Advice Needed! Medical vs Optometry School

[axis12]

Hello,

I am a college junior who is still undecided on whether to pursue a career in medicine or optometry. I have done well in undergrad and have good extracurriculars so I have good standings for medical school (as long as I do well on the MCAT). The reason I consider optometry so heavily is because my father is an optometrist, who has owned a practice in a rural community for 20+ plus years, and financially, he does very well for an optometrist. If I go into optometry, I will be able to work as a partner with him for a few years until he decides to retire and hands the practice over to me. If I knew that in the future, I would be doing as well as he is now, I would choose optometry in a heartbeat (because I could stay close to family, serve the community I grew up in, and the money is more than sufficient). What makes me second guess this route is the future of optical sales. I'm afraid that in the future, I will lose tons of revenue to websites like Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect. If it wasn't for my father's practice, I do not believe I would even consider optometry, but it seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up if the practice is still doing this well in the future. I would like to see what others have to think about the future of optometry and give me some advice.

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[percyeye]

If you are planning on moving back to that community and have that nice setup I wouldn't hesitate to do Optometry. A busy Optometrist in a rural location can make as much or sometimes more than a Family MD in a rural location. But if you plan on living anywhere else I'd do medicine.

 

[axis12]

If you are planning on moving back to that community and have that nice setup I wouldn't hesitate to do Optometry. A busy Optometrist in a rural location can make as much or sometimes more than a Family MD in a rural location. But if you plan on living anywhere else I'd do medicine.

Do you believe that online optical sales will substantially hurt private practice optometry?

 

[percyeye]

Do you believe that online optical sales will substantially hurt private practice optometry?

Online sales will hurt it a bit but right now the medical side in Optometry has been better than ever. I work in a rural community and you'll be so busy with medical patients that you will be depend less on the optical side.

 

[Optogal]

Umm, if you're thinking you'll be unable to make it in optometry, given that massive head start of already having an established practice for you when you begin, I think you're being very overly pessimistic. Online glasses sales have been around "long enough" that it's no longer really a small sample size. Some people buy their glasses online. Many many do not. There are still people dropping near 4-digits buying themselves designer frame PALs with Transitions.

What does your dad think? Does he think you'll go under once you take over? I'd be very surprised if that was his take.

If you can't make it, no one can. Things can obviously be better than they are, but we're a really long way from that happening.

 

[jluv]

I think the ROI is better in medicine. Also the medical degree is an unlimited license.
Optometry will be around in 10 years it will just look like pharmacy. PA is another good profession you make just as much if not more money and your scope of practice is greater than an ODs scope of practice.

 

[Drjc1977]

Hello,

I am a college junior who is still undecided on whether to pursue a career in medicine or optometry. I have done well in undergrad (4.0 GPA) and have good extracurriculars so I have good standings for medical school (as long as I do well on the MCAT). The reason I consider optometry so heavily is because my father is an optometrist, who has owned a practice in a rural community for 20+ plus years, and financially, he does very well for an optometrist. If I go into optometry, I will be able to work as a partner with him for a few years until he decides to retire and hands the practice over to me. If I knew that in the future, I would be doing as well as he is now, I would choose optometry in a heartbeat (because I could stay close to family, serve the community I grew up in, and the money is more than sufficient). What makes me second guess this route is the future of optical sales. I'm afraid that in the future, I will lose tons of revenue to websites like Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect. If it wasn't for my father's practice, I do not believe I would even consider optometry, but it seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up if the practice is still doing this well in the future. I would like to see what others have to think about the future of optometry and give me some advice.

Some things I have learned in life I will share with you and then you do what you think is best. First never make a decision based on a promise. I am guessing your father and you have made an tentative arrangement for you to "take over" when he decides to retire. This does not necessarily translate into the clientele welcoming you will open arms. His practice is based on his excellent work and his personal rapport with the patient that has taken years to cultivate. You may be your fathers son/daughter but this does not mean you will become the patient's doctor. Your father could be approached by a national optometry corporation and offer a price for his practice that is too good to be true. You could marry a person who does not want to live in a countrified area or who has a fantastic opportunity for employment on the other end of the country. Lastly, your career and life goals may change as you become older and more mature resulting in you being feeling potentially trapped in an obligation to your father. It sounds like money is a big factor here as well. Though money is important, believe me if you make a lot of money in something you don't like you wont be happy. Best figure out what you want to do. That being said, if you want to partner with your father, have at it. James A. Coleman, D.V.M.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

PA is another good profession you make just as much if not more money and your scope of practice is greater than an ODs scope of practice.

