<p>The only thing I can think of wanting to be right now is some sort of doctor. Medecine is the only field I would enjoy. But, I wouldn't want to have my entire life revolve around my job... I don't want to be on the job 18 hours a day every day. I understand that becoming a doctor takes a lot of work and comitment, but is residency really as bad as everyone makes it out to be? And what about once your past becoming a doctor and are practicing? Is practicing better than all the steps you have to take to get there/is it worth it? Also, surgery is not for me. I'm more intrested in diagnostic work like perhaps becoming a pediatrician. But how is oncology / are there any other fields that are more office oriented diagnosing patients and referring them to surgerons for any procedures? Thanks.</p>
<p>Office-based practices include much of medicine, including cardiology if you don't do angioplasties/etc., gastroenterology if you don't do scopes/etc., family practice, internal medicine, and (you're right) pediatrics. Residency involves about 80 hours a week of work, with some fields being more tiring and harsh than others atmosphere-wise; most fields really do hit the 80 hour a week limit, however. Possible exceptions for dermatology and other "light" fields. Practicing physicians do spend less time than in residency, but still have very heavy loads. (Usually much less than 18 hours a day -- most of the physicians I know are between 10 and 14.)</p>
<p>At this point, it is not sensible to declare that "medecine [sic] is the only field I will enjoy." Get some exposure to it first, then decide. After you've decided on medicine and gotten exposed to several fields during medical school, then you pick a residency at age 24 or 25.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input.
I understand what you mean about keeping my options open. It's not that I've ruled all other options out, just at this point in time compared to other options I can only imagine doing something in medecine.</p>