Why you SHOULDN'T go to Medical School..

[@hermtheworm2712]

I am no longer applying to medical school and instead I'm dropping out of my undergrad to become a Mongolian goat farmer

[@DoctorKenji]

Haha that sounds fun! 😝

[@Nabonidus-m7x]

herder*

[@dvkvnl]

“i really wouldnt want a job where i graduate and there is nothing new to learn” :’) it’s truly making me sobbing.

[@williamolsen8464]

Hi! I'm 24 from the US currently on my third year, and feeling pretty burnt out. I don't really enjoy my time at the hospital anymore, like I did at the beginning of the year. I feel like the whole time I'm there I'm just standing around not learning anything and generally being useless (feeling compounded by the fact that I'm on subspecialty outpatient clinics right now where I'm essentially shadowing providers). Every day, I wake up and feel fine when I go in, but then it's just a matter of time before some small problem makes me angry or frustrated and I feel shitty for the rest of the day. It's like I have no reserve left. At home on weeknights, all I really do is sleep (up to like 10+ hours a lot of nights now). I look forward to drinking a lot more than I used to. My friends notice that I'm more irritable. I don't work out nearly as much as I used to. I usually feel a lot better at the end of weekends/time off, but then I get slapped in the face with the sisyphean tasks of third year again first thing on Monday, and I'm right back where I started. One of the most bothersome things is that I'm also getting really cynical, to the point that essentially every time I see a bad outcome or a patient suffering, I think something along the lines of, "why does medicine have so much power and authority if this is the best we can do?" or "this person would have been better off if they had never even come to the hospital" or "I should have gone into research where you can actually do something good for the world rather than just dispense pointless, expensive treatments that make people suffer." I also have a lot of thoughts along the line of "you're not going to learn anything today because all this shit is below you" and "the expectations for you are so low and you're sufficiently smart that nothing you do today will affect your grade." Do I actually believe that stuff if I sit down and think through it? Definitely not. But it's like those thoughts are always sitting right at the edge of my thinking, ready to jump in the second I get a little bit down during the day. It's pretty exhausting trying to challenge them all the time, and they're definitely negatively impacting my ability to learn stuff in clinic. Needless to say, this is making it hard to get through the remaining (pretty tough) rotations I have left to complete. I don't know how much longer I can keep up the "interested med student" act and cynicism suppression that have pulled me through the last 6-8 weeks of feeling like this. I might just drop out. how do you deal with this kind of cynicism and burnout?

[@therambler3713]

About your first point....you should never compare your life too much with other people. Just do you. Live your own life and stop worrying about what others are doing. Only then will you truly be happy with your life.

[@jamietippett7932]

In a few years man you will realise how young 24 years old is. Other friends who are already out working won't have medical degrees. Medicine is extremely tough, but soon you will have a guaranteed job and your passion will be your job with your whole life ahead of you. Everything will all fit into place soon 😁

[@DoctorKenji]

Thanks so much for the kind words man!

[@sim_aware]

Agree completely!

[@terrencekohen445]

I guess it is quite off topic but do anybody know a good site to watch new movies online ?

[@Axd1nz]

@@terrencekohen445 stremio

[@abelhara2835]

Bruh, I understand you. I am 25 years old and in my fourth year of medical school. I'll be 28 by the time I graduate. I am also studying abroad so I have been away from friends and family for years. I get where you are coming from. I think about that a lot and I try to be present in the moment and have a sense of perspective. I am glad I love it enough that those moments don't weigh me down for too long but the struggle is real. Thanks for your honesty !

[@toni-marielamonth8319]

Be proud of where you are!! You are doing well!!...you will be fine💫💫💥💥

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you for sharing your inspiring comment bro!!

