For me, the 6 year course at Medical school and the environment of a university just motivates me to do well. I know weird but that's me, spending 6 years in something that's revolved around my favourite subject chemistry-count me in :wink:

Reply 12

Democracy

Original post by 161BMW

A lot of people want to be a doctor for the respect they think it gives them.
Nurses also help people but they don't want to be nurses.

Lmao that's because they're totally different jobs :dunce:

Reply 13

-Eirlys-

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

I've never wanted to be a doctor and certainly wouldn't do it purely for people's respect. A lot of people help people but they don't want to be a nurse.

I would prefer to be a doctor over a nurse though. They seem to have more control over their work life and get paid more.

Original post by 161BMW

A lot of people want to be a doctor for the respect they think it gives them.
Nurses also help people but they don't want to be nurses.

Reply 14

OrangeArcher

Original post by 161BMW

A lot of people want to be a doctor for the respect they think it gives them.
Nurses also help people but they don't want to be nurses.

That's like saying I want to be a vet, which I do, for the respect and I don't want to be a vet nurse because I think the job gets little respect. In reality I wouldn't want to be a vet nurse as the job just wouldn't suit me as they have to do such different work to a veterinary surgeon that I'm not cut out to do.

Reply 15

ForestCat

Original post by hannxm

Nurses definitely have a better work life balance. Full time is 37.5 for nurses, anywhere up to 60 hours a week as a doctor. Plus all the extra exams, audits, research etc that you need to do.
Oh and they only get paid more later down the line. First few years you'll be doing more hours for around the same money (thus giving a lower hourly rate).

Reply 16

Beth Rendell

So many reasons...
It's a job where you can help people and make a difference.
There is lots of communication in medicine and interacting with patients.
The variety-receiving a general training before being able to specialise in one area you really like
The challenge- becoming a doctor is a job where you continually can learn and problem solve.
It's really practical.
Many people are encouraged to study medicine for personal reasons or have parents who are doctors who inspire them.
Did I miss anything?
It's very hands on.
If you love science and the human body- being able to study anatomy in medicine is a big part.
You can workman environment where there is loads of teamwork.

Reply 17

medicalminded

Actually the issue is the lack of places in universities (down over 1500 per year from 2010) rather than the people applying which is reduced one rat past few years as well.

Reply 18

Nottie

Original post by GCSE 9

Medicine doesn't revolve around chemistry. The pre-clinical years maybe, but if I had to pick one science I'd say its more biology than chemistry

Reply 19

Blazingphoenix

Original post by GCSE 9

Correction, 5 year course plus 1 year if you choose to intercalate. And like @Nottie said it doesn't revolve around chemistry, more biology. I think I remember someone mentioned to me that med schools only ask for chemistry as it sits in the middle of the sciences: the theory needed from biology and the maths from physics. Don't know how true that is though. Also it isn't just about learning sciences and mechanisms of the body, there's is just as much focus now on communication and social sciences.