Why does anyone become a doctor?

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1 year ago 06/24/2022 1:01pm EDT

re: Koko the Gorilla

It's basically capitalism at it's best. Someone doesn't need an undergrad degree to handle the work load in medical school, same for law..the programs are completely separate and independent of each other. In the UK students enter medical school right out of high school (A levels 18-19 years old). But the schools and banks get richer off this scheme. Making students pay for an unnecessary undergraduate degree just must means more loans and greater interest. It also serves to keep these professions elitist because even with loans mainly the middle class or rich can afford to do it anyway

1 year ago 06/24/2022 1:06pm EDT

re: Koko the Gorilla

umm.....to heal people? Is that a good answer?

1 year ago 06/24/2022 3:02pm EDT

re: sunflower

sunflower wrote:
For the money and prestige. Becoming a doctor is the most sure fire way for someone who is smart and wants to work hard to earn a high income. Yes, there are people who make more money, but in general those all come with a much higher level of risk.

The cohort of people who become doctors would make more money doing something else (business or finance) if doctoring were not available to them. The late Uwe Reinhardt of Princeton published extensively on this. Medicine is a vocation, not a job. If you are going into it for the money, you will likely be disappointed.

1 year ago 06/24/2022 3:09pm EDT

re: Tsk tsk tsk

Tsk tsk tsk wrote:
IIn the UK students enter medical school right out of high school (A levels 18-19 years old).

While this is technically true, the time from secondary school graduation to becoming a fully qualified physician is about the same (10 years or so).

1 year ago 06/24/2022 4:03pm EDT

re: See Them Naked

See Them Naked wrote:
You get to see a lot of people naked.

Have you seen most people?? This is not a plus.

1 year ago 06/24/2022 4:21pm EDT

re: drbop

drbop wrote:
sunflower wrote:
For the money and prestige. Becoming a doctor is the most sure fire way for someone who is smart and wants to work hard to earn a high income. Yes, there are people who make more money, but in general those all come with a much higher level of risk.
The cohort of people who become doctors would make more money doing something else (business or finance) if doctoring were not available to them. The late Uwe Reinhardt of Princeton published extensively on this. Medicine is a vocation, not a job. If you are going into it for the money, you will likely be disappointed.

Maybe, but I'm skeptical. Becoming a doctor is essentially a guaranteed path to a high-income job. There's no other field that pays that well with that level of job security. Business - sure you can make a ton more money, but the risk of failure is considerable. Finance - I'm not as familiar with this career path but I would think that the failure rate is pretty high and a lot of people are weeded out before they make it.

If you're smart and hard working becoming a doctor is the safest bet. If you're off the charts intelligent then by all means go for one of those higher risk professions.

1 year ago 06/24/2022 4:21pm EDT

re: Koko the Gorilla

Koko the Gorilla wrote:
where are you? wrote:
I must be some kind of genius, then, because I finished med school in 4 years.
Congrats, so what's the correct timeline to become a full-time doctor then and can you share why you choose that path if you don't mind?

I have a direct relative going through the process. It does vary some by specialty.

4 years undergrad

4 years med school

3 years residency

1 year fellowship (optional)

1 year ago 06/24/2022 4:37pm EDT

re: sunflower

sunflower wrote:
drbop wrote:
The cohort of people who become doctors would make more money doing something else (business or finance) if doctoring were not available to them. The late Uwe Reinhardt of Princeton published extensively on this. Medicine is a vocation, not a job. If you are going into it for the money, you will likely be disappointed.
Maybe, but I'm skeptical. Becoming a doctor is essentially a guaranteed path to a high-income job. There's no other field that pays that well with that level of job security. Business - sure you can make a ton more money, but the risk of failure is considerable. Finance - I'm not as familiar with this career path but I would think that the failure rate is pretty high and a lot of people are weeded out before they make it.
If you're smart and hard working becoming a doctor is the safest bet. If you're off the charts intelligent then by all means go for one of those higher risk professions.

Reinhardt's research dealt with the group of people who applied but did not get admitted to medical school. Over time, they made more money than the group of people who did get admitted and became doctors. The group that applies to medical school is a very highly motivated, high achieving, highly competitive group. Reinhardt's conclusion was that they are generally more successful financially than the general population regardless of what endeavor they choose. With regard to business and finance, there is a much broader range of incomes, but the potential to earn a much higher income than one will earn in medicine.

1 year ago 06/24/2022 5:17pm EDT

re: EpiRunner

Yes but post graduate training is now compulsory. You ca remain a house officer for your entire career if you choose. Of course most people are desirous of post graduate training and specialization but it is not compulsory. So yes you can become a working doctor in 6 years.

1 year ago 06/24/2022 5:45pm EDT

re: See Them Naked

See Them Naked wrote:
You get to see a lot of people naked.

So does an undertaker.

And there's less study

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