In your opinion, would it be better to spend your late 20's and 30's living it up the best you can within your means, or trading it for a solid future? Are the 40's really the new 30's? How is the dating scene for a 40 year old male?

I am 31 right now, and have just finished 5 years of college at the expense of my social life (yes - demanding major). I am planning to go at least two more years for a masters. I have been thinking a lot about going to med school, and finishing up my med prerequisites during my stay at grad school. If I went that route, Id be starting my residency at 37!!

Now I'm not intimidated by the debt or the workload, and think I have a really good shot at it. What does bother me is giving up my late 20's and entire 30's. Aren't those supposed to be "the best years of your life"? Or is it pretty much overrated?

ETA: selected choice #2 to see poll results

IBTP

Whats your major in? Whats your prospective career if you dont go the medschool route?

Ahhh medicine: you pay for your retirement with your youth.





WTH, you'll be 40 someday regardless of what you do.

nuclear engineering. not too fond of the places where nuclear engineers have to live in order to find work. Also, when I first came to school, I wanted to go the med route but I didnt because I was afraid of the tough admissions process, the time commitment and all that. I think I can do it though

Med School is more than full time work, but you can still have fun times .There are also rewards and challenges that other jobs may not provide.

Just choose a specialty that gives you a lifestyle you would enjoy.

Do you have kids? Or intend to have them soon?

Combine em both and specialize in NucMed.

My degree is EE and if I could do it over would have gone for an MD (after the EE) in a heartbeat. Hell of a lot easier to do when you're young.

Nice glow show in the avatar, btw.

^ yeah I was thinking of going for radiation oncology. It would be a good fit, espectially since its looking like Im going to get my MS in radiation health physics

I'm 34, and no way would I want to go back and do another internship at my age.

If you can't see yourself being happy doing anything but medicine, then go for it.  Expect to give up more years of your life; In the first 2.5 years of school, I managed to ride motorcycle muchly/date/get married.  It gets much harder in the 3rd year of school.  During rotations, you are expected to be there before the residents to gather info & labs, and frequently be there long after they're gone.  Hours suck in residency and the first several years in practice until you're established.

Residency has been "officiallly" limited to 80hrs per week.  That's interpreted as 80 hours of new patient care - you can still be stuck doing paperwork and other scut work on patients you've seen.  One particular 110hr week from internship stands out in my mind.  One call shift, I hand wrote over 50 full pages of notes in a 34 hour period.

It's rewarding, but getting the MD is only part of the battle.  Again, go for it if you want.  Just don't be under the impression that it's like the 1970's & 1980's where you can do a 3 year residency and be a millionaire in 5 years.  Reimbursements from insurance & Medicare have stagnated while inflation long passed them by.

Feel free to IM me w/ questions, and best of luck if that's what you decide to do.

ETA: now, almost 2 years out of residency, life is much better.  I get to go home and see my wife and baby son, and the debt is slowly but steadily creeping downwards (just 28 more years to go).

Life is supposed to be enjoyed.

If you spent your whole life working toward a goal, where is the reward?

"I'm just working hard in school so I can get a good job." turns into "I'm working hard at my good job so I can enjoy retirement." and that turns into "I'm retired now, but I'm old, so enjoying life isn't all that it's cracked up to be."

Life is about more than planning for the future.  You have to enjoy the here and now.

I'd much rather enjoy life at all times, instead of busting my ass and sacrificing just so I'll be ok when I'm an old fart.

IMO the best years of your life should always been the current ones. That means life gets better as you get older.

If you are looking at the past as the greatest years of your life you have given up on your future.

Not stuck on that idea, if my goal was to get rich Id become an entrepreneur.

Quoted: Just don't be under the impression that it's like the 1970's & 1980's where you can do a 3 year residency and be a millionaire in 5 years.  Reimbursements from insurance & Medicare have stagnated while inflation long passed them by.

Thanks for all the repies, I appreciate your input.

I'm having more fun in my late-30's than I ever did in my early 20's.

Why?

I have the $$$$$$ to PAY for my fun.

The only reason many folks think their 20's were so great was because they had such low expectations back then.

