How to Decide Whether to Become a Doctor
Being a doctor is a very noble and important profession. It is also very demanding and intense. Although it might seem glamorous on the surface, it is not for everyone. It is very important to truly evaluate your goals and abilities before pursuing a medical education.
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Instructions
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Rate your level of passion. Becoming a doctor requires training that is long and difficult in addition to working conditions that are demanding and intense. You must be extremely dedicated to the profession in order to make it through and be successful. Rate your level of passion and commitment on a scale of one to ten (ten being the highest). If you don't rate above a 7, it is a good idea to re-evaluate your career choice.
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Evaluate your ability to succeed. A career in medicine is by no means easy. It not only requires a high level of intelligence, but also a strong work ethic, good time management skills and incredible endurance. Try to take a step back and accurately evaluate your ability to succeed in this type of intense environment.
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Write out a budget. Medical school is long and expensive, although there are numerous federal and private loans available, finances might still be a problem for many people. A single person with little to no debt and no dependents will do fine, but a person with a family might struggle. Sit down with a financial planner and work to clearly understand your financial picture.
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Shadow a doctor. This is the most important step. It is impossible to truly understand a "day in the life" without watching a doctor work. Try to shadow the same doctor for several months, in order to get a clear picture of her work and responsibilities.
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Tips & Warnings
If after evaluating all issues involved you realize that becoming a doctor is not the right thing for you, but you still have an interest in health care, make sure you research all the associated health care professions available. These include, nurses, physician's assistants, nutritionists, physical therapists, medical assistants and many, many more.
