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What was the hardest part about preparing for medical school, and how did you achieve it Was money ever an issue, and if so, how did you go about handling it? Have you ever once in your career considered that it may have not been worth it? ?

I am a senior in high school, who is about to head to a university to finish my pre-requisites. I am really curious if there are any specific tips you recommend as I prepare to go into medical school, and what would should I expect going in.

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George’s Answer

Unless someone else is paying for it... Start at the community college first. It will save you A LOT OF MONEY. You will take the same classes generally with smaller class sizes, more access to teaching staff for assistance,.

YES, money IS an issue. Most medical students end up with many 100's of thousands in debt. Keep your expenses as low as possible.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for this response. I've been looking for a solid answer, and your response really helped. Maria
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Rita’s Answer

The hardest part about medical school was the amount of information you need to absorb. For me, the other issue is that I was shy and hated public speaking. My parents helped pay for part of my education and then I took out loans. I drove to medical school which was about 20 miles each way to save money. Now, the cost of tuition is even higher. Some people join the military or work in a rural area because the education will be paid by the government. My mom once made a comment that maybe it would be better to invest that money instead of schooling. It's very long: 4 years college, 4 years medical school, and a minimum of 3 years of internship/residency.

Being a physician is not easy but you will always have a job. I retired early. I burned out and could not do it. I was so unhappy. Several doctors (mostly primary care) are retiring early so I would look into this.

Most physicians would not recommend that their kids go into medicine. If I had to do it again, I probably would but it's not a definite yes. There are a lot of sacrifices from education to your own personal well being. I would wake up early to start work (refilling prescriptions, answering questions, and reviewing labs) and work on the weekends so that my week would not be so hard.

This is why I recommend everyone interested in medicine work as a medical scribe...even if you work for free. You see what your life will be like in the future, you talk with doctors, you see what type of patients you see. I challenge everyone to start work when the doctor starts work (not when you need to start work) and leave when the doctor leaves. See how many times you will tell your family that you will be late for dinner. If you work as a scribe and still like it, I would go to medical school. Do this because you love medicine and people. Do not do it for the money. Yes, you will make money but that money is hard earned. This is not a 9-5 job.
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