much to handle and I don't want to burden my family, I'm their first child so I have to settle my life early so I can pay them back.
hey, im the same position where i have to make the decision between medicine or something else (maybe physio or optometry. Want to become a psychiatrist, but ultimately the medschool i got into costs 400k, of which 250k has to be paid by my family. Can i ask what you ended up doing, and if possible what advice you could give to me.
Oh please don't listen to this bullshit. This meant to scare you. 1. Unless you choose internal med, primary care or pediatrics you will have a pretty comfortable financial life 2. This notion of "don't do medicine for the money" is asinine. Who the fuck is in school for a reason other than to get a higher paying job. If you could just get a high school diploma and get a good job, no one would go to college or medical school except for a handful of people 3. You're going to hate anything that you do. No one wants to wake up out of their bed in the morning whether you are an investment banker, lawyer, doctor, nurse, garbage man, thief (jk etc. Life sucks in general. As long as you go to the most affordable med school and choose a good paying speciality you will be fine. Just do it. Most people in most careers don't love it anyway. You don't need a love of medicine to do it. You just need to be able to persevere through the rough times
By way of contrast, as a European my son started directly into med school at the age of 18. He will graduate at 25 or 26 (depending on if he pursues a 2nd BS degree, an option) as a fully qualified medical doctor and then can specialize if he wishes. The cost of unis in the UK is much lower than in the US, about $25K per year total so he will graduate with very little debt. The work load is, of course, just as brutal. While I sometimes regret that he will not have the liberal arts undergrad experience that I did in the US, he seems to be in his element.
I have an interest, but I also have an interest of being a musician on the side of a computer programming job. So it seems, according to this video, a fight between a difficult yet rewarding career vs. a more creative and short term career(s).
Andy You should Check out this TH-cam channel called ViolinMD. She got a degree in music, but is a doctor and still finds time to practice and occasionally play violin at events. Being a doctor and a musician is definitely doable.
I just need to know, how bad is it REALLY? like honestly anyone out there that can give me examples of how tough it really is? because I mean I don't have a problem with getting home from university and studying until night everyday, but will I REALLY never see my friends again? I mean, if I study lots everyday, is it still impossible to go out on a friday night? Part of me always thinks yeah it's super hard but I'll deal with it once I'm there and I'll get through it, but I want to know if it's really such a low quality lifestyle.. I'm not from the US though so maybe it differs but just to get an accurate idea
AuzzPanda my brother says it’s the worst decision he’s ever done . He’s constantly revising and he kinda put me off becoming a doctor. I always wanted to be one but the social life he has is horrible
I'm a software engineer saving up for my parents' retirement as well as my future med school/residency cost of attendance; however, I'm going to be nearing 30 by the time I reach my savings goal. I'm scared I'll be slower at learning than everyone else and just being behind in general. Should I just learn everything I'd learn in med school on my free time first? Should I just give up on it all together and keep my pretty awesome job?
As someone considering med school and software engineering, what advice would you give me? I have prior knowledge of bio, chem and phy as I studied with med school in mind but failed, but I have no prior tech knowledge. I'm reconsidering med school cause I feel like only a career in the medical field would give me fulfillment in life. On the other hand I also want to have money so my mom can retire peacefully, & med school would take a while. Please give me some advice, it would be really helpful for me.
I'm considering taking pre-med and eventually med school. I'm not sure what specialty I'd want to get, it's either that I'd choose to become a surgeon or a clinical psychiatrist. Although, I'm not sure if I'll be bright enough to be a doctor, my dudes. I'm not an honor student or a student that's on top of their class. But I like biology, observing how life forms interact and anatomy and all that. Not as much as arts or astronomy tho. I also really want to be an astronaut because astrophysics and astronautics and everything about plants really fascinates me, and I find them so beautiful in a galactic sense of way. They accept people with doctorates, btw. I looked that up. But I also want to be an artist, y'know. It's been my childhood passion. I've been doodling since I was a child, but science intrigues me really. And art won't really keep me alive, for long. I'll be a starving artist. I am okay with Med Tech too, honestly. These have been my 4 choices and I've been really torn between them. Maybe I'm just being really ambitious, my dudes
I badly wanted to become a doctor... But to be honest it is not practical or wise for me to become one. For these time I should be wise on this matter because I can't afford to waste time and money.