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

I’m a 4th year medical student (so 1 year left) and I already know I’ve made a huge mistake. I’m not ready for the level of pressure I see FY1’s put under, also their lack of supervision in some departments is shocking. These are 23 year olds that don’t even understand how to do basic adult things and yet they have lives in their hands (especially on night shifts). Medical school is all about taking your money, you actually don’t learn much at all. I went into medical school with the notion you qualify at least mildly competent, now I’m not convinced

[@noraaa8479]

I’m in the same boat I already regret it and I don’t know what to do

[@belight4686]

I don't know anyone who's 24 with a mortgage these days with 20% + deposits!!! Most people I know struggle to pay their rent.

[@yathprem]

Nice one Kenji, people really gotta hear this side!

[@DoctorKenji]

Thanks bro!

[@msz9523]

As someone who graduated from Biomed and then went into a cushy consultancy job all I have to tell you is that the good salary and convenient working patterns aren’t at all enough to offset the existential dread and boredom I felt all day every day at work ☹️

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you for sharing your point of view, I can definitely see what you mean!

[@msz9523]

@Sara Olivia there is a whole group of them that basically do the same thing - med comms/consulting - Oxford Pharmagenesis, Costello Medical, Cambridge Medical Communication and a thousand different ones like that, let me know if you have any questions.

[@msz9523]

@Sara Olivia yes, the starting salary for most of these was 30k, I did get in through a quick 3 month internship, but only bc I was already switching lanes from a previous clinical job. I had some experience in medical writing for a scientific blog. My one biggest advice to you is take the time (and internships) to figure out what you truly enjoy, there are so many ppl attracted by the ok salary who burn out and hate their job within 6 months, that extra 5k a year (way less after tax) is not going to make up for a job that's not right for you as a person and you will get little to no satisfaction of building a career you don't care for.

[@LorianandLothric]

Thoughts on PAs who make over six figures with reasonable work hours (36-40 hours) while having a fulfilling career?

[@scholaroftheworldalternatehist]

My friend, that happens due to life not because of your job. You must look for satisfaction in your family, your hobbies, etc. Jobs are just to put money on the table, believe me

[@IamSibonokuhle]

" you kinda feel like you always have to work " I feel you 😩😩

[@djones2183]

Lol Kenji you aren't old at all! I will be 28 by the time I start med school next year. Consultancy won't be a thing for me until i'm in my mid to late 40's omgggg. However, the job satisfaction & being in a job where I am constantly learning/challenged is unmatched.

[@DoctorKenji]

Amen!!

[@mzdimplz93]

I was a medical student in knust ghana started my degree in 2013. I went to ghana with high hopes that ghana would be a wonderful adventure and a great experience. On the flip side i was battling homesickness and i struggled academically throughout. It was never clear whether my struggle to pass exams was down to my own incompetence or the fact that the university was and remains to this day very corrupt. So much so that after my 5th year there was a huge riot in the university and the police and the army had to be called to control the situation and the university had to be closed temporarily. This was not the first time that the university had been closed but rather the fourth time. (The first 3 times were because of lecturers going on strike because of salary disputes). Each university closure affected my academic performance greatly but the timing of this one was particularly unfortunate. I had just finished writing resits because despite my best efforts I had failed every exam i had written in 5th year so i spent my summer holiday and the first month of 6th year writing resits. The resits were so intense that I didn't have the time or energy to attend my 6th year rotation or to study the 6th year material because i was essentially still in 5th year. The riots and the university closure happened during this period. Therefore by the time i had finished my resits (and miraculously passed them) it left me with 6 months to complete the entire 6th year material. Given that i was exhausted overworked academically struggling severely burnt out and bordering on depression i knew there was no way that i could handle doing my final year of medical school in 6 months. So I took a gap year went back to the UK spent time with my family had time for myself replenished my finances and I even met the love of my life. Going back to Ghana in September 2019 was difficult but I felt that this time everything would be different. It wasn't. Once again i was struggling to make the grades missing home and missing my boyfriend terribly but I kept working hard in the hopes that I would finally get my degree and accomplish my dream of being a doctor. Covid hit ghana in mid March and like with most countries the virus turned everything upside down including my education. The university closed (again) and everyone was sent home. Countries started closing their borders. Flights to the UK stopped and the airport closed. I was faced with a difficult choice: do I stay and risk being separated from everyone i love indefinitely during a pandemic or do i abandon my degree 6 years of sweat and tears when i was a few short weeks away from graduating? I chose the latter. I couldnt bear the prospect of something happening to my loved ones while i was away. And I missed them terribly. Moreover my family friends boyfriend the uk government and even the university themselves advised me to go home. So i took a repatriation flight back to the UK. 2 weeks later in the midst of a lockdown knust organised exams for final year medical students and i was unable to partake. The only option open to me was to start the year all over again and i cant bring myself to do that. The university refused to give me my transcripts even though i paid for them so ive essentially done 6 years of medical school and have nothing to show for it. What if anything do you suggest i do in my position?