Go for the career... and the dough.

Originally Posted By AndrewS If you are looking at the past as the greatest years of your life you have given up on your future.

Words to live by.

youth is over rated.

i had a lot of fun when i was younger reflecting on the past is not something any of us should be doing.  Should live for the moment and prepare for the future.  

i believe the best years are in your 30's and 40's, finished with school and having a career.  you are still young enough to party, and will have enough money for toys and girls.  i also recommend you be single in your 30's and 40's so you can have your choice of 22 year olds

I wanted to have a lot of fun when I was a teenager, so now I'm 35 and working at Wal-Mart.

Just kidding. But I think you get the point.

A tale of two brothers

First--My older brother (he is 39 now)
Studied 5 hours a day all during high school and college.  Earned a masters degree in EE in 1992.  Went out to Kalifornia and worked his tail off in the bay area (60-80 hrs a week).  He was at the forefront of the tech boom.  He was in on the design of the first cable modems, and worked for a strat up company that helped him make a TON of money,  He then switched to venture capital and made even more (same workload)  He consults now--still rakes it in

then there is me
I dropped out of college after 1 year because I was making a decent living climbing trees for a tree service--I loved being outside, feeling like I was challengeing myself, and risking my neck.  When I reached my early 20s, I studied for and received my massage therapy license from the state.  when I tired of that (27) I climbed trees again for a couple of years.  As I approached 30, I decided to fulfill my life's dream of living off the land in Alaska.  SO, I sold everything that would not be of use to me in that endeavor and hit the road.  I came back a year later, and jumped back into the tree industry but this time into a management position.  I have a decent job that give me 3 months a year off to hunt (my passion), but I am in no way able to retire at 40 ( like my brother could if he wanted to)

But I could not do the things I did in my 20s (the parties, the women, the 1000+ nights sleeping on the ground, the "hard hunts" that I thought were going to kill me) in my 40s

but the again--I never drive a porsche, take 4 star vacations, or retire at 40

which is better--fuck, I dont know.....I ask myself that alot--you tell me

ETA: I am 38 now

go for the MD youth is overrated.

frr - A head's up about being an MD.  First, you come out of school with horrendous debt (but you probably already knew that).  Second, MDs are the favorite target of every cold-calling salesperson on Earth... you'll be inundated with "sure things".  Third, MDs tend to be extremely competitive, as in "keep up with the Jonses" competitive.  There is enormous pressure to keep getting a new car, a bigger house, or to go on more lavish vacations.  Tons of doctors wind up heading into retirement with little to no savings.  Fourth, you are going to be a target for all of the nurses!  They all want to marry a doctor and get down to the life of a doctor's housewife, spending money and keeping a boyfriend on the side.

I voted for going to more school and getting your MD.  If you're smart, you can retire at 50 with millions.  I've met a few doctors who have done that, who still work some because they like it.  I've also met others who are still working in their 60s, making a half million a year, and who have nothing to show for it but a $100,000 leased car, a huge mortgage, and a string of divorces behind them.  Be the smart one, that retires young and can then spend the rest of your life travelling and living well.

having an MD after your name doesnt get you a solid future.

Hard work in anything does.

You always hear people say, "Laugh now, cry later."  The problem is, it's not a very mentality to have.  Yes, life is a journey and you should enjoy the here and now.  However, it's important to work hard now, so you won't have to work as hard later.  I really believe in the phrase, "Cry now, laugh later."

My brother just finished his MD.  He said other than the first year, and studying for USMLE's and boards ect, it wasn't too bad, and he had a crap load of fun.  The weeks sucked, but he said weekends were awesome.  Time put in, from what he said, was about the same as working and going to school full time, but with harder classes.  I am also planning on the same route.  I have about 1-2 years left on my major, somewhat depending on how fast I want to go, and if I minor, then Med school.  I am 23.

Id be starting my residency at 37!!

Just do it!!

I went into school at 32........just do it!!

Seen the salaries these days?..................just be smart when you specialize!!!

Go see the salaries for radiologists!!!!  

there are a lot of losers in this world who "just wanted to have fun"

The ability to plan ahead, and to put off instant gratification is pretty decent sign of intelligence.

