I understand this decision is mine to make, but I am asking here because I would appreciate the opinions of those who are older and more experienced than myself.
Having finished my GCSE's, I have this summer ahead of me to contemplate about my future career paths. Since 3 years back, I have set my mind to do medicine because I wanted to be a psychiatrist. Why? I told myself the reason was because I was intrigued by mental disorder and the workings of the human mind, which is in fact true. Yet could I ask- is this the right reason to study medicine? Is it right to study medicine because I am fascinated by the scientific aspects of what a doctor has to deal with, and not the human side? Quite frankly, is this not a calling to study a purely scientific degree instead.
Having finished a Medicine degree, I never saw myself as a solely hands on doctor. I want to research and share scientific findings in books etc, and be a doctor who focuses more on 'advancing' medical research in the field rather than treating patients daily. I should also admit that I am not very interested in the NHS and the organisational aspect of hospitals either, which I believe is not what a prospective medic student should think.
If anything, all these point out that I should rather choose a course of Natural Sciences, studying pure topics of neuroscience, biology of cells etc. Yet from my understanding, a medical degree at Cambridge offers a more science based (rather than more patient based) course, which is one reason why I have not been tempted by nat sciences before.
I have three work experiences this summer, which will help me reach my decision. Of course, I need to be set in my decision before the start of school because if I do decide to study Natural Sciences, I would ask to be put back into further maths (which I am no longer doing because of med).