Planning on going to medical school but scared

Question

I'm a freshman in a 4 year college. I'm really into science and I enjoy it but at the same time I'm a creative writer and I also play piano etc.. I never thought of going to medical school until last night when I saw a doctor going to Uganda to volunteer for a child's surgery. It was a genetic problem that his scalp was pushing against his brain. Anyway, the doctor had to break his scalp and restructure it. In the end, the child was not only healthy but also he looked like a different person. I thought it must be a very satisfying job other than money. My question is, I just feel really old to be thinking about medical school but the rest of my life I know that I will be helping others. My degree was going to be in liberal arts but now I guess I will have to change it. I just don't know the procedure... Also I just want to know people's idea, what should I do? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Watch "The Last King of Scotland" and see what happens to the doctors who go to Uganda.

Seriously though, if your path goes awry and maybe you get bad MCAT scores or you can't get into a decent medical school you will still have a pretty decent degree. Much better than writing or working as a pianist. Just do it.

Answer 2

While your initial response to an evocative program is understandable, I wouldn't make a major decision so quickly.  Medicine is not something that should be approached through emotion.  It's an arduous journey that will make demands on you, professionally and personally, for the balance of your life.  

In my opinion, the best physicians are people who have to be a doctor versus want to be a doctor.  These types have been living with that need for years, whether they understood it or not.  You could be such a person who only needed a trigger to evoke it.  But allow it to become focused.  If it's meant to be, you'll know it.

Answer 3

If you're interested and willing, you should.  

Answer 4

Go for it!!! Just go down to the admissions center at the college and ask them who to go to to change a declare in majors. It is either them, or the counseling center. Good luck!!!!

Answer 5

The good news is, you might not even need to change your degree, medical schools dont require a science degree, you only need to take the premed science classes and you'll be good to go with your liberal arts degree!!