Given you've already sunk so much into this... GO FOR IT!

Having a busy schedule doesn't mean you won't be enjoying life... look at the losers working easy jobs at the mall your age... do you think they really are enjoying life? working a shitty job, and wasting the free time they have doing nothing of importance?

Cardialogist came in to sign up at the fitness facility my wife sells memberships at.

She said he was late 30s, drove up in a Ferrari, blond chicky-snack with legs a mile long with him.

You decide.

medicine is interesting...some people...it sucks the life out of them and turns them into zombies (yeah...real ones)
other people it just turns them into a sex maniac.

if you want a life and big bucks
Anesthesiology
Interventional Rads

If you want to be a zombie that is disillusioned with the medical system in our country.
Internal med
FP

If you just want to be a zombie
general surg

if you are an adrenaline junkie and don't mind being a jack of all trades master of none
Emergency med

if you want really really big bucks
neuro surg
CT surg
Ortho
cards

if you like constantly having a cold and don't mind making less than everyone else in your med school class
Peds

If you was a strict lifestyle specialty
Derm
Rads in Australia reading nighttime films in the US


...there now that I've probably managed to offend a good portion of the MDs on here I'll go hide under a rock.

Biggest piece of advice...don't go into medicine for the "greater good" or "to help people" unless that is REALLY what turns you on...there are many "me and my own" specialties to be had that allow you to have a life outside of medicine. Also too many med students don't look at overall reimbursement rates before picking a specialty...you may love peds, but paying off your $200k+ of loans, buying a house and car, on your $85k sallary isn't going to be nearly as easily as it would be if you go into ortho and make $450k

its not a bad field, but its a pain in the ass.  im a second year med student...not really enjoying it all that much, but u can make of it what u will.  and theres always alittle time to break out and have fun

May I humbly suggest a career in the dental field?  Mrs. Warspite is an Orthodontist.  4 years dental school, then 2-3 years residency for most specialties (except oralmaxilofacial surgeons, which have to go to med school and dental school).  If you specialize, the income is comparable if not more than an MD, malpractice insurance is stupid low, and you have much more flexibility in running the type of practice that you want.

Another thing to consider is if Hitlery or some other Dem gets socialized medicine passed, MDs are screwed.  Dental will be affected, but not to the degree that MDs will.

Your post makes you sound like a nitwit.  Your 20s are over so why even ask the question regarding your late 20s???

You are starting out behind the eightball.  Sounds like you started college when you should have been graduating.

Cant go back, so dont fret over it.

Why go to grad school when you want to be a physician?

Why do you want to be a physician?

What specialty?

You can get married during medical school and residency.




ETA
You need to live life and enjoy it, even if it is school.  Carpe Diem and all that........

Quoted: Life is supposed to be enjoyed. If you spent your whole life working toward a goal, where is the reward? "I'm just working hard in school so I can get a good job." turns into "I'm working hard at my good job so I can enjoy retirement." and that turns into "I'm retired now, but I'm old, so enjoying life isn't all that it's cracked up to be." Life is about more than planning for the future.  You have to enjoy the here and now. I'd much rather enjoy life at all times, instead of busting my ass and sacrificing just so I'll be ok when I'm an old fart.

Quoted: medicine is interesting...some people...it sucks the life out of them and turns them into zombies (yeah...real ones) other people it just turns them into a sex maniac. if you want a life and big bucks Anesthesiology Interventional Rads If you want to be a zombie that is disillusioned with the medical system in our country. Internal med FP If you just want to be a zombie general surg if you are an adrenaline junkie and don't mind being a jack of all trades master of none Emergency med if you want really really big bucks neuro surg CT surg Ortho cards if you like constantly having a cold and don't mind making less than everyone else in your med school class Peds If you was a strict lifestyle specialty Derm Rads in Australia reading nighttime films in the US ...there now that I've probably managed to offend a good portion of the MDs on here I'll go hide under a rock. Biggest piece of advice...don't go into medicine for the "greater good" or "to help people" unless that is REALLY what turns you on...there are many "me and my own" specialties to be had that allow you to have a life outside of medicine. Also too many med students don't look at overall reimbursement rates before picking a specialty...you may love peds, but paying off your $200k+ of loans, buying a house and car, on your $85k sallary isn't going to be nearly as easily as it would be if you go into ortho and make $450k

Good summary.

