I’m stuck on what I want to do!
I’m struggling whether I want to become a doctor or biochemist?
I feel like I don’t want to study for 10 years but then I think i would find it interesting. And I’m not to sure how I feel about fingers in places etc. (I am in year 10 so I feel I may mature out of that) with biochemist it takes 3 years which I’m happy with but then I don’t know if I would loose interest unlike a doctor the day to day job is pretty much the same.
I feel like I don’t want to study for 10 years but then I think i would find it interesting. And I’m not to sure how I feel about fingers in places etc. (I am in year 10 so I feel I may mature out of that) with biochemist it takes 3 years which I’m happy with but then I don’t know if I would loose interest unlike a doctor the day to day job is pretty much the same.
No as our school does not offer work experience until year 13.
Thank you.
Original post by Harryallo
I’m struggling whether I want to become a doctor or biochemist?
I feel like I don’t want to study for 10 years but then I think i would find it interesting. And I’m not to sure how I feel about fingers in places etc. (I am in year 10 so I feel I may mature out of that) with biochemist it takes 3 years which I’m happy with but then I don’t know if I would loose interest unlike a doctor the day to day job is pretty much the same.
I feel like I don’t want to study for 10 years but then I think i would find it interesting. And I’m not to sure how I feel about fingers in places etc. (I am in year 10 so I feel I may mature out of that) with biochemist it takes 3 years which I’m happy with but then I don’t know if I would loose interest unlike a doctor the day to day job is pretty much the same.
I just wanted to pick up on the '10 years' part - a medical degree to become a doctor in the UK is either 5 or 6 years (depending on whether you pick to go to a university that does an extra year of study/choose to do an extra year of study).
After those 5 or 6 years, you have graduated, you're a doctor and you're getting paid. So it's not 10 years at uni at all!
You will have to do some learning on the job and take some exams over the years after you have graduated if you want to process up the career ladder as a doctor. But you're certainly no longer studying at uni, and you're certainly working and getting paid at this time.
I just don't want you to make a decision based on thinking that it takes 10 years to become a doctor, when it doesn't! It takes 5!
As for picking between the two careers, you have plenty of time to work out what you would like and enjoy, and both are excellent careers. I certainly recommend organising some of your own work experience in a hospital to get a better idea of what it's like to work as a doctor, to help you decide.
Hope that is useful to you and happy to answer any questions you may have about medicine.
Millie,
4th year medical student, official student rep of George's University of London
My friend was in the same boat so he did a load of experience in a hospital and realised he liked working around patients rather than in a chemist like environment with not much people to interact with so I guess if you like being around people and physically helping them out then I'd say go for a doctor. The NHS be needing them anyway lol
I wanted to challenge the perception that I've often come across in some students in years 9/10/11 that becoming a doctor takes 10 years/ 12 years/ 15 years - I've heard it all!
@Harryallo may of course been referring to study after University too, but I wanted to make it clear to anyone reading who may be in a similar year at school, that that isn't 10 years at University, and it doesn't take 10 years to become a doctor.
The reason I say this is because when visiting schools in the past to talk to students about a career in healthcare, I've spoken to students in year 9/10/11 in schools who have told me that they felt they couldn't consider being a doctor as a career because they couldn't imagine 10/12/15 years at University. I hate to think of someone put off a career based on not quite accurate information!
I'm a student from a lower socio-economic background, so if I had heard that it took 10 years to become a doctor, that that is something that would have hugely put me off because 10 years is a long time when you want to start helping support your family. 5 years is much more doable. So hopefully you can understand where I'm coming from. Medicine should be open to everyone from all backgrounds.
Millie
4th year medical student, official student rep of St George's University of London
@Harryallo may of course been referring to study after University too, but I wanted to make it clear to anyone reading who may be in a similar year at school, that that isn't 10 years at University, and it doesn't take 10 years to become a doctor.
The reason I say this is because when visiting schools in the past to talk to students about a career in healthcare, I've spoken to students in year 9/10/11 in schools who have told me that they felt they couldn't consider being a doctor as a career because they couldn't imagine 10/12/15 years at University. I hate to think of someone put off a career based on not quite accurate information!
I'm a student from a lower socio-economic background, so if I had heard that it took 10 years to become a doctor, that that is something that would have hugely put me off because 10 years is a long time when you want to start helping support your family. 5 years is much more doable. So hopefully you can understand where I'm coming from. Medicine should be open to everyone from all backgrounds.
Millie
4th year medical student, official student rep of St George's University of London
Original post by St George's University of London
I wanted to challenge the perception that I've often come across in some students in years 9/10/11 that becoming a doctor takes 10 years/ 12 years/ 15 years - I've heard it all!
@Harryallo may of course been referring to study after University too, but I wanted to make it clear to anyone reading who may be in a similar year at school, that that isn't 10 years at University, and it doesn't take 10 years to become a doctor.
The reason I say this is because when visiting schools in the past to talk to students about a career in healthcare, I've spoken to students in year 9/10/11 in schools who have told me that they felt they couldn't consider being a doctor as a career because they couldn't imagine 10/12/15 years at University. I hate to think of someone put off a career based on not quite accurate information!
I'm a student from a lower socio-economic background, so if I had heard that it took 10 years to become a doctor, that that is something that would have hugely put me off because 10 years is a long time when you want to start helping support your family. 5 years is much more doable. So hopefully you can understand where I'm coming from. Medicine should be open to everyone from all backgrounds.
Millie
@Harryallo may of course been referring to study after University too, but I wanted to make it clear to anyone reading who may be in a similar year at school, that that isn't 10 years at University, and it doesn't take 10 years to become a doctor.
The reason I say this is because when visiting schools in the past to talk to students about a career in healthcare, I've spoken to students in year 9/10/11 in schools who have told me that they felt they couldn't consider being a doctor as a career because they couldn't imagine 10/12/15 years at University. I hate to think of someone put off a career based on not quite accurate information!
I'm a student from a lower socio-economic background, so if I had heard that it took 10 years to become a doctor, that that is something that would have hugely put me off because 10 years is a long time when you want to start helping support your family. 5 years is much more doable. So hopefully you can understand where I'm coming from. Medicine should be open to everyone from all backgrounds.
Millie
In the 10 years I included the time at university and the training. That doesnt even include the studying if I want to specialise or become a consultant. Sorry if it confused you.
Original post by Harryallo
I’m struggling whether I want to become a doctor or biochemist?
I feel like I don’t want to study for 10 years but then I think i would find it interesting. And I’m not to sure how I feel about fingers in places etc. (I am in year 10 so I feel I may mature out of that) with biochemist it takes 3 years which I’m happy with but then I don’t know if I would loose interest unlike a doctor the day to day job is pretty much the same.
I feel like I don’t want to study for 10 years but then I think i would find it interesting. And I’m not to sure how I feel about fingers in places etc. (I am in year 10 so I feel I may mature out of that) with biochemist it takes 3 years which I’m happy with but then I don’t know if I would loose interest unlike a doctor the day to day job is pretty much the same.
It all depends. if you want to do medicine you need to be 100% passionate about it. It’s peoples lives and no one wants to have a doctor who isn’t 100% satisfied with their job. Try and figure out whether you like working with patients or not. Besides chemistry is 3 years, if you do it and still wish to be a doctor, graduate medicine is always a choice.
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