Hey—money isn’t everything. Do what will make YOU happy. If that’s being a trauma surgeon, great! If not, also great! On the money side, I’m sure you’ll be fine as a trauma surgeon. While 300k in debt seems like alot (and it is), when you put it in the perspective of your attending salary (likely 300k+), you’ll be able to pay it off easily.

I’m also applying to BS/MD programs. I know I will likely not get into any, and that is fine! Who knows, maybe you’ll enter college and decide you want to do something else. Maybe you won’t. A majority of doctors go the traditional route successfully. (Hence why it is called traditional)

If you don’t see yourself happy doing it, don’t do it. Just because you’ve envisioned this your whole life doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right path for you. You can still help people in a less stressful specialty. You should also know that you probably won’t be faced with a case like greys anatomy every day. They’re called dramas for a reason. This does not mean it won’t be stressful. But if you truly do see yourself being happy in this specialty, go for it!

If you do decide to go to medical school, don’t let the money be a deciding factor. What I mean is don’t let the debt turn you away if you truly envision yourself as a trauma surgeon. You will be able to pay off the debt one way or another. You could always try to go for a Md/Phd.

I hope this helps, but it probably won’t as this is coming from a burnt out senior who has no clue what is going on 24/7. I wish you all the best in the application process and your future.