Why do people want to do Medicine?! Calling out 2012ers and 2013ers!

[RivalryofTroll]

NOTE: I am not aiming for Medicine myself (Commerce/Law and Actuarial Studies FTW)
So for all you people who are aiming for Medicine, what is your reason? (especially 2012 and 2013 HSCers)
Obviously, everyone would try to say that they want to save people's lives but I don't think everyone who wants to do medicine does it because they are passionate about saving lives (I could be wrong but I certainly know that perfect people don't exist, there are some who want to do it for pay, etc.)... Otherwise, we wouldn't have some bad doctors in society...

I've heard some people say that Medicine is the best course and every other course is complete crap, ignoring the fact that Law, Actuarial, Engineering, etc. can be/are just as crazy (knew a guy who thinks if he doesn't do Medicine then he's a goner in life. Yes, he is asian) or there's less risk of failure in Medicine and other bs comments.
But, I'm hoping/guessing that most of you guys, who want to Med, are doing it due to your passion!

So what's your reason? Please be honest!
Passion?
Pay - Money?
Respect?
Asian/Strict Parents?
Love for science?
Saving Lives?
It's a dream?
You want to aim high?
You want to help others find their happiness?
You want to bring a smile to others?
Whatever the reason, post it!

[seremify007]

Because it's the path of least resistance in terms of long term prospects (maybe their family are doctors and hence there's a business ready for them to be involved in)?

*shrugs* I have to admit the pay is a lot lower than it should be for medicine grads given the importance of the job, the pressure placed on them, the amount of studying and work required to get there, etc... but hey, at least they're helping people.

[LoveHateSchool]

It will sound cynical, but half the people I know go for it for the pay, prestige and their overbearing normally doctor parents pressuring them to do it.

Though the other half generally have a passion for it.

[RivalryofTroll]

It will sound cynical, but half the people I know go for it for the pay, prestige and their overbearing normally doctor parents pressuring them to do it.

I totally agree.
Though, the first year of pay is apparently worse than a first year teacher's pay? (Correct me if I'm wrong?) The first year pay for teachers is like $58 000?
However, the pay just rises like an exponential (especially if you become a specialist?)

[enoilgam]

I totally agree.
Though, the first year of pay is apparently worse than a first year teacher's pay? (Correct me if I'm wrong?) The first year pay for teachers is like $58 000?
However, the pay just rises like an exponential (especially if you become a specialist?)

From what I hear, you dont make "doctor" money until you're in private practice and that can take years. During the years of training (i.e. your residency or whatever its called in Australia), your working long hours for mediocre pay. Personally, there is no way I'd do medicine for the money - there are many other professions out there which offer good money for way less effort.

[Coookies]

I don't 100% want to do it, but if I did it would be for the people. I honestly don't care about the pay, thats nothing compared to saving someones life. Like come on, you only get one life.

[such_such]

I don't think you'd want to spend 10 years of your life studying if you're in for the money. And if you do think money, you don't deserve to be called a doctor.

[SpiralFlex]

Half of the people that claim to want to do Medicine do not take interest in the field.

Prestige + Money.

I am going to be a teacher and help humans for free.

[kaz1]

women, money, women, power, women, prestige and women

[OzKo]

It's not a nice life to live if you don't have the passion for it. The hours would drive everyone but the dedicated insane. Same goes for Law.

[nazfiz]

It's not a nice life to live if you don't have the passion for it. The hours would drive everyone but the dedicated insane. Same goes for Law.

Just wondering what would be motivation for Law? I mean it doesn't have the 'feel good' factor like med.

[OzKo]

Just wondering what would be motivation for Law? I mean it doesn't have the 'feel good' factor like med.

An ingrained idea of a high salary.

[RivalryofTroll]

Just wondering what would be motivation for Law? I mean it doesn't have the 'feel good' factor like med.

Motivation factors for law:
Respect
Pay (High from the start)
Wishing to prove that the accused is innocent! (If they are truly innocent and you proved them to be innocent (when they were thought to be guilty) then you basically have 'saved' them in a sense)
Contribution to society
Reinforcing the idea of law and order in society

[Eg155]

i have sooo many reasons why i want med: (in order of reasoning):
1) i have experienced so many PURELY STUPID doctors in my life. I had a single medical problem and it took them 8 months to discover what was wrong; oh this was after they (20+ doctors) told me that i needed to see a psychiatrist for 'faking' excruciating pain -.-. I hope to be the doctor who is there for the patient no matter what, never giving up to provide them with the greatest gift of health
2) I LOVE SCIENCE!
3) I hate having nothing to do. don't like relaxing at all. when it's 1 week into holidays i have to do some sort of learning. with medicine u r always relied upon and always learning from others and yourself.
4) Self satisfaction in being a non-asian who made it into medicine
5) spending 13 years in school and having something to show for it
6) prestige.

[RivalryofTroll]

Half of the people that claim to want to do Medicine do not take interest in the field.

I am going to be a teacher and help humans for free.

Agreed!

Hmmm... Teachers should be more respected in today's society, since they are building the next generation... (Pay should go up as well, but of course having the passion for teaching is the most important thing)
I hope to become a tutor after high school (if I do well) and during my university years!

[official_m]

Aside from having a genuine interest in the field, I want to do medicine because I have leadership qualities, and I feel that I possess other attributes that would make a good doctor. I've done work experience in nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, speech pathology and none of those allied health care professions appealed to me. I'm a decision maker, I'm a people-person, I'm empathetic, and I can also work well in a team... qualities that would bet suit a doctor My parents are doctors too but it's not as though they're pressuring me into it. They're doctors because they're passionate about what they do, not for the 'prestige' or anything like that. Naturally they are very proud of what they do but it's not as though they have a superiority complex lol.

