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How did you decide which track you wanted to go?
As a biology major set to graduate in 2026, I'm conflicted between attending medical school or exploring other paths in the healthcare system. My goal is to work closely with patients and be part of a supportive team, yet I also prioritize maintaining a work-life balance. I've reached out to several doctors to inquire about shadowing opportunities as I contemplate my next steps. I face heavy imposter syndrome too, so this confusion does not help!
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7 answers
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Paul’s Answer
I am a retired orthopaedic surgeon and I can share both my personal experience and what I have learned from other doctors. I never felt that there was any alternative except to be a doctor, and none of my colleagues over the years have admitted feeling differently. I have always felt that being a doctor was a distinct calling. There are certainly other jobs in healthcare, but I have never met anyone who seemed to have the passion for their work in healthcare that doctors do. Having this strong urge is important, because becoming a doctor is a long, hard path to take. It is 4 years of college, then 4 years of medical school, and then anywhere from 4 to 7 or more years of specialty training. You do get a salary during your residency and it is enough to provide a modest living which may include having a child, but you will be into your 30s before you earn a significant yearly income. The bottom line in my view is that there is no point in trying to be a doctor unless you really feel a very strong drive to do it and nothing but this. Many of my colleagues made it clear from the very beginning that they had a particular specialty in mind. I certainly did! I wanted to be an orthopaedist since I had an operation on my knee when I was 17. I never thought seriously about doing anything else, and I worked as hard as I could to reach my goal. I would suggest that you do as much research as you can and that you try to meet and get to know as many people as possible who work in healthcare. The more people you get to talk to, the easier it will be to decide what you really want to do.
Paul S. Treuhaft, MD, MA
Paul S. Treuhaft, MD, MA
I have a similar experience! I always knew I wanted to major in biology since being in high school. It is like you said, I do not see any other alternatives for me (career-wise). I had a spinal fusion done on me when I was 19, to which I still communicate with this doctor in a chance to shadow her! Ever since that surgery and seeing the dedication of the doctors and nurses to take care of me, I felt more certain of joining the healthcare system. I am trying to connect with more doctors and research. Thank you for the advice!
Alexis
Alexis, clearly you have a solid idea about where you want to go. So do it! You will work hard and for long hours but you will never regret it. Having the knowledge and skills to help others with serious health problems is, in my view , the most satisfying work one can do. The fact that you will be well paid in the long run is just a bonus. It is the feeling you get when you realize that you have changed someone’s life for the better that really matters. This is true in every branch of medicine, but the impact is stronger in some specialties than others, because some are matters of life and death, while others may be about the quality of life.
Paul Treuhaft, MD, MA
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Susan Su’s Answer
This is a really thoughtful question, and I'd love to share my personal experience to help answer it. My husband spent a long 9 months in the hospital before he sadly passed away. Throughout this time, the doctors often relied on the expertise of the physiotherapist and the speech therapist. I stayed by my husband's side, sleeping on a chair, and I noticed that the night nurses often seemed more practical than the doctors. Sure, being a doctor might come with a higher paycheck, and there's the opportunity to specialize, like in surgery. But I think it's important to consider what truly drives you and where your passions lie - those should guide your decision. In my opinion, if you're thinking of becoming a general doctor, other healthcare roles can be just as fulfilling. However, if you have the potential and desire to reach the top tiers of the medical profession and you'd find happiness there, then that could be your path. Wishing you all the best in your journey.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry for your loss and may your husband find peace now. I think I want to become a general doctor, but I am still open to shadowing and exploring what career paths interest me. I find it so easy to become unsure as there's so many professions which are not talked about in the media. But also uneasy due to my lack of experience, in terms of internships or researching.
Alexis
Thank you. Then go for general doctor
Susan Su McKenzie
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Paola’s Answer
Hi Alexis,
Kudos on your journey so far! If I were in your shoes, I'd start by exploring job applications to find roles that offer good pay or benefits, as financial stability matters. Don't forget to check the expected work hours to ensure a healthy work-life balance. Look into the most sought-after health careers in the country, their hourly pay, and key requirements like certifications. By considering these factors, you'll gain a clearer picture of your decision. I hope these suggestions prove useful.
Best wishes, Paola.
Kudos on your journey so far! If I were in your shoes, I'd start by exploring job applications to find roles that offer good pay or benefits, as financial stability matters. Don't forget to check the expected work hours to ensure a healthy work-life balance. Look into the most sought-after health careers in the country, their hourly pay, and key requirements like certifications. By considering these factors, you'll gain a clearer picture of your decision. I hope these suggestions prove useful.
Best wishes, Paola.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice!!
Alexis
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Elaine’s Answer
Alexis, I want to address your psychological block, imposter syndrome. I believe everyone suffers from imposter syndrome at some time or another. Think about what imposter syndrome is. Basically, you think you are inadequate. Take a good, hard look at what you like to do. Are you a people person, solo individual, introvert, extravert? Do you enjoy participating in sports, going to the gym, or would you rather do craft activities or read? Is research an exciting idea, or solving a challenging problem exhilerating, or are you more interested in attending lecutres or asking others for input/help? Are you mechanically inclines, or do you always call a repair person? Learn as much as you can about yourself, your likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, and consider how long you want to go to school.
There is so much you can do with a biology undergrad degree. Doctor, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, work in a hspital lab, work in a pharmacitucal company, design durable medical equipment (wheel chairs, etc) fabricate prosthetics, to name a few.