Joshua Walters not true. Students must take GE classes everywhere, which is good because if all you know is medicine, you are very dumb. You must be good in everything
This was so helpful and eye opening, but im still wanting to pursue medicine. It’s one of the noblest profession there is. I want to be a surgeon, but i have essential tremors i suppose from my athletic days as a basketball player where your hands get tired from all the workouts and baths. However, it is not up to the point where i cant do everyday tasks, just sometimes evident in certain angles or such. Do surgeons need super steady hands? Thank you and I hope people reply!
Thanks to god education is free in Saudi Arabia. Here in Saudi Arabia we have MBBS and not M.D so most of the student will be physician when they are 25 yo.
Medicine is WAY too expensive for such a long and hard journey. You take the best of the best in terms of academics and then in-prison them in debt and stress. Imagine having to cough up maybe an entire two weeks paycheck every month just for your loans for the next 15-20 (or even more) years. It's common now and a complete tragedy.
eric maurer The smart way some doctors do it, they live like they're in residency until they pay off their loans, which ends up taking about 2/ 3 years depending on your earnings
Apply for a Health Professions Scholarship from military when you get in med school. If you get it (not hard if you are a quality applicant) they pay 100% of "everything" and $2100/mo stipend. You spend 3-4 yrs in pay back (while making a good salary as an officer and travelling the world) getting great clinical experience....and then you leave. Owing ZERO
most amazing career? giving your patients chemicals to alleviate their symptoms instead of focusing on diet and nutrition which is the root of the problem?
By the time the patients are seen by the doctor or provider especially in the hospital setting, it's treating BOTH; the symptoms and root of the problem. It's out of the health care provider's control to focus on diet and nutrition if patients don't come in for routine check ups and lab work to even get the chance to do proper patient education with them or teach them how to manage their health problems, let alone identify the root issue. Doctors, nurse practitioners and PAs are more than willing to sit down with patients and teach them health lifestyle choices and how to take care of themselves but can you blame them for the patient's health condition if they've been making out less than ideal/ poor health choices for years and years and years? Something is eventually bound to happen that lands them in the hospital or for a visit. I'm not saying it's anyone's particular fault because the health care system is so complication and far from perfect but it goes both ways. Health care providers know that the current model is unsustainable and if you knew anything about the medical/ health care field, the focus has been for a while now, all about preventative care and primary prevention
It's really upsetting to know that we're probably missing out on doctors with excellent bedside manners and moral because of the fear of extreme debt..
not even the debt, even while applying or in premed, those kind compassionate people can't afford to volunteer or pay for mcat prep or do all these programs and drop thousands on applications. so its the douchy privileged kids get through into med school instead
@@ugiboogy1111 pretty much why so many people don’t trust their doctors
Why don't you give them money then?
Honestly its not even that, its just the grueling experience and giving up freedom for the most healthy decade of life (20s). If humans had longer lifespans I would've considered it.
We're all given roughly 75 years to live if you're lucky. What is the most fulfilling way to spend those 75 years? Do what ever is going to fulfill you. For me ,and I'm sure many others, fulfillment will come from saving/repairing people's life's in their time of need. I saw/see the power of medicine first hand in my own life & I intend to pay it forward.
People nowdays just focus on what media Its portraying which is a glamorous lifestyle. And youth had been desentized about choosing the wisest career in college for their persona
too true
As a undergrad considering medical school as an option, I've always heard med school is hard and the optimist in me thinks I'll be fine but this really made me think about whether the sacrifices are worth the gains.
Let me know if you hare more questions!
