Med school - anyone interested? Well...

[ss20ts]

Great article. Shows that there are many reasons that people seek degrees. Not everyone is looking for a specific career; often it's for the love of learning. If a person has the resources and passion to pursue an education, there's no reason they shouldn't. I've never seen anyone ask someone who golfs for a hobby what the ROI is on their equipment, classes, and club memberships, or tell them they are stupid for putting energy into something that is challenging and sometimes difficult, and also won't earn them money.

In this case, the student wanted to learn medicine primarily because he was interested in it. Secondarily, the knowledge he gained is something that he can apply to problems that require an understanding of anatomy and medicine, but do not require a license to practice medicine—but that really only seems to be mentioned as a side benefit, not as the reason that he sought the degree. I also love how this has inspired him to looking to developing a scholarship fund for other medical students—he may not going to practice medicine himself, but he would be helping others to do so. Lovely all around.

The problem with this thinking is that there are a very limited number of seats in med school programs in the US. There are not enough openings for everyone who wants to actually be a doctor. Are there overseas schools who will happily accept the money? Sure. Med school isn't the same as getting an MBA for fun. It's rigorous. There's also the argument that someone who actually wants to become a doctor lost their chance because this guy had the cash for a seat even though he will not become a doctor which is unfortunate as the world needs more doctors.