Why do you want to become a doctor? However, history is an incredibly solitary field and it’s also nearly impossible to make a living. I definitely do care about the patient, so much so that I would rather see my patient walking out of the hospital, healthy and happy, then see them sitting in a bed all day thanking me for my service. My undergraduate and masters* degrees are in history because I think experience is the most effective way to learn. Neither one had the chance to become an adult. I'll make it simple: I loved science and physiology, wanted to help people, wanted a career I could take my skills around the world with, and frankly felt I was decently smart and could actually achieve it. Medicine has also become a huge business and you'll have to deal with upper management who is more worried about finances than helping people(I understand this to some extent though). So why do you want to become a doctor? View All 14 Slides. Find a family or local physician who will let you follow them for a few WEEKS (not days) in a silent capacity. After indicating how happy I am for the patient, we had a hug that transmitted the essence of the doctor-patient relationship. Part of being a health care providor is having the strong fortitude to be able to do what it takes to help people.If you care what everone thinks about you, then you will be veryu unhappy with anything you decide to do because you are trying to please others. It takes on an average at least 15 years (after high school) of head in the sand (books) to complete fellowship and reach the $200,000 debt figure that you are quoting. love of people, highly meaningful and valuable work, opportunity to become incredibly educated, good pay, etc. I love that everything is different and doesn't always present as it usually does. Well, don't forget the good ol' manual powered chisels. There's a sense of pride in what I do. What can you do as a doctor that you won’t be able to do otherwise? But as long as you remain persistent and passionate about your goal, you can overcome the obstacles and fulfill your purpose in life. I'm pretty happy with it so far. When I was a kid, I would steal my mom's anatomy textbooks (she was a surgical tech until she had my brother) and color in the drawings. We'll see. like any career you have to go through phases to get to where you want to be. Ever since I was a little boy I just wanted to help people. It is true that you don't get to live the 'young professional' life like so many of my friends who moved to Chicago to work in insurance/banking/consulting after undergrad, but I still have time to hang out with friends, take weekend trips, date, play basketball, etc. Please read the rules carefully before posting or commenting. As experts in science, biology, wholeness and wellness, doctors remain influential members of society. In this episode, I discuss the importance of knowing why you want to be a doctor. You get to have the ultimate responsibility - the buck stops with you. I have heard many different answers from my peers like wanting to help others using their medical knowledge, interacting with and helping other people during some of their most vulnerable times, helping people stay healthy and live long lives so they can achieve all the things they want, etc etc etc. And they will continue to be the foremost authority on health and wellness for a … You can go through medical school because you want to, because others have chosen that route, or because someone else told you what they like. Lest you worry that as a patient, your doctor is distracted, it is quite the opposite. My fundamental drive to do healthcare is about helping people, but I also want to maximize the impact that I can have. I love working with my hands. Being a doctor encapsulates the discovery of the human body and the humanitarian drive to help everyone every day. The day that the copper pipes in the old building smelled like burnt food, my brother went to heaven in front of my eyes. Although the road is long and hard I'm still excited to do it because medicine is something that has really interested me for a long time. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Do some shadowing programs. For me it’s the stories and experiences you pick up from patients and coworkers along the way, as well as a desire to live life comfortably and feel useful. I want to be the person in charge of formulating a plan, and I want to have the deepest knowledge of a particular subject. If you think it would help you - you could tell why you think you want to be a NICU ... but they are still difficult to get without experience. But, since HMOs have made it virtually impossible to make any real money, which directly affects the number of chicks that come sniffin' around, and don't ask me what tree they're barking up, 'cause they're sure as hell not pissing on mine, and as far as power goes, well: Here I am during my free time letting some thirteen-year-old psychology fellow who couldn't cut it in real medicine ask me questions about my personal life, so here's the inside scoop there, pumpkin, why don't you go ahead and tell me all about power. With this question, perhaps more so than any other you’d be asked in a medical school interview you MUST be honest. I became a doctor for the same four reasons everybody does: chicks, money, power, and chicks. I wanted to be a doctor for the same four reasons everybody does: chicks, money power and chicks. I love that much of medicine has a certain rhythm to it. Fresh AskReddit Stories: ER doctors of Reddit, what are the craziest excuses you get for people putting things up their butt? Coupling my curiosity for science and my desire to change my community, I decided to pursue an MD. They should have become adults. Also I knew I wasn't business savvy and wouldn't be satisfied in a corporate career. Best / worst things about being a doctor? Do not apply to medical school without understanding exactly what you're getting into. 5 questions that doctors and medical students get asked a lot; why medicine? Being from a low-income area, I have seen the effects of lack of healthcare and education first-hand. In my last post, I outlined ten reasons why you shouldn’t become a doctor.They are serious things to consider if you are thinking of entering the medical field. Absolutely do not try to fluff up your answer by giving false narratives or regurgitating buzzwords. Take a breath before you speak, look your interviewer in the eye and tell them plainly and simply why you want to be a doctor. Sometimes it is routine enough to be mindless in the Zen sort of way that driving in Manhattan traffic is for me; I can become so focused on the task that I forget all else. Physicians have to coordinate and lead the care team and make decisions about how to proceed, who to consult, and take into consideration the input from all of the other members, as well as the patient, when forming a treatment plan. But then again I might