Hey everyone. I'm new to this forum, and I'm hoping for some honest advice.

A little background: I will be graduating in May 2012 at the age of 20 with a bachelors in Mass Communications/Journalism. Prior to majoring in journalism, I was pursuing a degree in film, but for complicated reasons, I transferred to a new school and had to pick the most related major. I'm really not crazy about Mass Comm/Journalism or any of the possible careers in those fields.

I absolutely love learning, and have found myself gravitating towards reading non-fiction books in my free time about the human body works, about studies on the human brain, etc.

I think I have a good heart, and I truly loving helping other people. I have excellent grades (I've kept straight "A"s ever since I started going to college at 15), and I really want to move into a field that challenges me, especially intellectually. I love math and science, so I think I could do it. I also don't want to have a desk job - they aren't for me! Basically, I'm finding myself increasingly passionate about becoming a doctor. It's been in the back of my head for years, but I always dismissed it as being incompatible with being a wife and mother (I now know that it IS possible).

I say all this because I think I have the potential to get into med school if I really wanted to, but it would be a long journey. I'd start pre-med after graduation, but I'd only be about 22 by time I finished that.

My concern is this: I really want a family at some point, and I'd love to be married by 25 or so. I also would love kids. I don't need to be a SAHM, but if I'm going to have a family, I want to be able to be there for them.

One of my aunts was so focused on her career that she never got married, and I'm terrified that that will be me!

I guess I'm wondering what I should do to really determine whether this is for me or not. I want to make a real difference with my life, both at home, and out in the workplace. Am I too young to be worrying about how this will work out with a future family?

I'm just looking for some sound advice for those who have gone this route, and I think I'm in the right place. Thanks so much in advance for all your responses!

Anyone?

Do a search. This question comes up all the time and I doubt anyone has anything new to say. Plus, on the last thread like this, things got nasty.

Welcome . I agree with Emily - this has been covered a lot. But with regards to the sentence quoted - I would find some docs to shadow. If you have any ideas about what kind of medicine you would want to practice, shadow that kind of doc. If you can find some female docs in the mix to get their input on the family issue, go for it. But you are young - most people don't finish college until 22 anyway, so you will not be behind. Plenty of people get married before, during, and after med school. Many people in fact meet their spouses in med school. Having kids is doable - if you read around on this site plenty, you will find lots of discussion of that. Good luck!

You're young, plenty of time to decide. I concur with shadowing doctors to see if it still appeals. Do several different fields so you get good perspective, they can vary quite a lot. It is possible to have lots of family time and be a good doctor, but not initially... that point is years in the future. Most of us here have not let it stop us from having children, but it is definitely not flexible for the first 8-10 (or more) years, depending on field. Good luck.

Medicine is one of the most sort out and rewarding career for those women interested in Science. A medical career involves a lot of hard work and the satisfaction of curing patients at times even saving lives. It is a very demanding profession. So I think to be in this profession is more a responsibility more than a privilege. It involves a lot of giving and caring attitude than you can get from it. Even this profession has a great career in the field of medicine. The following site some relevant information about the medical career. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/biomed/guides/research/careers-med.html