Indecision & a personal crisis that needs lots of sage advice

Parents Forum
1

<p>I'm sure that this kind of indecision is common among college students, but I'd like some advice (and, to be honest, some reassurance as well) from parents who've experienced or seen this firsthand. Warning: extremely long post.</p>

<p>Lately, I've been doubting the pre-med path that I chose a year ago. My classes for next semester still include pre-med requirements, but I'm not really sure if I still want to impose that kind of schedule on myself.</p>

<p>I was never struck by an overwhelming passion for anything. I had academic interests, but I didn't pursue them outside of school. My parents always wanted me to go into science, and since my dad's a scientist at a biotech company, it was always biology and research that he pushed. (Yes, my parents are immigrants.) The doctor thing became lodged in my mind early on in high school when it seemed like one of few attractive options. I didn't really know what other careers were possible.</p>

<p>I can think of several reasons why I want to be a doctor. I want to work at a job where I can directly help people. I also like fast, tangible results, which research doesn't always yield. I want a challenging job that requires good problem solving skills. I think I would also thrive in a high-pressure environment, since I've always put pressure on myself to succeed, and I seem to work well under it. (At least, I associate pressure with productivity, and I am happiest when I know I'm being productive.) Lastly, if there's anything I can't stand, it's being stuck in one place, and medicine is a field with ongoing advances. </p>

<p>At the same time, I'm still not 100% sure, and medicine is a long, hard path. It seems like all the other pre-med students have stories about wanting to be doctors since they were five and having this lifelong burning passion. Well, I don't. I don't feel much of a passion for anything, really. I don't know if that's because I still haven't found my 'passion', or if there's just something wrong with me. </p>

<p>I'm also wary of the pre-med path. I realize that in order to get into medical school, I have to have research and clinical experience, and I need to take the pre-med classes. I'm afraid of falling into the trap of doing these things just to get into med school, and consequently, I won't really enjoy these activities. I'm already volunteering my time at a research lab on campus, but all I've been doing is grunt work. I want to get more involved this semester to get a better idea of the whole process, but I'm more and more convinced that it's not for me. I'm just afraid that if I commit to being pre-med, I'll end up making the goal of my undergrad years to get into med school (much in the same way that many high school students make it their sole priority to get into an Ivy League school).</p>

<p>On top of all this, I really don't know what I want to major in. Like I said before, I have certain interests, but they don't translate into passions that drive me in one direction or the other. In high school, I loved French, English, and bio. For me, majoring in French isn't a viable option, so it's down to bio and English - an odd combination. A major in bio is convenient for pre-med, although I have yet to take a college bio class, so I don't know how far my interest extends. I'd like to minor in English because I've always loved literature and reading, but I have no particular desire to become an academic in this discipline. </p>

<p>But I can't help but feel that I may be missing something - what if I really love anthropology or sociology, but I just don't know it? Are bio and English really the best options for me? I feel like I'm running out of time. I know that med schools don't care about majors. I know I can major in English if I want, but what I'm afraid of is how my major will affect my (undecided) career if I change my mind about med school or don't get in. </p>

<p>I guess what this all boils down to is that I can't make up my mind about anything because I haven't got any passions. The two majors I'm trying to pick between are completely different, and I haven't the faintest clue whether I'm a science person or a humanities person, which everyone else seems to know. If I were to go down the science path, medicine would be my first option. If I were to go down the humanities path, I have no idea what my options are. At most, I have random ideas like publishing or journalism, but I don't have anything solid (and certainly no experience).</p>

<p>I have a fear of failure, and somehow, I associate this indecision with impending failure, whether it's a personal failure that only I know (i.e. lack of fulfillment) or one perceived by others.</p>

<p>Right now, I'm giving myself 1-2 semesters to make this decision. Next semester, I hope to get more involved in research and get some clinical exposure. Also, I'll actually be taking a college bio class, so I'll be able to see how interested in the subject I really am. Hopefully, I'll be more sure at the end, but I'm not holding my breath, since I had hoped that my first year of college would give me some answers.</p>

2

<p>"I have a fear of failure, and somehow, I associate this indecision with impending failure, whether it's a personal failure that only I know (i.e. lack of fulfillment) or one perceived by others."</p>

