Why do people want to do medicine so badly? (srs)

[thushan]

I don't think 'wanting to help people' can be put down as a sole criterion for why anyone would want to study med. That would imply the only vocations in which you can help other people are medical professions.

I agree, I think we've just been taking the piss out of the phrase to an extent because it's so generic, overused and ironically superficial (thanks medentry).

Medentry's new line is "I want the challenge of diagnosis"

[shinny]

To quote myself:

Overall, the benefits of Medicine can be found in many other careers. If what you want is money, do dentistry. Seriously, you'll earn heaps more than Medicine, and you start getting it immediately after you graduate. For helping people, there's other ways to do it. If all you like is the idea of Biology/science, then pursue an academic career. Clinical medicine actually comes down to a lot of common sense/rote learning and less actual science and such than you may think. What medicine does do is perhaps combine all the above elements into a single career, and that's the main reason why you should consider even going through this mostly hellish path.

[alexa94]

Yeah, these are the sort of responses I was expecting and I respect them. Not the ones accusing me of starting an argument, but those that have considered all factors and other pathways and come to the conclusion that only med would satisfy them.

[JinXi]

The most ridiculous reason I've heard, and not just once, is that people think that their ATAR is going to "WASTE" if they have the mark to get into med, and don't...

Most of them don't even have much interest in the field and many of them are now regretting their decision.

And also I've heard too many stories about parents not approving relationships if the guy isn't an engineer, lawyer or doctor... (Mostly are from Malaysia, kinda understandable given the lifestyle over there, but it does create quite a lot of problems.)

[paulsterio]

Yeah, these are the sort of responses I was expecting and I respect them. Not the ones accusing me of starting an argument, but those that have considered all factors and other pathways and come to the conclusion that only med would satisfy them.

You were trying to start an argument. Otherwise you wouldn't be arguing.

[taiga]

I think the bulk go for the prestige.

[paulsterio]

I think the bulk go for the prestige.

That's very true

[ninwa]

You were trying to start an argument. Otherwise you wouldn't be arguing.

He was trying to start a discussion. No need to be melodramatic

[paulsterio]

He was trying to start a discussion. No need to be melodramatic

if you insist nina

[nisha]

I want to study medicine for the same reason everyone else does. Chicks, money, power and chicks.

Girls are not drawn to guys JUST BECAUSE of their job. Just sayin'

[thushan]

I want to study medicine for the same reason everyone else does. Chicks, money, power and chicks.

Girls are not drawn to guys JUST BECAUSE of their job. Just sayin'

Nisha - Surgeon was being tongue in cheek. What he said was a quote from Scrubs.

[Neuron]

Way to go off-topic guys


... also Med is overrated.

[pi]

Re: topic (wtf happened above^)

Why I wanted to study medicine?

For a number of reasons, I guess I've always been a Science kid and furthermore, have always relished a challenge and a new learning experience in this field. Medicine does this for me, it is a dynamic field that is constantly mentally stimulating. This combined with the patient and colleague interactions, makes it the most challenging and interesting profession around. Additionally, any hesitations I had about Medicine immediately disappeared after my week at the RCH, the environment was simply inspiring, to say the least.

Yeh, so that's pretty much it

I maintain that even now.

As you can see, money and prestige weren't really the main goals because I knew of the reality of the medical pay scale, and how long it takes before you can earn the big $$$$ (not that I'm saying interns and the like are poor) and in terms of the prestige or respect, I'd prefer that people show me respect only if I've earned it by being a good person, rather than it simply being a label attached to my occupation.

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience

[Russ]

Cleaned up the OT

[Jenny_2108]

I want to study medicine for the same reason everyone else does. Chicks, money, power and chicks.

NOT everyone does. I wanna do medicine but all of those above isnt my main reason. LOL