A Difficult Quandary...Any Parents Available?

citrusbelt
Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:10:54 +0000

I just want to point out that it is very possible to earn a lot of money as an MD, but it is NOT guaranteed anymore. HMO’s and managed care have put a lid on MD salaries. The ones who make the big bucks don’t generally accept those. And, when you are a new doctor it is hard to survive without the HMOs. Setting up a private practice costs boocoo bucks, too, so many young doctors work for someone else. 4 years undergrad, 4 years medical schools and 2-4 years of residency (where you are paid poorly) adds up to 28/29 years old before you are done with school. Then you have to start paying off loans. Being an MD can be lucrative, but wanting to be an MD for only the money is about the worst reason to be an MD. Again, wealth is not guaranteed, especially if you are strapped with 200K+ in loans as a 28 year old. The trick would be getting a great enough education to be able to do well on the MCAT. The MCAT is the key to med.school, not so much the undergrad. college.

If you change your mind about medical school, the U of A is a great school for other majors. Usually biochemistry class does in about half of doctor wannabes. Personally, I cannot see the advantage of a large private school with classes the same size as a public. But, many people do, I guess.