<p>You basically stated the problem here - your afraid of making a DECISION. Your placing way too much pressure on yourself. You must be comfortable enough with yourself to be able to experience failure in the sake of saving your academic career. I feel that your torn between passions and job prospects. I would say that you must follow your passions now or regret it later for this is the time to explore and satisfy your intellectual cravings. You cannot truly fail at something when you have a passion for it. Every major has job opportunities, but it is always the most passionate that get the best ones.
While you still have time, you should explore your interests and take a few courses in different fields and if and when you do find the major you are passionate about but are still worried about job prospects, then double major in a more "practical" field. Also, your an adult now so you must be able to separate their wishes and your own. </p>

<p>I'm sorry I cannot speak from experience here since I am only a senior in high school but I hope that I helped a bit.</p>

<p>(Just relax and read up on discriptions of different majors and courses on your school website. Also remember that there are many people out there who are struggling to find their passions, too.) :)</p>

3

<p>Go to the collegeboard.com website and log in. Find the my road links and take the personal inventory test. You could also find a Myers-Briggs inventory online and take it for free. It will help you a great deal to learn more about yourself.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
I'm also wary of the pre-med path. I realize that in order to get into medical school, I have to have research and clinical experience, and I need to take the pre-med classes. I'm afraid of falling into the trap of doing these things just to get into med school, and consequently, I won't really enjoy these activities. . . I'm just afraid that if I commit to being pre-med, I'll end up making the goal of my undergrad years to get into med school . . .

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Shalott, you’ve described a common problem with premedical education. Some thoughts:</p>

<ol>
<li> Thinking about what you want to do, what direction to go in, and what it all means, is great. Though a hard spot to be in at the moment, it’s good to reflect about these things as you are doing. Collegemom16 has some good advice.</li>
<li> I believe that the college years are an important time to get a broad liberal arts education, to explore areas of interest and passion, and to learn about oneself and others. The demands of the pre-medical curriculum can make it hard to do this at times.</li>
<li> You don’t necessarily have to do research to get into medical school. And you don't have to like lab research to become a good doctor (many doctors who practice don't ever do lab research). On the other hand, if you want to become a research scientist, then this becomes important.</li>
<li> Doing volunteer, community service, or other work helping others is important. This means showing a sustained and genuine commitment to helping others, and not just short experiences here and there to ‘pad’ one’s resume. (I’ve served on a medical school admissions committee, and we can tell when a student has a genuine drive to help others and is a caring person vs. the student who is just playing the game to get into medical school. I’m stating this for all the pre-meds out there.)</li>
<li> You can be both a science person and a humanities person, and become a doctor. In fact, the humanities are increasingly becoming recognized and part of the curriculum in some medical schools. There are a number of physicians known for their writing (Rachel Remen, William Carlos Williams, Perri Klass, Jerome Groopman, Atul Gawande, come to mind).</li>
<li> You can be an English major – or any other major—and still go to medical school (or not depending upon what you ultimately decide). In fact, many medical schools are seeking to admit students with more diverse educational backgrounds than the usual science majors.</li>
<li> Nothing is set in stone. You can change your mind no matter what direction you take now. You can even change careers.</li>
<li> There is more than one path to medical school. Some people complete a college degree (without the pre-med courses) and then decide to attend a post- baccalaureate premedical program—i.e., they complete their premed courses after college and then apply to medical school. A number of the post-baccalaureate premed programs are highly regarded and their students have high acceptance rates into medical school.</li>
</ol>

5

<p>Bear in mind that if what appeals to you about medicine is that it's a profession helping people, there are other health-related professions that are good & worthy but don't require becoming a physician. Physical therapist, occupational therapist, nutritionist, etc. And there are other helping professions, such as teaching, social work, therapist, and many more.</p>

<p>Also, starting down the pre-med path does not mean you MUST continue. Take a few of the pre-med classes and a few other classes you're curious about, then re-evaluate. You've still got time to sample and reflect. What's the worst that can happen by doing that? It might take you an extra year to finish your undergraduate degree. Not ideal, but better than heading down an incredibly intense path toward med school when you aren't sure yet that's what you want.</p>

<p>I heard a really eye-opening quote on Public Radio from someone who'd made a career change late in life: "The trouble is that I let a 19-year-old choose my career." It's OK to take more time to figure this out!</p>

6

<p>Oh man, I know this feeling (I started out as an apathetic premed, and had the same "I don't seem to have overwhelming passion for any one thing" problem).</p>

<p>Someone earlier suggested the Myers-Briggs. While I think it's a fun test to take, and to compare results with your friends, I would not use it for anything important. It has no scientific validity.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I haven't the faintest clue whether I'm a science person or a humanities person

