“If you actually want to be a doctor, that’s one thing. But there are easier ways to make a lot of money than going to med school.”

This is what my dad told me in high school. When he was growing up, to be wealthy you became a doctor or a lawyer. In a true test of delayed gratification, putting up with medical school meant you would be handsomely rewarded. Being a specialized orthopedic surgeon, he knew first hand why med school is so painful:

1. It takes years and years of zero/minimal compensation (he didn’t start his practice until his mid-thirties)
2. It is very expensive
3. Very little work/life balance

I thought by choosing to study engineering or business I could reach a high level of success without going through med school like my dad. However, as I look at the paths my mentors have taken, I realize that they all went through their own version of delayed gratification. Low wages, long nights, and more school were the norm in the early stages of their careers.

This brings me to think that maybe my dad was wrong. I think that most successful people go through their own version of ‘med school’. Just like working on cadavers and cleaning up puke in the ER at 3am, they had their own less-than-pleasurable experiences that were means to an end. What are some of these experiences?

Consulting/Banking

Management consulting and investment banking are the epitome of long hours and no work/life balance. Even with larger salaries, breaking it down to an hourly wage puts compensation on par with almost every other post-grad job available.

Some JD, MBA, and Graduate Programs

More school, more school, and more school. With the increased cost of grad programs, some top MBA students will graduate with as much student debt as some med students. 

Entrepreneurship/School of Hard Knocks

I can’t think of anything more difficult and painful than starting your own business. Minimal salary, lonely lessons, and the looming possibility of failure make this seem like the most stressful option.

So what makes a ‘med school’ experience worth it?

Potent learning opportunities with short feedback loops

Working and learning in high-stress environments for 80+ hours a week means exponential growth comparative to others.

Exposure to brilliant people

Just like working with genius physicians as a resident, these experiences give you access to brilliant bankers, consultants, thought-leaders, investors, and operators.

Developing a strong work ethic

Nothing can beat hard work. I have yet to meet a successful individual who didn’t have an incredible work ethic. 

A “rubber stamp” of completion

Perhaps a controversial point, there’s a huge benefit to having a notch in your belt. Working at Goldman Sachs, having a top-tier law degree, or starting a successful venture-backed tech company can open a lot of doors.

So what does this mean? There are benefits of going through your own ‘med school’. Getting plugged into high-caliber networks, working on cool projects, dealing with high-risk/high-consequence situations, and working your tail off for a few years is worth the minimal compensation and lack of work/life balance. 

In a world where technology has created a culture of instant gratification and shorter attention spans, it’s especially important to choose paths of resistance. Resistance makes us stronger, smarter, and more valuable. Just like compounding interest, investing in yourself early yields a much higher return later down the road. Everyone should do something difficult at the beginning of their career while opportunity costs are low and the opportunity to learn is high. That’s why I think everyone should seek out their own med school.