Hi Everyone,
I'm 25 going on 26 and will graduate from UTSW medical school in 6/04. As many may know, deadline for residency ROL was a few days ago, and I'm going into internal medicine. My top four were UCLA,Duke,UCSD, and UTSW. Main reason for this order was perhaps I wanted to get out of TX. I have my heart set on becoming a cardiologist and probably interventional. But I've heard so many mixed messages about this career track, especially for women, who remain to be the minority sex in this subspecialty and more so as an interventionalist. I'm a career minded woman, haven't thought about when to have kids, and haven't even ever had a long term relationship yet. Really don't know where my life is going in that respect, most people just tell me things will fall into place. I hope so... but to me right now, a huge part of it is in the unknown, and I don't like that.
I'm already involoved in clinical research as an MS4 at the cath lab at UTSW, I really hate to leave this place, but I still want to be in CA. But of course cards will be competitive no matter where I go.
I like the academia environment, be a faculty member, and having the power to positively influence the future of medicine, even if in a small way. But my concern is not being in private practice will not compensate nearly as well and I need adequate income to support my parents(I'm the only child) The way social security is going right now, the baby boomer generation is in for some deep trouble I think. Anyway, any advice?

Welcome to MomMD!

I can't really answer any of your questions since I'm just preparing to start med school this year. Feel free to post your questions in the Resident forum or maybe the Everyone forum if you haven't already. That way you can be sure more members have a chance to read and answer.

It's exciting to have new members who are further along in the process.

Izahn1,
Yeah, I cant give you advice on the latter of your post but I can the first part of it. Dont feel uneasy about the uknown, heck you will probably soon be in CA and there you will meet new people. How exciting. The long relationship thing will come, no need to rush. Take life as it comes, just as you have been doing. You are young, you have a whole life ahead of you!