Medicine or not??

Hi there,
This is a bit of a vent so I apologise for the length 😂

I have wanted to do medicine since I was around 12 years old. I am passionate about helping people and I find medicine so interesting, I love learning about different conditions and how/why people are affected by different diseases/conditions. I have chosen my A-levels according to medicine entry requirements - Chemistry, Biology & Politics. I am a member of a medical book club, medical society (run by Medic Mentor) and I am due to begin volunteering at a care home in September.
Background info - I ski regularly out of school and my dad, who lives abroad, is a ski instructor and so I have had lots of exposure to the skiing community and I have always planned on doing a ski season in New Zealand during the summer holidays between year 13 and first year of uni (I am getting my ski instructor qualifications this summer). Recently I have been wavering on whether I want to do more skiing than just 3 months but this would mean putting off medicine for a period of time. I am also aware that many unis do not like you to defer medicine courses and that it is much harder to apply after a gap year.
I also have family members who work in the music festival industry (organising and running festivals) and when I hear them talking about it. I always feel so interested and have a want to do that too. On top of skiing and event planning, I also had a bit of experience in yacht sailing/racing and have had thoughts of doing that as a career. I am in a real dilemma as I could work in skiing, sailing and events together at different points in the year as the seasons handily fit in around each other. However, pursuing this career would obviously mean I wasn't doing medicine.

My main dilemma is should I do medicine if my heart is not 100% in it as I know the commitment, pressure and effort that medicine requires.

I would be really grateful if anyone could share their experiences of deciding to do medicine when they were stuck between two careers.

Thank you in advance,
Anna

Reply 1

username5319484

19

Original post by celticgirl94

Hi there,
This is a bit of a vent so I apologise for the length 😂

I have wanted to do medicine since I was around 12 years old. I am passionate about helping people and I find medicine so interesting, I love learning about different conditions and how/why people are affected by different diseases/conditions. I have chosen my A-levels according to medicine entry requirements - Chemistry, Biology & Politics. I am a member of a medical book club, medical society (run by Medic Mentor) and I am due to begin volunteering at a care home in September.
Background info - I ski regularly out of school and my dad, who lives abroad, is a ski instructor and so I have had lots of exposure to the skiing community and I have always planned on doing a ski season in New Zealand during the summer holidays between year 13 and first year of uni (I am getting my ski instructor qualifications this summer). Recently I have been wavering on whether I want to do more skiing than just 3 months but this would mean putting off medicine for a period of time. I am also aware that many unis do not like you to defer medicine courses and that it is much harder to apply after a gap year.
I also have family members who work in the music festival industry (organising and running festivals) and when I hear them talking about it. I always feel so interested and have a want to do that too. On top of skiing and event planning, I also had a bit of experience in yacht sailing/racing and have had thoughts of doing that as a career. I am in a real dilemma as I could work in skiing, sailing and events together at different points in the year as the seasons handily fit in around each other. However, pursuing this career would obviously mean I wasn't doing medicine.

My main dilemma is should I do medicine if my heart is not 100% in it as I know the commitment, pressure and effort that medicine requires.

I would be really grateful if anyone could share their experiences of deciding to do medicine when they were stuck between two careers.

Thank you in advance,
Anna

Have a look at this thread for 2 online work experience courses which can give you more insight on what medicine is like. It would also be a good idea to contact GP/hospitals for work experience in person.

Reply 2

Justtamara

11

I mean if u do medicine as a career ur work hours will be crazy and it’ll take up a **** ton of ur time. Some of my friends doing medicine cant even find time to sleep properly and theyre in their 2nd year yet. I would say if ur willing to put in all that work and more after starting to work do it. But if u do u wont really have time for much else as doctors lives are mostly their job. Thats what acc made me decide I didnt wanna do it because I wanted to be able to travel and see the world while working I didnt wanna be at the same place all the time doing similar things even tho I loved being in the hospital and was really interested in the course itself as well. And even tho I do have this lingering feeling of how my life would be if I chose medicine I dont think I have that kind of commitment. I ended up applying for comp sci btw cuz there r opportunities to travel abroad and work from home and I start uni this year so I obv dont know if that was the right choice but we’ll see ig lol.

Reply 3

annacorriero

9

I am a 4th year medical student and I can tell you that there is time to keep up with your passions. I regularly ski and travel, its totally doable if you try hard enough. You also have the option to do expedition medicine, so you can become a doctor for long expeditions whether at sea or in the mountains! that way you can join two passions

(edited 2 years ago)

Medicine or not??

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