But these two University of Otago students have found their calling and are part of a group establishing a new society for Dunedin's "aspiring surgeons".
"I got the impression surgeons are all about the cutting and not caring for the patient, but that is absolute rubbish," Ms Crabbe said.
"Surgery seems to be more of a case that you have a problem, look for a way to fix it and, hopefully, you fix it.
I think it has got a good mix between patient interaction and practical doing things."
Ms Choi had her heart set on doing international law when she came to university, but also wanted a career that would enable her to help in Third World countries, she said.
That desire led her into medicine, instead, and was now steering her towards a specialty in surgery, where she enjoyed the "fast-paced nature" of the work, problem solving and hands-on experience.
She used to get "grossed out by watching ER", but once she had some time in surgery "you get used to it pretty quickly", Ms Choi said.
Fifth-year medical student Omid Ahmadi, who had the idea to establish the society, said medical students did not get as much exposure to surgery as they used to.
"It seems the earlier the exposure [to surgery], the higher the interest."
General surgery is one of the six specialties in the Government's voluntary bonding scheme, to encourage medical students into areas that are hard to staff.
The Dunedin Society of Aspiring Surgeons will be officially launched on Thursday, with plans to hold regular forums, talks and social events.
Surgical consultants and trainees will be able to share their experiences and medical students, from second year through to sixth year, could receive advice on applying for training programmes.
Ms Choi said consultant surgeons in Dunedin had been supportive in establishing the new group.
