Would you rather be a doctor or a lawyer?

[chika]

I'm considering human rights law, not corporate. My parents want me to be a pediatrician, but I would say my skills lie more in the English domain, I'm good at Math/Sciences but not the best in my school.

Any ideas?

[jocheved]

It's really up to you...

Honestly human rights lawyers and doctors are both doing rewarding things.

Training to become a lawyer is easier, though.

Law school is only three years after completing a bachelor's degree, so that's seven years of higher education. I'm sure it's stressful, but I doubt it's as stressful as medical school.

Medical school, on the other hand, often takes four years after the bachelor's degree (and often a master's degree is basically required to get into med school), and is filled with very difficult hard science, rounds at the hospital, etc. that completely wear the student out. In order to specialize in a specific thing and become a "resident," doctors must complete years more of on-site training at the hospital.

In terms of profit, doctors have to pay so much money in liability insurance that their take-home pay is not nearly as good as lawyers (of course, human rights lawyers won't make as much as corporate lawyers).

Honestly, although both professions "contribute to society" through their jobs, I'd argue that if Mr. Smith weren't a doctor, someone else would just take his place, and possibly be a better doctor than Mr. Smith, so Mr. Smith isn't really increasing the greater good anymore than if he'd become a plumber. That is, unless he's a volunteer in Doctors Without Borders or something. And I say this in spite of the fact that I'm a teacher (yes, I'm undermining my own right to say that I'm contributing to society).

It's really up to you. Personally I'd think that exploring the mysteries of the human body and biology would be far more fascinating than studying laws that a bunch of old, dead men wrote.

[macquaid35]

Doctor -- more interesting subject matter, lots of potentially interesting fields to go into, the ability to make a real difference with your life. On the other hand, you have to go with your strengths. If your strengths are in words, rather than in science, then law school might be a better fit for you. You'd get your degree more quickly and get started in your career sooner than a doctor does. Lawyers also tend to be more sociable than doctors, but law school is grueling and tough.

[ricki]

Medical doctors get sued a lot...

Think about a doctor in Psychiatry. or a Lawyer- ( they get sued a lot too)

[andor25]

You said you're interested in law, so you should follow that. Don't become a doctor unless you want, not your parents.

[stephon14]

be a doctor..your helping sick peopl
who knows you might find a cure to something

[taillefer]

lawyer