How to Decide if Med School is the Right Career For You - Decision Theory

Dr. Buck works through how you should approach what career path you should take. Does mowing lawns count?

General Surgeon - Dr. Buck Parker tells you, using decision theory, the best ways to approach choosing jobs and a career path.

Dr. Buck Parker, MD is a Board Certified General Surgeon and can be found here online here:

IG: @drbuckparker
Twitter: @drbuckparker
Snapchat: buckparker

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My Recommended Amazon Products:

- Nootropics -
Qualia (I take these myself)

- About Being a Doctor -
House of God (Classic book every doctor should read)
Complications
Better

- My Favorite Trauma Book for Anyone -
Top Knife

- USMLE Books -
CRUSH (Best USMLE book ever)
First Aid for USMLE Step 1
Kaplan Step 1 Qbook

- Med School Surgery Rotation Books -
The ABSITE Review (Read this for your surgery rotation and crush it)
Surgical Recall (Get all the Big Questions Right)
Advanced Surgical Recall
Maxwell Quick Reference (To save your a## on rotations)

[bellap.]

I love how the book behind him says “Trauma”

[zp_suki]

I’m worried about choosing medical school, regretting my decision, and being miserable for the rest of my life…

[JMiami]

I think in the long run, I would regret more not having tried going to med school. Right now I’m honestly scared of trying and if the long difficult process. I also know that in about 10 years, if I choose any other career and I end up not enjoying it, I’ll definitely end up looking back and say damn I should’ve went to med school. Due to this, I’m going to try my best and leave all regrets behind me.

[smnzzzzg]

Great video! I would add, don't let your age discourage you from chasing your dreams. A psychiatrist I worked with, did not start medical school until he was 45 years old. He practiced for 18 years and just recently retired without any regret.

[ericdouglas]

Anyone that goes to med school and doesn't match residency is going to have a regret of a 10.

[johnenright]

2 years ago I was debating whether or not to apply to med school. I had paralysis by analysis weighing up the pros and cons, but deep deep down I always knew it was what I wanted to do. I came across this video and it was the impetus for starting the application. Looking at it from the perspective in the video, I realised the regret I would have from never pursuing a medical career would far outweigh any regrets from actually pursuing it. Nearly finished my first year of med school and haven't looked back, not a single regret.

[angesamira]

Him: *What inspired you? It can be a mentor or a surgeon you really respect.*
Me: *Grey's Anatomy*

[Jason-oqby]

Hi! Just wanted to let you know that you are my inspiration knowing that you didn't have the golden straightforward path to becoming a doctor. I'm a second year sophomore in college and knowing that it is still possible regardless of what bad things happen keeps me motivated to keep working toward my dream!! Thank you and have a great day!!!

[carolheaton]

At 60 years old, I'm not considering med school, but I'm considering lots of options for what I can do with the rest of my life, so I'm glad I stumbled across this. I've watched some of your other posts. I'm very impressed. I appreciate your candor, sense of humor, the breadth of topics you address, and even your f-bombs. I love the opportunity to hear someone else's story, and you tell yours in a very engaging manner. Keep up the good work.

[shivanishastri]

Thanks Dr. Parker, I needed this. By the way, I could not believe you are 43, you look like you would still be in your residency.

[MissaLifeStyle]

I don't think enough students job shadow. 90% of the prenursing and premed students I know haven't even stepped foot in a hospital or clinic. Spending time in the role is critical. Also, spending time with various ppl in that role is important because one person can be amazing and another a douche which has an impact on your experience. One hospital's ED can be poorly ran while another is excellent.

[juliamihajlovich]

This was super encouraging. I’ve always dreamed of being a surgeon, but didn’t do well in high school so I just kinda let the idea of college die and pursued other giftings (music.) But my medical dream pretty much comes back everyday to haunt me lol. I just never want to look back on my life and think “dang! You should have done it!”

[matthewmielke]

My thing is (as a junior in high school) is i think I would really enjoy Med School, but I dont know if I would enjoy being a doctor. I will see how my life turns out. I just fear that I will go too deep into the medical journey just to find out that it isnt for me. But I also can't think of anything that I would want to be more than a doctor. We will see where life takes me. I change my mind on careers a lot so we'll see what I end up with in the future.

[timothybucky]

the rate for burnout decides who regrets. general surgery does well. check out how many people hate their job as an engineer. still so many doctors want to stop clinical work so early. so many people regret not going to med school. we have people who are not happy with their working lives. do something about this, help us. we want a four day work week.

[jonathandelosreyes]

Thanks for this! I tried it on paper and wrote everything. I got a firmer resolution to go to med school and become a doctor no matter what it takes ;)

[anthonypayne]

Great video, I find myself pondering medical school all the time. This definitely provided some perspective

[johnyy_]

I am in med school and i really like medicine, getting through med school doesnt bother me at all. What does bother me is the quality of my life after i graduate, because essentially my whole life will be work and im not sure i am willing to give up my life for work 😕

[liddobear]

Thank you for this video. I've never had a doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a doctor until now. My biggest regret of pursuing this career would be not enjoying time with my mom and dad and being able to start a family. Also not having financial independence for the next 7 years scares me. I will do this chart when I get home lol

[jessewest]

Is he an uncommonly hot 43 year old, or am I just getting old?

[kwesifields]

Loved this video. I often struggle with having to "split" myself between 2 totally different career paths. You brought up the interesting point that many older people have the regret of not going after something while they were younger which leads me to question, should I decide to go full forward into medicine while I'm still also going after something else in the meantime? Study time is very demanding and requires a huge amount of sacrifice and time away from doing things that I'd much rather do not just for fun but also for personal growth. The decision still remains for me. I hope that it doesn't take me too long because time waits for no one. lol