Could you do it?

I am going to be a senior in high-school next year and after graduation I am wanting to pursue a career in medicine, preferably pediatrics because pedatricians can always be kids:D, but that is not the point of this thread. To become a pediatrician I have to attend medical school(duh) and by doing so, spend a good 8 years of my life doing nothing but study and test and study and test. I am up for the challenge simply because I know I can do it and the people who I go to school with don't. Now, don't take my saying that as an idea of "oh, he's just doing it to show up the assholes at school" because Im not, I really do want to do this because it most definately interests me. Does anyone think, that if you wanted to do something with your life, you could give up almost a decade of your life and dedicate it to one thing and one thing only? no relationships, no life but what you are studying?

whoever told you you can't have a life was full of it. My buddy Adam is pre-med at state, as well as Amber in Va. (a few other friends at state).
You just have to work hard, then again so do engineer's.:)

Originally posted by hybridsol
My buddy Adam is pre-med at state

well, pre-med and medical student are two different things. Pre-med is basically still in college having yet to enter medical school. Im talking medical school itself.

Originally posted by ILike2DriveCars


well, pre-med and medical student are two different things. Pre-med is basically still in college having yet to enter medical school. Im talking medical school itself.
so your jumping right into med school????? where???? how????

ok, there must have been some confusion on both of our parts, I started this thread only using medical school as an example. I realize that you must attend college in order to gain acceptance to medical school, which I plan to do, but for the sake of the argument which I have bestowed up on this thread medical school is what was discussed, you can have a life in college but once medical school is your destination, your life is consumed by studies. I have a friend whom has been a doctor going on 19 years, and he told me that from 7am to about 8pm, he was studying, with the exception of a one hour break for jogging or lunch. does this clear up the miscommunication?

Originally posted by ILike2DriveCars
ok, there must have been some confusion on both of our parts, I started this thread only using medical school as an example. I realize that you must attend college in order to gain acceptance to medical school, which I plan to do, but for the sake of the argument which I have bestowed up on this thread medical school is what was discussed, you can have a life in college but once medical school is your destination, your life is consumed by studies. I have a friend whom has been a doctor going on 19 years, and he told me that from 7am to about 8pm, he was studying, with the exception of a one hour break for jogging or lunch. does this clear up the miscommunication?
yes, sorry I misunderstood. I still think you would be capable of maitaining a normal life. Just b/c you have to work harder, dosen't mean you can't set aside time to be with friends and loved ones.
-then again some have to work harder than others to achieve their goals? Still all and all I know that it would be difficult. :)

Originally posted by hybridsol
some have to work harder than others to achieve their goals

very true

In this day and age, to give up a decade of your life, with no relationships, no life, but just studying? I don't think so. At gun point, or otherwise forced into it, maybe; but willingly, no.

I'm 40 this year.There would be little point in saddling myself with enormous debt to finance such a major subject if I wasn't going to qualify until I was 50.I may look at some form of higher education this year,but it won't be a major subject.

There is not the universal demand or graduates that there was 20 years ago,it is wise to seek the help of experts to determine what demand there will be for your skills once you are qualified.Every profession has its 'boom and bust' job market cycle,the trick is to reach the end of your studies just as your chosen field reaches its peak demand for specialists.If you qualify during a slump,there will be plenty of more experienced people ahead of you in the queue for posts.

hehe, im going for masters in Mechanical Engineering, so there gos 5 years of my life ;)

But it's not as bad as you think. You still have time to party and have fun. Study hard, party hard, thats what I say!

I would not want to be a doctor, with all of the malpractice insurance these guys have to pay for these days it is ridiculous. They have to pay that the rest of their life even if they are no longer practicing medicine.

I remember reading something about doctors planning a walkout in West Virgina to Protest the cost of MalPractice ins. I don't know first hand what they are paying but it must be pretty steep, or else the ones planning the walkout are just greedy.

Look, if that's what you wanna do, then go for it. I'm going to law school after college, hopefully. If you're wondering whether you'll have a life, probably.....not. You will but from some of my parents friends, it's tough. I already know when I go to law school, I plan on not having much of life and I'm ready. it'll suck like hell, but it's what I want. So, do whatever...hybrid is right. Some peepes just have to work harder.

I spent 4 years at Uni in total- I still had a life in between- but all I did was commerce:D

Originally posted by Steel
hehe, im going for masters in Mechanical Engineering, so there gos 5 years of my life ;)

Hey, that's what I'm gonig into too!
HOw is it?

Originally posted by JD@af
In this day and age, to give up a decade of your life, with no relationships, no life, but just studying? I don't think so. At gun point, or otherwise forced into it, maybe; but willingly, no.

So who you gonna see when you need a Dr./lawyer/engineer/.......... if everyone thinks like that?

Anyway, I think I'm fairly qualified to comment on this, as I went through medical school (6 years), an initial 2 years' general house doctor time, and am now in specialist training in psychiatry (this is my 6th year - I've taken it slowly), and yes I have a life - and have had all along. There is no way you need to drop out of life to succeed in study - including medical school. Nor should you, as no matter how much you know, you're not going to be a great doctor (or probably a great anything) without decent life experience.

As far as malpractice insurance goes, that is a significant factor to consider in the US, given how bizarrely litigious your society is. Over here it's getting a bit worse, but there are various "no-fault" pieces of legislation which help enormously :)

If it interests you, do it. Medicine can be extremely rewarding (at times - there are stressful and demoralising times too, but that's in no way unique to medicine). I certainly wouldn't change a thing; when I make a positive impact on a person's life, it makes all the hassle and risk worthwhile. As a doctor you are in an immensely priviledged position - who else gets to enter into people's lives and be such an important part of those lives?

Do what you want man. One time i spoke out that i want to be an RCMP officer, and the whole class started to hate me like someone commanded them to. Hurts, but when they grow up, they will understand. Bleh do what u want, its ur life, dont care about others.