“Why Medicine?” The Good, Questionable, and Bad Answers

"Why Medicine?" The Good, Questionable, and Bad Answers

"Insider's Pre-Medical Guidebook" written by admissions faculty from America's top medical schools (Dr. Byron Lee, Dr. Andrew Ko, Dr. Matthew Peters, and Samantha An) provide insight in how admissions committees view common answers to question "Why Medicine?"

Lee, B., Ko, A., Peters, M., & An, S. (2021). Chapter 1: Is Medicine Right for Me? In Insider's Pre-Med Guidebook: Advice from Admissions Faculty at America's top medical schools (2nd ed., pp. 17–36). essay, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Bad
  • My parents have always wanted me to
  • My parents are physicians and I want to follow in their footsteps
  • I want to make a lot of money
  • I want power and prestige
  • I want a job that is stable and always in demand
Questionable
  • I can't imagine what else I would do. I've tried other things but did not like them
  • I got appendicitis when I was 14, and I admired how my surgeon treated me. Ever since my surgery, I've wanted to be just like her
  • I want to help others
Good
  • Physicians established meaningful, long-term relationships with their patients
  • Doctors of life-long learners, researchers, and educators
  • You can help others in way that only physicians can
  • Physicians have more autonomy, independence, and variety of practice than other health professionals

The Bad

"My parents have always wanted me to"

  • As an adult you should be able to make your own decisions
  • Medicine should be your decision, not anyone else's
    • You will be going through four years of medical school and 80 hour/week residency, not your parents

"My parents are physicians and I want to follow in their footsteps"

  • Growing up in a household of physicians is not enough of a reason to want to pursue medicine
  • Admissions committees are hesitant because majority of the time, these applicants do not reach out to other professions
  • Applicants could select medicine out of convenience

"I want to make a lot of money"

  • Annual medium salary is at (or over) $208,000 in 2019
  • However, physicians start in the workforce at an older age compared to other professions
  • Costs to become a doctor are excessive (2020)
    • $141,825 average for college tuition, fees, dorm, etc.
    • $256,000 median for in-state medical school
    • $338,000 median for private medical school
  • During residency (3-8 years), average $57,000 annually despite working 70-80 hours a week (2019)
  • Malpractice insurance
    • For OB/GYN in New York City, $214,999 (2017)
  • A working physician with $200,000 debt
    • Pays $1,600 a month for 20 years
    • Interest of $221,000
    • Total repayment: $421,000

"I want power and prestige"

  • With power comes responsibility - someone's life is in your hands
  • May feel frustration when a patient goes against instruction/treatment plans

"I want a job that is stable and always in demand"

  • Need for physicians to grow 7% between 2018-2028
  • Physicians miss important family obligations, events, and holidays due to work
  • While not as common, physicians can lose their license
    • Between 2003-2009, 1 in 57 physicians lost their license
  • Many other professions have great job security too