Why are fewer and fewer young people choosing to become doctors?

I’m done posting here. I try to say something constructive and positive, and you just twist my words. If this is how an "intellectual" like you thinks, I can only imagine what the uneducated crowds in America are thinking—and there are far too many of them.

Goodbye.

Kevin White5 said:Ugh, I am done trying to write anything here. Every time I try to share something positive or constructive, you just twist my words entirely. If this is how someone who considers themselves an intellectual views things, I shudder to think what uneducated people in America believe—and there are far too many of them.
Goodbye.

Goodbye indeed. Don't worry; those without any sense will gladly believe you're selling them a candle when you're actually just handing them a horn. 😎
I am simply doing my part by letting everyone I know know who is out there peddling horns under the guise of candles. 😛
Friendly advice: if I were in your shoes, I would be much more concerned about getting a knife in my back from colleagues in blood-stained coats fighting over a tiny slice of the pie than I would be about angry patients. As much as people might dislike you, the chances of a successful lawsuit remain slim (thankfully for you, since the American judiciary rarely functions properly anyway), but it isn't long before a dissatisfied patient expresses their frustration by handing you a literal knuckle sandwich.

Just worry about yourself. You didn't raise me, you didn't put me through school, and you didn't play any part in my education. 😳

Eric Robinson81 said:A ton of people never even land a residency. And honestly, most people don't find work in Washington, D.C.; instead, you have these folks born right in the heart of the city who end up fleeing to some tiny town halfway across the country just to find a paycheck, living miles away from their friends and parents just to make ends meet.

Sadly, this is spot on. 😢 It was actually one of the biggest reasons I decided to pack my bags and leave both D.C. and the US.

mistyhound2 said:unfortunately, this is spot on. 😢 honestly, it was one of the biggest reasons I ended up leaving Washington, D.C.—and the US entirely.

So, did you manage to land a residency?

Kevin White5 said:Look, just worry about yourself. You didn't raise me, you didn't put me through school, and you haven't played any part whatsoever in my education. 😳

I can assure you, I am not even remotely concerned about what happens to you. Happy now?😘

Lawrence Wells said:So, did you actually manage to land a residency?

Of course I did. Honestly, it’s been way easier and less of a headache than back home in the States. Sadly, it's true.👎 But hey, every cloud has a silver lining, right?

Ugh, I was actually planning on applying to medical school next year, but I keep second-guessing everything. Reading all this makes me feel like maybe I shouldn't even bother since neither of my parents are doctors. Is there actually truth to that?
And is it true that if you're feeling unsure, it's better to just walk away?

mistyhound2 said:Of course I did—it's honestly way simpler and easier than back home. Sad truth, I guess.👎 But hey, every cloud has a silver lining.

Man, I'm seriously happy for you. Seeing you pull this off actually gives me some hope that maybe one day I'll head back to my hometown too...😁

genoivianan said:Uh, I was thinking about taking the medical boards next year, but I keep second-guessing myself since I'm just so unsure. Now that I'm reading this, it feels like maybe it's better not to even try—especially since neither my mom nor my dad are doctors. Is that actually how it works?
And is it true that if you're feeling uncertain, it's best to just give up?

Honey, my parents aren't doctors either, and I've managed to crush everything on schedule so far!🙂 Just get started on studying for those entrance exams. Good luck!

Genoivianne said:Uh, I was thinking about going into medicine next year, but I keep second-guessing myself because I'm just not sure. Now that I'm reading this, it feels like maybe it's best not to even try since neither my mom nor my dad are doctors. Is that really how it works?
And is it true that if you aren't certain, it’s better to just walk away?

It is a long road, and the studies are incredibly demanding. Even after you finish school, there is the internship phase where you will most likely end up volunteering your time or working for pennies. After all that, you might find yourself stuck in some tiny town that nobody actually wants to live in. Securing a specialty is another uphill battle entirely. The professional environment is strictly hierarchical—it's almost like the military. You will always have someone above you acting like they are God, and they can be quite harsh. Switching jobs is difficult because competition is so fierce, and leaving the US is equally complicated since you often have to retake nearly the entire curriculum or face massive exams—just look at the USMLE. If you work in someone else's practice, they will exploit you, and if you want to open your own clinic, you'll need a mountain of cash and you'll deal with colleagues who will sabotage you whenever they get the chance.

If I were starting over today and had an interest in medicine, I would probably aim for a career in Biotech rather than jumping straight into MD programs. That is where the future lies—genetics, not a rusty scalpel. Though, I am not entirely sure if the US offers enough specialized programs in that specific direction.

Eric Robinson81 said:It’s a long haul, and honestly, the curriculum is brutal. Even after you graduate, you’re looking at internships where you’ll likely end up volunteering or working for peanuts—just to get your foot in the door. And even then, finding a decent job often means moving to some tiny town in the middle of nowhere that nobody else wants to live in. Getting a specialty? Forget about it, it’s incredibly tough. The whole field is strictly hierarchical—kind of like the military—where there’s always someone above you acting like they're God. Switching jobs is a nightmare because the competition is so fierce, and trying to move abroad is even harder since you’d basically have to retake almost your entire degree just to pass one or two massive exams—think USMLE. If you work in someone else's practice, they’ll run you ragged, and if you want to open your own clinic, you'll need serious cash—plus, colleagues will try to sabotage you whenever they get the chance.