It's an odd thing to compare the scope of practice of an optometrist with the scope of practice of a primary care physician or a PA. It's like saying a cardiologist has limited scope compared to a neurologist. They're different jobs. A primary care physician will do little more than prescribe topical antibiotics and then hopefully refer to an eye care professional. In that regard, their scope in terms of eye care is almost zero. They learn very little about the eyes, let alone the visual system. If the goal is to treat a variety of conditions involving many different parts of the body, I'm not sure why optometry would even be a consideration in the first place.

PAs have a great job from an outside perspective, if that's a job that seems enjoyable to the person considering it. I don't want it, nor was I ever interested in medical school, because I knew the job I wanted. All it took was some shadowing and research, which is my suggestion for anyone considering either. While it may seem obvious to consider optometry together with a variety of other health-related careers, it's important to be aware of the differences, and they are many.

 

[jluv]

It's an odd thing to compare the scope of practice of an optometrist with the scope of practice of a primary care physician or a PA. It's like saying a cardiologist has limited scope compared to a neurologist. They're different jobs. A primary care physician will do little more than prescribe topical antibiotics and then hopefully refer to an eye care professional. In that regard, their scope in terms of eye care is almost zero. They learn very little about the eyes, let alone the visual system. If the goal is to treat a variety of conditions involving many different parts of the body, I'm not sure why optometry would even be a consideration in the first place.

PAs have a great job from an outside perspective, if that's a job that seems enjoyable to the person considering it. I don't want it, nor was I ever interested in medical school, because I knew the job I wanted. All it took was some shadowing and research, which is my suggestion for anyone considering either. While it may seem obvious to consider optometry together with a variety of other health-related careers, it's important to be aware of the differences, and they are many.

 

[jluv]

My point is the PAs have a greater scope of practice than ODs. They can prescribe all orals, give injections and do surgery. A lot of ODs seem unsatisfied doing refractions and treating the occasional red eye.
now I know a few ODs work in rural areas where there scope of practice is greater and a few work for OMDs or hospitals, I’m talking about the majority of ODs.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

My point is the PAs have a greater scope of practice than ODs. They can prescribe all orals, give injections and do surgery. A lot of ODs seem unsatisfied doing refractions and treating the occasional red eye.
now I know a few ODs work in rural areas where there scope of practice is greater and a few work for OMDs or hospitals, I’m talking about the majority of ODs.

You haven't addressed any of the points I made. The scope of a PA is broader because they are generalists. There's no point chasing optometry if you want to deal with anything other than the eyes/visual system, and certainly not if there is interest in surgery. Comparing scope in this case is useless. It's apples and oranges. It would be more accurate to simply point out that Optometrists are eye specialists, and don't treat non-eye related conditions. PAs are generalist primary care professionals who treat a variety of maladies involving a variety of systems. This amounts to a difference in job description.

 

[percyeye]

My point is the PAs have a greater scope of practice than ODs. They can prescribe all orals, give injections and do surgery. A lot of ODs seem unsatisfied doing refractions and treating the occasional red eye.
now I know a few ODs work in rural areas where there scope of practice is greater and a few work for OMDs or hospitals, I’m talking about the majority of ODs.

I as an Optometrist can prescribe all orals including narcotics, I'm in a state where we can do injections. PA's don't do the surgery themselves but assist in surgery. A big difference is I can go off and start my own office and be my own boss where a PA has to work under the guidance of a physician. A PA can't go out and start their own clinic so they will be an employee their whole career which I personally wouldn't want.

 

[jluv]

Hello,

I am a college junior who is still undecided on whether to pursue a career in medicine or optometry. I have done well in undergrad (4.0 GPA) and have good extracurriculars so I have good standings for medical school (as long as I do well on the MCAT). The reason I consider optometry so heavily is because my father is an optometrist, who has owned a practice in a rural community for 20+ plus years, and financially, he does very well for an optometrist. If I go into optometry, I will be able to work as a partner with him for a few years until he decides to retire and hands the practice over to me. If I knew that in the future, I would be doing as well as he is now, I would choose optometry in a heartbeat (because I could stay close to family, serve the community I grew up in, and the money is more than sufficient). What makes me second guess this route is the future of optical sales. I'm afraid that in the future, I will lose tons of revenue to websites like Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect. If it wasn't for my father's practice, I do not believe I would even consider optometry, but it seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up if the practice is still doing this well in the future. I would like to see what others have to think about the future of optometry and give me some advice.