Joseph, I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I'm thinking of pursuing PA school instead of medical school, and the decision is something I've really been wrestling with. I can't quite get over the feeling that I love medicine, and I want to be a doctor and be there for people. But I don't think medicine is my only passion, and I worry that giving up time for everything else that matters to study it for seven years wouldn't be the thing that makes me happy. On the flip side, I worry that being a PA and not having as deep a breadth of knowledge will leave me feeling unfulfilled. As a doctor who might have worked with PAs, what is your honest opinion?
beautifuldisaster962 Hi, I know I'm late to the convo, but you've worded my concerns exactly! Was wondering if you've gotten a response to this?
hey im a med student, dont worry about loans youll pay them and get scholarships, being in school is better than having a job, just make sure you love medicine everything else dont matter just bluff.
THANK YOU! People always say "become a doctor or a lawyer", but do we teach kids to really plan out their lives properly? Sure, a good career is important, but what about hours per week, scheduling, options for overtime, family planning and time devoted to raising kids? As a woman this is an even harder pill to swallow; we ladies have to have our shit together by 30 if we want a family. The most disappointing thing someone said to me about medicine was not regarding the career itself; it was about how it affects the family-- he asked me: "do you want your kids to be raised by nannies?"
@Martha Speaks hi
That's why I never gave this a thought in my 20s. I am 35 now and ready. Many who choose this path too young feel a sense of youth lost when they reach my age. I don't.
What did you do between 20 and 35?
I was lost. I dropped out of high school at 16. I eventually got an adult education diploma by age 20. I went to work as a security guard and taxi driver for some years. I always wanted to go to college but I was scared. Failing scared me. I was taking a class here and there until I landed a scholarship. That's when I got serious because the award had strict requirements as it concerns the quantity of classes per semester and the continuity of the same. My story has many more pitfalls, failures and obstacles. The short of it is I graduated with a 3.97 GPA in sociology and biology. So it's never too late to change and achieve your dreams. Next goal MED school. I have an automatic interview with my college. Hope this helps those out there who are not perfect. I sure wasn't and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I'd like to add that I enjoyed being a security guard and taxi driver. They were exciting jobs. I still keep my licenses active in both fields and will do so. I was not the type who felt miserable or lowly in those jobs. I'm Simple Sam. I went back to school because I wanted to learn and had certain goals but never because of my status. That's garbage to me.
Inspiring story, thank you for sharing. What stage are you now in your medical education? What specialty are you pursuing?
Even though I have an automatic interview with my college, I am analyzing exactly how to play this. I also want to enjoy a little my accomplishment. Specialty would be either critical care or pathology. I love the lab and I have been quite obsessed with death since I was 12. Autopsies would satisfy that curiosity I have about biological death. We can achieve our academic goals if we put in the work and analyze along the way the functional form to assimilate information. Thanks. What is your story?
Sine Analysis I Hope you succeed, your story is similar to mine. Last December I was in the hospital for a number of days and it inspired me possibly pursue medicine. Good luck brother, kick life in the ass!
Thank you for this video. I'm a senior in high school and considering a career in medicine but I'm having some doubts and questions. This really helped me see the different aspects that nobody really talks about. I might reconsider going into medicine.
We're glad that we could help you think a bit more about the decision! Share our channel with your friends that may also need an insider's perspective on the medical field!
Let me know if you need more guidance!
Joseph Lee Hello Dr. Lee! I have some questions of my own if you could help me, I’d appreciate it. Thank you!
Karen Michel hey you have plenty of time to decide, no need to make a decision now
Update!?
Guys that last point he made hit me real hard.
I am a 19 year old currently in the 2nd year of studying Diagnostic Radiography in the UK. When I was in College as a 1st year, I was doing my A-Levels and was seriously in love with Film & Theatre / Drama, but still had a passion for one day becoming a Doctor and helping others. BEING A DOCTOR IS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT. I then asked myself, "You have 2 options, become a Doctor for the rest of your life and enjoy what you do, or do an alternative degree similar to Medicine that'll give you the opportunity to also work on another career." I took the leap of faith and went with the 2nd option.
