Ask an expert: How do I know if med school is for me?
Vested
🗣️Deciding whether to go to medical school can be a tough choice. There are so many different ways to contribute to the medical field and patient care — from research and nursing to serving as a technologist, EMT, CNA, CRNA, or APP (medicine loves its abbreviations)!
So how do you know if medical school is right for you? Ultimately, that’s a decision only you can make.
My path to medicine started with research. I got involved in research early in undergrad and found that I loved it. I already knew I enjoyed science courses, but in research, I found myself fascinated by the process of breaking down complex, sometimes unanswerable questions, designing ways to test them, and constantly troubleshooting. I also loved the collaborative nature of research – learning from mentors, mentoring younger students, and coming back from conferences with new friends and new questions.
“Maybe I’ll do a PhD,” I thought. But I also had friends – and a sister – interested in medicine, so I decided to explore further. Shadowing opened my eyes to the messy, dynamic reality of clinical care. Watching physicians coordinate among patients, families, and care teams showed me how much real-world medicine relies on communication, empathy, and teamwork. While research offered the thrill of discovering a small part of a big story, medicine let me engage with the individual behind the data.
I also realized I didn’t have to choose one or the other – I could keep doing research as a clinician. Ultimately, I decided that medical school was the right next step for me.
When it comes down to it, you have to make a choice – and it may not be a perfect one. I think I would have enjoyed a PhD or another healthcare role, too. But once I committed to medicine, I haven’t looked back. One of the best parts? The incredible people you meet in this field – classmates, mentors, patients, and colleagues — who make the journey deeply rewarding.
If you’re curious, hard-working, empathetic, and collaborative, medicine might be a great fit. But those traits describe a lot of people — so only your own reflection, experiences, and gut instincts can really tell you what’s right for you.
A few extra tips if you’re still unsure:
- Shadow widely — not just doctors, but nurses, social workers, therapists, PAs, and others. Notice what energizes you (and what drains you).
- Talk to people who’ve taken different paths. Ask what they like, what surprised them, and what they’d do differently.
- Try things on — through internships, volunteering, or jobs in healthcare. It’s okay to rule things out!
- Be honest with yourself about what kind of life and work environment you want. Loving science doesn’t always mean medicine is the best fit.
- Remember that no path is wasted. Even if you pivot later, the skills and insights you gain along the way will still matter.
Medicine isn’t an easy road, and most people don’t land in it by accident. But if becoming a physician feels right to you, and you’re ready to commit to the challenge, then trust that conviction. That inner clarity and determination will carry you forward more than any single experience or checklist ever could. You don’t have to be 100% sure all the time — just ready to keep moving toward what matters to you.