<p>Medicine is a thankless task at times. Think twice before going 100,000-200,000 in debt for med school. That will crush you for 2 decades unless you goninto surgery or become a big pharmacy shill, you will struggle financially for years. If you really want to help people, join doctors without borders. When I was in Peace Corps inAfrica, we did ob surgery with ether,and since we had no blood, we had to put coagulated blood back in and hope for the best. The 100% heat in the OR and the dozens of flies ready to eat ondecayi g flesh was - awful . So if you think you can join DWB with ought some gruesome experience-probably it’s a no go. They need peop,e willing to use a little ether and start sawing away…</p>
<p>Fun? Hmmm. I guess telling someone with [x disease] faces an uphill battle can be ?fun. Have you declared a 2 year old dead after coding the poor thing for an hour? We had a surgical residents’s pregnant wife get an amniotic fluid embolism and die- we coded her for an hour. Awful. Baby was ok. Surgeon insisted on stiitching her up after autopsy (he told us he wanted to make her beautiful again). One of saddest days in my residency. Can’t really say a lot of this is “fun”</p>
<p>Orthopedics is VERY competitive now. Major in engineering or physics. Consider a md/phd program. A lot of top orth programs make you do a year of research. Volunteer for ski resort search and rescue…this you will nave to carefully plan out. Apply to many programs.</p>
<p>Your “ethical question” could prevent you from getting your license in many states.
No wonder lawyers like to sue docs</p>
<p>You all really need to mature.</p>
<p>True that most docs are still in dept in their 50s - but it is a dept on paper just like a mortgage is. Does not affect the lifestyle or enjoyment thereof.</p>
<p>Lottie many residents have kids when they are in residency - and then either get divorced or drop out of medicine. Residency is a full time job - even with the 80 hour work week. Having a baby is not fair to the kid nor the “student”</p>
<p>as a top 10 MBA myself I can tell you that simply getting an MBA is not a guarantee of anything. Maybe not even a job. Half our MBA class didn’t even have a job at graduation.
It’s become a highly commoditized and devalued degree. Too many schools, and even the top 10 schools have expanded their classes so the actual number of people graduating has swelled dramatically. </p>
<p>The MBA is not really a professional degree - that is to say, it doesn’t teach you to do anything. It is a series of classes really - macroecon, accounting, corporate finance, marketing, etc. Then you have to find some way to make some use of it. Good luck there. Will it teach you to start a company? No. You either have that desire and are able to figure out a way to start a successful company or you don’t. Actually better to be an engineer if that’s the route you want to go. Will it guarantee you a job? Not really. You have to try to find a corporate job, and see if you can perform. Maybe the MBA classes you took will help, maybe not. Most of the classes probably won’t even relate.</p>
<p>I object.</p>
<p>I know LOTS of unemployed lawyers.
it’s highly deceptive to post the starting pay at a Big Law lawfirm.
Those jobs are few and hard to get.<br>
Sure the pay is good… IF you can get the job.
Perhaps this is similar to looking at the top salaries at a highly competitive specialty.
Looks like great numbers on paper… if you can land that elusive fish.</p>
<p>Lawyer firms are HIGHLY picky based on your schools prestige and your ranking etc.
Whereas being an MD is basically “Guaranteeing” you get a job in some hospital</p>
<p>“I’m still in practice nearly 30 years now, and anyone interested in getting my perspective on the field is welcome to ask.”</p>
<p>How long has your practice focused on medical marijuana, and why?</p>
<p>Would the link to your homepage be considered an ad?</p>
<p>I see. I have been in practice at least 22 years (not counting medical school, residency, and fellow ship), and here in California, I have spoken to many kids pursuing medical marijuana cards, and a few physicans looking to share office space. I do not do provide that service myself, and I thought it would be an interesting perspective on practicing medicine today.</p>
<p>in the business world you still have PLENTY to worry about. Believe me. I’d trade it for an MD today if I could and give up life savings to do so. Even now, as I’m on the fence at the age of 35 as to whether to go back for the MD, my biggest concern is time, not money. I want to have a family, and being fully engaged in the activity of becoming a doctor (2yrs post bac, 4 yrs med school, 1 year internship, 3 yrs residence) will mean I’ll never see wife or kids. And I’m not sure it’s worth THAT, because my wife means everything to me. But if I were 22, or 27, or whatever, I’d not think twice about it.</p>
<p>My entire education is paid for by my parents. My tuition, food, gas, housing, everything is covered. I was extremely fortunate to be born in the home that I am. I am considering going into medicine. I’m not doing it for money, more as something to fulfill my life. I’m willing to put in the work, and actually love the work/learning process of it. Any downsides considering my circumstances?</p>
<p>Operation
If you have to ask, is it what u want</p>
<p>Thx for starting this very interesting thread.</p>
Damn… I like medicine and would to be a physician but there is so much cons. Student debt, the amount of time they work, the fact that they start their careers at around 30. I want to be a physician but i also want to make money and live comfortably.
BATMAN- look into becoming a PA. Fewer years of school and much less debt. My daughter and her friends have starting salaries ranging from $75-105K, which is a livable income.
Yeah im going to look into it… I specially want to see the differences in the actual job rather than how much money they get or how long they have to work… Thanks!
Amazing post…Yes it’s a best option…
detsa, medicine has traditionally provided one with a better opportunity operate their own business than your other stated options. I wish I had better understood that when I was your age
@user4321 that’s steadily becoming not true anymore as solo practices are now an endangered species and independent group practices are being bought up by hospitals.