To all College students or High School students, if you see yourself doing other potential future careers along with Medicine, DO NOT GO INTO THE COURSE. You'll waste 6-8 years for nothing. Do something that is similar to what your doing that'll be a little easier and take the chance to also balance that out with your other passion. Being a Doctor does not mean one day you can go and do this and the next day you can go on to work as a Film Director, it means that you'll have to commit you entire energy to it for the rest of your life.
Becoming a doctor is simpler process and guaranteed job when qualify. Making it in movies or been a director is 1 in a million shot.
Khalifàh not true.. i know tons of people are who doctors but are doing other things as well... why is it that there’s this stigma that if u wanna do medicine, you have to give up your other passions.. that’s so annoying
I am in PA school and I think for me it was a good path and some thing pre-med undergraduates should be look into as another option. Becoming an MD or DO are not the only ways to practice medicine.
Can I speak with you more about this? I'm currently considering switching to pre-PA instead of pre-med, and I'm having a really hard time making the decision honestly.
Hi- I'm sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm somewhat new to youtube! Yes- I would love to talk to you. You can email me at schultemuse@gmail.com.
Erica Muse It depends on your goals and that's why you should do some soul searching. If all you want to do is practice medicine, then a PA is a good option. If you want to be innovative, have more autonomy, have more opportunities, or if you want to work as a medical officer in Public Health or be the head of the CDC or the NIH, then you should get an MD or a DO (and for public health, an MD/MPH).
sharpasnails thank you for clarifying this! I'm stuck between PA or MD/DO route. I'm having problems trying to find a career counselor at my university who can help me with these questions. I'm also unable to find a PA and/or MD/DO to ask these questions. (I just graduated with my Bachelors in May '17).
I'm also concern about the hours spent in practice. I still would like to work decent hours to presume my other interests (I'm an artist & paint in my spare time). At least 45 hours a week but I hear that PAs can work longer than physicians. I don't want to be lured into the idea that PAs work shorter hrs (decent hrs) only to find out that PAs work hrs longer than physician (& I know it depends on speciality but I know that I'm definitely not interested in surgery speciality). Do you know a site or video that honestly answer this question?
The PA profession in general is as diverse as the medical field--you can find a job that suits your needs (strict 40 hours a week, no home/house call, etc.) You gotta search a bit, but you can find it. It will most likely be ambulatory/out patient/private practice though. You won't see as many interesting cases as, say, EM/Trauma/Surgery at a level 1 trauma center. However, you can paid pretty well for doing any of these options
good vid, i'm a 4th yr podiatry student and can say the hardest parts are the "checkpoints" like boards, matching, etc, as well as how you are treated as a student. They aren't just bad report cards, it can truly derail your plans or opportunities further in your career. Sometimes it's abysmal, and the stress of the checkpoints is crippling at times. Most will be obligated to have a high earning income for many years to pay off everything and prepare for retirement.
A big upside is you can go through this if you stick with it, work super hard for 15-20 years and switch to a less demanding job or just take on less obligation as a doctor. Not many people have that luxury, the problem is you will pay for it with years of your life, mental well being, and relationships.
Why is the audio so damn low... >=(
You’re not alone
I feel blessed to hear his thoughts as a doctor who happen to be a teacher also. I am a graduating student under a teacher-education program, and I myself loves to talk, teach, and learn with children also. Due to some financial incapability, and some family responsibilities that I have such as helping my younger siblings to finish college, I think I must spend 7 years in teaching first before I can enter the med school. Hopefully by that time, when I already experienced my "other career option", I am already decided whether or not I must pursue "the lifetime commitment" of becoming a Physician.
I've watch and listened to a few similar discussions on line and most are very deficient. This was by far the best and actually conforms well to reality. I speak from experience having been through undergraduate, medical school, internship, residency, fellowship, staff specialist and sub-specialist, faculty and private practice.
Thank you!
