Will I regret not being a doctor?

<p>OK, here’s the scenerio:</p>

<p>I’m a senior in HS. I really like science, but I couldn’t decide if I wanted to become an MD or a PhD.</p>

<p>I was hoping to pursue a bachelor degree to buy myself time and get more experience before making a decision, but I wasn’t accepted by my top colleges or didn’t receive enough financial aid.</p>

<p>I was accepted by Rutger’s 6-year PharmD program, and overall pharmacy seems like a good career in healthcare/science. I’m considering giving up becoming an MD or a PhD and enrolling in the PharmD program, because I didn’t get into my top undergraduate schools or just for financial reasons.</p>

<p>My gut feels sick at making this decision. I don’t want to regret my decision for the rest of my life.</p>

<p>there are pharmds who go on to med school after finishing their program. you’ll spend 2 more years in school, but then again, you’ll have lots of preparation and practice for the mcat</p>

<p>Definitely disagree with the above.</p>

<p>PharmDs go on to become pharmacists; I doubt many go to medical school afterward (after all, that’s why they got the PharmD).</p>

<p>I’m not sure how spending two years on a PharmD would help anybody prepare for the MCAT.</p>

<p>If you don’t want to be a pharmacist or you’re unsure, you’re taking a slot from somebody else who does want to be. Anyway, the choice is ultimately up to you. If I were you, though, I wouldn’t choose the PharmD program just because you didn’t get in elsewhere. If you later end up deciding you do want to do pharmacy, you can apply for a PharmD program (just as you would have if you’d attended one of your other choices).</p>

<p>One thing I’d like to say is that nothing is ever set in stone. If the idea of PharmD makes you sick to your stomach (as you say), then perhaps it’s not worth it. If you can attend and later change your mind (I don’t know how restrictive these things are), then it might be worth checking out. Regardless, I’d wager a good portion of MDs are non-traditional students.</p>

<p>It’s never too late to become a doctor. Many people from all walks of life go a long time before they finally answer the call. Just do what’s best for you with the information you have right now, and don’t worry about what may or may not happen in the future, or how you might feel.</p>

<p>i just want to remind you that there are still many options. You can first attend one of the undergrads that you got accepted to, get good grades and Lors, and transfer to one of your top undergraduate school choices.</p>

<p>I feel a lot of students change their minds regarding what they want to do after college so it’s best to keep your options open instead of committing directly to the program.</p>

<p>goldshadow - i didn’t say MANY go on to med school, but it does happen. so it’s still an option for the OP.</p>

<p>There’s no reason to pursue a PharmD if you don’t want to be a pharmacist.</p>

<p>All kinds of people do become doctors. Generally, though, the people that get a degree for some other profession first do so because they actually did want to work as a pharmacist, a nurse, lawyer, etc. and after a few years of working there, decide they’d be happier in medicine. It doesn’t make sense for somebody just starting college to pursue a PharmD if they’re not sure they want to be a pharmacist and they are weighing medicine or other careers as options.</p>