Posted: Jan 23, 2011 5:38 pm
I always just assumed I would be a doctor without really thinking through my other options. And now that I am there, and I see how much of my life (personal life) I have given up, and how much I will be giving up in the upcoming years, I really wish I had looked more seriously into becoming a PA. PAs, at least in the hospitals I've been, are some of the smartest and hardest working people around. Plus, they have the luxury of being able to change specialties (they can work in the emergency room one year, then change to a primary care office the next, then work in surgery the following). They make a lot of money, and most importantly, they have the freedom to be able to work a reasonable amount of hours per week. If I were you, I would shadow PAs in a variety of settings, and maybe even some doctors if you can. See who is happier and whose lifestyle fits yours best. Medicine is a long, long road and isn't for everyone. I wish I had researched it more thoroughly.