<p>Too many premeds but why? If its for the $$ theres always business like ibanking which requires much less education in school. I doubt all of them wants to do so many years of school to become a doctor cause they "care" and "love" the subjects.. If it's for the title, theres always others that sound just as good like phd or some dood workign on wall st</p>
<p>There is actually one simple way to find out if someone really wants to be a doctor, and that's by asking them what specialty they would like to pursue. A lot of times, the students who mention the most obscure specialties have a genuine interest. For example, I want to specialize in pathology. It caters to my interest in research and medicine. That's the simple reason, but there's a very complicated story that really piqued my interest in medicine. If a student mentions a common specialty, then you have to evaluate their reason. Often times, people will give the reason that "I want to help people," which I think is just a cover for the real reason, which is money. That's part of the reason why someone wants to be a doctor, but genuine doctors have a more profound reason.</p>
<p>Chicks, money, power, and chicks.</p>
<p>There are some professions where you can earn a lot of money: i-banking, law, etc. There are some professions that are well respected: firefighter, teacher, etc. There are some professions that let you help people: social work, etc. But, there are few professions that have prestige, money, power, AND hot nurses. </p>
<p>I'm premed strictly because I want to help people though. ;)</p>
<p>BTW: I wouldn't necessarily say that pathology is obscure although I roll my eyes every time some HSer come on the premed forum wanting to be a neurosurgeon from Johns Hopkins. I like pathology as well since I really liked the histo course I took at Cornell. However, I've been hesitant to say so at interviews since pathology involves so little patient contact. So, I've been saying emergency medicine and gen surgery, which fit my personality more.</p>
<p>And lots of kids go to college thinking they will be premed but they don't all end up that way. There is some serious weeding out that goes on in some of the required courses. Plus, I think some kids latch onto premed or prelaw or investment banking because they don't know how their major will relate to a profession after college (these are mostly liberal arts majors I'm talking about). However, once they start studying all different kinds of subjects, their goals often change and they start to see other opportunities.</p>
<p>megsy1990, what you said about knowing what specialty you want to go into is not neccesarily true...most doctors will tell you they didnt know what specialty they wanted to go into until after 3rd year, when you do clinical rotations...i dont think there is anything ingenuine about wanting to do medicine but not knowing what field you may want to work in for the rest of your life at the age of 20, 19, or even 18</p>
<p>I wasn't trying to be that extreme. It's not the end all, but it does mean you've given the field a lot of thought before jumping in.</p>
<p>are you asking why there are so many at cornell? because most undergrads think they have to major in biology and cornell has a great life sciences department.</p>
<p>but overall, society teaches people that doctors have a lot of money and power and it is a respected profession. that is why there are so many dropouts, because they realize it's not really what they wanted.</p>
<p>Yeah, it is a very respected profession, but the monetary compensation really isn't that much considering the hours a doctor has to put in, the debt incurred on the way to becoming a doctor, and the high-stress nature of the job.</p>
<p>Grey's Anatomy?
(Of course! All hospitals are like that!)</p>
<p>That show sucks, though.</p>
<p>i was just wondering this cause i was wondering why not having ilke 1000 people who wnat to be ibankers which is more pay, less time, respectable. cause i was bored the other day and i saw physician listed under Most overated jobs while ibanking was under best jobs i believe.</p>
<p>You know that the modern-day symbol for medicine is derived from the money sign $ right?</p>
<p>haha thats funny</p>
<p>"wnat to be ibankers which is less time"</p>
<p>Ummm ibankers often work 18-24 hours a day and sometimes many days straight...so saying it's less time is hardly an argument lol. That's one of the reasons ibanking sux ass for ur life. </p>
<p>omg it let me say ass. haha</p>