Am I the only person this happens to?
When people find out I’ve decided to pursue medicine, they automatically decide that I already know about medicine.
On a daily basis, someone at work or church asks me about a medical symptom either they or someone in their family are experiencing.
It always makes me laugh…I throw up my hands and say, “Whoa! My only experience is as a mommy and healer of ‘boo-boos’ at this point. Google it, go to the doctor, do some research…but please don’t think I know anything right now!!”
I am a walking disclaimer at this point! My boss even asked me about his recovery from his gallbladder surgery. Huh?? I just laughed and told him to go away and call his doctor.
Aaaah, someday. SOMEDAY, I will be able to give you medical advice. Today, my friends, is not that day. 
Have a great weekend, everyone!
yup
I’ve definitely had this experience as well … and it always cracks me up. But just think - someday we’ll ACTUALLY be able to give that medical advice!
Yeah, very funny when this happens. Sometimes, you even tell people that you are at the very beginning of the process and they still assume that you will likely know what their issue is.
I always give the disclaimer:
I HAVE NO IDEA…SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!
But then, I try to glean as much information from them as possible and see if I can make my own secret diagnosis. I’m always anxious to find out the actual Dx!
I can’t wait until I have a real knowledge base to draw from!!
That is funny, I was just thinking about that!
I am a teacher at a public school right now, and every teacher who has heard that I am trying to go to medical school is rifling off symptoms.
I have no idea, but I always listen patiently, because I want to hear what the doctor said, or make a totally nonverbal and uneducated guess.
I can’t think of another profession that gets this kind of response BEFORE a person has actually committed to its study. Can you?
The power of medicine!
This made me laugh!!
I am a geek and I watch Sanctuary on the Scify channel friday nights (Its my “woohoo I made it through another week” show) and every few episodes or so one of the main characters (Dr. Will Zimmerman) will preform some off the cuff emergency surgery or cobble together a last min antibiotic and he always says “I learned this in pre med” and I always think “sheesh! I must be in the wrong program because the most exciting part of my day is vector addition and net ionic equations”
So I blame television for this rampant misconception ; )
I get some medical questions, but mostly I get people thinking I’m IN med school (while I keep working full time). Most folks don’t comprehend the time and effort it takes just to get to the entry point. No…I won’t be in school for at least another 18 months…and I won’t be working here anymore at that point…
- sevenwheels Said:
^This! Also, when people find out I'm going to medical school, I get weird comments like "Oh, to be a nurse?" Who goes to medical school to be a nurse?! Most recently when an acquaintance learned I had a medical school interview, the response was "Oh, for a teaching position?"
But thinking back, I didn't know how any of this worked either - still not sure I know what's going on! hahaall it takes is they know u took a first aid course once, or they saw u with a steth. No matter the symptoms, I tell them it sounds like that flesh eating bacteria - not to worry, it’s a slow death - and they seem to leave me alone at that point…
I’ve been a yoga teacher for so long that my clients already believe I’m their nutritionist/psychiatrist /physician/metaphysical healer…LOL. Figured I might as well go to school and get some street cred. (kidding)
Actually, I really don’t like to tell that many people about what I’m doing goal wise because I feel like it leaves me exposed to criticism/skeptical comments/barbs in general. I’m not sure what motivates people to want to thwart others’ dreams so much, but I’ve made the commitment to keeping my head down, studying my @ss off and just doing it. The pressure of knowing you’ll have a thousand people hammering you about how you did on the MCAT or wondering if you got in or whispering in corners about any other thing is just not worth it to me. Staying focused with my eye on the prize and on the work I know I need to do is #1.
That said, I can’t wait until I can safely dispense my opinions about all the ailments I’m presented with. 
^^^^^This!! I completely understand keeping it to yourself. I am doing the same thing, with one or two exceptions. Best wishes on the journey!