[@ofbooksanddreams3097]

Please, please, restart your year. Are you really willing to trade in 5 years of hard work for one year. Just tough it out for one last time and get your degree.

[@maggedmagged1]

Appeal to take your final exam now due to being unable to take it due to COVID.Try talking to different faculty and administration.

[@shellydavis855]

I dropped out Yes I did I was on the career path to become an MD, but now I'm a social worker. I couldn't take the pressure tbh

[@Luna-co7wn]

Do you regret it ?

[@shellydavis855]

@@Luna-co7wn nope, Best decision I ever made The passion I have for social work outweighs how stressful it can be at times.

[@msz9523]

Me, starting graduate medical school at 26 👀

[@DoctorKenji]

Ayyy that graduate medic life! 💯💯

[@msz9523]

@@DoctorKenji yasss

[@abelhara2835]

You are young💙. Go for it!

[@Peaches-and-Screams]

Im 33, have children, have undergrad debt to sort. Not much support from family.. And i am still sure the debt from med school will be worth it. Am i old? A bit. Will it be stressful? Of course. Nothing pulls my soul like the path of medicine. Thank you for posting your journey, your concerns. This reality bite is necessary for all med students, as it will weed out who belongs there and who doesn't

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you for sharing this inspiring comment!

[@drose44444]

I am a fourth year like you, but i'm 28 and have two degrees

[@belight4686]

In Nursing they do 12.5 hour clinical days. Nurses had a pay freeze for 10+ years. After qualifying with their degree they have £60 k in debt. Not to mention they are in direct contact with the patients during a pandemic putting their life at risk and their families. It could be worse. lol

[@DoctorKenji]

This is why I respect nurses so much!!!

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

I respect nurses because they are amazing (always who I go to for help) but I’m not sure what out of that list junior doctors also don’t do 12.5hr clinical days, pay freezes, direct contact with Covid patients, debt (I will be qualifying with 75k debt- also remember nurses currently training will have less debt because they can get a 5k bursary they don’t have to pay back, smart move by the government there). All healthcare workers in the NHS are stupidly overworked and underpaid, and it’s ridiculous they all have to pay out so much to train (remember other healthcare workers- midwives, physios, PA’s etc)

[@hemikiwi817]

Time passes in a blink of an eye. Hate is a strong word...Seems to be the trend, why i hate oxford, why i hate this, why i hate that.... In time you will look back on this period of your life and think,,,wow, i never really knew what hate was.....until now!

[@alifmohammed4139]

Your friends might be more richer than u g but u got more knowledge trust me 💯

[@DoctorKenji]

Ayyy I hope that remains true fam 💯

[@sim_aware]

Everything is relative...

[@janiceoffei1384]

..pertaining to the human body

[@thedagger7226]

The only thing I hate about medical school is “stress”...stress of not being successful...stress of the possibility of not achieving the specialty I want in the future

[@DoctorKenji]

I get that too!