be saying something different when I get to residency. When you apply to medical school, you have to coherently and effectively answer the question “why do you want to become a doctor?” in your personal statement. I love the puzzle, I like fixing things and thinking outside the box. I don't want to be in the position where I don't know the answer to a patient's problems. Honestly, that's really something you have to figure out for yourself(not trying to sound condescending). Initially I was interested because a lot of my family and neighbors were in the medical field and I didn't know about any other careers. I have been in the scenario of a camp counselor witnessing a child bang his head on a playground ladder and forget his name; all I could do was assess for a broken neck (he was crying and reached to be picked up, typical stupid 5-year-old) and I knew nothing else to do but wait for EMTs to arrive. Kathleen Franco, M.D., Contributor. I think everyone's "why" changes with time. diane sawyer did not become who she is over night. I've also debated with a very proud nursing student who knows she is in her profession because she "actually cares about the patient," implying that premeds/doctors don't. I wanted the autonomy that comes with being a physician versus something else like PA or RN. Coming from a small town, everyone looks out for one another and it was something I want to emulate in my career pursuits. My schools were under-staffed, overcrowded, and surrounded by the reminder of what was to come. I'm a people person. How to Answer the Interview Question “Why Did You Choose Nursing as a Career?” Because there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this question in a variety of ways. You may have a unique and highly inspiring reason of why you want to pursue medicine, but if you don’t show that you’re up to the task, interviewers will not be convinced to offer you a place. I feel satisfaction and joy helping people. I will gladly study for 7 years to become a practicing doctor, and hopefully I will push through all the shit we get thrown into to reach that. There is also often an expectation of a leadership role in the community, and a level of respect that comes with a lot of responsibility. It's sad. even as a 2nd year student. When I ask my peers the question of why they want to become doctors, the answers I receive are: Money, prestige, my parents are pressuring me. Session 215. There you are, filled with passion and excitement, your whole life is in front of you, and the doctor you’re shadowing turns to you with dreary eyes and reaffirms your life-long dream by muttering “don’t become a Doctor.” I like science. As you’ve seen above, everyone has a different motivation. You also need to be able to show awareness of what the role entails and what will be expected of you when you become a doctor, and how you are prepared to tackle those responsibilities. On that note, here is a list of terrible reasons to become a doctor: To make money: You will, but there are way easier and more profitable ways. If I can teach residents, conduct research, and help change protocols that non-physician providers use daily, I can have a much bigger impact than I can as any other kind of healthcare provider. Becoming a doctor has long been an esteemed honor. Then, in every interview thereafter, you need to answer the question once again, but this time in front of a panel of interviewers. Would you like us to help you ace your med school interview? I have this God complex, and there aren't really too many places I can play that out. This is the definitive guide to answering the Why medicine question, in your head, on your personal statement and at interview.. Here’s a common question we’ve been getting asked on our subscriber list. I wanted a stable job. I thought I was going to be a doctor even in elementary school. Besides the financial aspect, the following 7 points will make your decision of PA vs. MD easy. I will gladly study for 7 years to become a practicing doctor, and hopefully I will push through all the shit we get thrown into to reach that. By far the best and the most comprehensive answer. And if you suck at NBMEs too, then you get penalized for essentially the same flaw for four fucking years. Physicians play a massive role in education (of students, residents, and non-physician providers), research, developing clinical protocols, developing organizational and government-level policy, and a whole lot more. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. It’s definitely part ego trippin on top of all the fundamental reasons that people go into medicine i.e. They should have had children of their own and loved those children and I want to make that possible for other people. I spent the past summer shadowing in a few different hospitals and I applied to a guaranteed medical school program at a few different colleges. Basically, if you've GOT to be a surgeon, and you want a life, Urology is the only field to go into, in my highly-biased opinion. Phat paychecks, the babes, and cutting people open. Writing a little admission essay, are we? Why do you want to study medicine? You want to focus your answer on the YOU part of why YOU want to be a doctor and why YOU would be an excellent doctor. HUGE extirpations when you're young and energetic (and probably get paid more for just doing office urology.) It's what I'm good at, ie the science and implementation of knowledge aspect. There's job security. Do not apply to medical school without understanding exactly what you're getting into. I want to be the best advocate I can possibly be for my patients. Take my advice - choose your career for the passion and remember - never regret as you are always old enough to move on and take the experience with you. I love it, but there are many times I wonder why I did it. I'm a high school student who plans to pursue a career in the medical field and I was just curious as to why medical students/doctors chose this path. Why did I become a doctor? Other jobs and fields aren't very interesting at all, I make good decisions so I should probably be in charge. In this interview, she discusses how her mother’s illness led her to a career in hematology and oncology. Here are four reasons why being a doctor is: 1. This is a highly moderated subreddit. You can go through medical school because you want to, because others have chosen that route, or because someone else told you what they like. I break down some things I’ve heard from students in my mock interview sessions to help you clarify what your motivations are for pursuing medical school.. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. You know, I don't tell this story often, but I remember when I was seven years old, one time I found a bird that had fallen out of its nest, so I picked him up and I brought him home and I made him a house out of an empty shoebox and... oh my God! 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