Go to med school and try to become an OMD. You can still go back to your home town and practice eye care with some fun procedures.

 

[jluv]

I as an Optometrist can prescribe all orals including narcotics, I'm in a state where we can do injections. PA's don't do the surgery themselves but assist in surgery. A big difference is I can go off and start my own office and be my own boss where a PA has to work under the guidance of a physician. A PA can't go out and start their own clinic so they will be an employee their whole career which I personally wouldn't want.

I’m glad that you live in one of the few states that ODs can do injections. PAs actually do certain surgeries, for example the surgeon may do liposuction on one part of the body and the PA does the other part of the body. Also, PAs do can do botox injections and lasers and ODs can’t. As a doctoral profession our scope of practice is terrible.

 

[jluv]

You haven't addressed any of the points I made. The scope of a PA is broader because they are generalists. There's no point chasing optometry if you want to deal with anything other than the eyes/visual system, and certainly not if there is interest in surgery. Comparing scope in this case is useless. It's apples and oranges. It would be more accurate to simply point out that Optometrists are eye specialists, and don't treat non-eye related conditions. PAs are generalist primary care professionals who treat a variety of maladies involving a variety of systems. This amounts to a difference in job description.

As a doctoral profession our scope of practice is terrible. There are certain states where ODs can’t prescribe orals yet all NPs and PAs can’t rx orals.

 

[percyeye]

I’m glad that you live in one of the few states that ODs can do injections. PAs actually do certain surgeries, for example the surgeon may do liposuction on one part of the body and the PA does the other part of the body. Also, PAs do can do botox injections and lasers and ODs can’t. As a doctoral profession our scope of practice is terrible.

Overall PAs and NPs have a larger scope. But there are more and more states doing injections and lasers. Oklahoma they can do PRK. Kentucky, Louisiana, Wyoming I believe now all have very large scopes. Practicing somewhere like Massachusetts is a bummer but some states ODs can prescribe and do a lot. In the end you can decide where to live.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

As a doctoral profession our scope of practice is terrible. There are certain states where ODs can’t prescribe orals yet all NPs and PAs can’t rx orals.

New York is the only state in which ODs cannot prescribe oral medications. If you wanted to be a surgeon or a generalist, why did you choose to be an eye specialist? Sounds like you chose the wrong profession.

Edit: New York just passed this piece of legislation: (S.1519/A.1921). There are now zero states in which ODs cannot prescribe oral medications.

 

[90sportsfan]

I think the biggest point of consideration is what you want to do for a career. Optometry is very specific. "Medicine" has countless numbers of specialties from Ophthalmology to Family Medicine to Surgery to Pediatrics to countless numbers of other specialties.

I was also torn between Optometry and Medicine (specifically Ophthalmology) and one of the things that turned me off to Optometry was the settings of many practices. I didn't like the idea of being a healthcare professional with a doctorate and working in the mall, Target, Walmart, or a shopping center. I know that not all Optometrists work in those settings but a good portion of the profession is commercial. That said, you have the distinct advantage of having a private practice set up for you, so you will be presumably working in a professional/medical environment.

Also, while I've been in Medical School, I've found so many different specialties fascinating, and I am no longer interested in Ophthalmology. Again, if you enjoy the eye and know that you would like Optometry, I would go with that since you have a head start. But if you are interested in Medicine broadly, it may make sense to explore medicine. As you already know, if you still like the eyes, (assuming you are competitive) you could go into Ophthalmology and still transition into your father's practice. You would be able to extend the services already available by being an Ophthalmologist.

 

[jluv]

New York is the only state in which ODs cannot prescribe oral medications. If you wanted to be a surgeon or a generalist, why did you choose to be an eye specialist? Sounds like you chose the wrong profession.

Edit: New York just passed this piece of legislation: (S.1519/A.1921). There are now zero states in which ODs cannot prescribe oral medications.

In how many states can OD inject a chalazion?

 

[AudiLova619]

In how many states can OD inject a chalazion?

New York is the only state in which ODs cannot prescribe oral medications. If you wanted to be a surgeon or a generalist, why did you choose to be an eye specialist? Sounds like you chose the wrong profession.

Edit: New York just passed this piece of legislation: (S.1519/A.1921). There are now zero states in which ODs cannot prescribe oral medications.

so optometrists in NY can now prescribe medicines?

