This is my first time posting in a forum. I come from an Asian Indian family of medical professionals (dentist dad, physician brother) and made choices early in life to not pursue a similar career path out of an expression of individuality. A career in landscape architecture allowed me to follow a passion for designing public spaces and influence the conservation of natural resources at a superhuman scale. I enjoyed award winning success in undergraduate study and in the first few years of practice in a boutique firm where I managed glamorous projects that allowed me to fly around the world.
My confidence in this path took a turn for the worse when in my late twenties I began graduate study in my field at Harvard Graduate School of Design. When working with some of the brightest students of my generation, I realized that my abilities were not nearly adequate to enjoy success in larger markets or compete for university teaching positions. The lending crisis has devastated the hiring market and I am now getting job offers for less than what I earned six years ago while I am paying off graduate debt. As childhood friends now make double my salary, my architect wife and I now realize that we have no chance to maintain a lifestyle similar to what we had growing up.
Through months of analysis, I understand that many anxieties I have felt about my career in design stem from a move away from a career my upbringing has prepared me for. Routine tasks in my current field are slow for me because I find them indicative of a career path that is limiting and not for me. In the back of my mind, this field was challenging for me because I fought against my instincts to pursue another career. I have always been able to understand the thought processes and emotions of others so I figured that I could be well-suited as a psychiatrist.
After hearing all this, does anyone have any thoughts about if I should attempt a career change to medicine? I accept responsibility for my choices, but am unclear about my next step. Thank you for your time.
I am 50 and considering it…after years of making alternative (though fulfilling and compelling choices, nonetheless)…
I am trying to consider age irrelevant - and have 17 years on you - what kinds of work have you done in medical field, at all? What is compelling you vs. your family history? What do you imagine yourself doing as a clinician? Or is it research that calls you?
What prep work have you looked into to make this a reality? I am in the process now - have taken some biology classes and gotten good grades but it is tough in the midst of work and family life - are those your considerations, too?
Lots to think about but a dream does not have to die before it becomes one’s goal…at least that is my perspective today.
Good luck!
thanks for the reply. i have not taken any science courses in years (last class was a plant biology course in undergrad) and am considering a post-bac premed program in my area. prehaps i will just take a biology course at a community college to start slow and see how i like it.
i have no experience in the medical field aside from growing up in a private dental clinic often. perhaps this urge is the result of recent troubles with my job search but i do think my instincts are telling me that this is a good route (not to mention satisfy financial goals).
In most of what you’re saying, I don’t see any passion for medicine. Maybe it’s there and just not in your posts - but from what I see, it’s more about having a stable, lucrative career. I just don’t think that’s the right reason to get into medicine at all.
If you start a post-bacc, you’re looking at 6 years minimum, probably, of low to no earning, before you even start residency, then at least three more of minimal earnings and huge debt. If you’re getting into medicine for your financial goals, are you OK with a 10-year journey to get anywhere near financially comfortable (but let’s not forget those likely loans that will loom over you.)
Medical schools will definitely want to see that you’ve tested out your career change by volunteering, usually in a clinical setting. But any formal post-bacc will too. Some of my post-bacc apps had 4-5 essays all asking variations of my motivations and experience. They want to know why medicine, why now? I’d give that some more thought. You’ll need to tell your story convincingly.
That said, your age and your current field - none of that should matter if you’re passionate about medicine and willing to take the steps necessary to get there.
Tallulah has already posted rational and helpful suggestions. Here are my additional thoughts:
- Spend some time volunteering in a clinical setting, preferably a hospital. You need to prove to yourself (and eventually to any post-bac program and med school) that you know what you’re getting into and feel comfortable around patients.
- Do this before you take a biology class; see if you are suited to clinical work and are comfortable in a hospital environment before spending the time and money that a biology course will entail.
- Commit to volunteering for several months (most hospitals would require this, anyway) to get an in-depth taste of what a career in medicine means (talking to your brother is not enough!)
Your story is familiar to me as I had many former post-bac students with similar backgrounds. But the difference is that your story sounds like it’s inspired by disenchantment with your profession and the instability it now has rather than a push toward medicine based on an experience with the actual profession that inspired a career switch. Get some experience to confirm that you’re making the right choice. It’s a long and expensive road to go down (and you need to realistic about that, too); make sure it’s worth it and that you’re truly invested in it before taking the plunge.
Best,
Liza
I have seen people from all different careers start medical school and find happiness and success in medicine (from bankers to actors). Neither your age nor your occupation rule you out as a candidate. In fact they simply make you more interesting and less forgettable. The key for you is to explore if this really will be a career better suited for you. This journey is something you will need to talk about interviews and in your application. If you are convincing you will do well, if you are not convincing and seem to be a person fluttering from one career to the next aimlessly then you will have trouble getting accepted.
Try volunteering at a local hospital and shadowing several physician in different fields. This can help you see the breadth and depth of medicine and how there could be just the right niche for you. Another great clinical setting that many students pursue is EMT training. Make sure to have experiences that last at least several months. If you are enjoying your clinical experience then you can enroll in a postbac to make sure you enjoy the sciences and take your prereqs.
Hey! I can totally relate to you not wanting to go into medicine due to expressing your individuality in the face of pressure from your family.
While it does sound like you’re looking into medicine because it’s a more financially stable career, that doesn’t mean it’s not the career for you. It’s just that you need a compelling enough reason for yourself to pursue it. So try exploring it a bit. If you’re from a medical family, then you may have more opportunities than the average non-traditional pre-med to shadow them and see what they’re up to.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a stable profession and income - it’s just that ideally there should be more than that, because those two things by themselves won’t make you happy, and your patients won’t be happy with you if you’re just a robotic doctor going through the motions because you have to.
Another question to ask yourself is, what do you want for yourself in 10 years? Would you regret not pursuing medicine if you were 43 and still feeling like you’re stagnating in life? What feels better about the thought of being 43 and a doctor? Do you see yourself enjoying it? That might give you some motivation.
Hi, interesting post and thanks for sharing. I can relate to your post a bit having come from a medical family myself. My advice would be to volunteer a few hours of your time in a hospital, or any medical facility. This will help you know for sure if you are truly interested in medicine and not going into the profession simply because you do not see a future in your current line of work. It’s a long road so you have to find out if this is something you are passionate about and then I think you will make the right decision. You already have the exposure from your family, so you can try and get some hands on experience like volunteering or shadowing and that would probably give you something more solid to base your decision off of.
I completely agree with Tallulah. There was no mention of why you WANT to go into medicine. I think the last line about psychiatry was more of a rationalization. Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like you’re falling back on medicine here, not aspiring to be a doctor.
There are quite a few people applying for the 2013-14 season right now, and I think that the theme of this post is a glaring example of an approach NOT to take to essays or personal statements. It has very little to do with your previous career (it could have been accounting, sales, or programming), and everything to do with “why medicine NOW?”
If there’s more to your story, great. If not, definitely give it a good, long think. Good luck.