<p>I dont have my transcript on me right now but I think I have a UP TO NOW 3.5 unweighted GPA (85?) and since my school blows (or i dont like to blame my self) im taking my first AP class this year (physics) and i plan on taking ap bio, calc AB, stat, spanish next year. I have done except for my english class this year which is regents, honors classes for every year. Im looking at a 1500+/1600 on the SAT. Writing section is stupid I got a 630..</p>
<p>the thing is, and I may sound like a fruit saying this, but I want to go into a profession that will help me make a lot of money. We live in a relativly wealthy town, and a lot of my friends have nice cars because their dads are cardiologists or surgeons and I would like to provide for my family like that too one day. Besides money I do have a genuine interest in the medical field. Especially plasitc surgery (facially reconstructive). </p>
<p>I was talking to a friend yesterday who is in college and he explained to me that med school is no joke and you will probably not have a social life because of the constant studying and work that is involved in the schooling. Besides that it is 12 years worth of schooling including undergrad, haha thats like going from 1st - 12th grade all over again. </p>
<p>So im not sure what I want to be, im kinda having an identity crisis here.. I would like to be wealthy, but have a job I will like, but I wont have any exposure except my senior year of HS where I will be exposed to biology and statistics (business) and the like.</p>
<p>im not sure what to do or how to build that crazy work ethic.</p>
<p>If it's $$$ you want, you should consider business.</p>
<p>Medicine is not the "strike it rich" field it used to be. And even if it were, money means little when you're working 80 hours/ week on a near minimal salary (residency)</p>
<p>There are definitely much quicker ways to strike it rich if that is your ultimate goal!</p>
<p>you'll have a social life...between study sessions. Most of the med school students I've seen hang out, but pretty much amongst themselves. </p>
<p>I think it's relatively reasonable to want to be able to live comfortably. I for one am not someone who wants to be in medicine to "be rich"...I'm interested in it because I want to make an immediate, beneficial impact in peoples' lives... but I do want to live comfortably in the middle class, and I think that's a reasonable care. </p>
<p>That being said, you have to be able to get gratification from non-monetary things because you won't see your fat paycheck for at least a decade.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that there is no GUARANTEED way to getting rich. I would say being a doctor is a solid way to have a very comfortable living, but I don't think that money should be the reason to become a doctor. Yes money comes in the package, but there is so much more. Business could be the way to big money, but it also could be the way to no money. If you're interested in medicine and doctor stuff go for it. If you're looking to be able to have a 12 car garage in 3 different houses in different parts of the country, I would say being a doctor wouldn't cut it.</p>
<p>Very true. Business is certainly riskier but the earning potential is much greater.</p>
<p>With medicine, most doctors certainly live very comfortably. But the earning potential is capped. And it looks to go down even more with all the new legislature that is being proposed. Middleclass to upper middle class is certainly attainable. Being able to afford 5 cars, 2 houses, etc... etc... is not realistic though.</p>
<p>I just want to be able to buy 1 REALLY nice car, Im really into cars and all I want is a BMW M6 which cost around $100,000 </p>
<p>I do have a real interest in the medical field though and helping people out will definetly be awesome. I volenteer at a hospital right now and its always great to see people made happy by getting them their meds and helping them out in general. </p>
<p>How intense is med school though?</p>
<p>When did you guys figure this stuff out? I dont want to be 'that guy' that switches his major around 20 times in undergrad</p>
<p>Yeah I'm in to cars too but I'm more into the M5. As a doctor you'll def be able to buy a car that expensive, maybe not right away, but you'd have to save up and earn it, but its def attainable.</p>
<p>Prism, how's your volunteering going? I tried that last year but ended up doing nothing: I got no patient interaction and didn't really feel at all useful. Do you actually get to do anything when you volunteer?</p>
<p>my work at the hospital is kinda hit or miss. When im with the patients its usually cool unless they arent sobered up or they smell (gross but you cant blame them) I really like all of it especially the ER. I dont think i could ever be a ER surgeon but its really exciting and fast paced</p>
<p>breaking into the medical field is hard. there is a LOT of schooling, as you mentioned. and residency is no walk in the park either. a lot of times, you don't know when you have to be awake or when you'll be on call and you barely scrape enough together to support yourself. there's also the growing problem of medical malpractice and ambulance chasers screwing up everything. sure, after you get established, there's the benefit of living comfortably and driving nice cars...but that's when you're in your 30s or 40s.</p>
<p>and goddammit, i still want to be a doctor.</p>