 

[percyeye]

In how many states can OD inject a chalazion?

Looks like 20 states can do these injections, and 6 have laser privileges.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

In how many states can OD inject a chalazion?

Should I find a comparison of the number of chalazion injections performed by optometrists vs. those performed by a PA?

 

[jluv]

Should I find a comparison of the number of chalazion injections performed by optometrists vs. those performed by a PA?

The point is PA’s can inject while ODs can’t.
but knock yourself out finding a comparison.

 

[jluv]

Looks like 20 states can do these injections, and 6 have laser privileges.

We need injections and orals in all 50 states.

 

[Whysoez]

I think the biggest point of consideration is what you want to do for a career. Optometry is very specific. "Medicine" has countless numbers of specialties from Ophthalmology to Family Medicine to Surgery to Pediatrics to countless numbers of other specialties.

I was also torn between Optometry and Medicine (specifically Ophthalmology) and one of the things that turned me off to Optometry was the settings of many practices. I didn't like the idea of being a healthcare professional with a doctorate and working in the mall, Target, Walmart, or a shopping center. I know that not all Optometrists work in those settings but a good portion of the profession is commercial. That said, you have the distinct advantage of having a private practice set up for you, so you will be presumably working in a professional/medical environment.

Also, while I've been in Medical School, I've found so many different specialties fascinating, and I am no longer interested in Ophthalmology. Again, if you enjoy the eye and know that you would like Optometry, I would go with that since you have a head start. But if you are interested in Medicine broadly, it may make sense to explore medicine. As you already know, if you still like the eyes, (assuming you are competitive) you could go into Ophthalmology and still transition into your father's practice. You would be able to extend the services already available by being an Ophthalmologist.

If OP wants to take over the practice, a safer bet would be optometry. Opthalmology is too great of an uncertainty due to its level of difficulty to achieve.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

The point is PA’s can inject while ODs can’t.
but knock yourself out finding a comparison.

I treat vision problems, PA's can't. They're different jobs. We're all sorry you picked the wrong one, but it's a ridiculous comparison.

 

[90sportsfan]

If OP wants to take over the practice, a safer bet would be optometry. Opthalmology is too great of an uncertainty due to its level of difficulty to achieve.

Agree. Ophthalmology is very competitive. But that's why I said it's more of a question of whether the OP is interested in Optometry vs. "Medicine" (broadly). The OP has responded, so not sure what the real story is, but if he/she is really interested in the full spectrum of "Medicine" (i.e. including basic primary care), then they'd want to base their decision on that. If he/she really just wants to take over the father's practice, the safest route is Optometry. It's more about where the interests lie.

 

[jluv]

I treat vision problems, PA's can't. They're different jobs. We're all sorry you picked the wrong one, but it's a ridiculous comparison.

Comparing scope of practice to a pa or a nurse practitioner is a ridiculous comparison,why? We are health care providers we are doctors and they are not. They can treat anything without proper training in my opinion and we are restricted in our treatments in most states. Let me be clear I believe that as doctors we should be allowed to rx all topicals, orals, and do some minor surgical procedures in all states, which we can not do. So yes PA’s and NP’s are different careers with LESS training and they have a broader scope of practice. We should be like dentists and podiatrists. Is that clear enough for you?

 

[New_Vegas]

If you have a 4.0 in college, just do medical school. If you specialize in medicine, you will be able to make 4x or 5x what the average optometrist does, and you will look back and wonder why you ever considered optometry.

 

[UncertainOpto]

If you have a 4.0 in college, just do medical school. If you specialize in medicine, you will be able to make 4x or 5x what the average optometrist does, and you will look back and wonder why you ever considered optometry.

I don’t know if the poor quality of life in medical school, residency, fellowships, and beyond is worth the extra pay for everyone. The job of a medical doctor also involves far more stress, responsibility, and worse hours. You have to love it to do it. I don’t know if you could survive if you do it for money alone.

 

[New_Vegas]

I don’t know if the poor quality of life in medical school, residency, fellowships, and beyond is worth the extra pay for everyone. The job of a medical doctor also involves far more stress, responsibility, and worse hours. You have to love it to do it. I don’t know if you could survive if you do it for money alone.

What about the stress of running a business with optometry? Just do medical school OP, lol this is a no brainer.

 

[New_Vegas]

Many optometry students have no intention of owning their own practice. Many are fully content with working at a private practice, OMD setting, hospital, etc and treating patients while making a decent salary without unpredictable hours, life-or-death situations, and poor work-life balance.

