Serious Help! Moral Dilemma!

strifehart

strifehart

Blue Mage
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Jun 26, 2008
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Maybe this belongs in Costa del Sol...move if need be. I have a problem that I'm faced with and I'd like some input. I recently graduated college with a B.S. in chemical engineering. Now, I've changed my career path a bit, and have decided to pursue medicine. I've applied to medical schools and am in the interview process. This usually takes a whole year to complete. So, by that timeline, if I get accepted somewhere, I'll be entering medical school in the August of 2011. Anyways, if you remember from earlier, I said that I recently graduated from my undergraduate studies. I graduated in May, and now I have a "year off". A lot of students take a gap year between their undergraduate studies and going to medical school. Often times, they use this to strengthen their applications. I've decided not to do that, and feel that my application is pretty solid (doesn't matter anyways, since I've already sent out my apps) Anyways, in my search for things to do for my gap year, I thought getting a job in chemical engineering might be a good idea. I could save a lot of money for med school tuition. So I've found a job, but now I'm having second thoughts. I don't feel right lying to them, but then again, I do need a job. I'm not talking about straight up lying to them, I'm talking about a lie of omission. Just, not telling them that I plan/hope to get into medical school. One of my counselors said that you may not even get into medical school. If you don't, then you won't be lying to them at all. And you'll have a job. Which is great security. What do you guys think? Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated. I'm really having trouble with this.
 
Don't risk your whole future by not keeping your mouth shut. Honesty is always good, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do, and you've gotta get a job.
 
You need to do what's right for you and right now you need a job, regardless of whether or not you intend to stay there for more than a year.

They do not need to know that at all.

Whenever I applied for certain jobs I knew straight up that I didn't intend to stay there for a lengthy period of time, I just needed something to keep me on my feet whilst I searched elsewhere.

It's not something you should feel bad about at all.

Not to sound rude but your employers will always find someone else to fill your position when and if you do leave and that's the whole point of two weeks notice when you hand in your resignation. This gives them ample time to search for new employees.

Just go with the flow for the moment. =)
 
I get that I should do what's best for me. I agree. But at the same time, I feel like I'd be burning bridges. I was thinking about saying this in the interview (or something like that) "I do hope to go to grad school sometime in the future. I'm not 100% sure as of right now, but if I do decide to pursue graduate school, it wouldn't be until August of 2011. If I do end up going to graduate school, I don't know if I would be able to work and study. It would depend on the program, location, etc. But I thought, either way, I'd like to start myself off in the industry." What do you guys think? Or should I avoid the subject entirely?
 
I think there's a difference between a month (for example) and a year. If you were to leave the job within a really short time, you might have some problems with your employer. But a year is actually a fairly decent amount of time to spend with a company, all things considered. And I doubt anyone would begrudge you going to medical school, and/or landing a job while you're preparing for it.

They won't have any trouble finding a replacement for you, should you leave, and like you said, there is the chance that you don't get into medical school. Also, I'm not sure about this, but if it was really bothering you when it came right down to it, would it be possible to delay your enrollment if you were accepted?
 
I can delay my matriculation (entering into medical school after being accepted). So I suppose that if I get into medical school sometime this year, I could defer enrollment and then take another year off. But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do it. I'd want to go ASAP. If anyone has any experience with this, or stories about friends who did similar things, it'd be pretty helpful. Like, I knew a guy who did this before he went to law school. He got a job, and then bailed after one year. Gave his two weeks and split.
 
Actually a year is a long time to hold a job. A lot of people will take a job and consider it permanent and be gone from the job for one reason or another before the year is up. Also, you may decide you prefer engineering to medicine. You could also consider studying Biomedical Engineering vs going to Medical School. You would probably do more for medicine in that path vs being a doctor.
 
Because it's a life problem, I did move it, but not to Costa del Sol. :lew:

*Thread Moved to The Sleeping Forest, Temple of the Ancients*

BS in Chemical Engineering? (y) I'm a Mechanical Engineer myself, excellent choice in majors.

I think a lot of this would depend on the company you've landed the job for. I know with my company, it costs them a lot of money to do paperwork and such to get me a security clearance and credentials to get on the base. If I would have left after a year, it wouldn't go well for the company and they wouldn't be happy about it. I'm also at a small business that only works days during the week, and hours might also be an issue of you plan on working there while you're in medical school (if they were going to fund your tuition). The thing is, in this career field, it's expected that you're planning on settling for a job until you retire (though for a starting job out of college, that's not necessarily the case). But being at a job for only a year could be somewhat problematic, even though staying at a job for a year is an achievement in itself.

If you feel that going into the medical field will make you happier, then I say pursue that hard and don't worry so much about what a Chemical Engineering job thinks. Granted you don't want to take the asshole approach and bail after a year, in the long run, so long as you land in the medical community, that's really all that matters.

I wish you the best of luck sir.
 
I studied engineering for a time when I was younger.
I did not suit my interest,so I left it alone and went down the path of astronomy.

Like the guys have already said, You have to do what you have to do, Other people to fill your position.......Your remorse is well founded but misplaced, many people act selfishly towards a goal but you considered the effect it may have on a potential employee.

A decent thing to do.

But this is your career you are talking about, and regrets at this early point of your life my be detrimental in the future, you should follow the path that makes you happy, luckily both of your Choices represent a fine career towards helping others.

I love cliched drivvel...........what a decent chap.
 
strifehart said:
I get that I should do what's best for me. I agree. But at the same time, I feel like I'd be burning bridges. I was thinking about saying this in the interview (or something like that) "I do hope to go to grad school sometime in the future. I'm not 100% sure as of right now, but if I do decide to pursue graduate school, it wouldn't be until August of 2011. If I do end up going to graduate school, I don't know if I would be able to work and study. It would depend on the program, location, etc. But I thought, either way, I'd like to start myself off in the industry." What do you guys think? Or should I avoid the subject entirely?
Click to expand...

In an interview the employer almost always asks what your plans or goals are for the future, so they're inviting you to say just what you've written here in this thread.

They'll understand that you're still young and have a lot of career directions to choose from. They themselves more than likely would have done the same thing as you're about to do when they were young.

Don't stress over it too much.

If they ask you what your goals are just tell them the truth. If they don't ask well you can choose to keep quiet or choose to let them know. =)

I personally wouldn't go ahead and tell them unless they asked though, as it could be the deciding factor between you and someone else.

Good luck though!
 
Thanks a lot for all the advice guys! I really appreciate it. I'm going to keep mulling the whole thing over. My interview is on Wednesday. I think I'll worry about it after I get offered the position (if that happens). Thanks again!
 
i can see where your dilema is and i feel for you mate as i have been in the same position in the past. i think you should not worry about it and just go where the money signs are. when it comes to going back just say im going for futher education and leave it at that so the you leave the door for you. True lying is wrong but it depend on the lie, is it going to damage anyone? if the answer is no go for it, im not saying however that you should lie about other things bcause you shouldn't butthis is the exception in my book
 
It would be very unwise to put off going to medical school once you're accepted.
Always a chance someone else could take your spot later from you..especially if they have better grades or connections.

As for a morale delimma.I don't consider it one at all.
Certainly here in the US employers have been less than kind to their employees/people seeking jobs.Read some of the job seeking forums and you'll see.

So you don't owe them any special treatment.
You have to look after yourself.

Take the job then if you get accepted to med school resign and move on.
 
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