People are funny about med school..

I don't think some of the general population has any clue what medical school is. I think it's because the term "medical school" to them, could mean anything from being a nurses assistant to an ultrasound tech, after all, it's all "medical" to them.

For instance, about 3 years ago, I was having some work done on my car and I decided to take my embryology book with me to read while I waited. While reading, a toothless lady who looked like her ladder was missing a few rungs came and sat by me. As I read, she sat there staring at my book. Not being able to stand it any longer, she asked me what I was studying. "embryology", I told her. "What for?", she asked. "I'm in medical school". Her: Oh, are you going to be a nurses assistant? (Gee, usually at the very least people think I'm in nursing school!) Me: no, I'm in medical school, I'm going to be a doctor. Her eyes got real big and she loudly exclaimed I was going to be rich someday. So of course, everyone in the waiting area had to turn and stare at me like I'm some sort of anomaly. Yes folks, believe it or not, surgeons, pathologists, family docs, and even medical students have to get their car worked on and must mingle with the common folk.

Another time, I was waiting in line at Barnes and Noble for a latte. The guy standing behind me saw my books and asked what I was studying. So I explained I was in medical school. He apparently found this difficult to believe because he then quizzed me on whether or not I took the MCAT (med school admissions test- a big deal!) and took all the required science classes. I told him I had and that I had already applied, been accepted, and started med school. He then told me I wasn't really in medical school. He informed me I was in "premed school". No, I attend medical school. Pre-med is what you study before you get in. I never was able to convince him I was the real deal. So I guess I now attend the University of such-and-such college of Pre-Medicine. Fortunately my boyfriend showed up and the guy took his cue to leave me alone. Yeesh!

Maybe the public finds it too easy to believe that women have to be nurses and teachers still.