<p>Just out of curiosity what made you decide to take the Pre-Med college track? Was it something personal, like a tragedy, or did you just figure that it was the best choice b/c you'd be rich in the future, and could provide for you parents or kids??? Was it your decision? your parents? your friends??</p>
<p>"it was the best choice b/c you'd be rich in the future"</p>
<p>LOL. Look at the health care system in our time. I'd suggest you scrutinize the profession and your options if you have thought that this may be a compelling factor for one to go to med school. Make sure you get rid of any wrong impressions you may have of the medical field -and you won't know these are wrong until you truly research. The profession is changing, and although one, most likely, will have a decent and even a nice lifestyle, it is not the same as it once was -or so they tell me. Also, consider the debt issue, for if you are taking loans out, well, you will have to pay these.</p>
<p>Now, having said that -which I consider to be highly relevant. I'll say that in my case, well, there have being several factors that have driven me towards the medical field:</p>
<p>(I am answering with the idea that your intent was to ask why one may want to be a physician...)</p>
<p>-idealism, and altruism
-Work experience as an EMT
-Work experience in disadvantaged communities (I am tri-literate and feel I can contribute in these arena)
--->Having to fulfill med school requirements; which in reality would be everybody's answer to your question, as posted, if you think about it.
-Family medical matters</p>
<p>Those are a few, and I'll write a more if anything comes to mind later. And the decision was entirely mine...coming from a family of Lawyers, it is very hard to tell them that I may not be pursuing law -although hopefully I will, too.</p>
<p>WF</p>
<p><strong><em>Oh, when I said "rich" I meant that you will end up having a "decent and even a nice lifestyle", not that you'd be like a filthy rich milionaire or anything.</em></strong>*</p>
<p>Yeah, this was the answer I was expecting. I don't think people who don't have it in their heart (altruism) should really go into the medical field......</p>
<p>Actually I didn't understand one of the reasons you listed........
"Having to fulfill med school requirements; which in reality would be everybody's answer to your question, as posted, if you think about it."
Is this a reason why you chose the Pre-Med track? do you mean that you already fulfiled most of them so you decide you might as well finish? Or, Do you mean that you chose it b/c of a satisfaction that comes from being able to fulfill the requirments of medical school?</p>
<p>"Is this a reason why you chose the Pre-Med track?"</p>
<p>Lol. What I meant is that I chose to do the premed track (science requirements in college) because that's the only way to get into medical school -not because I had some sort of fascination with chemistry and physics -actually, I like physics, lol.</p>
<p>"Yeah, this was the answer I was expecting. I don't think people who don't have it in their heart (altruism) should really go into the medical field..."</p>
<p>Now, I somewhat agree with you. However, the more doctors and med students I speak to, the more they tell me that you somewhat lose that "altruism";that the profession makes you grow cynical. </p>
<p>On a similar vein, I will also say that I, personally, would not care how idealistic my doctor is as long as he/she does her job -and well done. And well, idealism is not a necessity for this. Besides, look at MD's who primarily work on research. Most of the times, idealism is not an important factor. And what about those that only teach? </p>
<p>In all honesty, I think that some sort of balance is needed: a bit of idealism, to keep you hoping; a bit of realism/cynicism, to keep you going. Just my opinion.</p>
<p>Look at Senator Bill Frist (MD; Surgeon - Harvard.) He wrote in his medical student journal that, as a med student, he would go to animal shelters and adopt animals, and once home kill these and work on them to get practical experience. I don't see much idealism there :D -I was quite disgusted, actually. He also made reference to the fact that he too was surprised when, once in med school, he realized how this experience (med school) changed the students.</p>
<p>Anyway, enough of me rambling on...anybody else? </p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>WF</p>
<p>P.S. I really hope Doctor Frist doesn't run for President. :D</p>
<p>I think it's important you're altruistic in the sense that you put forth your best effort to help others(in practicing, definately, and in research, more indirectly). However, as a doctor, one can't or shouldn't be compassionate in the sense that one cares too much or gets emotional for the patient's pain or oncoming pain and suffering. They must have a steady and serious mind with little compassion in doing their work so that nothing affects him and be able to do what's best for the patient which may very well be contradictory to what the patient wants.</p>
<p>Talk to several doctors. Many of them will tell you that the medical school and residency years wiped out their overly altruistic view of medicine. Also, many medical students, especially 3rd years, are amazed at how idealistic pre-med students are--the type of pre-med student they once were.</p>
<p>read books about real students who went to med school. do an amazon search on medicine and youll find lots of real accounts of m.s. & res.</p>
<p>here are my personal reasons</p>
<p>Experience as an EMT and assosciation with the doctors/nurses at the hospital</p>
<p>Family experience-my uncle died from lung cancer and i kinda feel like a soldier after 9-11, i wanna kick sum cancer a** :) but in all seriousness, when he died i knew everything was done to help him and make him better, but i wanted to continue that with other people in the same position...idk if you understand that one its really personal but also my dad had prostate cancer, and that also has made me wanna help people because i saw what the doctors did for him and it just really changed my feelings about what i wanted to do with my life. </p>
<p>Cousin is a surgeon at Mt. Sinai-got me hooked and made me want to become an EMT in the first place</p>
<p>just fundamental fascination with the human body and how things work together to create a living being.</p>
<p>The feeling of knowing you have that power to make someone whos feeling miserable 100% better again or bringing someone back to life basically...ive done it before with EMS and you really dont know the effect it has on a person...its a great thing.</p>
<p>And finally, i just like to help people and make them know that you are doing everything you can to help them feel better and that you have things under control (even though sometimes you wont...i not only understand that but have also experienced that)</p>
<p>But like i said along with the successes and glories of being a doctor, there are also the negative aspect which i have also thought about. I think its easier for me because ive experienced tradgedies and successes in my experience with EMS and i know that the successes will eventually outweigh the tradgedies as long as you allow yourself to learn from the past and keep on putting your best effort forward and continually training yourself to give the best care possible. </p>
<p>so yea those r my reasons...lol</p>