My D has been set on becoming a doctor since elementary school. I once brought up the idea of a possible “backup” career in case she changed her mind and it did not go well. There is simply nothing else she wants as a career. I am well aware that she could still change her mind while in college. I have recommended to her and to other hopeful pre-meds to choose a school that does not admit by major and where changing majors is very easy, for this reason. While premed is still in their hearts, it may be impossible for them to pick a different path, so the flexibility is necessary.
My guess is that if D does change her mind she might very well go into high school science teaching. I think it would suit her personality.
@texaspg My district pays more for those with higher education levels. It doesn’t matter if the teacher is new or not. Most teachers add to their education if they don’t already have it to increase their salary. We have some with PhD’s, but most at least get their Masters if they don’t come in with it (more get it while teaching than have it coming in).
@gallentjill My lad was the same way with wanting to become an MD. Research very briefly had him questioning that, but he decided he still loved the MD path. He’s loving med school now, so it certainly can happen that they don’t need a Plan B.
D19 has always wanted to be a physician and we are knee deep in discussing back-up plans and majors. She know she does not want a research career based on her internship experience. One possible type of major that could work for her is something analytical as @WayOutWestMom suggested. These majors could lead to consulting, research analyst, epidemiology or pharma/biotech jobs, for example.
For students who are really set on becoming physicians, I would strongly advise having the student speak with a doctor or two who has left their practice for another career. There are many doctors choosing careers in pharma/biotechs, insurers, finance (hedge fund/investing) and consulting for a variety of reasons. Some of them career switch after X numbers of years, others go that route after med school. Throughout my career I have spoken to literally thousands of physicians and many are not happy with their careers…complaints generally center around relatively low pay, irregular and/or many hours, paperwork requirements and insurance hassles. The continuing shift of physician owned practices to hospital (or other corporate) owned practices is another downside for the physicians who do not want to be employees.
I have not seen many failed premeds who are good at math. In fact, I would bet for those students who are good at math, they can excel at premed even if they start late (just like @WayOutWestMom 's daughters). But not the other way around. (those who are good at math might quit premed voluntarily but unlikely would fail if they choose to continue) Not everyone is interested in medicine for sure. If someone has been volunteering in hospitals for more than 200 hours and still like it, I am confident the person quite possibly will like it.
There are many different working environments for people in medicine. If you bring your kid to experience “The Alexandria Center for Life Science” (http://www.alexandrianyc.com/ersp.html), I am confident your kid would be at least interested in the life science for a while. But you bring your kid to a morgue to volunteer, I am not so sure your kid would like it. (this “MIT girl” did just that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PthOO6XkIc She went to MSU and quit premed) There are many faces for every career. One advantage of being in medicine is that there are so many specialties. If you don’t like to see patient die on you, choose one specialty so it is unlikely to happen. (but if you faint after seeing blood, you are not for medicine) For whatever reason, there are more doctors who want their kids to be in the same career path than those who work for other jobs. I have not figured out why completely but have some idea.
Just pointing out that a vasovagal response to blood isn’t an insurmountable obstacle to becoming a physician. The reflex can be overcome through exposure therapy in conjunction with a limit course of anti-anxiety medication in most cases.
Anecdotally there’s at least 1 or 2 individuals in every med school class who faints at sight of blood or other bodily fluids, needles or some medical procedure (childbirth and surgery are common triggers).
One of the most moving movies I know related to medicine is “A Moment to Remember” (2004). It is a Korean love story about a young couple’s enduring love, which is tested when 27 year old Sun-jin is diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease. If your kid watches a lot of dramas/movies related to medicine, I think it helps to develop his/her interest to it.
The letter the girl wrote to her husband near the end of the movie read :
I like this one…those physician parents must know something we don’t know about…lol…even paying their kids to go Caribbean med schools after failed getting into US MD/DO schools.
But you bring your kid to a morgue to volunteer, I am not so sure your kid would like it. (this “MIT girl” did just that.