I’m actually currently a first-year university student, double-majoring in medicine and computer science. (Different from the US, In Taiwan, medical education begins at the undergraduate level, and one obtains a doctor’s license after completing the medical program.)
I’ve still been struggling with a major decision: whether I should continue my double major in medicine or focus solely on computer science. In EA’s community’s reasoning, medicine seems less relevant to priorities like AI safety or s-risks. However, one major advantage of studying medicine is financial stability. Before transformative AI arrives, I suspect that computer science jobs might become increasingly competitive, whereas doctors may still earn a stable income. Therefore, in an uncertain future, I’ve considered working as a doctor temporarily (perhaps for around 10-15 years), saving most of the earnings to reduce future financial pressure.
(Although, I’m aware that future AI progress could eventually automate much of medical/dentist work.)
Therefore, if it’s really difficult to find EA jobs in non-EA companies, it would increase the argument of double majoring in medicine/dentist.
How difficult it is for you to double major in both medicine and computer science, given that both majors are time-consuming and require heavy specialization (esp. medicine)?
I think EA is a highly interdisciplinary community, and I doubt with your background you couldn’t find a cause area that combines both (pandemics prevention, AI bio-x-risks). Also, what is the marginal time you expect your medical career will return a certain threshold of financial stability for you to do earnings to give? In the U.S., becoming a doctor usually take 7-15 years and an amount of debts before you actually make $500K. Given these factors, you might also equate both career trajectories and find multiple paths you can pursue at once.
Hello Thao: Thanks a lot for your patience replying first.
I don’t think double majoring itself is difficult, but it is very time-consuming. It would require 4–5 additional years of studying medicine and doing hospital internships. Since I believe AI s-risks are probably far more important than bio x-risks and global health, I think it makes more sense to major only in CS and contribute directly, rather than spending those extra years learning medicine.
However, I’m worried that without enough financial security, I might end up working in non-EA organizations until retirement and be unable to focus on the most altruistic work. That’s my main concern: How likely is it to find a career outside EA organizations that still allows me to work on altruistic goals, such as reducing AI s-risks?
In Taiwan, medical and dental school tuition is very cheap, so debt wouldn’t be an issue. In fact, I’m considering switching from medicine to dentistry, because dental residency is 2–4 years shorter than medical residency. Based on my estimation, after graduating it might take around 5 years to earn about $500k if I choose the dentist path.
I’m actually currently a first-year university student, double-majoring in medicine and computer science. (Different from the US, In Taiwan, medical education begins at the undergraduate level, and one obtains a doctor’s license after completing the medical program.)
I’ve still been struggling with a major decision: whether I should continue my double major in medicine or focus solely on computer science. In EA’s community’s reasoning, medicine seems less relevant to priorities like AI safety or s-risks. However, one major advantage of studying medicine is financial stability. Before transformative AI arrives, I suspect that computer science jobs might become increasingly competitive, whereas doctors may still earn a stable income. Therefore, in an uncertain future, I’ve considered working as a doctor temporarily (perhaps for around 10-15 years), saving most of the earnings to reduce future financial pressure.
(Although, I’m aware that future AI progress could eventually automate much of medical/dentist work.)
Therefore, if it’s really difficult to find EA jobs in non-EA companies, it would increase the argument of double majoring in medicine/dentist.
How difficult it is for you to double major in both medicine and computer science, given that both majors are time-consuming and require heavy specialization (esp. medicine)?
I think EA is a highly interdisciplinary community, and I doubt with your background you couldn’t find a cause area that combines both (pandemics prevention, AI bio-x-risks). Also, what is the marginal time you expect your medical career will return a certain threshold of financial stability for you to do earnings to give? In the U.S., becoming a doctor usually take 7-15 years and an amount of debts before you actually make $500K. Given these factors, you might also equate both career trajectories and find multiple paths you can pursue at once.
Hello Thao: Thanks a lot for your patience replying first.
I don’t think double majoring itself is difficult, but it is very time-consuming. It would require 4–5 additional years of studying medicine and doing hospital internships. Since I believe AI s-risks are probably far more important than bio x-risks and global health, I think it makes more sense to major only in CS and contribute directly, rather than spending those extra years learning medicine.
However, I’m worried that without enough financial security, I might end up working in non-EA organizations until retirement and be unable to focus on the most altruistic work. That’s my main concern: How likely is it to find a career outside EA organizations that still allows me to work on altruistic goals, such as reducing AI s-risks?
In Taiwan, medical and dental school tuition is very cheap, so debt wouldn’t be an issue. In fact, I’m considering switching from medicine to dentistry, because dental residency is 2–4 years shorter than medical residency. Based on my estimation, after graduating it might take around 5 years to earn about $500k if I choose the dentist path.