<p>"The point I was trying to make is that it takes a lot of time, work, and money to become an "blank" so if one doesn't have a fairly strong desire to become one they'll likely not really end up there or won't be very happy on their way."</p>
<p>But isn't this a truism of just about anything requiring higher education? </p>
<p>Both my kids are so smart if they didn't look like me, I'd accuse my wife of cheating on me. What we've put to them is what ever they choose, be good at it, be happy and don't go hungry.</p>
<p>"But isn't this a truism of just about anything requiring higher education? "</p>
<p>I don't think so. Medical school is not just "education"- it is professional training. Unlike any other degree (including Law), it will ONLY be useful if you end up practicing medicine. It requires tremendous amounts of effort, money and time to acquire, and there is no point investing in it if you are not sure you want to be a doctor to begin with.</p>
<p>You like concepts, you like ethics & philosophy... so have you considered law? Law is intellectual, very conceptual and yes philosophical. Skills in dealing with all three are very important in law. Explore that possibility, I'm sure there are pre-law courses at your school -- or try sitting in on a lecture in law school. You never know - it may turn into your life passion.</p>
<p>"don't think so. Medical school is not just "education"- it is professional training. Unlike any other degree (including Law), it will ONLY be useful if you end up practicing medicine. It requires tremendous amounts of effort, money and time to acquire, and there is no point investing in it if you are not sure you want to be a doctor to begin with"</p>
<p>So would you give your child advice different for post grad work than this? Would you tell them to mail it in? </p>
<p>I think you're missing my point. Every endevour requires a best effort, or it should, for an individual to find success. </p>
<p>I mean..." it's OK son, you're just trying to be an engineer. It's not like you're trying to be a doctor or something important." ;) Would a parent have that conversation? </p>
<p>"Oh, he's just a cpa, not a doctor." :) </p>
<p>Doesn't everything and I mean everything if someone wants to be good at "it" require effort and commitment. </p>
<p>And it doesn't necessarily have to apply to higher ed. When's the last time you rebuilt an engine or transmission yourself? Or installed an electrical or plumbing system? </p>
<p>And remember there's always medical/pharmacy sales, so someone with a medical background could still work in the field, just not licensed and a doctor.</p>
<p>
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Doesn't everything and I mean everything if someone wants to be good at "it" require effort and commitment.
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Generally yes but certainly not the same level. Someone can be taught to rebuild an engine with a lot less investment in time, effort, and cost than to be be taught to be a doctor.</p>
<p>I also indicated to the OP that computer science requires a lot of focused effort and that if one is not fairly interested in the field they're likely to end up not succeeding or at least not happily. </p>
<p>There are some fields that require more effort, time, and cost to enter than some others. The medical field is one of them. Engineering is another. One field isn't necessarily 'better' than the other (hence the "oh, you're just a" doesn't apply) but they don't all take the same effort to enter by any means.</p>
<p>The suggestion to the OP is to simply to pursue an area they have more interest in rather than an area they have no interest in just because someone else wants them to since they could waste a lot of time and money and end up unhappy as a result.</p>
<p>I would advise my child against professional training if he was not sure he wants to go into that profession-- I would advise against school of Nursing if a child does not want to be a nurse, I would advise against physical therapy training for a child that is not sure he wants to be a physical therapist, against Police Academy for a child who isn't sure he wants to be a policemen, etc.</p>
<p>Medical school is not just "post grad work". Going into medicine should never be a "default", something to do when you can't come up with anything you really want to do. Medical school is just the beginning of the road -- and it looks like a summer camp compared to the residency. Being a doctor requires more then ability to handle the curriculum. </p>
<p>By the way, I would advise against post graduate study for a child that wants to go to grad school just because he does not know what he wants to do. I certainly would not pay for it.</p>
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By the way, I would advise against post graduate study for a child that wants to go to grad school just because he does not know what he wants to do. I certainly would not pay for it.
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I know a number of happy, successful lawyers who went to law school as a sort of "default" option when they didn't know what else to do. Of course, they all paid for it with their own money.</p>
<p>Why spend your entire life being unhappy. You want to go into computer science. There will be plenty of jobs. You may do something great in the field. If you go into medicine, you probably one of the tens of thousand doctors who are unhappy.</p>
<p>"you probably one of the tens of thousand doctors who are unhappy."</p>
<p>tens of thousands? Really? </p>
<p>"Going into medicine should never be a "default", something to do when you can't come up with anything you really want to do."</p>
<p>I don't think anyone can default into medicine. The Mcat and study requirements pretty much wean out alot of Passionate people or those who feel the calling. </p>
<p>I know what you guys are saying I just disagree with it a bit. There are different types of knowledge and learning abilities out there and we should have respect for those who find their fit and make the most of it. </p>
<p>As far as an engine rebuild goes, think how things have changed in automoblies? Most times when I look under the hood now, I don't recognize most things. A mechanic needs a working knowledge of computers and computerized systems these days. Things we assume are simple sometimes aren't. That's why they can charge $80 an hour to do something we can't.</p>
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I swear, if asking questions could be a career, I'd be all set.
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</p>
<p>There is, almost literally, at least one such such career: trial attorney. </p>
<p>But, of course, many careers involve asking questions in the broader sense.</p>
<p>I agree with the others in urging you to just follow your own desires. You don't have to decide what will happen 10 years from now. Just think about things like your courses for next term, and choose what seems best to you, choose what you like. </p>
<p>I was talking recently to someone who is at the near top of his profession at a relatively young age. He commented that when he was in college, he didn't have the faintest idea what he wanted to do for a career. He figured it out, and so can you.</p>
<p>nngmm is right about going to professional school- I liked #17, #22 & #26 posts. </p>
<p>Opie- congrats to your son on medical school. It will be interesting for you to see how he matures as a physician. Idealism meets reality in every field, including medicine. There are unhappy physicians, for myriads of reasons, and with the huge investment in time and money it is hard to switch years later. I am reminded of a book I read several years ago- "Medicine Is A Harsh Mistress". I find medicine fascinating but anything in the business world is NOT for me, nor anything legal. Some physicians find either or both of those interesting. </p>
<p>The most important ideas for the OP, and other young people, are that they are not limited by their parents' goals for them and they can explore many new options in college and beyond. I will add that there are many reasons people choose to become physicians also.</p>
<p>I am a pre-med student. Even though I am 100% driven to become a doctor, the work is still very difficult, and there are those times when I get totally frustrated and want to quit. I cannot imagine doing what I am doing, if you didn't actually want to do it. My advice is DO NOT go into medicine unless YOU want to. You are the one who has to take the classes, the MCAT and board exams, complete an internship/residency, etc. Therefore YOU need to want to do it, not your parents.</p>