You don't have to stay in the medical field. Expand your horizons. Teacher/professor, science writer, science illustrator, consultant to companies who cater to handicapped and the elderly, the list of opportunities is endless. You could design the first ergonomic stearing wheel!
I'm an occupational therapist. I'm an extrovert, love a challence, enjoy research, like taking things apart to make them better, enjoy a wide variety of craft activities, and feel fulfilled by helping others. I have practiced OT for over 45 years. I could not imagine doing anything else. Every day is an adventure for me.
I hope you find a career as fulfilling as I have. Get that monkey (imposter syndrome) off your back by learning as much as you can about yourself. Once you know yourself you will gain the comfidence to tackle just about anything. Find a career you love and you will never work a day in your life.
Good Luck and G-d Speed.
There is so much you can do with a biology undergrad degree. Doctor, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, work in a hspital lab, work in a pharmacitucal company, design durable medical equipment (wheel chairs, etc) fabricate prosthetics, to name a few.
You don't have to stay in the medical field. Expand your horizons. Teacher/professor, science writer, science illustrator, consultant to companies who cater to handicapped and the elderly, the list of opportunities is endless. You could design the first ergonomic stearing wheel!
I'm an occupational therapist. I'm an extrovert, love a challence, enjoy research, like taking things apart to make them better, enjoy a wide variety of craft activities, and feel fulfilled by helping others. I have practiced OT for over 45 years. I could not imagine doing anything else. Every day is an adventure for me.
I hope you find a career as fulfilling as I have. Get that monkey (imposter syndrome) off your back by learning as much as you can about yourself. Once you know yourself you will gain the comfidence to tackle just about anything. Find a career you love and you will never work a day in your life.
Good Luck and G-d Speed.
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Kathleen’s Answer
The Healthcare field is broad with opportunities for many different careers. Examine your strengths and talents. What do you enjoy doing? I loved puzzles and experiments all through school, volunteered at the local hospital in high school and gradually drifted toward clinical laboratory science. It does allow a good work life balance and is interesting and vital to helping physicians make a diagnosis and monitor progress of the patient. The lab staff is typically the first contact a patient has in the process so it's vital to putting them at ease and procuring the best specimens for testing and performing all aspects of the testing properly. This includes monitoring instrumentation performance through calibration, quality control samples and proficiency testing, required maintenance and much more. There is a very technical component to it as well as practical operation and interpretation of results. I loved it for over 40 years and never had trouble finding a job when we moved to a new location. I wish you all the best! Healthcare is demanding and rewarding.
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Martin’s Answer
Great question, and it's not a straightforward one to answer. A decade ago, the concept of work-life balance might have been simpler, but it's becoming more of a norm now. As a doctor, your work-life balance could vary greatly depending on your specialty. Surgeons, for example, can schedule many of their procedures, but when on-call, they must be ready to respond. This holds true for most medical specialties, with some demanding more on-call time than others. Additionally, administrative tasks like dealing with insurance companies, medical billing, and records have started to consume more of your time, shifting focus from patient care to computer work. Therefore, it's crucial to consider these factors before investing time, money, and effort into becoming a doctor.
Other medical fields also demand a lot, but many allow you to disconnect after your workday ends, with occasional on-call duties. Compensation is another factor to consider. While doctors and hospital administrators earn a substantial income, their leisure time can be limited. Roles like Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner offer a more balanced workload, as does a career as a physical therapist. Pharmacy used to be a great profession, but now it's largely controlled by big corporations, which means good pay but long hours.
There are plenty of specialties in radiology and related fields where you can get specialized training and enjoy a good income with a more balanced life. Other options include medical informatics, biomedical, medical sales, and service.
So, as you can see, your question is quite complex. You'll need to narrow down your options and identify what truly interests you. Seek advice from those already in the field. They can provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.
Other medical fields also demand a lot, but many allow you to disconnect after your workday ends, with occasional on-call duties. Compensation is another factor to consider. While doctors and hospital administrators earn a substantial income, their leisure time can be limited. Roles like Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner offer a more balanced workload, as does a career as a physical therapist. Pharmacy used to be a great profession, but now it's largely controlled by big corporations, which means good pay but long hours.
There are plenty of specialties in radiology and related fields where you can get specialized training and enjoy a good income with a more balanced life. Other options include medical informatics, biomedical, medical sales, and service.
So, as you can see, your question is quite complex. You'll need to narrow down your options and identify what truly interests you. Seek advice from those already in the field. They can provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.
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Andy’s Answer
Hi Alexis,
It's definitely a stressful time figuring out what to do with your life, especially after committing so much work and energy into your pre-med track.
I'll give sort of a half answer here: one thing to remember is that you are never truly locked into anything, even if it seems that way after taking so much science coursework! Maybe you continue to be uncertain about your future professional path even after taking the MCAT or entering medical school. Just remember that with a pre-med or science background, you will have many options available to you not just in the medical field, but also in the fields of life sciences, public health, health administration, pharmaceuticals, research, and consulting!
Best of luck!
It's definitely a stressful time figuring out what to do with your life, especially after committing so much work and energy into your pre-med track.
I'll give sort of a half answer here: one thing to remember is that you are never truly locked into anything, even if it seems that way after taking so much science coursework! Maybe you continue to be uncertain about your future professional path even after taking the MCAT or entering medical school. Just remember that with a pre-med or science background, you will have many options available to you not just in the medical field, but also in the fields of life sciences, public health, health administration, pharmaceuticals, research, and consulting!
Best of luck!