My sister is having a helluva time deciding between Medicine and Dentistry. Factors favour each differently, with Med having the edge at the moment. One of her main concerns with Medicine, though, is that it will take such a long time – it’ll be approximately 12 to 13 years before she’s fully qualified, either as an independent GP or a specialist. Dentistry, on the other hand, takes less time, but the factor of which city is also in the mix – Melbourne is a lot more familiar, and all the trappings with that would smooth life.
So which to choose? I’d not be wanting to make that decision either, with all the questions she’s put up.
One thing, however, that she’s been putting up as a factor against choosing Med – the length of time – is something that’s got me thinking. What’s the rush, I ask? What is it, ultimately, that we are here for? The convention amongst “our generation” seems to be get through university with a degree and be working by 23, to live a templated life, reaching milestones as set by our peers. Why should the prospect of an extended learning process to qualify for a highly specialised and highly valued career path be something that we fear for the time it will take out of “life”?
The question I ask is: What else have you got planned?
It’s not really appropriate for me to say that an extended learning process is ok, though, because I’m one of the ultimate examples of exactly the opposite. But I still ask: what’s the rush?
I’m a big fan of staying in uni as long as you want to – nothing wrong with the pursuit of knowledge as a career goal. There are elements in our society who would LIKE us to get through uni ASAP, get our degree and get out, and unfortunately that’s sort of the way things are heading right now, but the time you spend in uni shouldn’t really be a factor in what course you take IMO. I’d be more concerned about the stress a degree and career in medicine will bring; for all the bragging rights of “I got into medicine at Melbourne”, they’re gonna make you work for it. And if you’ve ever been into a hospital, a career is no picnic either. Dentistry would certainly be more relaxed as a profession, but…I dunno, I guess removing teeth for a living wouldn’t excite me. :P
It’s not so much the time spent at uni that’s the issue, I believe, but the time it takes to be “fully qualified”, which is a further 6 – 7 years beyond the 5 years it takes at uni itself.
Either way, I’m leaving it up to her. I’d suggest a profession like Marketing would suit her better, but she doesn’t think so. *shrugs*