Pros and Cons of Being a Doctor vs Physicist

[HarryDaniels]

I have the right A-Levels at the right grades:

Physics A
Biology A
Chemistry A

And I do not know whether to pursue the career of a medical doctor or a physicist. Can someone give me the pros and cons of each.

 

[qntty]

Well I doubt that anyone will be able to tell you what career you'd enjoy more. You should probably start by deciding what you want to major in.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

I'm assuming you're from the UK?

As qntty said, no-one is going to be able to answer that question for you. They're both totally different careers, and not comparible in 'pros/cons' in a general sense. You need to make a pros/cons list for each, formed from your own opinions. Why would you study physics or medicine? Is it for money? Because you enjoy reading about the subject?

There are so many things to consider, and it should certainly not only come from what you can get in to: I had more than sufficient grades to get into any medical school in the UK, and my high school encouraged me to do so: but medicine didn't interest me in the slightest, so I did physics. Research possible career paths yourself, then unfortunately you need to decide which sounds more appealing. Note: even if you make the 'wrong' decision, it is never too late to change, too.

 

[MaxwellsDemon]

If you really like both maybe go into an interdisciplinary area like medical physics. You could be a radiologist, or work with or make PET scan machines, or even make artificial limbs/hearts/etc.

 

[cpt_carrot]

If you are in the UK then the lack of a maths A-level will be a problem getting accepted onto physics courses...

 

[Pyroadept]

Choose the subject that you like so much that you read about it in your spare time. Just liking to study a subject, but having no real interest in the subject itself, is not really enough if you want to be happy in your degree in college, as 3rd level is quite different to 2nd level. I speak from experience!

If it's a toss up between the two and you are equally interested in both, I'd personally go for medicine, due to the better-paid jobs afterwards.

Good luck!

 

[Ivpoly]

Doctor, you can always come back to physics. If you want something in between do physics with a view to eventually do medical physics. But I say go for medicine. Sometimes the subjects are not as "fun" anymore, the environment for work is sometimes poor (takes long to get equipment you need or grant you need). Go for medicine.

 

[mal4mac]

Physics is very mathematical at University so not having maths A level will be a real hindrance. Doctor would seem to be the best option, unless you hate dissection classes, people, and messing around with chemicals...

 

[oreliphan]

Are you talking about grad school?

These are pretty different fields. Is this a case where someone wants you to do one field, and you want to do the other?

Do research on where these fields will lead you and what careers will be more favorable to each chosen field.

Don't do physics unless you really love it. That you can't imagine yourself doing anything else but physics. Otherwise, be a medical doctor.

 

[Klockan3]

Are you talking about grad school?

Physician isn't a postgraduate degree outside the USA.