Your videos have helped me reach over $200,000 in stocks by age 23! Thanks Doc Thoughts. Keep the videos coming. 👍🏽
Congrats ! I started right before covid when the recession hit. I held those stocks and made a killing. I bought dividend stocks and made a lot during covid.
I'm convinced that the big investors and analysts are trying to scare us to keep us poor and ignorant to the market.. because its steady doing good after all the jobless and market crash talks
The one effective technique I use is staying in touch with a financial coach for guidance, it might sound basic or generic, but getting in touch with a financial adviser was how I was able to outperform the market during the pandemic and raise a profit of roughly $400k
@kim sun When I was 20 but you need a finance Pro to be successful.
Arkplatform
I was reconsidering if I wanna do this or not and this really helped me realise that I don't have anything else I'll rather be doing in my future. Thank you!
This doctor of 40 years finds this to be a very realistic and worthwhile starting-point-video if one is considering becoming a doctor. But it is just a beginning for one's research into the matter---which should continue exhaustively: too much depends on getting a career choice correct! Start a list of all the best and worst aspects of your career choice; ask doctors--lots of them--about the goods and the bads. Become the expert. Know the TEN worst things about ANY career you consider.
I don't know.Why I keep watching things like this, about why you shouldn't be on medical school, like choosing another career/path and anything 'realistic' about what medschool and becoming a doctor feels like and what sacrifices are there when you enter medschool but I don't get less attracted on becoming a doctor at all. I'm aware that it is hard, time consuming and you focus your time on studying everyday for almost 10 years of your life and I think that's what medschool all about, becoming stress and everything but then feeling satisfied helping other people and washing away the stress you're feeling in just a snap. I am still in SHS (Senior High School) And I really wanted to become a surgeon since I was 12. When I tell people about my "career goal" they would told me that, I'm still a kid and my goal will change just like any other kid's but it didn't and now I'm 16, then during our career guide 'talk' I told our guidance again and my parents that I really want to pursue medicine, not because I saw it on television but because whenever I see accidents I really wanna help, I just don't like sitting /watching outside my window car, the victims who suffered major injuries and just die in the road without me doing anything, I also hate just waiting for help to arrive (because I often see car accidents and road accidents whenever I'm out) I wanna give them first aid and later save them in the hospital by performing surgery, I also love hospitals, whenever I enter in hospitals, I feel comforted and I smell confidence and bravery, I always feel so alive and I'm curious about how doctors handle a person in an emergency room and surgery room. Most especially I wanna help people, I'm eager and excited about helping people/treating people. Becoming a doctor is fun, tough but fun. But then I thought about our state now, we don't have enough money for medical school. (Student loans does not exist here) Scholarships? I don't know if someone will take me in because of my grades. :( I was a straight A student in middle school, I was an honor student until I enter SHS :( I fell inlove with medicine, yes. But I chose to set aside my goal, my "life goal" because I wanted to help my parents early that's why I'm currently in Accountancy. :( When I entered accountancy, I felt lost and sad. Depressed and I just want to give up, my grades are wreck, my lifestyle become unorganized and I just don't care anymore about my grades. The hardship on becoming a doctor is what excites me and I know going into medschool is not just an interest for me. I know I fell inlove with my "life goal" already but i don't know how to get out. :(( HELP
You Sound like you really like medicine. People like you are the people who become doctors. If i loved a career as much as you did, I would never let go of it. Unfortunately I want to be a doctor but i don't have the necessary passion to become one. Please do what you love. You can do it. I also can imagine you being an emergency doctor who helps people to recover from accidents and things like that.
You're just describing me and basically that's why I haven't taken final exams this year I will graduate high school when im 20 years old
Means next year ofc it's affecting me psychologically but I won't give up
Im just scared of failure bc here if I haven't got the highest score from the first year I wouldn't have another chance to try it again and that scares me
Totally relate.
Let me know if any of you want to talk about next steps!
Let me know if any of you want to talk about next steps!
