To not want DD to become a doctor

My youngest wanted to be a vet. For years, he wanted to be a vet. One year of college an he's now studying land management!

Honestly, I wasn't keen but I kept it to myself and he found his "passion" a different way.

I think wait to see what her GCSEs and A levels are like but encourage her. My friend wanted to be a physicist but ended up being a teacher.

See it doesn't matter what career someone chooses people will come along saying its the worst job ever

You think you’ve got problems. Mine wants to become a teacher! 😂

Plus with technology its one of the few jobs that will still exist in 20 years

Leave her to it OP. If she really wants to be a doctor, nothing will put her off. But it’s not for the faint hearted. It’s hard work from the start, and it never lets up. But at 58, with retirement a couple of years away, I’m exhausted, but can’t imagine having done anything else.

No matter what career someone chooses there will be multiple people come along and tell you its the worst job ever. That's just British people for you they like to moan about everything jobs, weather, money, the government, other people, the country.

It’s a great job if you are willing to devote your whole self to it. I was, and am incredibly happy at work (all my friends are doctors, I love my job, I love most of my patients, I don’t really view seeing patients as “work” as such). I’m also a massive night owl, so working nights and weekends has never been remotely an issue for me.

If your DD is like me, she will love being a doctor. BUT if she wants to work to live not live to work, wants some say over where she lives, wants to work sociable hours, and to have an active social life outside of work, then yes do try to dissuade her.

There are definitely easier ways to make money, though probably not many routes which are as guaranteed to pay well - for every magic circle lawyer there is a law grad doing production line conveyancing for £30k, whereas doctors are all paid on the same national pay scale.

incredibly grateful to those thar have trained to be doctors, but i
wouldnt encourage my child to do

It’s a vocation for most of them. I wouldn’t stand in the way of anything - within reason - my dc really wanted to do but even if I did I don’t think I’d have any influence with them.

I was a minimum wage HCA during Covid. It nearly killed me too. I have heart failure & an amazing future ahead 🙄.

i don’t understand this and other similar comments. It’s well known and well reported that the junior doctor years (which remember is every level before consultant) are incredibly stressful, with incredibly long hours, relatively low pay, that it’s hard to plan ahead or put down any kind of roots as your training post could be anywhere.
Those saying “why wouldn’t you want your child to do it” are being disingenuous to the OP. Im
incredibly grateful to those thar have trained to be doctors, but i
wouldnt encourage my child to do it.

UKGrad prioritisation should be in by 5th March. So still be in a much better place than last few years.

DH is a doctor - working through COVID nearly killed him. He is very very pleased neither of the DT’s wanted to be a doctor. He would have done everything to dissuade them.

My dd is in her first year of foundation training. She is enjoying it. HOWEVER she is very worried about the possibility of getting a job after she finishes her next year. She is planning to go to Australia. Do read up on the huge numbers of doctors who can't find a job after they finish their foundation years. They have studied for years, have huge debts and no job!

My dd does sometimes say that she wouldn't do it again.

@toomuchgoingonheremy DD is a ST1 doctor. Loves her job, loved Uni. Worked hard but has so much fun. Hates rotational training and the stupid hours but still v glad she did it.

FYI there are 12 Unis that don't need chemistry

I’d never have made it as a doctor as - among other reasons - I’m too clumsy

Me neither - I suffer from emetephobia. However I am in awe of those who do make it.
I’ve recently had an ankle procedure which involved 24 hours in hospital and I was humbled by the kindness, skill and care I received.

Fyi, she needs to do chemistry

Anaesthetic consultant who left to work overseas(debatably home depending on how you view it)
Medicine is a good career, interesting, rewarding and reasonably lucrative. It is however hard work particularly in the more junior years.

If someone wants to do it, they just need to go in with their eyes open. Lots of work experience and chats with doctors of all levels and specialties.

I read a thread about corporate law a few days ago. That seemed like a tough job, I definitely couldn’t do those hours.

I feel so grateful that people are called to medical professions, and feel fulfilled by them. Thank you for your service!

I’d never have made it as a doctor as - among other reasons - I’m too clumsy. But I’m fascinated in the abstract. If only ‘armchair diagnostician’ were a legit career!

I would hope it is not because she is a girl and they are more delicate than men

I'm a doctor. I'm only 39 and I'm already very part-time. I'm hoping to retire by my early 50s at the absolute latest. If I had a higher earning husband or other options I'd have left already. It's incredibly stressful and not always as lucrative as people assume (especially if you work part-time because the stress of the job has made you unwell). But if it's what your daughter wants to do, I suggest you ensure she goes into it with her eyes wide open, but respect her decision if she does go ahead.

She could choose A Levels that keep her options open.. So Maths Chemistry will keep medicine as an option (at some unis, not all) and another 1 or 2 A Levels in subjects she loves ..

My dd is a medical student. Honestly, I wish she had chosen an easier path and I do worry about how difficult it is going to be for her, but she was 100% certain that she couldn't see herself doing anything else, and I can actually see why it is a perfect fit for her. I wouldn't have ever tried to put her off... she has a clear sense of vocation and it is for her to live her life as she sees fit. If it ever gets too much for her, I guess she will be able to stop and do something else.

I am immensely proud of the fact that she wants to do it. Like most med students, there were many other options that might have been open to her. We should all be grateful that there are talented young people who choose this path...I don't think I could have done it.

Can I say thank you to all the doctors and consultants on here who have stuck with it - like teachers too, it’s not an easy job with constantly changing goalposts but a lot of people do indeed really appreciate you, although it may not feel like it at times!!! OP you should be very proud if she does go down that road .

I’m confused, why would you not want her to study medicine? Is she not capable? If shes capable and then decides she doesn’t want to work as a dr then she’s not in a bad spot with a medical degree?