I am only interested in one part of medicine...
I am currently in year 12, taking bio chem maths econ. I hate biology, love Chemistry, and is currently leaning towards choosing med for uni. At some point of year 10, I thought I was smart and sciencey enough to take become a doctor, especially when the salaries are some or the highest.
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
Reply 1
You hate biology? If that is the case then I'm not so sure you're going to have a fun time studying medicine if I am honest. The course is 100% biology. And you can't go to work in dermatology from day 1, either. All dermatologists have to train and work as regular doctors before they obtain a dermatology training place, a process which is now exceptionally competitive.
The salaries are not that great any longer in reality, either. Unless you intend to practice in the USA of course.
The salaries are not that great any longer in reality, either. Unless you intend to practice in the USA of course.
Reply 2
14
Original post
by emilsooyaaaI am currently in year 12, taking bio chem maths econ. I hate biology, love Chemistry, and is currently leaning towards choosing med for uni. At some point of year 10, I thought I was smart and sciencey enough to take become a doctor, especially when the salaries are some or the highest.
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
Honestly your views on biology might change. I loved biology last year, hated chemistry. This year it's completely flipped. Keep your grades up and options open in case it changes but I wouldn't focus solely on med if you despise biology.
I was in this position last year as I only liked pathology and was not fussed about the patient side which they LOVE when people write about. Decided I can't sit there and lie through my applications and take it away from someone who really wants to be a doctor to help people. So applied for biomed/biotech/biochem areas instead! That way I can still work with medicine and discover new ways to help people, without actually making their life or death decisions for them.
Reply 3
Hello everyone, I hope you're doing well.
I am a HND biomed student and I am aiming to study anatomy in Glasgow university, and wanting to get a first class or a second class undergraduate degree Also know as 1:1 or 1:2. Once I get this my aim is to get into graduate medicine, I saw the tuition fees for the first year in Glasgow university which was 32k, my question is, how do I pay for this, I am really Broken and it would be very difficult to make such a a high amount of money from an undergraduate anatomy degree. How did do you guys get you graduate medicine funding. If you have any advice please reply thank you so much!
I am a HND biomed student and I am aiming to study anatomy in Glasgow university, and wanting to get a first class or a second class undergraduate degree Also know as 1:1 or 1:2. Once I get this my aim is to get into graduate medicine, I saw the tuition fees for the first year in Glasgow university which was 32k, my question is, how do I pay for this, I am really Broken and it would be very difficult to make such a a high amount of money from an undergraduate anatomy degree. How did do you guys get you graduate medicine funding. If you have any advice please reply thank you so much!
Reply 4
Original post
by emilsooyaaaI am currently in year 12, taking bio chem maths econ. I hate biology, love Chemistry, and is currently leaning towards choosing med for uni. At some point of year 10, I thought I was smart and sciencey enough to take become a doctor, especially when the salaries are some or the highest.
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
Hating biology will not get you through 6 long years of studying a solely biology related course.
Doctors do not get paid that much until they are consultant level by which time you would be around your late 30's, so do not get into it for the money.
I would definitely say try to get work experience then decide if it would be worth it to do the 6 year at uni for med, 3 years of foundation and the 6 to 7 years to be an actual dermatologist.
It is a big decision and one you would be wise not to take lightly as many jobs are much easier and pay much more than medicine.
Reply 5
Original post
by emilsooyaaaI am currently in year 12, taking bio chem maths econ. I hate biology, love Chemistry, and is currently leaning towards choosing med for uni. At some point of year 10, I thought I was smart and sciencey enough to take become a doctor, especially when the salaries are some or the highest.
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
It's good to think about these things ahead of time but my instinct is that you're going to end up disappointed if you persist with medicine (at least with your current perspective).
Dermatological conditions have a lot of overlap with general medicine (historically the specialty was often twinned with venereology - what we'd now call GUM). Lots of skin conditions are associated with complications elsewhere in the body (e.g. psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis) and lots of non-skin conditions cause skin issues (e.g. inflammatory bowel diseases and pyoderma gangrenosum). Dermatologists nowadays use a lot of surgical techniques in their work with skin cancers, so there are overlaps with surgery too. Systemic treatments used by dermatologists e.g. methotrexate, ciclosporin, and biologic drugs cause many different kinds of side effects which affect more than just the skin.
The point is that to be a good dermatologist you need to have an interest in medicine and surgery as a whole. Dermatologists do the MRCP exam which covers all of general internal medicine (it's a tough exam let alone if you find 90% of the content boring).
If you love chemistry but hate biology that also does not sound like a great start. There is very little chemistry in medicine and whilst medicine is not the same as human biology, there is a bit more in common between the two (at least from a basic sciences perspective).
I wouldn't aim to do dermatology work experience - that just sounds like a way to induce confirmation bias.
Reply 6
Original post
by AjhdhdHonestly your views on biology might change. I loved biology last year, hated chemistry. This year it's completely flipped. Keep your grades up and options open in case it changes but I wouldn't focus solely on med if you despise biology.
I was in this position last year as I only liked pathology and was not fussed about the patient side which they LOVE when people write about. Decided I can't sit there and lie through my applications and take it away from someone who really wants to be a doctor to help people. So applied for biomed/biotech/biochem areas instead! That way I can still work with medicine and discover new ways to help people, without actually making their life or death decisions for them.
I was in this position last year as I only liked pathology and was not fussed about the patient side which they LOVE when people write about. Decided I can't sit there and lie through my applications and take it away from someone who really wants to be a doctor to help people. So applied for biomed/biotech/biochem areas instead! That way I can still work with medicine and discover new ways to help people, without actually making their life or death decisions for them.
Just double checking, but you can become a pathologist without doing medicine. It's the only way you can become a (medical) doctor without doing medicine.
Ignore me if you already knew this/ are planning on doing this hehe
Reply 7
Original post
by All BluntJust double checking, but you can become a pathologist without doing medicine. It's the only way you can become a (medical) doctor without doing medicine.
Ignore me if you already knew this/ are planning on doing this hehe
Ignore me if you already knew this/ are planning on doing this hehe
Er, no, this is completely incorrect.
Clinical scientists in pathology are not medical doctors.
Reply 8
Original post
by emilsooyaaaI am currently in year 12, taking bio chem maths econ. I hate biology, love Chemistry, and is currently leaning towards choosing med for uni. At some point of year 10, I thought I was smart and sciencey enough to take become a doctor, especially when the salaries are some or the highest.
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
The only part of medicine am interested in is dermatology, as I have had different skin conditions since I was young. That's it. I have no more interest in medicine except that I am desperate to become a derm. I just don't think I have enough determination to go through 6 years plus even more specialisation before I can do something I like. What should I do? Will it be worth it? Or should I try out derm work experience before I decide?
Well in your undergrad degree, medicine or other you are likely going to have to do some general education on fundamentals.
However id imagine you could find medical & bioscience research careers that specialise in your area of interest, this would only be 3 years of general education and you could do a dissertation on your area of interest. And if you look at medical research you can work more specifically on the challenges that define the area of investigation whereas as a medical doctor you would be managing patients which is much more than just the science and treatment.
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