[/quote]
</p>

<p>"Both" is a fine option. :)</p>

<p>If you don't want to abandon the premed track, note that you can major in anything and be a premed as long as you supplement it with the premed classes, so you should feel free to explore other majors whether you're a premed or not. If you're not sure whether you want to be a physician, participate in related activities - your school's student EMT fleet if you have one, clinical internships with local hospitals, getting and teaching first aid training, volunteering with your school's medical center, etc.</p>

<p>To help decide, feel free to sample classes, and to participate in activities in other fields (which requires less of an investment than taking classes). My whole career track was changed by my participation in a one-month-long robotics class/competition.</p>

7

<p>I'm an architect and being both a science/math person and a humanities person is invaluable. (Not saying that it's right for you, but there are other choices out there.) </p>

<p>You've made a good start in figuring out the sorts of things that interest you. Keep exploring, don't close doors, something will click.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for all the advice. It sounds like everyone found something that "clicked." I guess I just wish things would click sooner than later (and I'll probably take the test on Collegeboard.com, if just for fun).</p>

<p>And integrity09 mentioned Atul Gawande, who probably has my ideal job: a general surgeon and a staff writer for The New Yorker.</p>

9

<p>The biggest problem most kids have with premed is that they HAVE to get good grades and the courses are competitive and difficult. Not many kids can skim their ways through O-chem but there are often many "gut" courses in the other areas. Also, unless you are singlemindedly pursuing a premed curriculum, it is difficult to include those difficult courses and do well in another course of study. Most every major includes some time consuming difficult courses and when you have to double those with the natural sciences and have to have a 3.5 average, it becomes very difficult.</p>

<p>I have been suggesting to many kids who are in your quandry, to take the classes you want, and do very well in them during your UG years. Enjoy, explore, but do well. Then if you still want to go to med school, take the required premed courses afterwards at a local state college . I know our local SUNY is very inexpensive and even has a program for those who are college grads that want to take a premed course of study for getting into med school. Even top colleges like JHU have such programs for those of other majors. If you do that part time, you could possibly pay for most of that yourself. Also you would know better if this is a route you want to pursue.</p>

10

<p>I'd also recommend going to your college career center. I've always been shocked by how few college kids do this. Speak to a career counselor. Often these centers will offer programs along the lines of "if you're thinking of becoming a doctor" which have much greater information about what it's really like to be a doctor. They often offer aptitude and interest testing as well. You may be able to line up an internship next summer working in a position which will help you make up your mind. If you speak French fluently, see if you can get a voluntary translator position at a local hospital. I know that some of my kid's friends found that helpful experience. Shadow a doctor if you can--my kid's college allowed anyone thinking about pre-med to do this. </p>

<p>So, go see what help you can get on campus.</p>

11

<p>Yes, I hope to make an appointment with career services when I get back to school.</p>

<p>I think, at this point, I'm still going to stick with my pre-med classes (at least for this semester). I've also decided to replace a lit class I was going to take with an archaeology class. I did some reading on biological anthropology, and it sounded very interesting, so I'm going to let myself explore it. Since I already know I'm interested in English, I can take that lit class another time if I want to.</p>

<p>It feels great to be giving myself other options.</p>

12

<p>Try not to worry too much about "passion". It's a win/lose scenario that is ultimately self-defeating, not to mention the pressure you are putting on yourself for some sort of peak experience, epiphany, etc. If you are worrying about whether you will be passionate about something before you even try it, it's hard to be genuinely curious, or to enjoy yourself. (Perhaps you're a bit of a perfectionist?) The most rewarding careers tend to arise out of someone just following their nose, and that path has to be an individual one, even in a field of study as structured as medicine. For now, it might help to be more shortsighted (picture a mole, nosing around in the dirt) so you can focus on what you're doing TODAY, and let your natural curiosity breathe and guide you.</p>

13

<p>Until you are certain you do not want medicine or similar field, continue your pre-med courses. Find out which you need to apply to med school. </p>

<p>I know a Sr who switched to Psych but is taking all her pre-med courses and just took the MCATs. There are so many majors out there for you to explore- OT, PT, Speech, Audiology, PA, Psychologist, Nutritionist, etc., just in the medical field. </p>

<p>If you want, you can explore English or Archeology, etc. Possibly consider law school. There are many avenues you can venture to in that vain. </p>

<p>Many, many students change majors and explore other options. Maybe if you spoke to your parents about this and got their approval, it would be easier for you to proceed.</p>

<p>Speak to others. Post things on the CC web, etc.</p>