I have some questions about the medical/science field.....

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
1

<p>I have been informed by several people that scientific fields are quickly becoming barren wastelands due to a lack of government funding for research and intense competition from workers in other countries. Originally, I had always wanted to go into biomedical science and attempt to enter a MSTP after my undergraduate years. Unfortunately, I have begun to realize that these programs are highly competitive and very rare; even if I did manage to get in, I would be committing a large portion of my adult life to two forms of tertiary-level education. Finally, if I managed to succeed, job prospects would be bleak.</p>

<p>Once you begin to embark on an enormous task of this sort, it is very difficult to turn back. Although I could choose to get on the pre-med track during college (even if I did not intend to become a biomedical scientist), I am much more interested in the scientific aspect of medicine than anything else. I would be very unsuitable in the vast majority of jobs held by regular physicians (especially if these jobs require day-to-day interaction with patients).</p>

<p>Any suggestions? Is the pre-med track even right for someone such as myself?</p>

2

<p>“I would be very unsuitable in the vast majority of jobs held by regular physicians (especially if these jobs require day-to-day interaction with patients).”</p>

<p>If this is true then pre-med is definitely not for you. I doubt you would even get in (same thing for MSTP).</p>

<p>Science is not becoming a barren wasteland. Tenure track positions are incredibly difficult to land (only about 15% of people with biomedical PhDs end up in them) but the unemployment rate is very very small. You just have to be open to biotech, pharma, military, consulting, etc and you’ll still be fine.</p>