One thing that makes me reconsider wanting to study medicine though is the lifestyle -- I've seen first-hand how stressful and how much time and commitment is needed. You have to totally devote yourself to your job, and don't get me wrong I think that's great but if you're after a family then it's pretty hard to juggle. My parents did it, and I admire them so much for being able to, because a lot of parents can't. So of course they'd love for me to share the same passion as them, but they also realise that it's not ideal so they wouldn't mind if I didn't pursue a career in that direction. They just want me to be successful

But obviously getting into medicine is super competitive and not exactly a realistic goal for me lol just putting it out there though, there are kids who want to do medicine aside from pressure from parents/money/prestige

[OzKo]

Aside from having a genuine interest in the field, I want to do medicine because I have leadership qualities, and I feel that I possess other attributes that would make a good doctor. I've done work experience in nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, speech pathology and none of those allied health care professions appealed to me. I'm a decision maker, I'm a people-person, I'm empathetic, and I can also work well in a team... qualities that would bet suit a doctor My parents are doctors too but it's not as though they're pressuring me into it. They're doctors because they're passionate about what they do, not for the 'prestige' or anything like that. Naturally they are very proud of what they do but it's not as though they have a superiority complex lol.

One thing that makes me reconsider wanting to study medicine though is the lifestyle -- I've seen first-hand how stressful and how much time and commitment is needed. You have to totally devote yourself to your job, and don't get me wrong I think that's great but if you're after a family then it's pretty hard to juggle. My parents did it, and I admire them so much for being able to, because a lot of parents can't. So of course they'd love for me to share the same passion as them, but they also realise that it's not ideal so they wouldn't mind if I didn't pursue a career in that direction. They just want me to be successful

But obviously getting into medicine is super competitive and not exactly a realistic goal for me lol just putting it out there though, there are kids who want to do medicine aside from pressure from parents/money/prestige

Good post. Repped.

[LoveHateSchool]

I think there are a lot of careers where you can help people...many careers can help people.

I for one want to turn my bio and chem interest into science research that will help people. Spi and others on here I think that wanting to be a teacher is such a noble pursuit, I know some phenomenal teachers that have honestly changed kid's lives. Engineering you can help build stuff that positively impacts people's lives. Law, you help uphold society and give everyone the right for fair legal representation. Journalism you are bringing people the news and educating the public.

Could go on and on, but dedication to any field can help humanity I believe. Even if it's a non professional job, you can still bring the world smiles and make some people happier from it.

I think if you've helped people in life, it's a life well lived.

[will_]

I think there are a lot of careers where you can help people...many careers can help people.

I for one want to turn my bio and chem interest into science research that will help people. Spi and others on here I think that wanting to be a teacher is such a noble pursuit, I know some phenomenal teachers that have honestly changed kid's lives. Engineering you can help build stuff that positively impacts people's lives. Law, you help uphold society and give everyone the right for fair legal representation. Journalism you are bringing people the news and educating the public.

Could go on and on, but dedication to any field can help humanity I believe. Even if it's a non professional job, you can still bring the world smiles and make some people happier from it.

I think if you've helped people in life, it's a life well lived.

if you think of it that way, there are lots of jobs which have a positive influence on society. somehow medicine is perceived to be the one with the greatest pay, though there are also other options such as law and engineering which can meet those sums.

[someth1ng]

Passion, dream and love for Medicine should be the only 3 IMO.

[Cl324]

One thing that makes me reconsider wanting to study medicine though is the lifestyle -- I've seen first-hand how stressful and how much time and commitment is needed. You have to totally devote yourself to your job, and don't get me wrong I think that's great but if you're after a family then it's pretty hard to juggle. My parents did it, and I admire them so much for being able to, because a lot of parents can't. So of course they'd love for me to share the same passion as them, but they also realise that it's not ideal so they wouldn't mind if I didn't pursue a career in that direction. They just want me to be successful

But obviously getting into medicine is super competitive and not exactly a realistic goal for me lol just putting it out there though, there are kids who want to do medicine aside from pressure from parents/money/prestige

Yeah I googled my old doctor and found out he completely neglected his family, wasnt getting any at home so he decided to start fingering people he gave pap smears to.
Just wtf... Goes without saying Ive never been there again.

[leesh95]

I have asian parents who are both doctors. Their long working hours, stressful life really put me of medicine for a while. But now I have realised that its my passion and I would do nothing else.
Another factor is that I absolutely adore chemistry and biology so I believe I would be able to grasp the concepts in medicine easily and also take an interest in them.
plus who cares about long working hours if you are getting to help people.

[bringonthenerds]

I agree that the salary is great, and my parents have considered I take it up, however I've always had my sights on Law, but now that I guess I have the opportunity to have a go, I said why not? So I guess the only reason as to why I want to do Med, is for the security, doctors are needed everywhere and the money is great, so that's a bonus as well as the respect that comes after. However, I will admit that I don't have a burning desire to do Medicine - it's a very sensible back-up.

[LoveHateSchool]

^So Med's a back up. I'd want my doctor to have a burning desire to do Med.

[RivalryofTroll]

I think there are a lot of careers where you can help people...many careers can help people.

I for one want to turn my bio and chem interest into science research that will help people. Spi and others on here I think that wanting to be a teacher is such a noble pursuit, I know some phenomenal teachers that have honestly changed kid's lives. Engineering you can help build stuff that positively impacts people's lives. Law, you help uphold society and give everyone the right for fair legal representation. Journalism you are bringing people the news and educating the public.

Could go on and on, but dedication to any field can help humanity I believe. Even if it's a non professional job, you can still bring the world smiles and make some people happier from it.

I think if you've helped people in life, it's a life well lived.

This thread is generating really good stuff!