You’ll definitely make more money in medicine but that is not always the sole motivator for some people when choosing a career.

Read the OP's situation.

 

[jluv]

I don’t know if the poor quality of life in medical school, residency, fellowships, and beyond is worth the extra pay for everyone. The job of a medical doctor also involves far more stress, responsibility, and worse hours. You have to love it to do it. I don’t know if you could survive if you do it for money alone.

I’m sure that when you have to pay $50,000 for college you’d take the extra “stress” for the extra money. MDs make a lot more money than ODs. Also, while being an MD is more stressful not all MD professions are that stressful .

 

[Snakedoctor1]

What about the stress of running a business with optometry? Just do medical school OP, lol this is a no brainer.

After all, this guy's a Dentist!

 

[New_Vegas]

After all, this guy's a Dentist!

Which is why I know about the stress of running a business.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

Comparing scope of practice to a pa or a nurse practitioner is a ridiculous comparison,why? We are health care providers we are doctors and they are not. They can treat anything without proper training in my opinion and we are restricted in our treatments in most states. Let me be clear I believe that as doctors we should be allowed to rx all topicals, orals, and do some minor surgical procedures in all states, which we can not do. So yes PA’s and NP’s are different careers with LESS training and they have a broader scope of practice. We should be like dentists and podiatrists. Is that clear enough for you?

It's a ridiculous comparison because as I've mentioned several times before, they are completely different jobs. How many PAs and NPs are managing glaucoma? AMD? How many are examining eyes at all? They prescribe topical antibiotics for red eye, and that's about it. You seem to be making the argument that because their scope does not vary state to state, and because they treat a wide array of health problems, their scope is broader and better than that of optometry. Do you wish you could see more patients with joint pain and a cough? Or are you just arguing that because not every state allows optometrists to perform minor surgical procedures that it's more desirable to be a generalist non-doctor because they see a wide gamut of bodily conditions?

As for OP, I would say the most important sentence is "If it wasn't for my father's practice, I do not believe I would even consider optometry." If you have no interest in the field, don't do it. It's not general medicine. It's not cardiology, podiatry, dentistry or midwifery. It's also not engineering, fork lift driving, or hole digging. If you don't want to examine eyes and treat visual problems, don't choose optometry. You'll be miserable, just like you'll be miserable if you think you'll enjoy medicine just because it pays well. There are better ways to make money than healthcare. If you have an interest in healthcare, by all means figure out which job you actually want to do. They are all different.

But since we're all talking about money, rural optometrists probably make at least what an MD family practitioner makes on average. If that's the most important thing to you, your Dad's practice is probably doing well. That's not a guarantee it will do well for you, but probably something to consider if you have an interest in optometry. From your original post, it sounds like you might not.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

Which is why I know about the stress of running a business.

So do I. Although since presumably neither of us have attended medical school/residency it might be unhelpful to compare the two.

 

[Dave1980]

Hello,

I am a college junior who is still undecided on whether to pursue a career in medicine or optometry. I have done well in undergrad (4.0 GPA) and have good extracurriculars so I have good standings for medical school (as long as I do well on the MCAT). The reason I consider optometry so heavily is because my father is an optometrist, who has owned a practice in a rural community for 20+ plus years, and financially, he does very well for an optometrist. If I go into optometry, I will be able to work as a partner with him for a few years until he decides to retire and hands the practice over to me. If I knew that in the future, I would be doing as well as he is now, I would choose optometry in a heartbeat (because I could stay close to family, serve the community I grew up in, and the money is more than sufficient). What makes me second guess this route is the future of optical sales. I'm afraid that in the future, I will lose tons of revenue to websites like Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect. If it wasn't for my father's practice, I do not believe I would even consider optometry, but it seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up if the practice is still doing this well in the future. I would like to see what others have to think about the future of optometry and give me some advice.

How much is the store making a year? Lots of business write offs if you own a practice? Dinners, trips, everyday products...business expenses!

 

[deleted989644]

I’m sure that when you have to pay $50,000 for college you’d take the extra “stress” for the extra money. MDs make a lot more money than ODs. Also, while being an MD is more stressful not all MD professions are that stressful .

To be fair, the most competitive medical professions tend to be the least stressful - most of the med school crop will probably funnel into primary care, which is more of the "down and dirty" side of medicine.

