How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

hi all looking to get a degree in aus. looking at approx 400k debt.

should i do it? it's a huge amount

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi all looking to get a degree in aus. looking at approx 400k debt.

should i do it? it's a huge amount

Depends how much you really want to become a doctor.
But if you ask me, honest advice will be a big NO, unless you are 1) very rich AND 2) very very keen on doing medicine (aka not just watch Korean medical drama or like the idea of being a doctor, but u should have actually done placements before and shadowed other doctors through the day and are absolutely sure this is the only job for you).

Studying overseas is not just about the money, and being away from your loved ones. But you also have to think about life after graduation. Are you going to work overseas in future or return to singapore? If you work overseas, unless u convert to PR (quite hard), u will always be disadvantaged in training positions for Aus at least and also be given rural positions (poor learning). Plus salary is very highly taxable. If you return to your home country Singapore, you are in a way ‘discriminated’ against because you don’t get full registration even though you work your way through HOship just the same way your coHOs do who are from local units. Ultimately realistically u will be stuck w a conditional registration for x number of years (who knows), and thus cannot leave MOH, cannot go private, etc etc all the restrictions.

I studied overseas and I can’t say the experience is all bad. Yes There were good friends and good times but I think if I had to choose again I would not do medicine. I’m stuck in singapore now on a conditional registration, bad working hours , ridiculously low salary based on per hour calculation etc etc. l can’t imagine if I actually have to consider having a debt
or loan to pay back too. my seniors gave me advice before I pursued this career path but I was stubborn and kept thinking I knew better.

Overall I would say think again. And think very carefully . Don’t ask yourself if you really want to be a doctor. I think the question you need to ask yourself is- do u really want to spend 10-15 years of your life working 30-36 hour days, surviving on a per hour wage of just a few dollars, while your friends of your age are working comfortable 8-5 office jobs and possibly drawing double your pay, half your debt, and probably much better job satisfaction because at least they don’t feel burnt out by the nature of the work (ppl die on you day to day, ur unsatisfied aunties and uncles yelling at you when there are no MRI slots through no fault of yours, etc etc)

Anyone got luck in dating life? Feel so jaded. Join dating app but no time to follow up. Is the only way out to date older docs? Feels creepy.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Anyone got luck in dating life? Feel so jaded. Join dating app but no time to follow up. Is the only way out to date older docs? Feels creepy.

Cant be right? Plenty of young handsome hunks on dating app if they dont catfish

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Depends how much you really want to become a doctor.
But if you ask me, honest advice will be a big NO, unless you are 1) very rich AND 2) very very keen on doing medicine (aka not just watch Korean medical drama or like the idea of being a doctor, but u should have actually done placements before and shadowed other doctors through the day and are absolutely sure this is the only job for you).

Studying overseas is not just about the money, and being away from your loved ones. But you also have to think about life after graduation. Are you going to work overseas in future or return to singapore? If you work overseas, unless u convert to PR (quite hard), u will always be disadvantaged in training positions for Aus at least and also be given rural positions (poor learning). Plus salary is very highly taxable. If you return to your home country Singapore, you are in a way ‘discriminated’ against because you don’t get full registration even though you work your way through HOship just the same way your coHOs do who are from local units. Ultimately realistically u will be stuck w a conditional registration for x number of years (who knows), and thus cannot leave MOH, cannot go private, etc etc all the restrictions.

I studied overseas and I can’t say the experience is all bad. Yes There were good friends and good times but I think if I had to choose again I would not do medicine. I’m stuck in singapore now on a conditional registration, bad working hours , ridiculously low salary based on per hour calculation etc etc. l can’t imagine if I actually have to consider having a debt
or loan to pay back too. my seniors gave me advice before I pursued this career path but I was stubborn and kept thinking I knew better.

Overall I would say think again. And think very carefully . Don’t ask yourself if you really want to be a doctor. I think the question you need to ask yourself is- do u really want to spend 10-15 years of your life working 30-36 hour days, surviving on a per hour wage of just a few dollars, while your friends of your age are working comfortable 8-5 office jobs and possibly drawing double your pay, half your debt, and probably much better job satisfaction because at least they don’t feel burnt out by the nature of the work (ppl die on you day to day, ur unsatisfied aunties and uncles yelling at you when there are no MRI slots through no fault of yours, etc etc)

Ah

1. Australia pr where hard to obtain. Easy if you are Dr
2. Contrary to your advice, rural area training is actually much much better . Anyway, if u are in a training program, u have to do tertiary rotation.
3. Tax high? I saved 90k AUD as an intern after taxation. After paying off my rent, buying a car and drinking my liver till it fibrosed. Granted I took on more shifts, work weekend and calls ( yes , calls are actually enjoyable. I hang around for 3 hours , get 200 bucks and 14.5 for dinner ,not doing a lot also)
4. I came back after ho as a mo to sg system. Literally shock till coma but survived.
5. Start residency following year, now finish Liao, so where is the discrimination? Sg discriminate based on your abilities la. Overseas grad not discriminated.

