Gotta love Asian parents

Pre-College Issues High School Life
261

<p>Well, I haven't been browsing these forums for long. Mainly because I haven't really thought about college yet. Yet, this thread caught my eye and made me register...and I'll do my best to make my first post...well, not great, but at least decent. ;)</p>

<p>This in particular caught my eye,
"Following what everything your parents tell you and not doing your own "thing" will show up on your application.</p>

<p>Super Elite colleges receive thousands upon thousands of apps from the "stereotypical asian" applicants with the same exact EC's: math, math, classical music, orchestra, violin, piano, math club, no athletics, no "unique" activities. They will definately have the highest chance of being rejected and when they do, they don't understand why their 1600 SAT's didnt get them in."</p>

<p>Does this mean I'm screwed? I fall under stereotypical asian nerd. But the thing is, my parents didn't push me to enter any of the stereotypical things I'm in. I chose them myself. </p>

<p>I'm a Junior, and take 5 AP courses. I happen to be excelling in my classes in AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP Comp Sci (typical asian type classes) and I still excel at APUSH and AP English Lang. (though I do feel weaker in those classes...grading is too subjective for my tastes). Most people think I'm crazy for taking 5 APs, and perhaps I am, but my parents reacted the same way as most people. "Do you really want to take all these AP courses? Are you sure you want to stress yourself that much?"</p>

<p>Also, my extracurriculars consist of Math Team (captain), Quizbowl, Chess, Tutoring, and a job as a tech. assistant at the library. I chose Chess, and Quizbowl, and I'm captain of the Math Team because I created it. The Math Team was dead, and I was the only one who cared enough to try and make one again. The only thing my parents pushed me to do was the tutoring...they said it'd look good on my college app. The job was completely me as well.</p>

<p>My SATs came back in January. They were a 2230. I was like, "Ok, I'm definitely taking it again in April." My mom went, "What?! You really want to go through that again? That's a good score. Don't you remember the headache you had when you came out?" and me, being the overachiever yet again, signed up for it anyway. Slightly regretting the decision now, but after seeing posts on these forums, decided that it couldn't hurt...and besides, the registration is non-refundable, so I might as well.</p>

<p>So, what exactly makes an activity unique? How are colleges just going to decide that you have no drive as an individual because of your stereotypical asian activities and that you were just another cookie cutter asian pushed by unbelievably rigid parents?</p>

<p>Sorry if this has been answered...I read the first few pages and the last few pages of this thread. And I will heartily agree with all the asians who gripe about their strict parents...I do too. Luckily, my mom has control over my education, otherwise I probably would fall under the "Harvard or Macdonald" story.</p>

<p>Also, I will concede another point. My parents are directing me towards college. This is because I have absolutely no preference, and was probably going to sucked into the hype surrounding Ivy league schools anyway...if you asked me a year ago where my dream school was, it was Princeton, just because it was in NJ and was famous. So, I asked my parents, and they decided that it would be a good idea for me to go for a BA/MD program. I agreed, as my uncle went for a BA/DDS program and it worked out well for him, and hey, being a doctor is great. Money-wise at least, anyway. Financial security always #1.</p>

<p>Yet, that sticks me under the stereotype again, doesn't it? It also kinda limits my options for colleges. To like...two...Brown and Rutgers (or another not-so-good school in NJ which has a BA/MD program with UMDNJ...Drew, Montclair State...they're all equally blah in my opinion).</p>

<p>As usual, after a long rambling post, I don't remember what my point was. I think I was standing up for the stereotypical asian nerds who chose their own path, perhaps not that unique, but that's not my bloody fault...standing up for them much like IhateCA decided to stand up for himself and non-stereotypical asians against the stereotypes which have been brought up in this thread.</p>

<p>Huh, not a bad first post, if I do say so myself. Now back to massive APUSH HW.</p>

262

<p>medicine there is no money it. youre a slave for years. the health care system is a disaster. but if you are doing it because youre a humanitarian you will be really happy otherwise skip medicine. no life no time to live and no one cares! why are you limiting yourself to jersey with your scores and background? so many interesting programs in medicine that are combined programs. you should take a look at them</p>

263

<p>Haha, BirdloverFla, that's the truth. If it's money you're looking for, medicine's not it. If it's a stressless stable life you're looking for, medicine's not it. If it's a job you can have while having enough time for your family, medicine's not it. You gotta love something about medicine, the people or both to really go into it and stick through. Money ain't the way.</p>

264

<p>Hrm...maybe dentistry's different? I see the pros of a relative taking that route. Stable life with money while working on your own time, as many days a week as you choose, with no boss. Also, "life" and "stressless" don't go together...unless you're already going to retire.</p>

<p>Huh, well, syneria, I don't happen to love anything about anything. That's the problem. And frankly, I'd prefer to know that I'll graduate as a professional in a field where I know there'll always be a demand, rather than having no aims in life and not knowing what the heck to do after college.</p>

