<p>I am a potential pre-med student and I was wondering if I have the personality to succeed as a doctor. I am a quiet introvert with an INTJ personality. I am talkative when I feel it is necessary, but am generally more of a listener. I am also not assertive or aggressive enough with people at times. Fortunately, I am a hard worker that excels academically and is willing to learn to change my faults. What kind of personality does it take to succeed as a doctor? Will I be seen as a person that is too wimpy and introverted to get into medical school?</p>
<p>@ipodsinger,</p>
<p>1) There are all kinds of personalities in medicine
2) You will not be the same person in 4 years that you are today.</p>
<p>^seconded (10 chars)</p>
<p>I think it’s also very important to note that “doctor” is an extremely general term and entails a wide variety of positions that have varying levels of social interaction.</p>
<p>I think that as long as you have a caring and inquisitive personality, with a genuine intent to help people, you can succeed as a doctor; though an introvert might be better for a career in pathology than as a family physician, for example.</p>
<p>Introverts can be successful PCPs. One of the things you learn in medical school how to adopt a professional persona.</p>
<p>I think you have to enjoy working with people - even as a pathologist you are part of a team!</p>
<p>The ability to defer gratification seems essential (10 years in to training it sure comes in handy).</p>
<p>Idealism, a positive outlook, hope for the future and a willingness to tolerate ambiguity also help.</p>
<p>Illegible handwriting?</p>
<p>^ handwriting is less an issue, now that EMR and computerized notes are taking over.</p>
<p>ipodsinger - Being a good listener and a hard worker will serve you well should you decide to be a doctor. The doctors I know matched in residencies that seem to be right for them. Good luck - may all your dreams come true.</p>
<p>“I am a hard worker that excels academically”
-You got what it takes. If you are willling to listen, that means that you are sensitive to others.</p>
<p>There are all kinds of personalities in medicine. Each specialty has a different feel, even though there are a wide variety of people in each field. Capacity for hard work is enormously important.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the responses! They were all really helpful.</p>
<p>What other fields besides pathology would be suitable for an introvert?</p>
<p>first off, do you mean true introversion (being around people is exhausting and energy draining but not anxiety provoking) or just shyness? It does sound like you were talking about true introversion but a lot of people conflate the two.</p>
<p>If you want to play the stereotype game, diagnostic radiology is another obvious one. Surgical specialties/anesthesia are going to have less talking focused patient interactions but will obviously still have lots of inter physician interactions, but pathology and radiology are also heavy on interaction with people, just not patients.</p>
<p>There are many types that end up making it end to Med school, sure. However, that doesn’t mean that said person will be suited for the job. If you are a very quiet and extreme introvert ( who dislikes human interaction) then you must come to realize that health professional careers are very social careers. This will definitely be a hindrance, but like anything, can be improved with practice. Medical research might be a good alternate route to take.</p>
<p>No, I’m not a true introvert; I still have some extrovertedness in me. It it mostly shyness. Sometimes I have to remind myself to talk to people since I often zoom into pure listening mode. Anesthesia and radiology sound like good options.</p>
<p>RE: shyness.</p>
<p>That’s why I mentioned a professional persona. When you’re shy, it easier to deal with people when you have specific role to play. Think of it as a kind of acting. (In fact, it’s quite common for actors/actresses to be shy.) </p>
<p>In medical school you’ll learn some generalized scripts–things you need to ask and the order to ask them (taking a patient’s history, for example). Later on as you gain confidence and knowledge, you can start to improvise. </p>
<p>Also remember that your role as doctor is not be the patient’s best friend, but keep a professional distance and deal with the patient in a objective fashion.</p>
<p>And as odd as it sounds, INTJ personalities often make good psychiatrists. Lots of listening.</p>
<p>@ WayOutWestMom- Actually, I have done a lot of acting, so I consider myself a shy actor.That’s comforting to know that med students learn generalized transcripts in med school.</p>
<p>"I often zoom into pure listening mode. Anesthesia and radiology sound like good options. "
-Cannot listen to a person who is under and the pictures do not talk either. These are primary reasons why my D. rulled out certain specialties, that do not involve much people interaction. She also wants to listen (and talk) to people, but she is not shy, very outgoing. The people connection is what she is looking forward to deal with the most. You might be also, you just do not realize it. If you enjoy listenning to others, "Anesthesia and radiology " might not be for you either, beside being ones of the most selective specialties.</p>
<p>You should really shadow a physician or find a job in the medical field before jumping head first into medicine. I found a job as a dietetic aide in a hospital and it helped me decide where I want to be in the medical field.</p>
<p>Most importantly, find a physician to be your mentor and ask him or her questions.</p>
<p>OP: Every conceivable personality type can be a good physician. At this point in your life, focus on finding an UG that works for you. Pre-med is a long haul, and it’s best to start at the beginning-finding out if it’s really something you want to do.</p>
<p>Seriously, it is too early to tell because you will develop as a person when you progress through college. You may be a completely different person then. As for anesthesia, you would be surprised how much patient interactions they can have with awake patients. A lot more than people would ever imagine. At the same time, many primary care physicians have less interaction with their patients than most anesthesiologists do. Every specialty can have their situations modified to extreme circumstances. Though I don’t know many pathologists who have a lot of interaction with patients. My best friend, a radiologist, spends hours every day interacting with patients. Some radiologists are interventionalists and all they do involves direct patient contact. Some anesthesiologists also specialize in critical care or pain management allowing even further direct contact. Keep your options open but focus on getting there first.</p>