There are a lot of students that wish for big money and little stress, so those areas are uber competitive.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

What about the stress of running a business with optometry? Just do medical school OP, lol this is a no brainer.

Yeah... Neurosurgeons make a lot of money... then why doesn't everyone become a neurosurgeon...

Why are some people making generalization.. Its not even funny....
If it is an option for you to go into medicine, yes its rewarding- make sure you know that's what you want to do..... Most people who go into medicine go into primary care where it is not as much money. Optometry is rewarding as well too... Just what do you want to do?? If you are going in it for money you are going in for a wrong reason..
There is a chart- I forgot- it compared who a ups driver salary compares to medical doctor...

 

[deleted989644]

Yeah... Neurosurgeons make a lot of money... then why doesn't everyone become a neurosurgeon...

Why are some people making generalization.. Its not even funny....
If it is an option for you to go into medicine, yes its rewarding- make sure you know that's what you want to do..... Most people who go into medicine go into primary care where it is not as much money. Optometry is rewarding as well too... Just what do you want to do?? If you are going in it for money you are going in for a wrong reason..
There is a chart- I forgot- it compared who a ups driver salary compares to medical doctor...

I mean...money isn't a bad motivation, but it probably shouldn't be the sole motivation - some interest other than $$$ has to be there.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

I mean...money isn't a bad motivation, but it probably shouldn't be the sole motivation - some interest other than $$$ has to be there.

Again, look there is a UPS truck driver vs. Medical doctor salary somewhere thats floating around, for the amount of hours put in, for the years put in for training- its not worth it if you are going in it for money.

 

[deleted989644]

Again, look there is a UPS truck driver vs. Medical doctor salary somewhere thats floating around, for the amount of hours put in, for the years put in for training- its not worth it if you are going in it for money.

Interesting.

…though a doctor can probably weather economic chaos better than a UPS driver.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

Interesting.

…though a doctor can probably weather economic chaos better than a UPS driver.

Agree that doctors have a better opportunities even when everything is in chaos, but here is the thing.

1. You put so much time into it- 4 years BS, MCAT prep- med school, Steps 1,2,3, residency (minimum 3 years). You spend your 20's getting in that position, while the UPS driver is making money, partying. The number of hours that you put into it, studying, exams, residency, its a lot of time, effort and money. And if you do not make to through any of the steps in between, for example failed exams, "life- relationship issues, kids, sickness", you are now gonna be a UPS driver with a lot of debt.

2. Debt- minimum 200-250k in student loans/debt.

3.Lawsuits- really keeps the cost up unnecessarily, malpractice insurance, and possibly lose your license after all this debt - you may eventually work as a UPS driver.

4. Family life- its suffers, I have seen high divorce rates among doctors, mainly because the partners do not know what kind of life they have.

5. Stability- I am not sure its true anymore, the midlevels are now being hired to take care of people. The quality of care suffers, but the companies look for bottom line.

I just wanna cut it short because people hate reading long paragraphs. Really my point is talk to physicians and do research before jumping in it for the sake of making money. Make sure you wanna really do it. Dont get me wrong- physicians will live comfortably but they do not make a lot of money. After 10 years post residency for a typical average GP- If you come from a middle class background, honestly you will be in your late 30's-40's( if you start aiming to be physician after high school) before you make any real money.

 

[John Muir]

Again, look there is a UPS truck driver vs. Medical doctor salary somewhere thats floating around, for the amount of hours put in, for the years put in for training- its not worth it if you are going in it for money.

Here is that image.
Don't mind me, just a dental student sneaking around optometry forums...

 

[Trefoil]

I will toss in my two cents. I don’t think it’s entirely wrong to choose a field for practical reasons; however, I do think there is a significant benefit to choosing something you actually are interested in. Your post doesn’t really imply an interest in optometry but an interest in job security. I would say from that perspective, medical school is a good route to job stability. There are plenty of different fields in medicine that one is sure to pique your interest.

The downside of medicine is that you have to go through a fairly rigorous training process that leaves many burned out. Some people actually thrive in the intense environments while others prefer better hours.

Thankfully, there are so many specialties that everyone can find something that fits them. For instance, psychiatry is a fairly relaxed field that is in very high demand and is not at all competitive. From that perspective, if you are willing to take a little bit of pain in the short term, I think you will broaden your options substantially.

Finally, another option would be to take a gap year to learn about yourself. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t know what you want yet, and it’s a sign of maturity if you take time to figure it out.