Very often doc like to wax lyrical about other jobs. Trust me, it's not bad. I was an engineer before I did post grad med so I know what I'm talking about. Doc like to talk about the the mythical banker who makes 500k while working 30 hours per week and lamenting why they never studied something else. . Hello, dude , they don't exist. Every job out there is a struggle in Singapore.
The bottom of the heap engineer after 30 years maybe make 7 to 8k. Same as the teacher, army regular, The ' bottom of the heap' doc who become a salaried gp still makes 15k straight after their bond ends. Per batch, doctors better off
No need to argue one.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Cant be right? Plenty of young handsome hunks on dating app if they dont catfish

Maybe she just not inclined to date outside of med field. Not many do anyway. Dr-dr rs imo may be boring but stable. At least common interest.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Anyone got luck in dating life? Feel so jaded. Join dating app but no time to follow up. Is the only way out to date older docs? Feels creepy.

You sound like a young girl.
Older men has a lot to teach u..hehe.
Aim one orthopedic or ent reg and u financially secured Liao, plus they got time for u later on also. Stay far away from fam med ( got time for family, but no money) , gp wannabe (no money and no time) , cardio /interventional radiology( no time for you, but got money, which might not be a bad idea in itself)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ah

1. Australia pr where hard to obtain. Easy if you are Dr
2. Contrary to your advice, rural area training is actually much much better . Anyway, if u are in a training program, u have to do tertiary rotation.
3. Tax high? I saved 90k AUD as an intern after taxation. After paying off my rent, buying a car and drinking my liver till it fibrosed. Granted I took on more shifts, work weekend and calls ( yes , calls are actually enjoyable. I hang around for 3 hours , get 200 bucks and 14.5 for dinner ,not doing a lot also)
4. I came back after ho as a mo to sg system. Literally shock till coma but survived.
5. Start residency following year, now finish Liao, so where is the discrimination? Sg discriminate based on your abilities la. Overseas grad not discriminated.

Very often doc like to wax lyrical about other jobs. Trust me, it's not bad. I was an engineer before I did post grad med so I know what I'm talking about. Doc like to talk about the the mythical banker who makes 500k while working 30 hours per week and lamenting why they never studied something else. . Hello, dude , they don't exist. Every job out there is a struggle in Singapore.
The bottom of the heap engineer after 30 years maybe make 7 to 8k. Same as the teacher, army regular, The ' bottom of the heap' doc who become a salaried gp still makes 15k straight after their bond ends. Per batch, doctors better off
No need to argue one.

I agree with u on many of ur points. But a few things to point out
1) rural training is better in the sense that it’s more hands on, clinicians friendlier etc. but realistically there is a limitation to how much learning u get when rural hospitals are bare in terms of facilities, low in patient load, etc. as u say, u will get big shock when u return to the city. It’s good u survived but not everyone does. Just presenting both sides
2) tax in aus is higher than sg as a fact, but yes doctors Afterhours pay is really very good in aus haha. Just take note of ur intending to work there longer term, at least for my peers, one of the drawbacks is that it doesn’t contribute to ur cpf. So for those of us who are using that to buy a house, some feel the pinch. Depends if that matters to u.
3) And wow residency! I guess you must be doing very well! I know foreign grads who also got into residency and now leading the good life after becoming specialist or are higher ranking at least in public healthcare. Mere mortals like me are just mopexing lol. N tbh a lot of us end up being mortals la. If ur abilities are outstanding, you have good credentials, and well liked by bosses, no doubt you will shine whereever you go. But perhaps good to have both sides presented to younger juniors here so they can make an informed decision. Not everyone fares as well !

Ultimately like you said, every job is tough la. And afterall, medicine is a noble profession and well respectable by many. It’s just important that it’s the right fit for you also. I’m just presenting the facts that I wish was told to myself before I went to med school..haha

s://..com/watch?v=Jcotk_lwZME

this aesthetic dr said he became so rich doing aesthetics he was living in the lap of luxury. Drive Ferrari. Live in Bungalow. Hang out with Facebook Co founder.
He warned the public about how rich drs can become as a danger to society.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You sound like a young girl.
Older men has a lot to teach u..hehe.
Aim one orthopedic or ent reg and u financially secured Liao, plus they got time for u later on also. Stay far away from fam med ( got time for family, but no money) , gp wannabe (no money and no time) , cardio /interventional radiology( no time for you, but got money, which might not be a bad idea in itself)

how do you all even know if its a she or he?

if as you presented, i think best to go for cardio/ interventional radiologist. no time, but lots of money lol. you can go shopping alone