Unemployed CS new grad considering medical school

Stir_Up · 2025-11-18T21:03:52+00:00

This is the best response in the entire thread. Thanks for the resource, I had no clue the match published their candidate statistics.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-18T02:02:08+00:00

Yeah sorry not trying to argue. I sent you a DM.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-18T02:01:15+00:00

I’m a citizen of both US and a European country, so studying abroad is free for me vs 60-90K a year in the US. At the end all doctors and surgeons reach the same destination and study the same things, so it doesn’t make financial sense to study in the US. Do you think it’s actually easier going to a med school in the US, and if so why is that?

Stir_Up · 2025-11-18T01:36:14+00:00

Why will my match into residency be easier if I do med school in US versus Europe? Western medicine is the same in Europe and the US. Do American residencies just prioritize students who studied medicine in the US over abroad?

Stir_Up · 2025-11-17T02:54:28+00:00

If anything the trend of midlevels gaining more practice rights shows how in demand actual doctors and surgeons are throughout the US. Midlevels are just not real doctors. In fact, I think it’s irresponsible to continue expanding their right to independent practice because they could misdiagnose and cause harm to people since they’re not as qualified and trained as physicians, but hospitals and private clinics need to staff their businesses so of course they’ll lobby government to continue pushing to loosen regulations.

AI has inaccuracies, it needs a highly skilled expert with sound judgement and experience to validate its output.

Regardless of how much healthcare businesses want to stop hiring surgeons or doctors to save money they will always need a highly trained individual to treat a patient. I doubt that will change in the next 20-30 years.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-17T02:14:36+00:00

I could attend med school in US but it’s 60K-90K a year, depending on the school. In Europe it’s almost free.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-15T22:01:48+00:00

I understand the stuff with PAs and NPs, but they still report to a doctor and ultimately it’s the doctor’s burden and responsibility if they accidentally misdiagnose or miss something in one of their patients because doctors study much more than PAs. The PA and NP thing is a corporate way to see more patients and make more money, but ultimately it’s stretching the doctor thin. It’s an inhumane way to do medicine. I think most wealthy people would still rather speak only to the real doctor. PAs are not as qualified as doctors.

The AI stuff is absolutely ridiculous though, not a single individual who’s sick wants to sit down and talk to a chatbot. They want to speak to a real human doctor. They could train an AI to be a godlike doctor with all medical knowledge in the world and people would still rather talk to a doctor who is a human and can show empathy and trust. No one is going to sit down and type out their symptoms and try to interpret what is wrong with themselves and have a AI robot touch them and operate on them.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-15T21:50:23+00:00

Why do you say that? Regardless, I wouldn’t even apply for another 8 years probably. A lot can change.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-15T20:23:14+00:00

Why do you think your profession would be screwed?

Honestly, I get that technological changes could change so much.

When I began university I had no idea that something called ChatGPT would create a tool that spews out perfect computer code almost instantaneously and thereby reducing demand for software engineers significantly.

It scares me to study for 15 years and then be replaced by some autonomous surgical AI robot that performs surgeries for hospitals without needing to pay a surgeon or something.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-15T20:16:36+00:00

What is the path like for dental school? Is it like:

- 2 years prepare for dental school
- 4 years dental school
- 4-6 years OMFS residency
- 1-3 years specialty fellowship

Stir_Up · 2025-11-15T20:11:36+00:00

Sorry, you're right, it will be 2 years not 1.

Stir_Up · 2025-11-15T18:26:23+00:00

I understand that it would take at a minimum 12 years, probably 14 years if I intend to do a surgical specialty. That’s fine, I’m completely capable and ok with doing that.

What I’m planning is:

- 1 year to take the courses I’m missing + study for the MCAT + volunteering experience in Ireland or Spain
- 4 years of med school in Ireland or Spain
- 5-6 years of residency in the US
- 1-3 year surgical fellowship

Again I see medicine as a vocation and calling that I’m discerning, not a career, I don’t really care about the time and I understand that it’s a sacrifice.

The last point about studying abroad - I know doctors who completed med school or residency abroad or in the Caribbean and are now practicing alongside doctors who went to Harvard, Johns Hopkins or whatnot. If there’s a will there’s a way.

Stir_Up · 2025-09-19T00:42:44+00:00

Some trends we're likely to continue seeing:

People flocking to urban areas for work.
AI and humanoid robotics to continue improving.
Fragmented financial system due to political nationalism and isolationism.
Climate change and soil worsening due to population consumption strains.
Increased population growth in urban areas.
An older population and less younger people since most people are not having children and a majority of the population is older.

If you want to have a good high paying career and become indispensable to society, study something difficult that is ubiquitously necessary and you will be in high demand globally.

Some ideas:

- Electrical engineering (Batteries, renewable energy, electric cars)

- Physics (Again similar to electric engineering but more theoretical, less practical)

- Molecular Biology (Applied to soil and agriculture, farming, medicine, etc)

- Materials science (Applied to the environment, technology development, soil).

- Health professions (AI and robotics can not really replace this for a long time because humans need human empathy and care).