I really don't want to apply to med school because the application process is extremely daunting, but the only way to advance my career as Medical Technologist is to become a Pathologist MD. I guess it's time for me to roll up my sleeves and get a little dirty.
I just got accepted for a one year second degree as a medical technologist program, but now I want to become a doctor again. I know it'll give me good experience when applying to medical school, but it'll also be a whole year wasted and ~$7,000. Idk what to do and I only have a few days to decide. Did you like being a MLS?
Anínesah Rodriguez are you still a medical technologist?
@@rithe07 can i ask what did you end up doing?
This was helpful, thank you! I was just concerned about one thing - I do want to be a doctor, but I'm introverted and shy and I was wondering if that would hurt my performance as a doctor or prevent me from excelling compared to more outgoing people in the same field.
Christina you may lack communication skills with patients and co-workers! you can always get some experience to help you overcome your shyness.
You don't have to be extroverted to be a good doctor. There are plenty of docs who are introverts. What matters is communication. If you're shy, just try to practice your communication with people who are close to you. If you want some practice with patients, go volunteer at a hospital and interact with them. You'll become more comfortable over time, trust me.
Almost all doctors are introverts or ambiverts . That's y they became doctors , if they are extroverted then they were prolly confused
So basically it will be harder if you have friends cause you will see your friends live normal lives in their 20s while you are in school or residency, and they will try to get you have fun with them and that would lead to hurt because you wont be able to. Well all I need in my life if my girlfriend and this career path so luckily i wont have to deal with the “friend burden”
Jason Young ah-ha! Thats where youre wrong my friend! Not if I marry her first!😈
Great points, but I want to rebut on the last one: multiple careers. Usually, I will agree it’s not ideal to leave medicine. I have yet to meet a professional athlete who was formerly a physician, and there are only so many Dr. Ken Jeongs in the word. However, it’s important to note that there are numerous options for physicians after residency beyond clinical work and research. Many private healthcare entities need physicians to support their endeavors as medical directors. It’s not unheard of for physicians to go into politics or law (MD/JD). We hear about entrepreneurs who were MDs, and those who did MD/MBA. Some physicians become authors, enjoy work in the arts, or other aspects of our society. So I don’t want people leaving this saying “crap, if I become a doctor, that’s all I’m gonna do between now and the grave.” Because it’s far from the truth despite medicine being a commitment and lifestyle.
Yeah but then basically you wasted a bunch of time in school when you could've been pursuing those passions in adjacent industries. That's what he meant
I’m currently a 15 year old get decently good grades and am hoping to become a doctor and even looking through all these videos I still dont regret the life decision I’m making sure it’ll take 10 years so what I’ll be 28 18-28 but I’m set on that I hate seeing people get hurt and get in accidents and just wanna help, but can’t cause u don’t know how to get I will never change my life career I wanted to be a doctor since I was 11. My parents and relitaves all said you’ll change your mind I’m certainly. Not going to don’t care how hard it is I know it’s hard but I’m willing to take that risk I have distance aunts that are doctors and are 28
This is mind-opening for some students who are still hesitating to take medicine like me. I think I'll take your advice, I'm gonna go to my other career choice although I wanted to be a doctor. It's just too much to handle and I don't want to burden my family, I'm their first child so I have to settle my life early so I can pay them back.
Ane Mari u
hey, im the same position where i have to make the decision between medicine or something else (maybe physio or optometry. Want to become a psychiatrist, but ultimately the medschool i got into costs 400k, of which 250k has to be paid by my family. Can i ask what you ended up doing, and if possible what advice you could give to me.
Damn that doctor is fine as fuck
Oh please don't listen to this bullshit. This meant to scare you. 1. Unless you choose internal med, primary care or pediatrics you will have a pretty comfortable financial life 2. This notion of "don't do medicine for the money" is asinine. Who the fuck is in school for a reason other than to get a higher paying job. If you could just get a high school diploma and get a good job, no one would go to college or medical school except for a handful of people 3. You're going to hate anything that you do. No one wants to wake up out of their bed in the morning whether you are an investment banker, lawyer, doctor, nurse, garbage man, thief (jk etc. Life sucks in general. As long as you go to the most affordable med school and choose a good paying speciality you will be fine. Just do it. Most people in most careers don't love it anyway. You don't need a love of medicine to do it. You just need to be able to persevere through the rough times
Ray Pittman are you a doctor/medical student?
