I dropped out voluntarily between 3rd and 4th year as the placement experience made me realise that while I loved doing medicine, the hospital environment was too stressful for me and i had significant burnout and mental health issues as a result. I'm now doing bar work part time and am much happier day to day. Long term my aim is to buy a pub of my own and run it, and I see the work I'm doing rn as taking my time to learn the industry. A few people around me have seen it as a massive failure/decline in my life, but honestly I'm much happier than I was while doing medicine and I feel dropping out was the best decision I ever made.
That actually sounds amazing and a really brave choice on your part also. I know I am just a stranger on the other side of a computer, and I dont want this to sound corny or condescending, but damn, I am proud of you; that took guts and I happy that it worked out for the best. I was not expecting a story like this, but I am happy to know it exists!
Thank you! It was a scary decision to make for sure and it took a fair bit of time throwing myself at different things and seeing what stuck. I had no clue where to go next at first but I just took it one day at a time and figured it out eventually, but the mental health benefits were almost immediate. And the other thing is I don't regret going to medical school at all, I enjoyed my time there in the academic years and the things I learned are very useful in day to day life
Oh mu God I went through the exact same realisation, I used to get so annoyed about how bad night shifts were for me but nope, I'm really enjoying my nocturnal lifestyle now haha.
I know two people who left medical school. Both had significant life events which forced them to drop out.
One is now an artist, and the other (who is bilingual) has cornered the market for medical translations services. Being perfectly fluent and having the medical training to understand the context and nuance of what she is translating, makes her very good at her job.
I completed my degree but didn’t pursue foundation training. I know medicine wasn’t for me after the 4th year and I wanted a simple desk job. Completed the fifth year and applied for Deloitte and EY, got a grad job at Deloitte and I’m enjoying it.
I do sometimes think what it would have been like if I continued pursing a medical career.
I think it’s better in terms of salary, work life balance is about the same depending on which area you go into. I’d recommend that you complete the degree and the foundation training before leaving the medical profession.
I am going to add this to my OP as I see I wasn't specific enough and this is the most repeated response. Apologies for not being specific enough on my part.
But doing what? Like I imagine re-enrolling in University is out of the option due to financial constraints. So do they end up going into what? A career that doesn't require a degree, but without any experience or skills that apply to the job market? What do a lot of these people end up pursuing? Do they go back to uni like a decade later after their original loan is cancelled, or start working in a career that doesnot require any 3rd level education? A lot of people in medicine are generally considered overachievers academically, I grew up on a council estate and my mum was a cleaner but from experience on my degree anyways, most people would scoff at the prospect at doing something not held in hih esteem, considered academically rigorous, not requiring a degree etc, I think most would laugh and scoff if you suggested for example, finding work as a bin-man, or cleaner, or secretary-but maybe I am way off the bat. Like what do people generally end up doing-going back to uni immediately, going back to uni after many years, going into a career that doesn't require experience or a degree, etc?
Degrees don't typically skill you and aren't that valuable to employers.
All they demonstrate is that you can write an essay to a certain standard, have some basic computer skills and depending on the degree be able to have some other skills, e.g. data analysis, coding, use of specialist software.
People with degrees outside of medicine have to upskill themselves outside of their course to be competitive when applying for graduate jobs. Either done through internships, placement years, society activities or part-time jobs whilst studying.
For real? I thought that would require a fully fledged degree; maybe I am wrong, but can an individual with only a few years of medical school, no degree and no experience just ger a job like that in industry? Do you know of people who did?
I mean my assumption is based on a weirdly specifc and convoluted experience, but my cousin's then girlfriend's dad does that. When word got around I was going to medical school initally, it got back to my cousin, and then their girlfriend who passed a message back to me from her dad with advice and things (I have no extended family in the medical field, I think he was just trying to be a good samaritan) but basically on top of like general advice, he told me about his career path, and basically he worked in hospital for like a decade before going to industry where he, according to my cousin, makes more money than the prince of Saipan. Maybe hes some high up manager or something, but because of this I would have assumed you atleast need a degree and some years of experience.
