Why Medicine?

[Starlight]

Just wondering (this may be perceived as a stupid question by many of you) as to why so many people on here want to do medicine?

Is it something you sincerely want to do, for example to help people, or is it because of the pay or influence from anyone?

It is a pretty difficult thing to get in to, obviously, and those who have not got a clearly in score would indeed find it almost near impossible to get into through courses such as science at melbourne, and perhaps even more difficult if your umat result was not the best it could be.

I'm aware of this because my sister received an atar to be accepted into biomed at melbourne uni, and even though the umat is supposedly not as 'vital' as that at monash uni, she never did get into medicine, but instead is now 22 and is hoping to god gets into a phd focusing on bioethics or something.

Why not courses such as dentistry or engineering? I mean dentistry is still a course where you help people, yet never seems to get as much popularity as with medicine, and engineering is one of the most challenging courses, especially civil with the mathematics involved. I mean these jobs do get an equal/ near pay to medicine.

I've posted this because I want to hear your opinions.

Btw, if you have qualified for medicine or whatever, congratulations!

[dc302]

For me, the reasons are:

To save/help people, the money, the security, and it'll probably be more fun than other careers I have thought about (I hope). I want to have a family and be well off as well!

vs dentistry: dentists don't really 'save' people, and I think being a dentist would be pretty boring.

vs engineering: I have definitely thought about this one, and if I didn't get into med I would probably be doing this. The problem is it doesn't offer the money (and maybe security) that medicine offers.

I have also considered PhDs in maths or physics, for research, but again, I don't think I would have much job satisfaction from doing this..

[Starlight]

Thanks for your insight, but engineering does offer a more than stable salary.

[dc302]

True but I also had to weigh up whether I wanted to help people more or do engineering. I liked the idea of engineering because I like maths/physics, but I realised I simply like learning, rather than actually applying. This was a major factor in my decision as well.

[Starlight]

Well, many types of engineering e.g. civil

[Starlight]

I see.

[mr.politiks]

I think why so many people are drawn to it compared to other professions is:

- Medicine can be exhilirating. It is rapidly moving, your learning is lifelong, and the job involves a high level of practicality and hands-on activity. It is rarely monotonous or boring.

- Medicine is usually intriguing: It is really diverse, and the career is heavily associated with problem soliving, application of knowledge to real life situations etc.

- Medicine is often viewed as fulfilling because you interact with and assist a diverse range of people at a face to face and direct level.

Just thought that some of these reasons might help 

[abd123]

Impressive job profile and money i guess?

I don't know if many people are passionate about it.

If its passion for em, they should go ahead and chase their dreams .

[Sellingman]

I think why so many people are drawn to it compared to other professions is:

- Medicine can be exhilirating. It is rapidly moving, your learning is lifelong, and the job involves a high level of practicality and hands-on activity. It is rarely monotonous or boring.

- Medicine is usually intriguing: It is really diverse, and the career is heavily associated with problem soliving, application of knowledge to real life situations etc.

- Medicine is often viewed as fulfilling because you interact with and assist a diverse range of people at a face to face and direct level.

Just thought that some of these reasons might help 

Honestly, say whatever you want but I'm 99% sure you want to do medicine because it'll make your parents happy. In Asia, many families are extremely poor and medicine represents an avenue for a good student to break the cycle and have a decent life. That's why so many parents pressure their kids to do medicine and why 90% of high-achieving Asian students want to do medicine.

Firstly, engineering is also lifelong learning, even moreso than medicine because technology becomes obsolete every few years.

On your second point, the entire profession of engineering is based on applying knowledge.

On your third point, I agree with you.

People think doctors are respected and their job is full of cheer and goodwill but in reality, it's nothing like that. My GP told me that unless you have a personal desire to study medicine, completely uninfluenced by your parents/teachers, it will be the worst decision you make in your life. You miss out almost entirely on family life as you are continuously working, the pay is crap for the hours you work and patients are constantly criticising you and the threat of litigation plays on your mind non-stop. But if you genuinely have a desire to help someone, you'd see this as the only life for you. If you think you're going to enjoy this profession and bask in the sunlight of your prestige, you are wrong.

So why do so many people want to do it? As I said, prestige and their inability to tell their parents that they're making their own decisions in life.

Say whatever you like, but at the end of the day, doctors have to put their hands up a man's anus when need-be, is it really a desire of applying problems and lifelong learning that prompts them to choose this?

[mr.politiks]

Honestly, say whatever you want but I'm 99% sure you want to do medicine because it'll make your parents happy. In Asia, many families are extremely poor and medicine represents an avenue for a good student to break the cycle and have a decent life. That's why so many parents pressure their kids to do medicine and why 90% of high-achieving Asian students want to do medicine.