If I were starting over today and actually wanted to go into science, I’d aim for Biotech instead of straight medicine. That’s where the future is—genetics, not some rusty scalpel. Though, I'm not even sure if we have enough solid programs like that here in the States.

Anone, you've got it wrong. Doctors have always been needed, and they always will be. At the end of the day, it matters that you actually love what you study—it’s what’s going to put food on your table one day.🙂

I had these grand ambitions of becoming a physician. Honestly? Part of me still does. But eventually, I pivoted toward what I’m doing now, mostly because it felt like far fewer people were actually stepping up to fill these roles—even though the need is just as desperate as it is in medicine. It’s just one of those things...

Since we all know exactly what kind of working conditions our doctors are facing, I think it’s time they stopped complaining and just accepted the reality of the situation. This is government service, and they are receiving a government salary.

If I were a doctor, I would follow the civil service rules to the letter. I’d put in my honest eight hours—taking my scheduled thirty-minute break, of course—and then I’d pack up my things and head home.

If I happened to stumble upon a patient dying on the floor right outside my clinic, I’d probably just step over them and let them wait until I clocked back in for my next shift.

If I ever felt the urge to make some extra cash, I’d just open a private practice and take in all those patients who refuse to play by the rules of the public healthcare system. So, I’m asking all the disgruntled parties to please adapt to the existing framework, since you already know exactly how it operates. If you’re truly unhappy, go ahead and organize with the doctors, offer them better incentives, and then you can give them all the grief you want.

It’s a simple, clean, and professional way to look at it.

Elizabeth Patel67 said:I always dreamed of being a physician. To be honest, I still do. But I eventually pivoted to my current career because it felt like far fewer people were pursuing it compared to medicine, even though the need is just as critical. It's just one of those things...

Just to clarify, if you finish medical school, you become a physician. To actually be called a doctor in the academic sense, you have to pursue advanced studies and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation.

Eric Robinson81 said:If you finish medical school, you'll be a physician, not a PhD. To get a doctorate, you have to keep studying and defend a dissertation.

But you're still technically a doctor. It’s just the difference between being an MD and having a PhD.

Engineering and Computer Science? It’s just endless studying, technical drawing, and way too many lab sessions. Mechanical Engineering is the same deal. Dentistry and Medicine are basically the whole package minus orthopedics—plus enough practical exams to drive you absolutely insane, even if the groups are small. Now, Medicine involves a massive amount of memorization, but there’s a silver lining: things repeat. For instance, once you nail physiology and pathophysiology, everything else in clinical rotations becomes a piece of cake because it all ties back together. Honestly though, the doctors we see today are becoming relics of the past. Genetics and molecular biology are where the real action is moving; traditional medicine is kind of losing its grip. I'm a doctor myself, and I'll be blunt: if I could go back and choose my path now, I’d pick something else entirely. As it stands, I ended up in administration rather than clinical work—I'm in the public sector, so I don't deal with $1833 too much directly, though I have to say, the pay is actually great. If I were still in a hospital wearing a white coat in Internal Medicine, say Cardiology, I’d be looking at maybe $7,000 to $8,500 with on-call shifts included. Anyone who actually understands what it means to pull a 12-hour shift in a hospital knows that kind of money is pathetic. And if you’re thinking about opening a private practice? Unless you’ve got at least $450,000 just for the space and equipment, you don't stand a chance. But hey, it's your call. 😍

genoivianan said:Uh, I was thinking about aiming for medical school next year, but I keep second-guessing myself because I'm just not sure. Now that I'm reading all this, it feels like maybe it's better not even to try since neither my mom nor my dad are doctors. Is that really how it works?
And is it true that if you're feeling unsure, you should just throw in the towel?

Don't let that get in your head. Seriously, my parents aren't doctors either, and I still managed to rank in the top 50 for admissions and made it through the whole grind successfully. At the end of the day, it's about you—your drive, your grit, and how much you're willing to sacrifice. And yeah, obviously... you need a massive passion for medicine. You have to live it, breathe it, and obsess over it constantly, as I’ve said before. Just go for it. Good luck on the entrance exams.🙂

Eric Robinson81 said:Look, if you graduate med school, you're a physician, not a "doctor" in the academic sense. If you want that PhD title, you've got to grind through more years of study and defend a dissertation.

yeah, and apparently that makes you some kind of expert.😬

Lawrence Wells said:Anone, you clearly don't have a clue what's actually going on here. We've always needed doctors, and we always will. At the end of the day, you just gotta love what you're studying—and make sure it actually puts food on the table eventually.🙂

sure thing...🙂