By way of contrast, as a European my son started directly into med school at the age of 18. He will graduate at 25 or 26 (depending on if he pursues a 2nd BS degree, an option) as a fully qualified medical doctor and then can specialize if he wishes. The cost of unis in the UK is much lower than in the US, about $25K per year total so he will graduate with very little debt. The work load is, of course, just as brutal. While I sometimes regret that he will not have the liberal arts undergrad experience that I did in the US, he seems to be in his element.
can i ask what occupation u are in?
Very articulate and nice Doctor.
I have an interest, but I also have an interest of being a musician on the side of a computer programming job. So it seems, according to this video, a fight between a difficult yet rewarding career vs. a more creative and short term career(s).
Andy You should Check out this TH-cam channel called ViolinMD. She got a degree in music, but is a doctor and still finds time to practice and occasionally play violin at events. Being a doctor and a musician is definitely doable.
He looks like he's really hoping for an anatomy lesson from Dr. Lee ;)
John Doe lol, he's not, but you are....
Thanks for your honesty.
I just need to know, how bad is it REALLY? like honestly anyone out there that can give me examples of how tough it really is? because I mean I don't have a problem with getting home from university and studying until night everyday, but will I REALLY never see my friends again? I mean, if I study lots everyday, is it still impossible to go out on a friday night? Part of me always thinks yeah it's super hard but I'll deal with it once I'm there and I'll get through it, but I want to know if it's really such a low quality lifestyle.. I'm not from the US though so maybe it differs but just to get an accurate idea
AuzzPanda my brother says it’s the worst decision he’s ever done . He’s constantly revising and he kinda put me off becoming a doctor. I always wanted to be one but the social life he has is horrible
These are the main reasons I’ve decided to become a Physician Assistant versus a Physician.
Bad audio, Can barely hear anything
This was very helpful thanks
Some really practical and helpful ways to think about it
I'm a software engineer saving up for my parents' retirement as well as my future med school/residency cost of attendance; however, I'm going to be nearing 30 by the time I reach my savings goal. I'm scared I'll be slower at learning than everyone else and just being behind in general. Should I just learn everything I'd learn in med school on my free time first? Should I just give up on it all together and keep my pretty awesome job?
As someone considering med school and software engineering, what advice would you give me? I have prior knowledge of bio, chem and phy as I studied with med school in mind but failed, but I have no prior tech knowledge. I'm reconsidering med school cause I feel like only a career in the medical field would give me fulfillment in life. On the other hand I also want to have money so my mom can retire peacefully, & med school would take a while. Please give me some advice, it would be really helpful for me.
A succint yet insightful video. Thank you very much.
I'm considering taking pre-med and eventually med school. I'm not sure what specialty I'd want to get, it's either that I'd choose to become a surgeon or a clinical psychiatrist. Although, I'm not sure if I'll be bright enough to be a doctor, my dudes. I'm not an honor student or a student that's on top of their class. But I like biology, observing how life forms interact and anatomy and all that. Not as much as arts or astronomy tho.
I also really want to be an astronaut because astrophysics and astronautics and everything about plants really fascinates me, and I find them so beautiful in a galactic sense of way. They accept people with doctorates, btw. I looked that up.
But I also want to be an artist, y'know. It's been my childhood passion. I've been doodling since I was a child, but science intrigues me really. And art won't really keep me alive, for long. I'll be a starving artist.
I am okay with Med Tech too, honestly.
These have been my 4 choices and I've been really torn between them. Maybe I'm just being really ambitious, my dudes
I badly wanted to become a doctor... But to be honest it is not practical or wise for me to become one. For these time I should be wise on this matter because I can't afford to waste time and money.
