Quitting medicine

[persianmedic]

No but good point !

[Necroyeti]

One of our anatomy demonstrators in Dundee quit medicine in 2nd year because he found out he hated sick people. (Keep in mind this was back in the days when you had no ward experience in first year...) He ended up doing a degree in forensic anthropology and now he's away to do a phD.

No point to the story, but I thought I would throw it out there.

BTW, is it common for intercalaters to quit medicine? Interested since I fully intend to intercalate then go into research once I begin practicing.

[Muffin2]

I don't think its common. But i can understand why people do it. Sort of like a now or never thing. TBH since you actually want to be a doctor you probably won't think about quitting after a intercalated degree. I think there is a danger though to those who are unsure about continuing to use the intercalated degree to get out and still have good job prospects ahead cos they have a degree. Its why i don't want to intercalate, the temptation to leave and get a job over spending another 2 years in uni would be too much (that and i really love medicine :P)
Medicine is hard and people do drop out cos they don't like it. Its just one of those things.

[Gizmo says -]

a far greater proportion drop out fter qualifying from what i know, once they've left the cushy uni life and it the reality of the wards.