Comments on: Did you always know you wanted to be a doctor? http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/ TalkingScience is a non-profit organization focus on educating the general public on science through new media. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Linda Brodsky http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/comment-page-1/#comment-32924 Linda Brodsky Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:45:46 +0000 http://www.talkingscience.org/?p=2937#comment-32924 Hi Sha, It's very difficult to know who you want to be at age 18. I certainly didn't. In fact, it wasn't until my second year of college that I decided to do my pre-med courses. Many people today decide to become doctors after college years and complete their pre-med course through what is known as a "post-bac" program. It sounds like you have an encouraging family, one that has some experience and knows what the medical world is like. If you have "some interest", you might want to keep your options open and see if you like science courses in college. Good luck! Hope you find your life's passion. Linda Hi Sha,
It's very difficult to know who you want to be at age 18. I certainly didn't. In fact, it wasn't until my second year of college that I decided to do my pre-med courses.
Many people today decide to become doctors after college years and complete their pre-med course through what is known as a "post-bac" program.
It sounds like you have an encouraging family, one that has some experience and knows what the medical world is like.
If you have "some interest", you might want to keep your options open and see if you like science courses in college.
Good luck! Hope you find your life's passion.
Linda

]]> By: sha http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/comment-page-1/#comment-32821 sha Sat, 03 Apr 2010 05:00:52 +0000 http://www.talkingscience.org/?p=2937#comment-32821 hi linda.... i;m 18 years old and i just passed my exam with flying colours.... i didn't know who i going to be for another 10 years.... all my family members expecting me to become a doctor.... especially my mother... she was a nurse in a local hospital... at first, i didn't aim to become a doctor... but when my mother encourage me to become a doctor, i suddenly have some interest to become a doctor.. one day... my friennd ask me... do you really want to become a doctor or or ypu want to fulfill your mom will.... until now.. i can;t answer that question... i want to ask you... if we want to become a doctor.... do we need passion towards that.??? hi linda....
i;m 18 years old and i just passed my exam with flying colours....
i didn't know who i going to be for another 10 years....
all my family members expecting me to become a doctor....
especially my mother... she was a nurse in a local hospital...
at first, i didn't aim to become a doctor... but when my mother encourage me to become a doctor, i suddenly have some interest to become a doctor.. one day... my friennd ask me... do you really want to become a doctor or or ypu want to fulfill your mom will....
until now.. i can;t answer that question... i want to ask you... if we want to become a doctor.... do we need passion towards that.???

]]> By: Linda Brodsky http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/comment-page-1/#comment-29886 Linda Brodsky Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:00:24 +0000 http://www.talkingscience.org/?p=2937#comment-29886 Hi Jason, It is definitely NOT too late to become a doctor. There are greater numbers of "older" (also called "non-traditional" students in medical school. Do not look at your past as "mistakes" but as experience which will make you a better doctor. We are all living longer, healthier lives, working into our 70's and even 80's, so you are comparitively young. Make a big push to do your pre-requisites and then apply. Try to get experience in a lab or a clinical research project. Having children is not incompatable with becoming a doctor. I did it almost 30 years ago, and it is a lot more accepted now. If this is what you want to do, don't find excuses not to do it. Hi Jason,
It is definitely NOT too late to become a doctor. There are greater numbers of "older" (also called "non-traditional" students in medical school.
Do not look at your past as "mistakes" but as experience which will make you a better doctor.
We are all living longer, healthier lives, working into our 70's and even 80's, so you are comparitively young. Make a big push to do your pre-requisites and then apply. Try to get experience in a lab or a clinical research project.
Having children is not incompatable with becoming a doctor. I did it almost 30 years ago, and it is a lot more accepted now.
If this is what you want to do, don't find excuses not to do it.

]]> By: Jason http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/comment-page-1/#comment-28840 Jason Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:13:56 +0000 http://www.talkingscience.org/?p=2937#comment-28840 I'm considering medical school right now but i'm 28 and single. I want a family soon but I still have to take all the prereqs and finish my BA in business. I'm discouraged because of my past mistakes that have led me to this point. I feel time is wasted. Is it too late to be a great doctor? I'm considering medical school right now but i'm 28 and single. I want a family soon but I still have to take all the prereqs and finish my BA in business. I'm discouraged because of my past mistakes that have led me to this point. I feel time is wasted. Is it too late to be a great doctor?

]]> By: Linda Brodsky http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/comment-page-1/#comment-25911 Linda Brodsky Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:10:03 +0000 http://www.talkingscience.org/?p=2937#comment-25911 Hi Mary, Sorry for such a long delay in answering. Didn't see your comment. You are absolutely correct. Being a "doctor" can mean a lot of things. Direct patient care has a lot of satisfactions, but if it weren't for the researchers in the sciences and clinically, clinical care would stagnate and the improvements in health and healthcare would not happen as rapidly. You found your place, and it is an important one. So thanks for sharing your story, and congradulations, (soon to be??) Dr.Mary Collins! Hi Mary,
Sorry for such a long delay in answering. Didn't see your comment.
You are absolutely correct. Being a "doctor" can mean a lot of things. Direct patient care has a lot of satisfactions, but if it weren't for the researchers in the sciences and clinically, clinical care would stagnate and the improvements in health and healthcare would not happen as rapidly.
You found your place, and it is an important one. So thanks for sharing your story, and congradulations, (soon to be??) Dr.Mary Collins!

]]> By: Mary Collins http://www.talkingscience.org/2009/10/did-you-always-know/comment-page-1/#comment-21281 Mary Collins Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:41:40 +0000 http://www.talkingscience.org/?p=2937#comment-21281 Although not technically always, from a very young age I knew I wanted to be a doctor. After studying biology pre-med in college I did not get accepted to med school. Confused and lost I signed on for a masters degree in molecular biology. Through my studies and lab work I found something even greater than being an MD. I felt like I was driving the problem solving, not just determining the best drug remedy. Currently I am finishing a PhD (you can still call me doctor) in immunology and oncology. I plan to go on and work for a biotech company where I will hopefully help more sick people than I ever could seeing patients. Although not technically always, from a very young age I knew I wanted to be a doctor. After studying biology pre-med in college I did not get accepted to med school. Confused and lost I signed on for a masters degree in molecular biology. Through my studies and lab work I found something even greater than being an MD. I felt like I was driving the problem solving, not just determining the best drug remedy.

Currently I am finishing a PhD (you can still call me doctor) in immunology and oncology. I plan to go on and work for a biotech company where I will hopefully help more sick people than I ever could seeing patients.

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