Re: Pre-Meds and the Rishta Game
Yeah that’s because US system of becoming a doctor is also messed up. Unlike other nations, we have to do 4 years of pre-med (each year is $50,000-$65,000 tuition and board per year) and then 4 years of medical school to get medical doctorate (MD) (which is another $60,000-80,000 tuition and board per year), and then 3-7 years of residency at reduced salary and then 1-4 years of specialized training for fellowships at reduced salary. Residency is one of the most brutal things, its like being an indentured servant, I wouldnt wish it on anyone lol. Plus becoming a doctor is so competitive in US that sometimes students have to take 1-2 years off to do research before applying for medical school. You do the math all while debt is growing due to interest. At minimum, can take 11 years to become a doctor but most often more than 13-15 years if specialized. US is also the land of suing and malpractice (government leaders are mostly lawyers so pro-malpractice which drive up health care costs also but don’t expect tort reform any time soon) so doctors have to pay a substantial amount for malpractice insurance to protect their medical license and assets. Government also takes 30-40% of income for taxes. Dont get confused by gross salaries, actual take home salary is MUCH MUCH less. Dont get me wrong, we doctors do make a comfortable living but trust me it’s not worth it unless you really enjoy medicine and helping the sick. There is so much beauracray in dealing with hospital administration, government and insurance companies to document every thing and even fight for reimbursement in medicine it’s a headache. Can’t even properly take the time to sit down and talk to patients because have to do so much paperwork because of government and insurance companies. I seriously spend more time on paperwork than patients which frustrates me because I became a doctor to see and help patients. Doctors also work odd hours and if on call need to stay within a certain proximity of the hospital. We do work extremely hard and sacrifice a lot for every bit of that salary.
Most other nations the medical degree itself is considered a bachelor’s (i.e. MBBS) and there is no pre-med and can go directly into medical school after high school. The training is not as rigorous either and people can become a general physician after 1 year of residency. Also government in other nations subsidizes medical school–either it’s free or like $5,000 a year. There is also not as much malpractice and suing in other nations. They finish training much earlier. Unfortunately, these people are dying to come to US for the money after benefitting from their nation’s more efficient training causing brain drain in their nations. They have it the best ONCE they make it here in US..little to no debt, younger age, while making more money.
There are some doctors who have made medicine into a business–avoid these doctors. Most of these are foreign trained because money was their major incentive to come to US or go abroad for medical school to play the system.