<p>I am still a senior in Highs school, I have a hypothetical question.</p>
<p>Suppose I go to college and study night and day and do extremely well, lets say 3.9+ GPA with lots of science. Also lets say I take the MCATS and also do well, good recs, essay etc.</p>
<p>BUT, what if I were to do very little volunteer work or extracurricular activities. Like I never volunteer at a hospital or anything and join only 1 or 2 clubs.
Can I still get into a relatively good med. School like, Emory?</p>
<p>My problem is I dont mind studying and stuff, I loathe having to get up and do stuff like volunteer.</p>
<p>In short, no. The main point of being a doctor is to help people--if you don't like helping people through volunteering, why do you want to become a doctor? If it's money that you want, you can just run off to Wall Street and make a lot more than you could as a doctor.</p>
<p>Actually I would much rather be economist or work on Wall Street or even work with statistics. But the problem is my parents would disown me and refuse to pay for college if I dont go into medicine. Therefore I am left with no choice but to go in to medicine.</p>
<p>So No hospital work = no medical school. :(</p>
<p>lol i really think you shud talk to your parents bra</p>
<p>and about paying for college...you can take loans and stuff...which ull be able to pay off if u do make the $$$ as w..e u wanna do..</p>
<p>i understand how ur parents can force you...my parents do too...the only difference is they want me to become what i want to become lol..a doctor.</p>
<p>It might be time to have a talk with your parents, then. If you don't want to go into medicine then 1) you shouldn't be forced into it and 2) odds will be against you for getting in (at least if you follow the plan above).</p>
<p>From everything I've seen and read and everyone I've talked to:</p>
<p>Medicine is the wrong career to get into if you don't genuinely like it. So sit down and talk to your parents like collegeinfo and ginnyvere said.</p>
<p>Would you rather be miserable for the rest of your life?</p>
<p>I like medicine, I just don't love it enough to go out and volunteer just to get into medical school.</p>
<p>also I read my original post and I think I worded it a little weird. It not that I don't like volunteering (I have volunteered before) or helping people, its just I don't like the idea of volunteering for like 4 years just to get into medical school.</p>
<p>"But the problem is my parents would disown me and refuse to pay for college if I dont go into medicine. "</p>
<p>But by the time you fail to get into medical school they will have already paid for college!</p>
<p>There is no "pre-med" major. So you can major in whatever you want, while fulfilling the requirements so that they think you're on track. Then it'll come through in your interviews that you don't actually have a passion for the career and you'll be rejected everywhere and will have to be like oh well mom and dad, I guess I'm not cut out for it, and then pursue your career on Wall Street!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am Muslim so I can't take out loans (unless someone offers me an interest-free loan, which I doubt.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Are you or your parents in a position to pay for medical school without loans? I know of very few people who can afford $50k per year of medical school education without loans.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've tried talking but my parents are immigrants and there argument is if there paying for college they can decide what I study there.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Since your parents are immigrants, do they have a clear idea of what it really takes to get into medical school in the US? Admission is no longer about numbers - GPA, MCAT score, number of hours spent as a hospital volunteer, etc. You have to be able to clearly express in writing and in person a passion for medicine (as well as a passion for whatever medical school you're applying to).</p>
<p>Technically, you can say that as a third and fourth year medical student, you're volunteering to work in a hospital...In actuality, you're paying for the privilege...believe me, I just got off of a call night (worked 30 hours straight, then had to go to my internal medicine lecture while my residents went home), this is not something you're going to be interested in if you can't even volunteer at a hospital for a couple hours a week.</p>
<p>I'm actually in a similar position. Fortunately though, our ideas about what my career should be are at least somewhat related (I want to go to grad school for bio, parents want me to an MD). The whole desi mindset is ridiculously backwards, though. Becoming a doctor is all about social status and not about a genuine interest in helping people.</p>
<p>My father is an RN, so he talks to a lot of the residents at his hospital. From what he told me, residency is hell on earth. You have to be either a masochist or be really dedicated. There's more money in business anyway.</p>
<p>One more thing: Ask your parents a question. Given that you don't care about medicine, would they want you to be their doctor? I know I wouldn't.</p>
<p>Or do really well in your undergrand and then go to University of Chicago's dual MD and masters of economics degree. Then, go to Wall street and analyze biotech companies with your degree (i know someone who does this). You'll be doing what you like, and you'll be a doctor so your parents will be happy. :)</p>
<p>but you should probably just have a sit down with the folks lol</p>
<p>Unless you intend to be a research md, i suggest that you reevaluate your goals because a large part of being a happy physician is loving what you do..helping people. Unless you truly want to be a physician for the right reasons, and not just for social status...then you wouldn't be happy, especially if you are still this young and know that you wouldn't be willing to volunteer your time. Being a physician means volunteering your life.</p>