Thread: Is it even worth becoming a doctor anymore?

I'm a freshman in college and I keep thinking about whether I should or shouldn't become a doctor. There there seems to be new articles all the time about how becoming a doctor isn't such a hot career anymore due to decreasing reimbursements, increasing practice costs, having to see more patients everyday, fighting with insurance companies, etc. For those of you who will argue and say that medicine is not the career for you if you are looking for money, I understand that and money is not my only incentive for becoming a doctor. I like the actual career itself and would enjoy doing it everyday. Many parents who doctors are telling their kids not to become doctors because they think its just not worth it. I don't clearly remember the statistics but I remember around 30%-40% of doctors are unsatisfied with their career decision and would change their mind if they had chance. Many of my family members who are doctors as well are saying that I should avoid doing medicine. My whole point to all this is that I don't mind enduring all the years of schooling and I like the profession but I don't want to regret it someday because of all the changes that are going on. Since many of you are doctors already or in the process of becoming one, I want to know what your input is about the situation. Are there any hopes that things will improve, stay the same, get worse or that nothing is certain just yet?

'ly the people who get the "most desired" specialties such as dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, etc., are people who are really smart or were top of their graduating class."

Based on my own personal anecdotes from people I have known through the years, yes, that is correct.

Originally Posted by coolkidd123

I know you don't have to be smart to get into med school. I'm just saying that usually the people who get the "most desired" specialties such as dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, etc., are people who are really smart or were top of their graduating class.

all i am saying is that if you work really hard u can be at the top of your class. I have seen hardworkers at the top along with the smart ones.

Originally Posted by coolkidd123

I know you don't have to be smart to get into med school. I'm just saying that usually the people who get the "most desired" specialties such as dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, etc., are people who are really smart or were top of their graduating class.

i disagree. to get into and complete medical school you have to have some sort of brains.

in medical school its more about work ethic IMO than anything else. students that are disciplined to work hard and spend long hours do better. period. the amount of information is just too voluminous to allow for cramming, which many of the smartest students did in undergrad.

as for the career, medicine is one of the few where you will always be employed (unless you are negligent), will always have the opportunity to work in an region of your choosing (everywhere in the US it seems is short on physicians) and you are always guaranteed a six figure income.

According to the US Census Bureau the median household income in 2005 was roughly $46,000. The median income per household member was $24,000. 100k or more puts you WAY up there.

for those that argue that you can make more money on Wall Street etc etc, well, take a good look at the economy. how many thousands of Wall Street workers were laid off in the last week alone?

Originally Posted by AmericanIMG

i disagree. to get into and complete medical school you have to have some sort of brains.

in medical school its more about work ethic IMO than anything else. students that are disciplined to work hard and spend long hours do better. period. the amount of information is just too voluminous to allow for cramming, which many of the smartest students did in undergrad.

as for the career, medicine is one of the few where you will always be employed (unless you are negligent), will always have the opportunity to work in an region of your choosing (everywhere in the US it seems is short on physicians) and you are always guaranteed a six figure income.

According to the US Census Bureau the median household income in 2005 was roughly $46,000. The median income per household member was $24,000. 100k or more puts you WAY up there.

for those that argue that you can make more money on Wall Street etc etc, well, take a good look at the economy. how many thousands of Wall Street workers were laid off in the last week alone?

Even though I will make 100k or more as a doctor, it sucks if reimbursements keeping decreasing and you have to end up seeing twice or three times as many patients just to make the same money as you did before. I'm hoping that doctors salaries don't go below 150k cause its just not worth it then. I know its important to do what you like and money isn't everything, but if your med school loans take forever to pay off and you spent an extra amount of years becoming a doctor and you just aren't compensated enough for the amount of work you do and the skill you have, then why become a doctor when you could just be a PA.

You say that "you don't have to be smart to get into medical school?"

You must be joking.

Originally Posted by coolkidd123

I know you don't have to be smart to get into med school. I'm just saying that usually the people who get the "most desired" specialties such as dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, etc., are people who are really smart or were top of their graduating class.

Originally Posted by coolkidd123

Even though I will make 100k or more as a doctor, it sucks if reimbursements keeping decreasing and you have to end up seeing twice or three times as many patients just to make the same money as you did before. I'm hoping that doctors salaries don't go below 150k cause its just not worth it then. I know its important to do what you like and money isn't everything, but if your med school loans take forever to pay off and you spent an extra amount of years becoming a doctor and you just aren't compensated enough for the amount of work you do and the skill you have, then why become a doctor when you could just be a PA.

why not be a PA? simple.
- less power
- less prestige
- less job opportunities
- easily replaceable

to earn under 125k for a doc you REALLY have to not know what you are doing or be lazy.

Originally Posted by Genossa maximillian

You say that "you don't have to be smart to get into medical school?"

You must be joking.

sorry to be a party pooper but you don't need to be anything special to GET into a medschool...especially the ones that we all go to...the Caribbean ones...ie. a 3.1 gpa and a 26 MCAT which is likely to get you in all the Caribbean schools is not exactly a glowing report card

Don't go into medicine for the money, you will be better off as a Dentist if you just want to make cash. My advice to you is to get stellar grades, do well on the MCAT(30 or better), and apply to US MD and DO schools, as a US graduate you will have a lot more options than people who go overseas for Medicine.

I am talking about traditional REAL medical schools not offshore outposts catering basically to everyone that was rejected in the USA, sorry to everyone, no offense intended. You can't use the Caribbean medical school market to validate your statement. If you don't believe me ask any US medical school dean of admissions or any TOP European med school, they will laugh at your comment.

Originally Posted by Wh0Kares

sorry to be a party pooper but you don't need to be anything special to GET into a medschool...especially the ones that we all go to...the Caribbean ones...ie. a 3.1 gpa and a 26 MCAT which is likely to get you in all the Caribbean schools is not exactly a glowing report card