I've always wanted to be a doctor!!!
jdunderdog (Feb 7 - 5:04 pm)
Ever since I began talking and comprehending sentences, my parents ingrained the idea in my head that I should be a doctor. They'd often parade me around to Filipino functions (they are of Filipino origin) bragging to their friends about how I was going to make it big in the medical profession. After all, they saw that high marks in school, especially math and science, was enough validation that I was headed to medical school paradise. They never even allowed me to entertain another thought about another career. "Medicine is where you need to be so you can have that big house in the burbs, drive that Mercedes, marry a hot wife, send your kids to private school, and care for us someday. It's the only stable career."
I graduated near the top of my high school class and was widely recognized as the doctor-to-be at commencement exercises. I couldn't help but gloat and desire to carry my overachieving to the next level. Fall came around and I enrolled in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. The name was enough to confer respect at my open house. My parents were so proud! But the transition from a high school class of 26 to a typical college CLASSROOM of 300 proved too intense for me. It was hard to stay focused during any given lecture. The professors were nearly impossible to get to know and subsections were taught by grad students. It was just not my culture. I thought I pretty much killed my chances at medical school when I received a C on my first midterm chemistry exam. It was a 20-question multiple choice exam and I got seven wrong. Only one person got all answers correct in the class of 300. I learned that it would only get harder from here, so I thought I'd change my strategy midstream and declare a liberal arts major so I wouldn't have to take so much science. My parents still needed convincing that I would stay pre-med. After all, they still wrote the checks for tuition, room and board. I applied for some student loans, which I believed would be easily paid off in 8 years. By the end of my freshman year, I found myself without any direction. I was still registered for organic chemistry in the fall, and I attended a few classes, but my spirits were rock bottom. Then I took the prelaw path...
Today I am a licensed attorney but nothing more. I blog about the injustice of the legal education complex, but I find myself often praising the medical industry for keeping admitted student numbers low at medical schools. It appears from some of the chatter on this board that the tide may be shifting. Consumer demand to be educated in the health sciences is especially high.
Reply
Ever since I began talking and comprehending sentences, my parents ingrained the idea in my head that I should be a doctor. They'd often parade me around to Filipino functions (they are of Filipino origin) bragging to their friends about how I was going to make it big in the medical profession. After all, they saw that high marks in school, especially math and science, was enough validation that I was headed to medical school paradise. They never even allowed me to entertain another thought about another career. "Medicine is where you need to be so you can have that big house in the burbs, drive that Mercedes, marry a hot wife, send your kids to private school, and care for us someday. It's the only stable career."
I graduated near the top of my high school class and was widely recognized as the doctor-to-be at commencement exercises. I couldn't help but gloat and desire to carry my overachieving to the next level. Fall came around and I enrolled in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. The name was enough to confer respect at my open house. My parents were so proud! But the transition from a high school class of 26 to a typical college CLASSROOM of 300 proved too intense for me. It was hard to stay focused during any given lecture. The professors were nearly impossible to get to know and subsections were taught by grad students. It was just not my culture. I thought I pretty much killed my chances at medical school when I received a C on my first midterm chemistry exam. It was a 20-question multiple choice exam and I got seven wrong. Only one person got all answers correct in the class of 300. I learned that it would only get harder from here, so I thought I'd change my strategy midstream and declare a liberal arts major so I wouldn't have to take so much science. My parents still needed convincing that I would stay pre-med. After all, they still wrote the checks for tuition, room and board. I applied for some student loans, which I believed would be easily paid off in 8 years. By the end of my freshman year, I found myself without any direction. I was still registered for organic chemistry in the fall, and I attended a few classes, but my spirits were rock bottom. Then I took the prelaw path...
Today I am a licensed attorney but nothing more. I blog about the injustice of the legal education complex, but I find myself often praising the medical industry for keeping admitted student numbers low at medical schools. It appears from some of the chatter on this board that the tide may be shifting. Consumer demand to be educated in the health sciences is especially high.
Reply
log5 (Feb 18 - 11:42 pm)
Don't feel alone man, I'm sure a lot of us have had similar experiences. I also had adjustment issues at State U. that killed my GPA. Guess we all have to suck it up and move on.
Reply
Don't feel alone man, I'm sure a lot of us have had similar experiences. I also had adjustment issues at State U. that killed my GPA. Guess we all have to suck it up and move on.