As I said in my first response, med school isn't that awful. The big decision is what you specialize in.

Quoted: if you want a life and big bucks Anesthesiology Interventional Rads

Not any more, thanks largely to Hillary, Medicare, and malpractice.  Surgeons still get a large portion of what they bill from Medicare, so they happily take those patients.  Medicare pays about $15 for every $100 billed by anesthesia.

I agree on the lifestyle, and that's why I chose it.   Big bucks from passing gas are no longer the game.  It's the orthopods, neurosurgeons, and gastroenterologists driving the Ferraris now.

Aside from my edit above, I agree with most of your assessment.  As for me: I'd rather keep driving my Honda Civic home at 4pm with the pager turned off, than drive a Bentley into the hospital every 3 nights and not recognize my own kids.

My sister does internal medicine.  I have no idea how she keeps optomistic about it.

Quoted: Quoted: Life is supposed to be enjoyed. If you spent your whole life working toward a goal, where is the reward? "I'm just working hard in school so I can get a good job." turns into "I'm working hard at my good job so I can enjoy retirement." and that turns into "I'm retired now, but I'm old, so enjoying life isn't all that it's cracked up to be." Life is about more than planning for the future.  You have to enjoy the here and now. I'd much rather enjoy life at all times, instead of busting my ass and sacrificing just so I'll be ok when I'm an old fart.

Which part of that made no sense?

Shouldn't you enjoy each day, instead of spending your whole life working toward something that may never come?

Sorry, my view goes against what society thinks we should do.  Just be a happy little worker bee and do your part until you're too old to work.  No thanks.  

I 'lived life to the fullest' when I was 17-25, not your age. By the time I was late 20's, career mattered more.

Get over it. Your youth is gone. Plan for the future. Get the higher degree and enjoy your 40s rather than wondering how you are going to pay the bills in mid-life.

Just my .02.

Quoted: Quoted: Life is supposed to be enjoyed. If you spent your whole life working toward a goal, where is the reward? "I'm just working hard in school so I can get a good job." turns into "I'm working hard at my good job so I can enjoy retirement." and that turns into "I'm retired now, but I'm old, so enjoying life isn't all that it's cracked up to be." Life is about more than planning for the future.  You have to enjoy the here and now. I'd much rather enjoy life at all times, instead of busting my ass and sacrificing just so I'll be ok when I'm an old fart.

+1

Dude does not realize to win a marathon you have to make sacrifices the first 2 miles.

Quoted: I 'lived life to the fullest' when I was 17-25, not your age. By the time I was late 20's, career mattered more. Get over it. Your youth is gone. Plan for the future. Get the higher degree and enjoy your 40s rather than wondering how you are going to pay the bills in mid-life. Just my .02.

those years are way overated. 30's to 40's is where it's at.

I considered med school in my late 20's and was even enrolled in a pre-med program at Loma Linda University. For me there were a few factors:

1. Med school consumes your life. I work at the hospital where USC trains their med students, interns, and residents and they are there every day pretty much with some specialities having to take on-call shifts every four days plus afternoon clinics.

2. Everybody keeps harping about chosing the right speciality. It is not that easy. You have to fight to get into some speciality programs. I see second year residents stressing out about that every year. You may never rise better than just being a GP.

3. Some of the speciality programs are extremely long. Our neuro-surgical, trauma, and cardio-thoracic surgeons are doing like 5 years of residency.

4. The cost. Sure you will eventually recoup the money but it is still a huge dollar amount to be responsible about espeically if you quit the program early for whatever reason.

5. I wanted a family. I did not want to be 40 and have no family.  I did want to be near retirement age when my kids graduated from high school.

Those were the decisions I made for myself. Yours will be different. You should sit down and really decide what you want in your life.  Then decide if med school will fit into that.