Anesthesiology Questions? (And a few others)

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
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<p>I have many questions basically into one thread. I want to be an Anesthesiologist or something of that nature when I am older. I work best at school when I am under pressure with a lot of work on me because it forces me to work faster and more efficiently to get things done on time. I also want to be able to look back and be proud of what I have done in the future and say "I worked hard, and it paid off"...</p>

<p>I'm a Sophomore, I usually make straight A's in school, and am in all core Honors classes at the time (Hon Geometry, Biology, and English II). My GPA from my past semesters in HS has averaged to be a 4.13 right now... </p>

<p>I haven't done any volunteer work, and am in 5 clubs but don't really do much in them. I am not athletic because well, I am not as quick or have as good of endurance as other guys in my grade to be honest. I'm quite skinny. So I think that this gives me a disadvantage compared to others applying later on. If it honestly does, please let me know!</p>

<p>I want to be able to do the best thing I can do for my future, basically meaning make the most money I can to do with my grades. I want to help out my parents, buy my future kid a brand new car, and do everything a person would dream to do you know? Like send his parents on great vacations to places like Munich,Germany. I plan to save half my yearly salary towards retirement because our Social Security checks won't be coming when I'm older! I want to be able to do everything I've dreamed of basically, and am willing to do what it takes to get there.</p>

<p>I was wanting to know, is being an Anesthesiologist worth it? I have heard of Malpractice insurance, huge tests every year, getting sued, and many other bad things. I am open to other careers where I have the opportunities this one does, and can make that amount to be able to support what I would like to do. </p>

<p>My dream career was Piloting for Delta Airlines, but after looking over it many times it just doesn't seem like it's worth it in the end.</p>

<p>Also I have looked over many many many colleges at their majors. Is Anesthesiology a specific major? Or is it under a category like Nursing? It get's me so confused when searching through colleges.</p>

<p>THANK YOU SO MUCH! And please, don't say that I think it's all about money. Again, I just want to do the best thing I can for my future. I have many factors pushing me to do so.</p>

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<p>I think you should talk with and shadow an anesthesiologist. There’s a lot of pressure within the profession from CRNAs. I’m sure anesthesiologists will have a position on that either way.</p>

<p>I also think it’s way too early to be thinking about residency.</p>

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<p>Every specialty has yearly exams during residency (OITE in ortho, ITE in anest, ABSITE in surgery, etc). Anesthesia is not the money maker it use to be. If your looking to income only, radiology, dermatology, dermpath, ortho are fields you should be looking at AND that depends on if you can actually match into those fields. Saving half you income will be an idealistic goal. Unless you get a scholarship or your family is wealthy and paying for your tuition, you will have educational debt to pay off. I think the current average debt is ~$150,000. Most of my friends will have between $180-200,000. Other than debt, you will have personal expenses, maybe you own family, malpractice cost, etc. </p>

<p>Medicine is something you really have to think about before you decide to do it. Depending on who you ask, they might feel that they are underpaid and overworked. Patients expectations are high and the only ones that understand the personal scarifies you undertake with becoming a physician are other physicians.</p>

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<p>Additionally to what nocalguy stated, with the encroachment of CRNA’s its becoming a semi-requirement to do a fellowship in anesthesia to separate themselves from them, esp fellowship in pain, cardiac, peds. CRNA’s are also elevating their degree to Doctor of Nursing Practice within the next few years, so that’s probably going to be some confusion if they start calling themselves doctor within the clinical setting.</p>