[@germanlanguage5696]

Maybe it is more about fear of failing and living too much in the future which causes stress... As long as you live in the moment and let go, everything will come back to you because you worked hard enough for it.

[@noraaa8479]

I feel you

[@sns7743]

I really want to study medicine and get into KCL however I’m currently 23 years old. started doing my Access to Higher education diploma because I didn’t get a chance to do A levels ,which will take a year to finish. So by the time I start medical school I will be around 25. Im quiet skeptical about myself cuz I think I’ll be too old when I start medical school and if I even get accepted to one. Somedays I think that I’m not even smart enough to handle medical school.

[@DoctorKenji]

You definitely won't be too old! Many of my friends on the course started at the age of 25, it's so common!

[@msz9523]

I'm starting at 26 and there's plenty of people older than me, some in their 30s even.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

There is literally a person who is 55 in my year at medical school (then there is about 10 between 30- 50, and a huge cohort that were mid-late 20’s).

[@philipbelcher9589]

Really enjoyed watching this video, actually pretty informative. Problem for me is that everyone refers to going to university as a medical student as "going to medical school". You won't have a architecture student (architects on average study 6-8 years for their degree) referring to it as an "architecture school" . I think there is an unfortunate elitism that while anecdotal and not evidence based comes with doing medicine as opposed to other difficult degrees. Would love to hear people's thoughts though as to whether I am wrong. What I mean by this is that perhaps if we embraced it more as an idea of going to university rather than separating medicine from other degrees we might just embrace it as a degree in and of itself like engineering (can take 5 years, law 4 years most).

[@philipbelcher9589]

Just to reiterate each degree is difficult in it's own right but as my current educational supervisor said "medicine is a lifestyle", there seems to be a culture that medicine might adopt some form of hard work that isn't recognised to the same extent as other equally hard working careers. I was someone (like loads of others) who fortunately lived through university with people on lots of different courses and I remember how frustrating and boring it was for many of them to constantly talk about medicine because once a group of medics get together it is non stop. I find it interesting that as a doctor the proportion of friends in my course vs friends in a different course is far higher than other degrees.

[@DoctorKenji]

You've definitely given me a lot of food for thought, especially with why med school is referred to as that rather than "uni". I'll get back to you!

[@first00life]

@@philipbelcher9589 This is so true, med students live in their medicine bubble from undergrad til they become doctors, I feel like they don’t get to see life outside of that field and maybe that’s why they can easily get bored and overwhelmed....

[@rahmahmohamed1598]

So useful for people to see the real truth!!

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you!!

[@Euge585]

Almost every medical school in the UK has pacements/rotations away from the base institution. You have to go where the patients are located.

[@parsaly]

You might be 5 years behind those other friends but you are a "DOCTOR" :)

[@DoctorKenji]

Amen 😁

[@21Something.]

I got the notification that this videos was posted 3 days ago, but I deliberately did not watch it, to save it for the weekend. As always very informative good quality content. You never disappoint. That’s the opinion of someone that has nothing to do with the medical field, I can only imagine how much those related to the medical field appreciate your content. As always, thanks for sharing Dr. Tomita. 😘

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate you!

[@sim_aware]

Really explain some challenges well here. #YouGotThis!

[@DoctorKenji]

Thanks so much!

[@elishamcnulty7796]

Thank you for this video, it is extremely helpful to hear the flip side of a career in medicine!

[@DoctorKenji]

You're welcome! 😁

[@sohatkhan]

Thank you for sharing the hardships. A lot of videos on KZbin do not actually show the reality of medicine so thank you again!

[@DoctorKenji]

You're very welcome! 😁

[@ioutubeurreswiss1336]

All my friends are in 3-4-5th medical school, and I'm in first grade. Just because I went to nursing school because I thought I Was too stupid for medschool

[@DoctorKenji]

Nurses are super smart!

