The motivation and timing of the decision to be a physician were examined for premedical students of three universities in Taegu. The primary motivation for seeking a career in medicine was the spirit of service to mankind, but the economic reward was also important value. A number of students could not make a decision to enter a medical school just before admission test. There was a correlation between the motivation, timing and autonomy of decision to be a physician with the academic satisfaction of premedical students. The students who motivated by a spirit of service, made a decision earlier or got a autonomy in decision-making to enter a medical performed a better premedical preparation.