Medical research--beneficial even if not going into health career?

<p>Thanks for opening up this thread...</p>

<p>I signed up for a medical, paid-research thing with this medical professor early my freshman year, and now that my first year is over, I've come to realize that medicine isn't really for me. It's still a possibility, but I've looked into finance-related careers, and they seem very intriguing.</p>

<p>My situation is this: since I'm not interested in medicine as much anymore (and so have redirected my academic path toward more math/finance), I don't know whether I should still pursue this medicine-related research. I'm the kind of guy who likes to concentrate on one field at a time (and now that happens to be math), so it'll be difficult for part of me to devote part of my energies to something in biology and medicine, especially when I should be spending time on my classes. The research is supposed to take up about 10 hours per week for a term, but I'm not that informed on the subject matter, so I may have to do outside reading.</p>

<p>It'll be hard to explain my EXACT situation,, but that's the gist of it...so I guess i'm really interested in whether this kind of research will benefit me in the long run, even if I don't go into the sciences? I tried appeasing myself by thinking of this as just a purely good experience, but in terms of practical use, I'm not so sure....</p>

<p>Any thoughts/advice are welcome! Thanks a lot!</p>

<p>I’m a science major and am considering becoming a medical researcher or physician or neuroscientist as a career. Every single one of my peers would love to get a chance to do paid medical research as early as freshmen year! It sounds like you have a great opportunity but don’t want it, so why not give it up and someone who really wants it can enjoy it?</p>

<p>Of course you can just do it for the experience, but why not get a Finance/Business related internship or job instead? Plus it’s all those extra hours and devotion to something you don’t enjoy.</p>