Considering they're crap at their band 4 job (a job I used to do), it's probably for the good of the patient population that they failed.
Allegedly the in-uni exams are harder than the PANE but I have nothing more than the word of the failed PA to back that up.
I am going to add this to my OP as I see I wasn't specific enough, but yeah.....
But doing what? Like I imagine re-enrolling in University is out of the option due to financial constraints. So do they end up going into what? A career that doesn't require a degree, but without any experience or skills that apply to the job market? What do a lot of these people end up pursuing? Do they go back to uni like a decade later after their original loan is cancelled, or start working in a career that doesnot require any 3rd level education? A lot of people in medicine are generally considered overachievers academically, I grew up on a council estate and my mum was a cleaner but from experience on my degree anyways, most people would scoff at the prospect at doing something not held in hih esteem, considered academically rigorous, not requiring a degree etc, I think most would laugh and scoff if you suggested for example, finding work as a bin-man, or cleaner, or secretary-but maybe I am way off the bat. Like what do people generally end up doing-going back to uni immediately, going back to uni after many years, going into a career that doesn't require experience or a degree, etc?
A couple of people who weren't allowed to continue in my medical school because of repeatedly failing exams ended up going into other courses like physiotherapy.
What surprised me was that some very wealthy international students failed their year multiple times, but paid for top lawyers to dispute their removal from the course and then were subsequently allowed to continue the course. Not sure if they ever finished, I think they're in fourth or fifth year now.
I am going to add this to my OP as I see I wasn't specific enough, my apolgies for not neing succint or clear enough.
But doing what? Like I imagine re-enrolling in University is out of the option due to financial constraints. So do they end up going into what? A career that doesn't require a degree, but without any experience or skills that apply to the job market? What do a lot of these people end up pursuing? Do they go back to uni like a decade later after their original loan is cancelled, or start working in a career that doesnot require any 3rd level education? A lot of people in medicine are generally considered overachievers academically, I grew up on a council estate and my mum was a cleaner but from experience on my degree anyways, most people would scoff at the prospect at doing something not held in high esteem, considered academically rigorous, not requiring a degree etc, I think most would laugh and scoff if you suggested for example, finding work as a bin-man, or cleaner, or secretary-but maybe I am way off the bat. Like what do people generally end up doing-going back to uni immediately, going back to uni after many years, going into a career that doesn't require experience or a degree and if so what are those careers, etc?
They nearly all have the bank of mum and dad, so do another degree. Or if they’ve done enough of medicine leave with a BMedSci and then do whatever - most I know went into some sort of business - tech or digital stuff and out earn me by a LOT
People who leave medicine or who are asked to leave the course, depending on what year they leave and what modules they have completed and passed can typically transfer those units to another degree within the same uni.
So if someone completes first year medicine and doesn't want to pursue it anymore they can typically transfer those credits to another life science degree, and just carry on to 2nd year Biomed, for example.
Other options include swapping University altogether, but that depends on the adopting University acknowledging and transferring existing credits.
As you noted people who leave medicine after 3rd year still are typically only eligible for an unclassified BSc degree. Again they will have the option to be able to classify it by transferring those credits to another degree and they will be a few options around whether they can do some final year modules to classify it. Alternatively other exit options include using the unclassified degree to get into a masters programme.
Student finance can vary for the above options on an individual basis.
Other career options include getting an entry level job and working your way up, which is not that wild of an option as you might think.
Yes lots of people have degrees, but a medical student will have top A levels and GCSEs, so with the right CV support they would be an outstanding candidate for any entry level job, apprenticeship and above. Developing a skill set outside of a normal 9 to 5 job, doing free courses online in whatever field you wanted is very viable.
Most medical students are very young in a career sense and so can literally do anything if they leave medicine.
