Not interested in working as a scientist. Should I still go for it? - (May/15/2008 )
From my experience doing my final semester research, I can already see what the future holds for me if I choose to be a scientist. If anything, being a scientist is neither fun nor exciting nor rewarding.
It would be full of frustration of repeating a lengthy lab procedure because of some unavoidable human error, working more than 12 hours a day for week only to face failure, having my work sabotaged by an innocent junior colleague, not being able to do things my way because of the my supervisors, having all my ideas dismissed as incorrect because I am a mere bachelor degree holder, triumphantly achieve something only to find that someone else has done it earlier than me. And finally of course, wasting my intellectual potential doing some outdated or useless projects while some other undeserving dumb jerk get to do all those super hot projects and get all the hot awards thanks to his awful amount of connections to various important people.
I feel like I am not suitable to be a scientist. I have a critical mind, and that's all about it. I am EXTREMELY clumsy at work, I am quick to daydream and be careless when doing those awfully delicate procedures like loading DNA into the agarose wells. I suck hard at connecting to the right people in order to get those potentially award-winning projects. I am a very playful person and I have a very, very low amount of patience. I have a very low tolerance for failure, which I deem to dominate my career as a scientist. I despise persuading by deception just to get those bloody research grants - over and over again. I rather go outside and adventure than lurk forever in the depressing atmosphere of the molecular biology lab. I rather think my myself rather than be dictated by a superior. I rather make money than suck it up for the sake of knowledge.
Despite all this, should I still go for it and apply to be one after I graduate? Should I maintain my hopes high that somehow, I would find something I would LOVE, despite my interest being somewhere else? Should I just do something I am interested in like programming and art instead?
If you are not interested, Science is not a profession you should take up.
Remember that science is a technical and a very frustrating field at that, so you need to be buttressed by some enthusiasm and good hand at doing stuff. If not, any other filed would be better than science.
I think you've answered your own question. If that's what you think of science, why on earth will you want to do it?
Any other field will be better for you... science is very frustrating. you only see the rewards if you REALLY love what you do. and because of that frustration, rewards must be always celebrated 
I left academia for industry, and am much more frustrated now, cant wait to go back to do proper research, but noone told me that, I had to lernt it by experience, apparently i'm one of the geeky crazy researchers that love science.
SGhost:
If you try hard, you could be good at anything. If you dont try, there are always too many good ppl around in any sector.
Most of your description . ..ummm, felt as if I was somewhere in there.
Amazed, how much U have been thinking of science and this whole community of geeky nerds. . . it's the place they call heaven. Whatever you said up there is what makes the charm in science. If it were easy and rewarding, anyone would do it.
Try the non-science world and any time U get bored out there, welcome to science.
Dunno how many believe in horoscope here; but the astrologer who made mine had strongly advised my mom to keep my away from science. I am trying all my best to
Some characteristics fit perfect for a PI or postdoc position. So you have to use the career opportunities to get promoted. 
But for programming and art you also need to be patient, tolerant for failures, and non-clumsy...
And if you show your seniors/supervisors how do you think and feel (i.e. the disgust) about your present work, it is clear that others get the interesting projects.
Good luck.
Research is fun, but you are right: there are a lot of really discouraging things like days working on an experiment that seems to systematically fail every time you do it, but somehow works perfectly when your PI do it in your face to show you how to do it (despise the fact that you are totally sure you did it exactly the same way).
I hold an MD from a developing country and came to the US to get my masters degree on molecular microbiology. I thought that I wanted a PhD, but the more I think about it, the less I want it. I think that after 8 years studying to be a Medical Doctor, 2 years studying to be a MSc.... I don't feel like being an student anymore. I will be 30 and after 2 higher education degrees I don't feel like being treated like a student (or being paid as one!!). I love learning, but not being a student. I read textbooks and journals for fun, but I hate attending classes and being evaluated by someone who expects you to memorize instead of learn things.
I want to make a good living doing something I like (and I love biomedical sciences), but I don't feel the urge of having tons of degrees (more than 15 years being a University student seems odd to me) or tons of publication just to fill my ego (let's face it, there is a LOT of ego in academia) "I am Dr. Doe, and I have 340 papers published in leading scientific journals". Bah!
I really think is a shame when I read or hear "if you don't have a PhD and numerous publications, you are nobody". Do that mean that all your college effort, your graduate years and your lab work experience (as a student or employee) worths NOTHING??? That is disrespectful and arrogant. Shame on that way of thinking that seems to be propagating inside scientific community.
And regarding your post, well... I still think you have lots of possibilities to do something you really love doing. Is just a matter of knowing what that is. Science or not, you are free to do as you please and make a living out of that (I didn't say its easy!).
Science can be rewarding - both personally and financially. But I don't think you like it enough to pursue it successfully.
Do something else.
I know that I will leave science after my PhD. I would be glad if I didn't have to do the PhD. But after I finished my master's degree, I saw that all the "cool" jobs in industry needed a PhD. Nevertheless I tried to get one of these, but - not really unexpected - I didn't succeed. So for me the PhD time is only part of the education I need for the job I want to do.
And from this point of view my PhD is much more fun than I expected it to be in the beginning
But, and this is the really important thing, with your attitude - I think - there is no difference between science and industry.
Did you ever work in industry? I did. I know what I have to expect. I know that there will be work days with 10 - 12 hours (or up to 60 hours per week) - but better paid than in science. I know that the hierarchy might be even more frustrating than in science. I know that there will be as much sabotage by collegues as in science. I know that a bachelor degree would point me to the lowerst end of the chain. I know that I am nothing without contacts in industry.
Ask yourself just one question: Would you engage someone (for any job, not for a scientific job), who is clumsy, daydreaming, careless, bad at socialising, impatient, can't subordinate....?
For me there is just one solution for you: Run your own business. Or swallow the bitter pill and learn to work.
Good luck, Vista
How close are you to finishing?
You don't have to be a scientist, simply because you have a Phd in science... if you are close to finishing then it is worth finishing JUST to have the Phd... That degree will open MANY doors that a masters never will...
Consider this, when I was struggling to find a post-doc position I almost got into teaching High school chemistry or physics or biology... They need science teachers badly here in georgia (always in the bottom 3 states of the 50 with regard to education)
My PhD meant that I could easily start teaching without being a certified teacher... it meant that I started out at about $15 K / year more than someone with a BS degree...
A Phd makes a HUGE difference if you work for the government... if you take a federal job, then you are paid according to your education and years with the government... Consider two people hired at the same position, one has a BS, the other PhD... the one with the PhD starts out about $30K/year higher EVEN working the same job and position....
There are many other advantages, but if you have already put in the time to do all the pre-requisites (classes, qualifying exams, etc...) then FINISH!!!! you'll be glad you did... You'll certainly be better off.