[Valentas]

Hello. I am in between two choices: I can either take up a medicine course or go abroad for my biochemistry classes. I feel that I am not very well for medicine because I hate grinding through textbook to memorize millions of Latin words. I imagine myself a lot more in research than curing patients. However, I feel a great appeal to learn about human body. Also, how about employment? As far as I know doctors are guaranteed to receive it but science grads are tend to be in employment crisis even after PhD. After doing a medicine course I consider to do research because I don't feel like being able handle crazy patients. It may sound weird but should I go to biochemistry and do my PhD or start Medical school and than qualify as a researcher? Which degree would be better off for me in terms of employment and years spent in training?

[L'onclesoul]

Paraphrasing 'Eat, Pray, Love.'

Studying medicine is 'kinda like having a tattoo on your face, you kinda want to be committed to it.'

If you didn't jump at the chance when it was offered, you don't really want it.

[Democracy]

(Original post by Valentas)
Hello. I am in between two choices: I can either take up a medicine course or go abroad for my biochemistry classes. I feel that I am not very well for medicine because I hate grinding through textbook to memorize millions of Latin words. I imagine myself a lot more in research than curing patients. However, I feel a great appeal to learn about human body. Also, how about employment? As far as I know doctors are guaranteed to receive it but science grads are tend to be in employment crisis even after PhD. After doing a medicine course I consider to do research because I don't feel like being able handle crazy patients. It may sound weird but should I go to biochemistry and do my PhD or start Medical school and than qualify as a researcher? Which degree would be better off for me in terms of employment and years spent in training?

Do you instead like the idea of grinding through a textbook (or journal articles) to memorise transcription factors and genes which are little more than random letters and numbers strung together?

Have you done any work experience or shadowing in medicine? That might tell you if you'd enjoy it or not. But by the sounds of your post, you already sound pretty keen on science.

[Helloworld_95]

Since when did science grads have poor employment opportunities, especially those with PhD's?

[Valentas]

(Original post by Helloworld_95)
Since when did science grads have poor employment opportunities, especially those with PhD's?

Read news of all the world about situation. For example, in the USA loads of people with PhDs compete for 1 place. By 'loads' i mean 30-40 PhDs.

[MJK91]

PhDs are not uncommon these days -- competition is obviously high for good jobs but it's increasingly tough for the lower paid jobs too. I know people who have studied a Masters and are applying for Band 2 positions in the NHS.

[theatrical]

(Original post by MattKneale)
PhDs are not uncommon these days -- competition is obviously high for good jobs but it's increasingly tough for the lower paid jobs too. I know people who have studied a Masters and are applying for Band 2 positions in the NHS.

PhDs aren't uncommon in themselves, but a PhD from a well respected research unit with equally well respected supervisors still sets you apart. None of my friends with PhDs in the life sciences from Manchester have struggled at all to find post-doctoral jobs - many have had job offers from the US.

(Original post by Valentas)
...

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To the OP: it seems that you don't actually want to be a medical doctor and have very little interest in clinical medicine. So then why put yourself through a medical degree (three years of which you spend with 'crazy' patients) and then spend two years afterwards working on the wards? Do your biochem degree and then persue the research route from there... you'd have to do a PhD after a medical degree if you wanted a serious research career anyway.

[digitalis]

(Original post by Valentas)
Hello. I am in between two choices: I can either take up a medicine course or go abroad for my biochemistry classes. I feel that I am not very well for medicine because I hate grinding through textbook to memorize millions of Latin words. I imagine myself a lot more in research than curing patients. However, I feel a great appeal to learn about human body. Also, how about employment? As far as I know doctors are guaranteed to receive it but science grads are tend to be in employment crisis even after PhD. After doing a medicine course I consider to do research because I don't feel like being able handle crazy patients. It may sound weird but should I go to biochemistry and do my PhD or start Medical school and than qualify as a researcher? Which degree would be better off for me in terms of employment and years spent in training?

Why not do Pharm and then go into research with Big Pharma?

[Valentas]

The difference which is huge and hard for me to decide which I prefer is that Medical School would not cost me a dime. Only rent of accommodation, food and still a doctor would have a job security if things would go wrong. Of course it only applies to a good doctor. Also my plan was to pursue untraditional science in curing: herbs and stuff because that's my goal after having studied human body. OK. Let's consider this. You have mentioned that Manchester biochemists have found jobs without problems. What about Sheffield graduate? As far as I heard, Sheffield is incredibly good university for biosciences and highly regarded by employers. Also, is it possible to do research as a biochemist by exploring herbs properties and their power to cure diseases? Also, you have given me a mention of pharmacy. What is it pharmacy about? Is their loads of memorizing stuff? What could I do after pharmacy degree? Because my knowledge about pharmacy ends in drug store where beautiful young lady sells drugs. I don't want to end up there...

[digitalis]

(Original post by Valentas)
Also, you have given me a mention of pharmacy. What is it pharmacy about? Is their loads of memorizing stuff? What could I do after pharmacy degree? Because my knowledge about pharmacy ends in drug store where beautiful young lady sells drugs. I don't want to end up there...

I can't decide if you are trolling or not, based on that last post.

The pharmaceutical industry makes drugs. So, as a pharmacist working for them, you could be inventing and designing new therapies for clinical use. Or alternatively, work in hospital as a clinical pharmacist. Any more info-Google will help you out.