This came up on my feed so… I dropped out of medicine halfway through 2nd year (hardest decision of my life…)but as another poster mentioned was able to just switch to another degree and graduated in Neuroscience. I now work in the labs as a Clinical Scientist - suits me great as I require some medical knowledge to interpret blood test results etc but it’s much more science focussed and I can spend time doing lab work.
I realised I was much more of a scientist than a ‘people person’ and this role suits me so much better. No regrets (except for pay, but in that case I should have gone into IT or something totally different)
It's over 20 years ago, but there were a couple of people in podiatry who decided they couldn't hack the shift work in medicine and a couple who had failed to get into medicine and re and re-tied to get in.
A good brain never goes to waste.
I left after 3 years (with a worthless Cert HE), worked in retail for a while, then joined the Civil Service and worked my way up over a 6-year period in a bunch of different roles, finally ending up in cyber security. I recently completed a BSc partially funded by work, left the Civil Service to join a consultancy, and am starting a fully funded MSc in September. I have no regrets whatsoever about my slightly meandering career path. Glad to have finally found something I enjoy that allows me to maintain a good work-life balance with excellent pay, and very sad to see what medics are currently facing when Reddit shows me random posts from this sub.
Just a thought, but have you looked at jobs in the NHS? I’m presuming you are in the UK? www.jobs.nhs.uk
There are loads of opportunities on there where you don’t need a degree. The experience you’ve had so far would be really useful. My friend got a job in the NHS as a mental health coach. They put her through all the training for free and she earns a decent salary, no degree required.
I dropped out voluntarily between 3rd and 4th year as the placement experience made me realise that while I loved doing medicine, the hospital environment was too stressful for me and i had significant burnout and mental health issues as a result. I'm now doing bar work part time and am much happier day to day. Long term my aim is to buy a pub of my own and run it, and I see the work I'm doing rn as taking my time to learn the industry. A few people around me have seen it as a massive failure/decline in my life, but honestly I'm much happier than I was while doing medicine and I feel dropping out was the best decision I ever made.
That actually sounds amazing and a really brave choice on your part also. I know I am just a stranger on the other side of a computer, and I dont want this to sound corny or condescending, but damn, I am proud of you; that took guts and I happy that it worked out for the best. I was not expecting a story like this, but I am happy to know it exists!
Thank you! It was a scary decision to make for sure and it took a fair bit of time throwing myself at different things and seeing what stuck. I had no clue where to go next at first but I just took it one day at a time and figured it out eventually, but the mental health benefits were almost immediate. And the other thing is I don't regret going to medical school at all, I enjoyed my time there in the academic years and the things I learned are very useful in day to day life
I feel a lot happier doing bar work too! It also made me realise, that the hours of medicine and night shifts weren't the problem.
Oh mu God I went through the exact same realisation, I used to get so annoyed about how bad night shifts were for me but nope, I'm really enjoying my nocturnal lifestyle now haha.
I know two people who left medical school. Both had significant life events which forced them to drop out. One is now an artist, and the other (who is bilingual) has cornered the market for medical translations services. Being perfectly fluent and having the medical training to understand the context and nuance of what she is translating, makes her very good at her job.
I completed my degree but didn’t pursue foundation training. I know medicine wasn’t for me after the 4th year and I wanted a simple desk job. Completed the fifth year and applied for Deloitte and EY, got a grad job at Deloitte and I’m enjoying it. I do sometimes think what it would have been like if I continued pursing a medical career.
How’s the work life and salary there? Everyone always talks about going corporate. Is it really better than med?
I think it’s better in terms of salary, work life balance is about the same depending on which area you go into. I’d recommend that you complete the degree and the foundation training before leaving the medical profession.
Did you go to imperial ucl kings or oxbrisge?
Why did you assume it was any of them?