In countries outside of the US, university students don't have to take General Education classes, but in the US we have a lot to take
Joshua Walters not true. Students must take GE classes everywhere, which is good because if all you know is medicine, you are very dumb. You must be good in everything
Unicorn Horse great point! Being well rounded adds more to a person’s character
Didn't know that! Thanks for the clarification
This was so helpful and eye opening, but im still wanting to pursue medicine. It’s one of the noblest profession there is. I want to be a surgeon, but i have essential tremors i suppose from my athletic days as a basketball player where your hands get tired from all the workouts and baths. However, it is not up to the point where i cant do everyday tasks, just sometimes evident in certain angles or such. Do surgeons need super steady hands? Thank you and I hope people reply!
Thanks to god education is free in Saudi Arabia. Here in Saudi Arabia we have MBBS and not M.D so most of the student will be physician when they are 25 yo.
How many years did he teach before deciding to go to medicinal school?
2 years
Joseph Lee can u start making videos :)
Loved this video. Thank you
EVEN THOUGH
I CAN DO IT
Live below your means and ou will be debt free in 2 years maybe less
That was very helpful.
Very helpful, Thanks
Love the video!
Medicine is WAY too expensive for such a long and hard journey. You take the best of the best in terms of academics and then in-prison them in debt and stress. Imagine having to cough up maybe an entire two weeks paycheck every month just for your loans for the next 15-20 (or even more) years. It's common now and a complete tragedy.
eric maurer But that also depends on your school qnd what feild you plan on going into
eric maurer The smart way some doctors do it, they live like they're in residency until they pay off their loans, which ends up taking about 2/ 3 years depending on your earnings
Lol what? It took me only 1.5 years to pay off my debt. It was big though, but my salary is big too
Unicorn Horse yeah 15 - 20 was very excessive. If it takes 15-20 years for you to pay off debt you have a problem with money management
Apply for a Health Professions Scholarship from military when you get in med school. If you get it (not hard if you are a quality applicant) they pay 100% of "everything" and $2100/mo stipend. You spend 3-4 yrs in pay back (while making a good salary as an officer and travelling the world) getting great clinical experience....and then you leave. Owing ZERO
This was very informative, thank you!
But I still want to be a doctor 🥺
I want to be a doctor, but not enough to be one in the USA. Too much risk.
what about uk
Fork! Why didn’t i watch this video before 2 years why why why!
are you a med student now??
maybe I should just drop out
is he the Joe Lee from youtube account Mazelee?
no i don't think so pretty sure that guy is a producer.
Loll
Truth
most amazing career? giving your patients chemicals to alleviate their symptoms instead of focusing on diet and nutrition which is the root of the problem?
I think it's all relative based on personal fit. The "most amazing career" you can have is one that YOU individually feel you get the most out of.
By the time the patients are seen by the doctor or provider especially in the hospital setting, it's treating BOTH; the symptoms and root of the problem. It's out of the health care provider's control to focus on diet and nutrition if patients don't come in for routine check ups and lab work to even get the chance to do proper patient education with them or teach them how to manage their health problems, let alone identify the root issue. Doctors, nurse practitioners and PAs are more than willing to sit down with patients and teach them health lifestyle choices and how to take care of themselves but can you blame them for the patient's health condition if they've been making out less than ideal/ poor health choices for years and years and years? Something is eventually bound to happen that lands them in the hospital or for a visit. I'm not saying it's anyone's particular fault because the health care system is so complication and far from perfect but it goes both ways. Health care providers know that the current model is unsustainable and if you knew anything about the medical/ health care field, the focus has been for a while now, all about preventative care and primary prevention
Children 😐
single?
HAHAHAHA. Being a doctor is not the most exceptional position in the world. After all, a synonym for employee is SLAVE.
Okay chill, you're a resident. Why are you interviewing a resident like he's some celebrity. Some people are so narcissistic lmao