Firstly, engineering is also lifelong learning, even moreso than medicine because technology becomes obsolete every few years.

On your second point, the entire profession of engineering is based on applying knowledge.

On your third point, I agree with you.

People think doctors are respected and their job is full of cheer and goodwill but in reality, it's nothing like that. My GP told me that unless you have a personal desire to study medicine, completely uninfluenced by your parents/teachers, it will be the worst decision you make in your life. You miss out almost entirely on family life as you are continuously working, the pay is crap for the hours you work and patients are constantly criticising you and the threat of litigation plays on your mind non-stop. But if you genuinely have a desire to help someone, you'd see this as the only life for you. If you think you're going to enjoy this profession and bask in the sunlight of your prestige, you are wrong.

So why do so many people want to do it? As I said, prestige and their inability to tell their parents that they're making their own decisions in life.

Say whatever you like, but at the end of the day, doctors have to put their hands up a man's anus when need-be, is it really a desire of applying problems and lifelong learning that prompts them to choose this?

Whoa man.

Notice that I was talking about why so many people are drawn to med.  I was talking about anyone who is genuinely passionate about it, regardless of asian background or no.

Also, I wasn't trying to compare Engineering and Med, it is true that Engineering displays many of the same things 

The third point, on which you agree, is the clincher (for many people). If you really want to compare Med to other professions, then this is what will stand out.

Also, I completely agree with your last point. Medicine is a challenge, and you make sacrifices for your passion. You need the personal desire. If you go in with the wrong perception then you will be surprised. I encourage everyone deciding to consider factors such as you have listed (stress, time commitement, work life balance, continous work etc.)

[b^3]

Honestly, say whatever you want but I'm 99% sure you want to do medicine because it'll make your parents happy. In Asia, many families are extremely poor and medicine represents an avenue for a good student to break the cycle and have a decent life. That's why so many parents pressure their kids to do medicine and why 90% of high-achieving Asian students want to do medicine.

Seriously try not to stereotype people without even knowing them personally. Not everyone falls into a collective group, not everyone is aiming to do med because of their parents.

[dc302]

Make my parents happy? Lol fuck off.

[mr.politiks]

Also, I didn't add my own reasons, I was simply trying to answer the initial question from El2012.
My own reasons are not to please my parents, and my parents have even told me to think twice due to the challenges in the past. My own reasons are based on my personal experiences.

[Sellingman]

Honestly, say whatever you want but I'm 99% sure you want to do medicine because it'll make your parents happy. In Asia, many families are extremely poor and medicine represents an avenue for a good student to break the cycle and have a decent life. That's why so many parents pressure their kids to do medicine and why 90% of high-achieving Asian students want to do medicine.

Firstly, engineering is also lifelong learning, even moreso than medicine because technology becomes obsolete every few years.

On your second point, the entire profession of engineering is based on applying knowledge.

On your third point, I agree with you.

People think doctors are respected and their job is full of cheer and goodwill but in reality, it's nothing like that. My GP told me that unless you have a personal desire to study medicine, completely uninfluenced by your parents/teachers, it will be the worst decision you make in your life. You miss out almost entirely on family life as you are continuously working, the pay is crap for the hours you work and patients are constantly criticising you and the threat of litigation plays on your mind non-stop. But if you genuinely have a desire to help someone, you'd see this as the only life for you. If you think you're going to enjoy this profession and bask in the sunlight of your prestige, you are wrong.

So why do so many people want to do it? As I said, prestige and their inability to tell their parents that they're making their own decisions in life.

Say whatever you like, but at the end of the day, doctors have to put their hands up a man's anus when need-be, is it really a desire of applying problems and lifelong learning that prompts them to choose this?

Whoa man.

Notice that I was talking about why so many people are drawn to med.  I was talking about anyone who is genuinely passionate about it, regardless of asian background or no.

Also, I wasn't trying to compare Engineering and Med, it is true that Engineering displays many of the same things 

The third point, on which you agree, is the clincher (for many people). If you really want to compare Med to other professions, then this is what will stand out.

Also, I completely agree with your last point. Medicine is a challenge, and you make sacrifices for your passion. You need the personal desire. If you go in with the wrong perception then you will be surprised. I encourage everyone deciding to consider factors such as you have listed (stress, time commitement, work life balance, continous work etc.)

I know what you're saying. What I'm saying is that if people were pushed into do engineering and engineering had a bigger pay-packet as well as the prestige factor, all of a sudden everyone would want to do that. We have way way way too many people who want to do medicine for the wrong reasons, money and women. I seriously doubt your average med hopeful cares about whether they will be applying problem solving and patient intercourse.

@Istafa, I'm not saying specifically you, I'm saying there are A LOT of students doing medicine due to their parents and outlined reasons.

[burbs]

Relevant.