<p>Sorry about the threadjack...back to griping about Asian parents...;)</p>

265

<p>BirdloverFla and syneria,</p>

<p>Medicine is only hectic and miserable for the first 5-10 years. Most doctors I know in their mid to late 30s have plenty of free time, great stable incomes, and high job satisfaction.</p>

266

<p>Everyone I know cant wait to leave medicine. Malpractice shortage of nurses, billing issues, cuts, high cost of practice, doc shortage in certain fields. Most in the field in the US are foreigners duhhh I wonder why.. High cost of college and med school- malpractice.. If you are married to a rich guy I guess going into medicine works you can do it once a week or provide coverage otherwise... you can keep the job security the key to the benefit plan is staying alive. That stress is just not worth it!!!!!!</p>

267

<p>"Sh|t! You held da chopsticks the wong way. You poked hole through dis guy's heart. We gonna get mow-pwactice."</p>

<p>Mmmm...medicine. MY dad's a medicinal chemist at a nearby college. An asian classmate is going to be a doctor, and...I dunno. But yeah, regardless, asian parents wants their kids to get as bloody rich as possible so that they don't have to do anything when they're old (they just make their kids live near them and make them do all the groceries).</p>

<p>Here, have a few links (I'll attempt to redirect this topic because all we're doing is talking about medicine and getting bloody rich doing a job we hate) : )</p>

<p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1269967&page=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1269967&page=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=giAy8wEvoVs&search=erick%20liang%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://youtube.com/watch?v=giAy8wEvoVs&search=erick%20liang&lt;/a> (93% accurate to my family situation...up until the rapping part)</p>

<p>Now I wish the guy from MIT had his horrible FOB comic online. That would've added to the arguement big time.</p>

268

<p>LOL. Plenty of free time??? Yeah right. My dad doesn't have time to do anything with me.</p>

269

<p>I mean, if you want to be recognized in the medical field or any field, just practicing that profession is the minimum. You have to write and publish books, hold seminars, present your new discoveries.</p>

270

<p>My parents are Asian, and I applied for a State Firearm Purchaser ID Card so I can legally purchase shotguns and rifles at age 18. So NOT typical for the People's Republic of New Jersey! But hey, I like to defy the norms.</p>

271

<p>
[quote]
But yeah, regardless, asian parents wants their kids to get as bloody rich as possible so that they don't have to do anything when they're old (they just make their kids live near them and make them do all the groceries).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Or maybe it's because many cultures in Asia stress familial bonds and filial piety. No, it's just because they're lazy and want to be taken care of.</p>

<p>Nevermind that most of these parents busted their asses off for years to keep you fed, clothed, and taken care of.</p>

<p>Ungrateful whelps.</p>

272

<p>
[quote]
LOL. Plenty of free time??? Yeah right. My dad doesn't have time to do anything with me.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Right, because your dad is every doctor.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Everyone I know cant wait to leave medicine. Malpractice shortage of nurses, billing issues, cuts, high cost of practice, doc shortage in certain fields. Most in the field in the US are foreigners duhhh I wonder why.. High cost of college and med school- malpractice.. If you are married to a rich guy I guess going into medicine works you can do it once a week or provide coverage otherwise... you can keep the job security the key to the benefit plan is staying alive. That stress is just not worth it!!!!!!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You know what IS worth it though? Proper punctuation. :rolleyes:</p>

273

<p>th lowest point of medicine is clerkship. you work hard but you don't get paid. that's a sad fact of life. :D</p>

274

<p>If you view an internship as a job, then it is a low paying job with long hours. </p>

<p>However, it as a part of your medical education. You can't become a doctor without it. If you look at an internship as education rather than work, someone is paying you while they are educating you. </p>

<p>You are still better off than the years of medical school when you were paying tuition to be educated for zero pay. The pay is not much compared to what full-fledged doctors are making, but you are not a full-fledged doctor yet either.</p>

<p>The long hours suck though. The current limit is 80 hours a week. The hours s/b be limited to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.</p>

275

<p>UCLari - funny.</p>

276

<p>Birdlover,</p>

<p>I try. :rolleyes:</p>

277

<p>Most people don't want to leave medicine... although insurance/pharmaceuticals/malpractice is becoming a larger problem, every doctor I've met likes what they do (like my dad).
hideANDseek said his dad doesn't have much free time... well, neither does mine, but it's largely because he chooses to work so much (and I'm sure it's the same in your father's case). One of the best things about being a doctor is the ability to choose how much you want to work. A private practice is the best way to do this. Regardless of where you work, you have many options. Some doctors have tons of free time, others have none. It all depends on the individual, because they decide how much they want to work.</p>

278

<p>After reading this entire thread, I'll post more later. I have to study :)</p>

279

<p>Every job has its pros and cons, and medicine is certainly not an easy career, if there is such a thing. I don't think it really would matter to someone who is really passionate about it, though. It all depends on the person.</p>

280

<p>If you want to make money and that is your sole objective, medicine may not be right for you. With the same amount of time that one spends before he/she can open private practice, you probably could have already make much more money.</p>

<p>Remember, medicine is a service industry. Most doctors (most probably all, but there are exceptions) are capped by what they can do in 24 hours per day.</p>