What You Need to Know If Your Child Is Considering Becoming a Doctor

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The aspiration of becoming a doctor is probably one of the most noble and honorable endeavors anyone can have and it is also one of the most challenges courses of study too.  Studying medicine is not only a long process but  it can also be costly and emotionally taxing so it’s important to go into with your eyes open. If your child is planning to go this route it’s important for you to be educated on some of the things it comes along with.  It will help you prepare all involved on what to expect.   Here are 4 you should be aware of if you are thinking about sending your child to a medical school.

Shortcomings of the System

There has been a lot of talk lately about med school and the way physicians are trained.  Many people think doctors aren’t being trained to help people prevent illness but rather only to treat illness.  Medical students aren’t taught much about nutrition or risk factors for disease, which is a fundamental part of health and wellness.  This isn’t to say your child shouldn’t become a doctor but just be aware that you might need to add to their studies and supplement their learning outside of the traditional medical school system.

Cost

A medical degree can cost you up to $300,000 and if you go the route of a student loan, it could be a lot more. Because medical studies take a lot longer than the average 4-year degree you will be paying off any students loans for quite some time.  Before your child goes into med school make sure you know the costs, how you’ll pay for it and if your child will be burdened with loans afterwards.

Challenges

Studying medicine is an intense, high-pressure process. The school work can be extremely grueling and a lot of medical students actually end up battling mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.  What’s even more alarming is that this stress has led to high rates of suicide in medical students and doctors. There have been many conversations in our society about the amount of pressure that medical students have to endure and what can be done about it. These students need a good support system so make sure you have come up with a game plan to help your future doctor during this time.

Where to Study

You probably think the only way your child can get their medical degree is to do it in your home country but nowadays there’s a possibility for study in other parts of the world.  For example, Saint James School of Medicine in the Caribbean offers the chance to study medicine, paying over $6000 a semester, which is a really good price for a good quality education.  According to the school’s website, “Saint James was founded to offer a quality medical education at an affordable price.  Our students can actually graduate debt free which gives their careers a good starting off point.”

When your child is considering embarking on the journey to become a doctor, it’s something that would make any parent proud.  It’s so important to think about the things mentioned in this article and figure out how to navigate them or mitigate them. That way, the process of becoming a doctor brings out the best in your child, and leads them to a life of success and career fulfillment.  It’s all about doing what you can to make the transition to  med school easier.