surgery or commerce?

Pre-Med & Medical School Careers in Medicine
1

<p>Hi everyone. </p>

<p>I'm currently enrolled in a foundation studies course, and by the end of this year I will have to apply for my course in uni, and I still don't know what I want to do. It's important for me to make a decision soon because I'm currently taking more subjects than the usual student in order to have the prerequisites for Medicine, Commerce and Biomedical Science (lol, I know) so that I am able to apply for all of them.</p>

<p>I think plastic surgery is a field with a lot of potential... but I don't know if I should pursue it because it takes 11years or so (is that right?) to complete education+residency+all that... and I'm also worried about the stress involved in surgery (like malpractice, and avoiding killing your client, etc.), the debt for fees, and if it will really make me happy.</p>

<p>I have always been interested in plastic surgery, and while I think it is a promising career it takes sooo long. And yeah, I'm a girl, so I'd probably get married someday and have kids and stop pursuing a serious career.. which is why I was considering something 'easier' and less demanding like commerce and getting an MBA.</p>

<p>Biomedical science is another option... but I think it might be boring after a while.Though I think genetics and all are interesting, I don't really like the idea of being stuck in a lab staring at cells all the time. :&lt;/p>

<p>Sorry for the long post that doesn't really make sense. I'm just trying to decide between medicine and commerce and I'd appreciate any help in making this decision(: Between plastic surgery and an MBA, which has more potential for a successful career and salary? And more suitable in the long run?</p>

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<p>Well, first off, realize that plastics is very competitive. It is important if you are thinking of going to medical school to keep your options open. There are lots of specialties and supspecialties that you may or may not be aware of, and a lot of people change their specialty multiple times through the first 3.25 years of medical school before making a final decision (many people even list two specialties on the Match - the process that determines where one will finish their residency). You may realize that you don't like surgery or that some other field really fits you much better and will fit in better with the lifestyle you are hoping to have (since you mentioned having children).</p>

<p>Perhaps you could shadow a doctor and see if you like what is going on. In the end, I believe that it will easier to start pre-med, and change to one of the other fields than to go the other way.</p>

<p>As for which has a more "successful" career...that's going to be nearly impossible to foresee. Medicine, and particularly plastics, is going to be a surer bet as far as a minimum salary over 175k which is practically a certainity. But there is probably a cap on the maximum amount a plastic surgeon can make that is much lower than the possible max salary someone with an MBA could earn. However, there are many people with MBA's making far less than 100k (my father among them).</p>