Why Study Medicine? Pre-meds not in it for the money, survey says

The survey by Kaplan found that while only 49% of pre-meds reported being primarily motivated by money, 71% of pre-law students indicated as much (based upon survey results of 453 Kaplan LSAT students in February 2008). Since law and medicine are both potentially lucrative fields, what could account for the difference? Of the over 400 pre-medical students surveyed, 89% listed either a desire to help others, a genuine interest in the sciences, or personal exposure to medicine as the impetus for their decision. “We think it’s great for them to pursue medicine with such passion,” Fidler said.


http://studentdoctor.net/2008/04/why-study-medicine-pre-meds-not-in-it-for-the-money-survey-says/

So sad, I was curious to read how much doctors really make. Oh well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Internal Medicine Hospitalist
Community Hospital
Montgomery County
180k + RVU bonus
1Week on, 1Week off

I would have expected more. You picked the wrong profession.

maybe they're not in it for the money. let me guess - a SAHM who wouldn't have married someone who "only" made $180k, no matter how noble their profession.

Anonymous wrote:SOOOOO interesting that this thread hasn't taken off like the 'if you're a lawyer, how much do you make?' thread.

Because doctors are actually working and have no time to spend their days on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Internal Medicine Hospitalist
Community Hospital
Montgomery County
180k + RVU bonus
1Week on, 1Week off

I would have expected more. You picked the wrong profession.

Perhaps he/she picked the profession because of personal enjoyment or fulfillment and not income? I know, a rarity in DCUM land.

SOOOOO interesting that this thread hasn't taken off like the 'if you're a lawyer, how much do you make?' thread.

This thread makes me embarassed to be a lawyer.

Husband is a doctor..specialist. 4 years of med school + six years of specialty training. Sees 30 patients a day. Works until 11:00 each night now documenting. In surgery three days a week. Also sees low income patients through Project Access.

For all of that, he doesn' make boatloads and we aren't living the high life, by any means. I work as well.

He makes far, far less than law firm partners, who have a third of the training.

I'm also a cancer survivor. Surgeons and oncologists saved my life. 'nuff said.

Anonymous wrote:Internal Medicine Hospitalist
Community Hospital
Montgomery County
180k + RVU bonus
1Week on, 1Week off

I would have expected more. You picked the wrong profession.

Plastic Surgeon $1.5 mil

Anonymous wrote:Cardiologist.
$$$$$ lots of money and lost of debt

And poor grammar to boot!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, get lost. WTH? Do you know how much you could hurt MDs with this info?
The vast majority of people are going to think, oh, they make so much. But they will have NO idea of the daily stress and long hours (on our feet) with no food. Hours in the OR with one case 6, 7 hours standing, not able to see our kids.
Dam it stop this thread.

Call the wahhhhhmbulance.

Hello Bubble Guppie! LOL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, get lost. WTH? Do you know how much you could hurt MDs with this info?
The vast majority of people are going to think, oh, they make so much. But they will have NO idea of the daily stress and long hours (on our feet) with no food. Hours in the OR with one case 6, 7 hours standing, not able to see our kids.
Dam it stop this thread.

Oh get off your high horse! Plenty if people do that and more for $25,000/year.

True, but they don't spend 8 years in school +3+ years in training with little pay and have 6 figures of debt to show for it.

I beg to differ. My sister, a shelter veterinarian, could set you straight on many career paths with similar outcomes. I suspect, for many doctors, it is not about the money, even when they make lots of it. Family members of mine are specialists who make loads of money, and I still don't think it's enough for all they do - so again, that's good that most of them are doing it for other reasons than money. And every single one of them gives back. And I'm not talking about lip service charitable donation. I'm talking about personal time and money spent volunteering and donating to multiple charities, etc.

I don't get the point of this thread, anyway, and am actually kind of glad doctors aren't as gauche as the lawyers on this board, listing their income as if it's anyone's business.

Doctors just don't want to embarass themselves. After all that education, they earn much less than the lawyers.

Cardiologist.
$$$$$ lots of money and lost of debt