Is medical school a bad idea for me?

[crom]

My family is putting a lot of pressure on me to become a doctor, and I'm not sure if I want to be one. The science classes do not interest me all that much, and I really do not have a natural aptitude for them. I did like volunteering at the hospital though. I'm the first generation to attend university so obviously they think of me as the "hope of the family."

However, law school seems like a better fit for me, and I'll probably just do a double-major in psychology and mathematics, since I enjoy about both of those subjects. I also enjoy participating in my university's debate and ethics societies and plan on working at a firm during the summer. So would law school be better for me than medical school?

[mohammed47]

Strictly from an economic point of view, medical school is the better bet. I say this as someone engaged to a man in law school. You're essentially guaranteed a job if you can graduate from medical school, whereas you're largely on your own if you attend law school. The good law schools have numerous recruiting events, the best being on-campus interviews (OCI), but no organization limits the number of individuals who can attend law school in any given cycle like medical school. Because medical schools graduate so few people, there are always jobs waiting for them.

On the other hand, you don't want to be a doctor and you don't seem to be particularly interested or gifted in the right subjects. If you're getting poor science grades, that's going to hamper your chances of getting into medical school. Life's too short to waste your time pursuing a career you don't want, even if it's more financially secure. I can't in good conscience tell you to go to medical school, but just know that law school is a far riskier path.

If you do decide on law school, here are a few tips. I want you to maximize your odds of getting into the best law school you possibly can so that your job prospects will be better. First, GPA matters. If it's low, the fact that you majored in mathematics (a difficult major by any account) or that you took a lot of science courses won't mitigate that. The number is the number, so take courses that you know you can handle and that interest you so that you have a good GPA. Second, the major doesn't really matter. While law schools look down on criminal justice or criminology, anything you major in is fine, so it'd be nice if your major could provide you a backup plan should you not go to law school. Third, LSAT is often weighted more than GPA. It's absolutely vital that you take this test seriously because even a 4.0 won't get you into a good law school if your LSAT is average to slightly above average. Fourth, aim for the top-14: best job prospects out of law school, best job prospects lifetime across your career, and better starting pay that will enable you to pay back your loan.

[norwyn]

Strictly from an economic point of view, medical school is the better bet. I say this as someone engaged to a man in law school. You're essentially guaranteed a job if you can graduate from medical school, whereas you're largely on your own if you attend law school. The good law schools have numerous recruiting events, the best being on-campus interviews (OCI), but no organization limits the number of individuals who can attend law school in any given cycle like medical school. Because medical schools graduate so few people, there are always jobs waiting for them.

On the other hand, you don't want to be a doctor and you don't seem to be particularly interested or gifted in the right subjects. If you're getting poor science grades, that's going to hamper your chances of getting into medical school. Life's too short to waste your time pursuing a career you don't want, even if it's more financially secure. I can't in good conscience tell you to go to medical school, but just know that law school is a far riskier path.

If you do decide on law school, here are a few tips. I want you to maximize your odds of getting into the best law school you possibly can so that your job prospects will be better. First, GPA matters. If it's low, the fact that you majored in mathematics (a difficult major by any account) or that you took a lot of science courses won't mitigate that. The number is the number, so take courses that you know you can handle and that interest you so that you have a good GPA. Second, the major doesn't really matter. While law schools look down on criminal justice or criminology, anything you major in is fine, so it'd be nice if your major could provide you a backup plan should you not go to law school. Third, LSAT is often weighted more than GPA. It's absolutely vital that you take this test seriously because even a 4.0 won't get you into a good law school if your LSAT is average to slightly above average. Fourth, aim for the top-14: best job prospects out of law school, best job prospects lifetime across your career, and better starting pay that will enable you to pay back your loan.

If you like law school better than go to law school. Your parents only want you to be happy and that is why they are suggesting a doctor as most doctors make a lot of money. However, make sure you enjoy what you do becuase if you don't you will end up regretting the decision for the rest of your life, no matter how much money you have. After all, money can't buy anything so do what interests you.

[winfrid12]

Law school would be a better fit.

Enjoying volunteering in a hospital does not make you a fit for medical school. Liking science and being very good at science make you a fit for med school. You need to be very good at science to get in to med school.

Law school will be a good fit, and you'll have a good career.

[wattekinson86]

If you don't like Medicine, then don't study for Medical School.
However, be sure your intended options are realistic. Law is no longer the sure path to middle class security it once was.

[ingel]

Explain to your family that thats not the way you want to go that youd be better off doing somthing u want to do

[matchitisiw]

law school would be a better fit because you will get bored of your job if you do not like it and may quit