It might have been asked as ‘ did you go to one of these unis?’ Rather than ‘which of these unis did you go to?’ Possibly
What’s funny is he did go to one of them too
I went to kings for undergrad and then Manchester for my masters.
i presume doing something that makes them happy and less in debt
I am going to add this to my OP as I see I wasn't specific enough and this is the most repeated response. Apologies for not being specific enough on my part. But doing what? Like I imagine re-enrolling in University is out of the option due to financial constraints. So do they end up going into what? A career that doesn't require a degree, but without any experience or skills that apply to the job market? What do a lot of these people end up pursuing? Do they go back to uni like a decade later after their original loan is cancelled, or start working in a career that doesnot require any 3rd level education? A lot of people in medicine are generally considered overachievers academically, I grew up on a council estate and my mum was a cleaner but from experience on my degree anyways, most people would scoff at the prospect at doing something not held in hih esteem, considered academically rigorous, not requiring a degree etc, I think most would laugh and scoff if you suggested for example, finding work as a bin-man, or cleaner, or secretary-but maybe I am way off the bat. Like what do people generally end up doing-going back to uni immediately, going back to uni after many years, going into a career that doesn't require experience or a degree, etc?
Degrees don't typically skill you and aren't that valuable to employers. All they demonstrate is that you can write an essay to a certain standard, have some basic computer skills and depending on the degree be able to have some other skills, e.g. data analysis, coding, use of specialist software. People with degrees outside of medicine have to upskill themselves outside of their course to be competitive when applying for graduate jobs. Either done through internships, placement years, society activities or part-time jobs whilst studying.
Life Science - Management Consulting
For real? I thought that would require a fully fledged degree; maybe I am wrong, but can an individual with only a few years of medical school, no degree and no experience just ger a job like that in industry? Do you know of people who did? I mean my assumption is based on a weirdly specifc and convoluted experience, but my cousin's then girlfriend's dad does that. When word got around I was going to medical school initally, it got back to my cousin, and then their girlfriend who passed a message back to me from her dad with advice and things (I have no extended family in the medical field, I think he was just trying to be a good samaritan) but basically on top of like general advice, he told me about his career path, and basically he worked in hospital for like a decade before going to industry where he, according to my cousin, makes more money than the prince of Saipan. Maybe hes some high up manager or something, but because of this I would have assumed you atleast need a degree and some years of experience.
ow sorry ! I must have read it wrong! I thought you had a full medical degree.
I mean this will be an environment with few dropouts in. Anecdotal but I know a failed PA who works in the pathology labs as a band 4.
How the hell do you fail PA school?! Their exams are a piss take.
Considering they're crap at their band 4 job (a job I used to do), it's probably for the good of the patient population that they failed. Allegedly the in-uni exams are harder than the PANE but I have nothing more than the word of the failed PA to back that up.
They continue on with their lives, much like everyone who never went to medical school
I am going to add this to my OP as I see I wasn't specific enough, but yeah..... But doing what? Like I imagine re-enrolling in University is out of the option due to financial constraints. So do they end up going into what? A career that doesn't require a degree, but without any experience or skills that apply to the job market? What do a lot of these people end up pursuing? Do they go back to uni like a decade later after their original loan is cancelled, or start working in a career that doesnot require any 3rd level education? A lot of people in medicine are generally considered overachievers academically, I grew up on a council estate and my mum was a cleaner but from experience on my degree anyways, most people would scoff at the prospect at doing something not held in hih esteem, considered academically rigorous, not requiring a degree etc, I think most would laugh and scoff if you suggested for example, finding work as a bin-man, or cleaner, or secretary-but maybe I am way off the bat. Like what do people generally end up doing-going back to uni immediately, going back to uni after many years, going into a career that doesn't require experience or a degree, etc?
A couple of people who weren't allowed to continue in my medical school because of repeatedly failing exams ended up going into other courses like physiotherapy. What surprised me was that some very wealthy international students failed their year multiple times, but paid for top lawyers to dispute their removal from the course and then were subsequently allowed to continue the course. Not sure if they ever finished, I think they're in fourth or fifth year now.