Reply
FadedGlory (Apr 2 - 7:53 pm)
Your story is nothing new. So many of those who had been rejected from medical schools went to law schools opting for what they thought was second best choice. Even though being an attorney has comparable prestige but usually very incomparable earnings, and it is tough to pay your bills with prestige. Do not worry though, for you nothing is lost yet. Just go get one of those online NP degrees. You will get to call yourself Dr. and will earn just about as much. All that without insanity of residency and hundreds of thousands of student loans. Mark my word fellas our standard of living will be buried by the noctors and a lot sooner than we think…
Reply
Your story is nothing new. So many of those who had been rejected from medical schools went to law schools opting for what they thought was second best choice. Even though being an attorney has comparable prestige but usually very incomparable earnings, and it is tough to pay your bills with prestige. Do not worry though, for you nothing is lost yet. Just go get one of those online NP degrees. You will get to call yourself Dr. and will earn just about as much. All that without insanity of residency and hundreds of thousands of student loans. Mark my word fellas our standard of living will be buried by the noctors and a lot sooner than we think…
Reply
keepinreel (Feb 12 - 2:31 pm)
I definitely respect the way the AMA runs itself in comparison to the ABA. I prefer having fewer med schools that are harder to get into than alot of law schools that just about anyone can get into
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I definitely respect the way the AMA runs itself in comparison to the ABA. I prefer having fewer med schools that are harder to get into than alot of law schools that just about anyone can get into
Reply
mississippilawyer (Mar 31 - 9:15 pm)
Lest one forget, entrance to the medical profession is dictated by the admissions office to medical school, entrance to the legal profession is dictated by employment after passing the bar exam.
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Lest one forget, entrance to the medical profession is dictated by the admissions office to medical school, entrance to the legal profession is dictated by employment after passing the bar exam.
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frugal_and_puzzled (Apr 1 - 1:42 am)
> A low ranked law school in Minnesota.
Anyone else find that statement funny?
Who gives a damn...which was it:
Hamline, U of M, or William Mitchell.
Reply
> A low ranked law school in Minnesota.
Anyone else find that statement funny?
Who gives a damn...which was it:
Hamline, U of M, or William Mitchell.
Reply
brooklynhollaback (Jun 10 - 12:05 pm)
U of M is not low ranked. Even though its outside the T-14, its still not TTT like other law schools ranked 20-25.
The reason for this is because nobody from a T-25, let alone a T-14, wants to work in Minnesota. U of M is the HYS of Minneapolis/St. Paul. There's basically no competition in the region.
Reply
U of M is not low ranked. Even though its outside the T-14, its still not TTT like other law schools ranked 20-25.
The reason for this is because nobody from a T-25, let alone a T-14, wants to work in Minnesota. U of M is the HYS of Minneapolis/St. Paul. There's basically no competition in the region.
Reply
wolfman (Jun 22 - 4:16 pm)
Have you thought of trying to fulfill pre-med requirements, even by taking 1-2 classes a semester at a state school, and ultimately trying to become a doctor, even if you have to go to a Carriebean school at the age of 50 and everyone will laugh at you? Because I have... and still do.
Reply
Have you thought of trying to fulfill pre-med requirements, even by taking 1-2 classes a semester at a state school, and ultimately trying to become a doctor, even if you have to go to a Carriebean school at the age of 50 and everyone will laugh at you? Because I have... and still do.
Reply
frugal_and_puzzled (Jul 6 - 8:13 am)
Read the subtext. OP is not that bright. He had delusional parents and was a big fish in probably what was a shitty high school. He got smoked in college, and was lazy to boot. He is not doctor material, and never was, and is exactly where he should be.
Reply
Read the subtext. OP is not that bright. He had delusional parents and was a big fish in probably what was a shitty high school. He got smoked in college, and was lazy to boot. He is not doctor material, and never was, and is exactly where he should be.
Reply
causanortis (Jul 6 - 2:29 pm)
Frugal,
I'm about 90% positive this entire thread was a flame... Saying the OP is not too bright without first realizing this high probability is sort of well.. duh...
I believe OP was trying to make a statement about how Asians are typically pushed into a medical career but later "settle" for law when they end up being abysmal failures.. The subject line followed by THREE exclamation points sort of gives this away.
Reply
Frugal,
I'm about 90% positive this entire thread was a flame... Saying the OP is not too bright without first realizing this high probability is sort of well.. duh...
I believe OP was trying to make a statement about how Asians are typically pushed into a medical career but later "settle" for law when they end up being abysmal failures.. The subject line followed by THREE exclamation points sort of gives this away.
Reply
BLeeLegal (Jul 19 - 11:53 am)
True enough. While there may be some truth to that myth amongst the Asian well to do, if those professions were all Asian people pursued, the continent would be full of nothing but Doctors and Lawyers. Someone has to be the shopkeeper, the Teacher and the Garbageman etc.
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Post a message in this threadTrue enough. While there may be some truth to that myth amongst the Asian well to do, if those professions were all Asian people pursued, the continent would be full of nothing but Doctors and Lawyers. Someone has to be the shopkeeper, the Teacher and the Garbageman etc.
Reply