Medicine

Hello,

I'm in Year 12 and considering possible courses to apply for, for university. Medicine is a course which has always been on my mind. I know that Medicine is really long, but I would be willing to put in the dedication needed for the 10-15 years. I also feel that Medicine would be very rewarding, both financially and socially, because I would know that everyday, I would be making a difference to someone's life, and that is something I have always wanted in a career.

However, I do have some objections. First of all, I am very squeamish about blood and surgeries; I would feel uncomfortable having to touch patients; I am absolutely terrified at dissections; I am very emotional, so I would probably cry with the family if I had to tell them bad news (eg someone had died); and I would probably faint when having to observe dead bodies.

Based on this, do you guys think I should still study Medicine or just let it go?

Any advice would be appreciated :smile:

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

10

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Megathreads
(Please read the first post, before then posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread

Other application years:
Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2025 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application

If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Reply 2

Chi chi5

Universities Forum Helper

15

Original post by TwisterBlade596

Hello,

I'm in Year 12 and considering possible courses to apply for, for university. Medicine is a course which has always been on my mind. I know that Medicine is really long, but I would be willing to put in the dedication needed for the 10-15 years. I also feel that Medicine would be very rewarding, both financially and socially, because I would know that everyday, I would be making a difference to someone's life, and that is something I have always wanted in a career.

However, I do have some objections. First of all, I am very squeamish about blood and surgeries; I would feel uncomfortable having to touch patients; I am absolutely terrified at dissections; I am very emotional, so I would probably cry with the family if I had to tell them bad news (eg someone had died); and I would probably faint when having to observe dead bodies.

Based on this, do you guys think I should still study Medicine or just let it go?

Any advice would be appreciated :smile:

What work experience have you done? I’m not sure you have a clear idea of what medicine entails?

Reply 3

greg tony

16

Original post by TwisterBlade596

Hello,

I'm in Year 12 and considering possible courses to apply for, for university. Medicine is a course which has always been on my mind. I know that Medicine is really long, but I would be willing to put in the dedication needed for the 10-15 years. I also feel that Medicine would be very rewarding, both financially and socially, because I would know that everyday, I would be making a difference to someone's life, and that is something I have always wanted in a career.

However, I do have some objections. First of all, I am very squeamish about blood and surgeries; I would feel uncomfortable having to touch patients; I am absolutely terrified at dissections; I am very emotional, so I would probably cry with the family if I had to tell them bad news (eg someone had died); and I would probably faint when having to observe dead bodies.

Based on this, do you guys think I should still study Medicine or just let it go?

Any advice would be appreciated :smile:

There are thousands of jobs that make a difference to peoples lives, it is not just medicine. While jobs like being a doctor do impact people daily, this idea wont be enough to sustain you in the role, and sometimes your impact will be challenging or maybe even make things worse for them. Can you deal with that emotionally do you think?
Reference if you should let it go, if i am being harsh id say you dont seem to have a very good grasp on it to begin with. Id really advise thinking about how you like to work, what environments, what daily type of role (being active or sat down), what contact you want with others and what responsibilities etc. Like i said there are thousands of roles that make an impact on peoples lives, dont limit yourself to medicine.
Greg

Reply 4

TwisterBlade596

OP

5

Original post by Chi chi5

What work experience have you done? I’m not sure you have a clear idea of what medicine entails?

I haven't done any work experience related to medicine.

I think I am focusing more on the realities of medical school rather than the actual job, which I have researched on.

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 5

Chi chi5

Universities Forum Helper

15

Original post by TwisterBlade596

I haven't done any work experience related to medicine.

I think I am focusing more on the realities of medical school rather than the actual job, which I have researched on.

I would highly recommend getting some actual work experience. You’d only be in med school for roughly 5 years, the career is a lifetime. It isn’t enough to be happy with the non clinical teaching, you have to be aware of what life after med school, and during clinical years of med school for that matter, would be like and be happy with that x wish you all the best, if you have any questions or need any guidance about getting experience or where to turn to research it I’m here

Reply 6

Democracy

20

Original post by TwisterBlade596

Hello,

I'm in Year 12 and considering possible courses to apply for, for university. Medicine is a course which has always been on my mind. I know that Medicine is really long, but I would be willing to put in the dedication needed for the 10-15 years. I also feel that Medicine would be very rewarding, both financially and socially, because I would know that everyday, I would be making a difference to someone's life, and that is something I have always wanted in a career.

However, I do have some objections. First of all, I am very squeamish about blood and surgeries; I would feel uncomfortable having to touch patients; I am absolutely terrified at dissections; I am very emotional, so I would probably cry with the family if I had to tell them bad news (eg someone had died); and I would probably faint when having to observe dead bodies.

Based on this, do you guys think I should still study Medicine or just let it go?

Any advice would be appreciated :smile:

Bloods and operations - you'll eventually get used to it. Non-surgical specialties are available.

Dissections - may not actually happen at your medical school (they are becoming rarer) but even if they did, unlikely to be a thing after second year. Cadavers used in anatomy don't closely resemble "real" people frankly, so a degree of emotional distancing is possible.

Feeling uncomfortable about touching patients - I think you'll need to elaborate on this.

Breaking bad news - you receive training for this and it's not something you'll be expected to do on day one.

Dead people - it's the alive ones you have to watch out for :p:

None of these seem like things which would absolutely rule you out from doing medicine but you know yourself better than anyone else - do you think you're willing to put up with the discomfort associated with all of the above whilst you eventually get used to it all? Or will it feel like endless anxiety and unhappiness?

Medicine

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you