[@gilian2587]

And for those who studied chemistry, physics or math then went to grad school; they are looking for gainful employment after they graduate; but if you finish medical school, you'll have it. Of course the hospitals will grind you until you have nothing more to give.

[@phylkaranja5083]

kenji...you are a doctor,...hard work pays!!!!!!

[@rojas2943]

Hey dont compare ur self with other ppl...i understand it might be hard...but once u graduate and start earning life wouldnt seem tht bad...u knw there are plenty of ppl out there who wanted to do medical school but couldnt...always be grateful for the good things u have...look at the positive side in everything...and u'll be much happier!🙂🙌

[@carolynesarracino4893]

You are such a great inspiration 👏🏻🥳 xx

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you so much 😁❤️

[@renediluyeye2175]

Can you do a video showing what you will need to take to your accommodation at Kings and what you wish you didn’t take

[@DoctorKenji]

I'll definitely add that to the list, thank you!

[@geekgrill4996]

I'm doing Biochemistry and Microbiology, last year next year, and I am thinking about applying to medical school next year. The upside isn't something I'm really worried about. I'm more worried about getting into medical school. I'd probably not enjoy those things much when I do get there. Hopefully.

[@DoctorKenji]

I understand you! I'd recommend having a watch of my other videos where I speak about the difficulty journey to medical school and how I overcame them

[@Kiran.Morjaria]

Really honest insight dude, and useful for future doctors to know about the disadvantages too!

[@sim_aware]

It really is. This is a long journey many are considering and they need to really think about it all

[@DoctorKenji]

Thanks so much guys!

[@libongokula6009]

Thank you for the video!

[@DoctorKenji]

You're welcome!

[@edenleave2054]

The reasons you give aren’t so bad there are much worse issues If lifestyle is at all a factor dont do it I dropped out after 2nd year. Lifestyle and pay only get good after med school, residency, fellowship, and a few years of work until becoming a senior dr. After debt and malpractice private practice not practical. Instead took time off to get business degree, in hospital administration, a senior manger makes $200k without debt and malpractice is very similar to a dr in private practice with half the hours and after half the years But with a mba from top school and getting higher up can get huge pay Being a dr is a lifestyle and a dedication, do it if you love it not for any other reason.

[@daphne3723]

I am 24 just graduating from a 5 year college course and planning to apply for medicine. I should graduate by 30 but I am not deterred.

[@DoctorKenji]

All the best!!

[@bartoszskiba5442]

Hearing the cost of attendance for UK medical school as a Polish-American makes me regret moving out of Europe 😆

[@DoctorKenji]

Hahaha I hear prices here are a lot cheaper!

[@bartoszskiba5442]

@@DoctorKenji quite a large margin too, I’m currently wrapping up my bachelor and entering application stage (we only do graduate entry) and the average indebtedness of MD / DO graduates ranges from 175k to 350k dollars for 4 years of education

[@ivanlim3689]

I couldn’t agree more. Same hates 😂 but the love can overpower it. But i really thought u hated the littman steth because of the thumbnail.

[@DoctorKenji]

Amen! Hahaha I see what you mean now 😂

[@ivanlim3689]

@@DoctorKenji i just bought one. So it would be a downer if u say something bad about it! Haha

[@mohamedh6092]

Well spoken Kenj

[@DoctorKenji]

Thank you!

[@ks1370]

Thanks for your content Kenji, this is so relatable! You're very spot on with everything you covered. Can I please ask what resources you use to study for the clinical years in your degree as I will commence clinical rotations next year. Thank you so much for everything.

[@DoctorKenji]

You're welcome! I suggest a lot of resources in my latest study with me video :)

[@ks1370]

@@DoctorKenji Thank you doc, I'll check it out now 😊😊

[@tomvocompany3621]

Thank you for this video. Lots of valuable information to consider. It is not only good stuff🤞

[@DoctorKenji]

You're welcome!

