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As I write this blog, Im in a situation where Im not sure if I should be angry, or happy. Today I was offered a spot to study medicine in the most prestigious university in the west half of Australia.
I turned it down.
Why? Basically, the government runs a system where the top 50% of people who are accepted are allowed to do their degree, no probs. The bottom 50% of people who were accepted have to sign a contract that means that they must work in a rural hospital for 6 years after theyve finshed their internship. Meaning if I was to accept the offer, I would spent 6 years at uni, 1 year at a hospital doing my internship, and then 6 more years working in a rural area.
While becoming a doctor is basically my dream job through and through, the idea that I would be forced to move to a rural area for 6 years (a committment I have to make 7 years in advance) turned me off. Rural meaning that I might not have broadband internet, the ratio of whites to blacks (not racist) could be 1:5, the ratio of males to females could be 5:1, and I might be 1000km away from my friends and family.
However this is not the end. In 2 years, I can apply again for a graduate entry course into medicine (im doing a 3 year pre-med equivilant course atm). If I get into medicine next time, I would be only spending 4 years studying. Meaning I would end up spending the same amount of time at uni, and have my medicine degree after. The same deal of 50% runs for the graduate entry course as well.
So, to sum it all up. Ive said no to a spot, in hopes that I can get a better spot in 2 years time (with no garrantees that original my spot will still be there).
Do you guys think ive made a stupid mistake?
(I've added a poll, so people who read and cbf posting can give me their opinion)
Poll: Was my decision a good one?
(Vote): You Fucking Idiot
(Vote): Fair call, the gamble was justified
(Vote): Thats a gamble I wouldnt have taken
(Vote): Good Call, rural areas are teh sux
 
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Hungary11305 Posts
That kind of contract does not sound really acceptable. Keeping your freedom of choice is important. My basic experience states that if someone is dedicated enough to reaching what he wants, he eventually gets there. If being a doctor is your dream, and you are willing to do what it takes to make that graduate entry course, you will make it.
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you could've studied your ass off to get better than 50%, which isn't that hard o__O, right?
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On February 15 2008 18:41 paper wrote:
you could've studied your ass off to get better than 50%, which isn't that hard o__O, right?
that's actually a good point
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On February 15 2008 18:41 paper wrote:
you could've studied your ass off to get better than 50%, which isn't that hard o__O, right?
Well yeah, thats the reasoning behind my decision. I study really hard for the next 2 years, and improve my results, Ill be offered a spot without the contract. As long as I study hard, chances are im not going to miss out on the second 50%... I hope.
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Melbourne5338 Posts
My friend took one of those contracts to study medicine, however I think he has an option of just specializing in a unpopular field if he wants instead of the rural service.
I agree with your call, but if your course is full of like minded people, it might be harder this time.
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Spenguin
Australia3316 Posts
Rural areas in West Aus. *shivers* Although if you were able to do it near Albany or in Mt. Barker it be pretty neat.
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Sounds like a pretty good call to me. Studying to reach above those 50% seems a lot better.
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Should have studied hard enough to get in the top 50 % in the first place. 
I think it depends on how much your getting payed in the rural area. If the contract includes a set wage, fuck it. If the pay is much higher I'd consider it.
6 years of good money and no way to spend it = pretty nice once you get out of there.
We have a different approach where you can get your student loans payed if you sign up to work a few years in rural areas which I'm considering as long as they offer me a guaranteed specialty as well. That would be 6 years as well (I'm studying dentistry so 2 years of practice, 4 years of specialisation). But I'd still expect the pay to be better during the years I'm doing normal practice and at least equal to urban areas during the ST service.
Because otherwise you can just work abroad in a better city, good weather and make enough money to both pay of your loan and have a lot of money left.
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dude, its sooooooooo fucking hard to get into med school here, i cant believe u turned it down for some stupid reason. pp lgo to school is for the fucking money u can make late ron, who the fuck cares where u work as long as u make big money
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On February 16 2008 00:25 Mnemosyne wrote:
dude, its sooooooooo fucking hard to get into med school here, i cant believe u turned it down for some stupid reason. pp lgo to school is for the fucking money u can make late ron, who the fuck cares where u work as long as u make big money
Trust me, its hard to get into med school here as well. 70 spots were offered, 35 without the contract, 35 with, thousands of applicants. Its a huge gamble, and Im thinking It might not have been the best idea now to turn it down. However if my marks increase, Im assuming at worst Ill get another contracted offer, and I can take it. Then again, this could be one of the stupidist mistakes of my life.
As for rural WA, we could be talking 40 degree days every day, piece of shit shops that dont sell any fresh food, nothing to do on your days off but sit around playing starcraft. Not something I really wanna do for 6 years.
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In the long run, there are no mistakes, buddy! You made a choice and it will have upsides and downsides, just like any other. Best of luck to ya.
I've read that doctors and lawyers are the least happy professionals.
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Are medical school admissions strictly based on your marks? In the US it certainly isn't... If you can guarantee they will accept you again with higher marks, I guess thats okay. But competition increases every year. If you get the top 50% offer in 2 years, that's great. If you get another contracted offer (your assumption of "the worst" you can get), you've wasted 2 years. But in reality the worst you could get is no acceptances after 2 years, even with increased marks. Unless there's some degree of certainty built into the AUS medical school system, I would say that its a pretty big gamble.
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you could go adoctoring in some other country with less meddlesome restrictions?
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Well i voted "ur a fcking idiot" even tho i think thats a little harsh. But to be honest i live in a rural area and when i visit the city its depressing. Rural areas are the shit, NOT the sux.
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On February 16 2008 05:45 Steelflight-Rx wrote:
Well i voted "ur a fcking idiot" even tho i think thats a little harsh. But to be honest i live in a rural area and when i visit the city its depressing. Rural areas are the shit, NOT the sux.
i think the rural area he describes and the one you're in are different.
because the rural grounds in my area aren't bad either. It wouldn't even be a consideration to turn it down. So it must be different (and worse).
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On February 16 2008 02:24 quiong wrote:
Are medical school admissions strictly based on your marks? In the US it certainly isn't... If you can guarantee they will accept you again with higher marks, I guess thats okay. But competition increases every year. If you get the top 50% offer in 2 years, that's great. If you get another contracted offer (your assumption of "the worst" you can get), you've wasted 2 years. But in reality the worst you could get is no acceptances after 2 years, even with increased marks. Unless there's some degree of certainty built into the AUS medical school system, I would say that its a pretty big gamble.
The admissions is broken up into an IQ test, an interview and your marks. If I get in in 2 years time, I will not have wasted any years, because I will be entering as a graduate. Meaning my degree will only be 4 years, not 6.
You are dead right about the worst assumption though. Im leaning towards the Im a fucking idiot answer myself now. There is the possibility that I dont get an offer at all. That would just be horrible.
Ive decided that if I get offered the contracted spot in 2 years time, I will accept, which is really annoying, because it just means ive taken a gamble, where the chances of succeeding are lower than the chances of failing.
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EPT
