Any other medicine dropouts?

[FilingCabinetFling]

I started off studying medicine, and did 3 years of it (and was doing well) before side-stepping into a different area. Ended up doing a science PhD and am in a reasonably useful and interesting job. Basically happy. But can never quite stop thinking about the fact I dropped out (e.g., I feel guilty about the government funding of the half-training I did). I think I couldn't hack the emotional aspect, and suspect I was just a bit immature (I started uni at 17, and was an emotionally young 17). I never meet anyone else who dropped out of medicine. Anyone here on Mumsnet?

Me. I qualified and completed two years (HO and SHO) but my mental health deteriorated so badly I couldn't continue. Have never come to terms with the guilt and sense of failure.

Hi @KateF I'm really sorry to hear about your mental health struggles. I hope you're doing better now. Have you found a different job you like? I think there's not enough warning given to possible medical students about how hardy you have to be, emotionally. It's all about whether you can do the learning aspect. If you do well academically, teachers encourage you to apply. But the academic learning is actually such a small part of it, isn't it? Thanks for posting, and I hope you're having a good weekend.

nearly did the same as you (after 3rd yr too). 20yrs later I often wish I had.

Hi! Do you mean you continued with medicine but nearly left after 3rd year? Are you a consultant now? Hope all is broadly OK, even if you sometimes wish you'd taken another route.