[@paneraipanerai3131]

Damn the average age of a first year med student here in Canada is like 24!!

[@DoctorKenji]

Wow over here it's 23!

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

A lot of people in the uk go straight from school, I was 18 (my housemate 17) when I was a first year medical student. I will qualify at 24

[@LofiWurld]

Literally no one has done those things at 24 🤣🤣 jk jk I'm currently doing a masters and looking to apply med when I finish 😩

[@DoctorKenji]

Hahaha damn maybe my friends are just the odd ones 🤣🤣 Good luck with the masters!

[@LeahRebecca]

aw thanks for being honest

[@DoctorKenji]

You're welcome!

[@DoctorKenji]

You're welcome!

[@hero-pn4fs]

They should let you pick hospital,,,,,,

[@DoctorKenji]

They do let us choose 😁

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

@@DoctorKenji that’s really good- at my medical school we don’t get to choose which is a real pain!

[@listaislam7365]

Sorry to break it to you dude but 24 years is pretty young and you are graduating at 25 I presume. I started at 27 and I will be done at 31. So you are doing pretty well in life.

[@michaeltemesgen8634]

Can I be a med school student and football player in london? please tell me

[@arpityadav2010]

Hi. You mentioned that you have to move around a lot. Does this happen when you are a undergraduate student? Or you have to move around when you start core training and speciality training? I am a 3rd year med student from india and I've planned to appear for PLAB. Will I have to Move around a lot as a postgraduate during my CT and ST?

[@gopalgeorge3632]

Do you get mocked/treated different if you start in your early 20s or are you treated equally?

[@DoctorKenji]

Definitely not! Everyone is very supportive and will treat you equally. If anything you're more respected since you've studied another degree before

[@anuveersaini7860]

Wait how come do you not have your clinical rotations/school in London now?

[@DoctorKenji]

From 4th year you get the choice to leave London!

[@gopalgeorge3632]

do you think the salary of a junior doctor(when you graduate) is enough to get a mortgage for a house or nah?

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Unless you manage to live at home during you very junior years (which considering you don’t really get to choose where you work is unlikely) it will take you a while to save up enough for a deposit- but entirely doable. Mortgage payments per month are usually cheaper then rent

[@taibashah9607]

could you go out a lot when you were doing biomed

[@DoctorKenji]

Definitely in first and second year but I had to tone it down in third year!

[@myomyataung8546]

I was thinking of dropping out of medical university but after seeing your videos, I no longer want to 😂

[@DoctorKenji]

Ayyyy keep it up!!

[@mirriamd.535]

can a nursing graduate can be a doctor?

[@DoctorKenji]

Absolutely!

[@toni-marielamonth8319]

Yesss youuuu can!!!..Go for it!!

[@RebeccaEvans]

Laughing at this from the financial horror story that is medical education in America. XD. Thanks. Best wishes

[@DoctorKenji]

I imagine it's even worse in America 😂

[@deiverdeimayorrawvideos4736]

..i just came here to hear your voice..

[@DoctorKenji]

Thanks so much!

[@MszTrueeLovee]

Me starting my undergrad degree at 27...same dude, same...

[@hypatia8791]

You are really fast speaking

[@DoctorKenji]

I'll try slow down next time!

[@muddanaseshagirirao3537]

Mr.Tomita, no one can not save the lives except a doctor

[@chrysigabriel543]

:οο

[@fatgeisha4685]

Bro, 24 is so young still. I hate this notion that's building up that if you don't have the dream by your 30s youve failed at life. That couldn't be anymore wrong. I didn't even know who I was until I was 27, and I mean REALLY know....or even what I wanted. I'm now 29 and just now moving towards medical school, and I'll be in my 40s by the time I'm completely done and that's fine because social security and retirement won't likely be an option for millenials and thats a hard pill to swallow that many don't see or want to admit. So take a few years and go out into the world before committing to something and make plenty of mistakes so you learn.