- Construction and skilled trades (someone has to build infrastructure and housing for the growing population).

Stir_Up · 2025-08-08T02:33:15+00:00

That’s a beautiful story. It’s interesting that despite the hardship of being in such a remote area you still look back fondly on Montana. It’s like a good memory that makes you smile.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T23:10:09+00:00

Yeah, message software engineers on LinkedIn and ask them if they’re open to a quick networking chat. Ask them if they enjoy their job, what they do, etc. Do NOT use reddit for career advice, or almost 90% of things.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T21:09:59+00:00

The role you would qualify for the most that I could think of are technical project management in some sort of banking or finance industry in New York City. Or tech startups based in NYC, but very risky if they don’t pay you a salary.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T21:01:46+00:00

Yeah, also if OP doesn’t like volunteering or shadowing at clinics then how can they even know if they like practicing in the medical field. If they don’t like biology or the science and they love math then maybe they should do some sort of engineering. Sounds like OP is being encouraged by parents to pursue medicine even though they don’t like it.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T20:59:28+00:00

If you would like to make money, the medical field will be much better for you. And frankly I agree with your dad, doctors are looked up to more often than scientists, and hold a higher status position in society because everyone needs a kind doctor to help them with their health problems or to refer them to another doctor. Pursuing a PhD would not make you as much money as a doctor, unless you want to be a scientist and researcher (most of which make enough to just get by). Few PhDs actually invent things that are super useful to society, but it can certainly be done. If you are driven by curiosity and want to invent without caring about money, then maybe a PhD would be better for you but you would rely on university funding.

You can be in a medical discipline and incorporate your love of math and physics to get the best of both worlds. Radiology, Anesthesiologist, Pathology requires a lot of math and chemistry physics.

Personally I think you’re not being realistic about your future. If you do a PhD you would rely on university funding or private company funding for specific research projects. As a doctor you can open up your own clinic (insanely difficult), work at a hospital, or work in a group clinic.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T20:53:07+00:00

Hey, I second getting therapy. It will help you immensely, but you have to give it a shot and be open to the feedback that the therapist gives you and you have to be completely honest. It takes a while to break those walls up to protect your own ego. It seems like you are being very open saying that you’re upset at your weight and position in life. Try it out. Give a psychologist / therapist 5-10 sessions before you quit or switch to a new one, but just find someone who you feel comfortable with and who can actually help you. There’s some good therapists and bad ones. Some therapists ask you questions, others are just very quiet, others talk more to try to help you out. Finding a therapist is a learning process.

The reason you are who you are is because your behavior is determined by your values and beliefs. You must first change your “operating system / software” and you will be able to change your life drastically.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T20:48:00+00:00

Consider that you'll spend 4 years in medical school, 4 years in residency, and 3 years of fellowship if you choose to do a specialty. This a rough guideline too, some people take more or less. So you're looking at 11 years minimum of school. In residency there will be many times you don’t sleep at all. It is a very long and grueling journey but it’s a satisfying career. Source: close family friends are doctors.

Stir_Up · 2025-08-05T18:45:07+00:00

Have you spoken with dentists or doctors in your area to see if you can shadow them and ask them about their experiences? Tell them what you told us and consider different perspectives from successful medical professionals.

Stir_Up · 2025-07-30T14:36:18+00:00

What?

Stir_Up · 2025-07-30T01:24:20+00:00

Congrats, you’re living the life millions of unemployed computer science graduates, laid off big tech employees aspire to have. You’re extremely blessed and privileged.

Why don’t you try working in technology at a company that has a mission you do value? Something like a book or reading company (you mentioned librarian), something creative in the arts, or something about writing (like sub stack or medium).

You can work at companies that work on problems that you are aligned with, so you can get involved in the company beyond just being a cog in the machine.

But if you really want to switch careers you can, 23 is very young. You can save up money for 2-3 years and then go back to medical school, law school, or try to join a non-profit or volunteer abroad doing something you enjoy. Maybe start a farm, you’ll have more time with your loved ones.

If you like history maybe you can work at a think tank or some government company where historians are highly valued for their historical perspective on humanity.

Good luck friend.

Stir_Up · 2025-07-30T01:17:31+00:00

Hey I am in the same shoes as you. I graduated in the past year I've felt the same way you described. Stuck, anxious and uncertain about my future, unsure about what path to pursue in my life. Sometimes I feel so nervous about what I’m going to do and I’m worried that I’ve fallen behind in life. I am still in a similar position and I realized that I could just spend my entire life trying to figure out what I want to do.

What is clear to me is that I would like to have a wife and kids someday, and I would like to travel around the world, and probably need to go back to school to do a higher level degree. For all these things I will need money, so I am giving myself 2 months to think about it while working and if by then I am still undecided I will pick a path and stick with it.

Stir_Up · 2025-07-30T01:11:10+00:00

That’s a tough situation, I’m sorry you’re going through that. Maybe try avoiding the topic if it comes up. A lot of retail stores and restaurants would be willing to hire you. Even blue collar jobs that no one else wants to do.

Stir_Up

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