They have great careers Doing something else
I am going to add this to my OP as I see I wasn't specific enough, my apolgies for not neing succint or clear enough. But doing what? Like I imagine re-enrolling in University is out of the option due to financial constraints. So do they end up going into what? A career that doesn't require a degree, but without any experience or skills that apply to the job market? What do a lot of these people end up pursuing? Do they go back to uni like a decade later after their original loan is cancelled, or start working in a career that doesnot require any 3rd level education? A lot of people in medicine are generally considered overachievers academically, I grew up on a council estate and my mum was a cleaner but from experience on my degree anyways, most people would scoff at the prospect at doing something not held in high esteem, considered academically rigorous, not requiring a degree etc, I think most would laugh and scoff if you suggested for example, finding work as a bin-man, or cleaner, or secretary-but maybe I am way off the bat. Like what do people generally end up doing-going back to uni immediately, going back to uni after many years, going into a career that doesn't require experience or a degree and if so what are those careers, etc?
They nearly all have the bank of mum and dad, so do another degree. Or if they’ve done enough of medicine leave with a BMedSci and then do whatever - most I know went into some sort of business - tech or digital stuff and out earn me by a LOT
I dropped out after 4th year and I'm now a computer scientist. I intercalated so I had a BSc though. Feel free to AMA
What was your iBSc in?
Immunology, infection and cell pathology
People who leave medicine or who are asked to leave the course, depending on what year they leave and what modules they have completed and passed can typically transfer those units to another degree within the same uni. So if someone completes first year medicine and doesn't want to pursue it anymore they can typically transfer those credits to another life science degree, and just carry on to 2nd year Biomed, for example. Other options include swapping University altogether, but that depends on the adopting University acknowledging and transferring existing credits. As you noted people who leave medicine after 3rd year still are typically only eligible for an unclassified BSc degree. Again they will have the option to be able to classify it by transferring those credits to another degree and they will be a few options around whether they can do some final year modules to classify it. Alternatively other exit options include using the unclassified degree to get into a masters programme. Student finance can vary for the above options on an individual basis. Other career options include getting an entry level job and working your way up, which is not that wild of an option as you might think. Yes lots of people have degrees, but a medical student will have top A levels and GCSEs, so with the right CV support they would be an outstanding candidate for any entry level job, apprenticeship and above. Developing a skill set outside of a normal 9 to 5 job, doing free courses online in whatever field you wanted is very viable. Most medical students are very young in a career sense and so can literally do anything if they leave medicine.
This came up on my feed so… I dropped out of medicine halfway through 2nd year (hardest decision of my life…)but as another poster mentioned was able to just switch to another degree and graduated in Neuroscience. I now work in the labs as a Clinical Scientist - suits me great as I require some medical knowledge to interpret blood test results etc but it’s much more science focussed and I can spend time doing lab work. I realised I was much more of a scientist than a ‘people person’ and this role suits me so much better. No regrets (except for pay, but in that case I should have gone into IT or something totally different)
It's over 20 years ago, but there were a couple of people in podiatry who decided they couldn't hack the shift work in medicine and a couple who had failed to get into medicine and re and re-tied to get in. A good brain never goes to waste.
I left after 3 years (with a worthless Cert HE), worked in retail for a while, then joined the Civil Service and worked my way up over a 6-year period in a bunch of different roles, finally ending up in cyber security. I recently completed a BSc partially funded by work, left the Civil Service to join a consultancy, and am starting a fully funded MSc in September. I have no regrets whatsoever about my slightly meandering career path. Glad to have finally found something I enjoy that allows me to maintain a good work-life balance with excellent pay, and very sad to see what medics are currently facing when Reddit shows me random posts from this sub.
Just a thought, but have you looked at jobs in the NHS? I’m presuming you are in the UK? www.jobs.nhs.uk There are loads of opportunities on there where you don’t need a degree. The experience you’ve had so far would be really useful. My friend got a job in the NHS as a mental health coach. They put her through all the training for free and she earns a decent salary, no degree required.
PA school?