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Should You Become a Doctor? 5 Questions to Answer When You’re In Doubt
Articles
July 31, 2024
You chose to take on the challenge of premedical education because you had a goal: the goal of getting into medical school and becoming a physician. Premedical education is difficult, and everyone has doubts from time to time about whether they can see it through. However, if you’re having a more existential doubt – that is, you’re not even sure if you want to become a doctor anymore – it’s essential to pause and reflect.
Here are five crucial questions to ask yourself before continuing down this demanding road.
Why Did I Choose Medicine in the First Place?
Start by revisiting your initial motivations. Understanding your “why” is key to maintaining motivation through the ups and downs. Are your motivations for studying medicine internal – that is, you have a passion for medical science or a desire to help others? Or were they external, due to the influence of family or societal expectations?
If your reasons for pursuing a medical career align with personal values and passions, it can be a strong indicator that you’re on the right path. However, if your choice was heavily influenced by external pressures, it might be time to reconsider.
Am I Prepared for the Long-Term Commitment?
Becoming a doctor isn’t just about getting into medical school; it’s about enduring years of training, including medical school, residency, and possibly fellowships. This can take anywhere from seven to 15 years, depending on your specialty. Then, once you are a doctor, you’ll need to keep up with the latest research, attend conferences, and participate in continuing development throughout your career.
Are you prepared to commit to a decade or more of rigorous training, often with long hours and high levels of stress (not to mention the cost of all that training)? Reflect on whether the long-term rewards justify the short-term sacrifices for you personally.
Do I Enjoy Clinical Work and Patient Interaction?
Some premed students are drawn to medicine for the intellectual challenge or the prestige. However, the day-to-day realities of being a doctor can be quite different, and it’s crucial to understand what these are when trying to decide whether a medical career is right for you.
Shadowing doctors, volunteering at hospitals, or working as a medical scribe can give you insight into whether you enjoy the clinical environment, the patient interactions, and the administrative work involved with being a doctor. If you find that you don’t thrive in these settings, it may be worth exploring other healthcare roles or entirely different fields where your strengths and interests align more closely.
How Do I Handle Stress and Pressure?
The medical field is notorious for being a high-stress environment. Whether it’s dealing with life-and-death situations, managing a heavy workload, or making difficult decisions under pressure, stress is an inherent part of the job. Since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the medical community has been engaging in more open discussion about the problem of physician burnout – the syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and hopelessness caused by chronic stress.
Ask yourself how well you manage stress and whether you can maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you find stress overwhelming or struggle with mental health issues, it’s essential to consider how these factors will impact your ability to thrive as a doctor.
What Are My Alternative Career Options?
Finally, consider what other career paths might satisfy your interests and goals. If you’re passionate about science, research, or healthcare, there are many rewarding careers outside of medicine. Public health, biomedical research, health policy, and healthcare administration are just a few alternatives – take a look at some of your other options in one of our past articles on the subject.
Sometimes, stepping back and exploring these options can reaffirm your desire to pursue medicine – or help you find a path that better suits your strengths and passions. Remember, it’s your life and your future. Choose the path that feels right for you!
You chose to take on the challenge of premedical education because you had a goal: the goal of getting into medical school and becoming a physician. Premedical education is difficult, and everyone has doubts from time to time about whether they can see it through. However, if you’re having a more existential doubt – that is, you’re not even sure if you want to become a doctor anymore – it’s essential to pause and reflect.
Here are five crucial questions to ask yourself before continuing down this demanding road.
Why Did I Choose Medicine in the First Place?
Start by revisiting your initial motivations. Understanding your “why” is key to maintaining motivation through the ups and downs. Are your motivations for studying medicine internal – that is, you have a passion for medical science or a desire to help others? Or were they external, due to the influence of family or societal expectations?
If your reasons for pursuing a medical career align with personal values and passions, it can be a strong indicator that you’re on the right path. However, if your choice was heavily influenced by external pressures, it might be time to reconsider.
Am I Prepared for the Long-Term Commitment?
Becoming a doctor isn’t just about getting into medical school; it’s about enduring years of training, including medical school, residency, and possibly fellowships. This can take anywhere from seven to 15 years, depending on your specialty. Then, once you are a doctor, you’ll need to keep up with the latest research, attend conferences, and participate in continuing development throughout your career.
Are you prepared to commit to a decade or more of rigorous training, often with long hours and high levels of stress (not to mention the cost of all that training)? Reflect on whether the long-term rewards justify the short-term sacrifices for you personally.
Do I Enjoy Clinical Work and Patient Interaction?
Some premed students are drawn to medicine for the intellectual challenge or the prestige. However, the day-to-day realities of being a doctor can be quite different, and it’s crucial to understand what these are when trying to decide whether a medical career is right for you.
Shadowing doctors, volunteering at hospitals, or working as a medical scribe can give you insight into whether you enjoy the clinical environment, the patient interactions, and the administrative work involved with being a doctor. If you find that you don’t thrive in these settings, it may be worth exploring other healthcare roles or entirely different fields where your strengths and interests align more closely.
How Do I Handle Stress and Pressure?
The medical field is notorious for being a high-stress environment. Whether it’s dealing with life-and-death situations, managing a heavy workload, or making difficult decisions under pressure, stress is an inherent part of the job. Since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the medical community has been engaging in more open discussion about the problem of physician burnout – the syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and hopelessness caused by chronic stress.
Ask yourself how well you manage stress and whether you can maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you find stress overwhelming or struggle with mental health issues, it’s essential to consider how these factors will impact your ability to thrive as a doctor.
What Are My Alternative Career Options?
Finally, consider what other career paths might satisfy your interests and goals. If you’re passionate about science, research, or healthcare, there are many rewarding careers outside of medicine. Public health, biomedical research, health policy, and healthcare administration are just a few alternatives – take a look at some of your other options in one of our past articles on the subject.
Sometimes, stepping back and exploring these options can reaffirm your desire to pursue medicine – or help you find a path that better suits your strengths and passions. Remember, it’s your life and your future. Choose the path that feels right for you!