Can I ask a serious question?

I think you should do whatever will make YOU happy. Be a Doctor and have a family! Why not?? If you don't follow your dreams you will always regret it.

Pursue your passions... become a doctor, AND have a family, because if your heart desires both than you will work hard and have both

Besides... A few years from now when you are a doctor and have a family, you can tell your mother " I told you so" ALL the time

You already know your answer.

My step-brother and his wife are both in their residencies and have not one but two sets of med school debt. They also have a 1.5 year old daughter and are happy and making it work. You do what makes YOU happy. You're the one that has to live your life for the REST of your life, not your mom or the rest of your family. It won't be easy, but in the long run you'll be happier.

Screw everyone. Do what YOU want. My FIL is a doc - general practioner. Being a doc is not easy. And it takes a lot of work. However, if that's what makes you happy you should do it. It doesn't matter what you do in life just so long as you are happy.

You can make a ton of money and be miserable or make just enough to get by and be happy. it isn't the money, it is how you spend your life. And helping people, if you can, sounds like a pretty darn good career to me.

Good luck with your decision. It isn't easy and you can't make everyone happy. In the end though, it is your life and you have to live with your decision. Choose to be happy.

Well, some people can take it, some can't. If you can find someone who will understand that you won't always be there because you're on call, then you found a treasure. I have a sister who's a doctor. She had 3 kids, a wonderful hubby and everything. They just divorced last year because he felt neglected and she told him "you need to deal with it. You knew what I was before you married me." People will tell you "screw the world, do what you want." But I will only say, go for your goals, just consider everything. Just don't live with regrets. Good luck!

Do you WANT to be a doctor? Most doctors I know have families, so that is not a reason. The debt you would have to take on is considerable, but there are programs that would forgive the debt (or at least part of it) if you work in an underserved community for a few years.

It is your life, and I believe you should go for what you really want. If it is something in the medical field, perhaps nursing would fit better into your overall goals and desires. Keep your options open, keep your mind open and do what you think is best for you.

Good luck!

Go for what you want. I was told by many when I had a career I wanted to pursue, that's not what you want or what you should do. I listened and didn't think I was smart enough to do it. I regret it still today, I have a family now and I will support my kids' in whatever their goals are in life. Maybe your mom or some of your family are jealous. Don't give up on your dreams, have no regrets.

There is no easy road in life, so do what you want to because in the end we all struggle to make ends meet at times and we also have times when we do great, it's a matter of being happy threw it all doing what you love with people who support and love you

Hmmm. That's a tough situation. Well, it's easy to say things like "do what your heart tells you". But not always helpful. Here's what I think: You have to do something that you are passionate about. That seems to be becoming a doctor. If the idea of the human body, the brain, etc, interests you, then that's what you should pursue.

I have to admit I'm lacking knowledge here, but what can you do with the Russian major? I've never investigated it, but I can't think of what job/career you would have. The other option is much more clear to me. When I was applying to colleges and looking at degrees, my mother's favorite words were "Marketable Skills". In that order. While she wanted me to be happy, she wanted me to be able to support myself and to be able to find a job. It seems that the medical field is always growing, and that there'll always be jobs and opportunities out there. I'd go with that.

About having a family: even if you do choose to go after the medical degree, you'll still find time to fall in love, get married, have children, run marathons, write books, scale mountains, earn your pilot's license, whatever it is you decide to do with life. Don't worry about that yet. Trust that you can accomplish anything you set out to do.

About the debt: Yep, it's a huge debt. Yep, it's scary. But remind your mom that it'll be your responsibility and not hers. It's nice that she's so worried about you and your sucess, but living with regrets may be just as hard as living with debts. And you're right. Thousands upon thousands have done it before you. And I bet half of them were as driven as you are.

I saw in your post that you've gone back and forth on this for about five years from now. Here's one piece of advice that help light a fire under me and propelled me into my current career: Don't think about the time invested. If you say, "It's a X-year program, I don't want to devote that much time to schooling. I'll be XX--years old when I finish."--you'll only discourage yourself. AND, at the end of those X years--you'll still be that same age. Only maybe you won't have anything to show for it.

A lady I used to work with had that same problem. She wanted to get back into teaching (better job, pay, her passion in life) but she was going to have to take 2 years of classes. She kept saying, I don't want to do it. I'll be 40 when I get to teach. That was three years ago. She's still in the same retail job and not happy and still wanting to teach.

I saw that and it scared me into jumping in with both feet.

I hope that wasn't too long and really, really hope that doesn't come across as preachy, but I am so passionate about people going after what they want and achieving their goals.

Hope it helps and feel free to message me. Best of luck with your descision.

It sounds like you really DO know what you want, and that is to be a doctor...and I say that's what you go for. If you have a passion to help people...be a doctor.

If you don't pursue your passion for medicine, you will regret it.

You remind me a lot of myself and the decisions I was faced with in college. I wanted to become a doctor (surgeon), but did not have any familiy support, and psyched myself out because I wanted to have a family and was scared of the debt (I come from very modest means).

My second choice was to major in French. My father told me that if I majored in French, I'd be standing on the French Unemployment line after college (I have to say, he was probably right on this one).

So... how did it turn out for me? I got my degree in Finance and have worked in sedentary desk jobs my whole career. I'm now approaching my mid-40's and I never did get married and have children. (Just haven't found the right one for the long haul yet.... interestingly I don't have any regrets about not having any children). I've enjoyed a financially successful business career (I got my MBA at night after college), but have worked without a passion for what I'm doing my whole career and I can't wait to retire from corporate america.

But, boy, what I wouldn't give to go back and say "screw you" to all the people who weren't supportive and who didn't let me know that there is a way to have both a medical career and a family if I wanted to. If I had a second chance, I would have chosen to pursue my passion in medicine.

Perhaps you can seek out some mentors of women who did pursue medicine and have families? Maybe contact some local medical schools and see if they can put you in touch with some of their alums. The medical schools themselves probably have great resources and people you can talk to to see whether it is a feasible option for you or not.

Regarding the MCATs- don't worry about other people. There are very competitive folks no matter what track you pursue. I think that may be just an excuse you are using to scare yourself away from the challenge.

Best of luck in your decision. Tune out all of the negative external forces and follow your heart. You'll know what is right for you.

There are lots of great health professions to look into... Check out the path to become a Nurse Practicioner or a Physician's Assistant. Both great professions, and one may suit you better than being an MD as far as the schooling that's required-- just a thought! Google it

I actually don't even see an MD anymore-- my GYN is actually a nurse practicioner, and I love her!! she's the best