Career choices...

[ZombieExistence]

What do you guys do for a living?

I'm a student currently going for my nutrition degree for my undergrad, and looking to transfer to Midwestern for my Dr. in Physical Therapy.

Lately I've been doubting I'm smart enough to get through organic chem and physics and calc. and do 3 years at midwestern even after I get my Bachelors all for a job that starts at 35/hr

I'm looking for advice on what to do, where to go, what to pursue, and what you guys do. You don't have to put how much you make, but try to give me some reference to something I can use to know whether or not your job was a lucrative choice

 

[dww1188]

I'm currently a uti student. I'm in the same boat. A lot of options

 

[Kataro]

I'm a college student studying business (Finance). I just make my money doing stocks mostly.

What year physics / calc are you taking? I took Calc 3 and Physics level 300, those are really tough

 

[ZombieExistence]

You've taken physics and calc for a finance degree?

I'm just in precalc struggling and general physics doing "ok" with a low B.

I've never thought of finance really, first general thought it "I dont wanna be a bean counter, and I dont want a high risk investment job"

 

[Kataro]

Well my major was Physics initially, but I changed my mind. Got bored of it and switched to Finance. Overkill on the physics / calc class just for Finance haha.

How high of a Calc class do you have to take? If you need to take to calc 2, that won't be fun

 

[ZombieExistence]

Just calc1 and some higher level physics.
But all in all, I'm more just kinda bumbed about "7 years in school to make 55k starting" PT only max out at like 90k and if you're lucky enough to get into administration at a hospital or clinic maybe 100k, and this is after getting a doctorate and being in practice for like 15+ years. Just seems kinda like a waste. I know that's a decent lump of cash, and "do what you love" comes into play, but... meh. lol

 

[918ReefCpl]

Look into a PA-C program at Midwestern in Sports Medicine....same time spent but have to look at the salary scales...BTW you'll "love" statistics when you get to that class...

 

[Kataro]

Actually taking Statistic right now, seem like an easy class. But it seem so much "harder" compare to calculus for some reason:headwallblue:

 

[reefstew]

Try to find something you LIKE doing & hope it pays enough money to support yourself.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Currently doing a postdoc at NAU. Ochem, physics and calc aren't that hard. Do your homework right after class and the lessons will stick. Wait until grad school -- those are the tough classes But you have a dedicated advisor (your PI, not like an undergrad advisor) to help you along.

In terms of moolah, don't get into science for the money. Unless you're J. Craig Venter, it ain't gonna happen. Do what you want to do, what gets you up in the morning and grabs you at the gut level. Chasing a paycheck will ultimately prove disastrous for your mental and physical health, especially in science (again, unless you're the brilliant guy or girl at the very top).

For me, I had to sit down and think about what my ultimate career goals were. I didn't want to be a pair of hands in a lab somewhere for the rest of my life, so stopping at a bachelor's wasn't going to work. Since I want to run things, a PhD was pretty much the only option. Yes, I spent the better part of a decade in school between undergrad and grad school, but at the end I'll have reasonable job security and a decent paycheck doing something I love to do.

 

[gbru316]

Join the military and choose a job in a field you're interested in. After you complete your enlistment, go back to school for a degree along the lines of what your military job was. (in my case, I served as an electronics technician. Completed my enlistment, found a job as a technician for a DoD contractor, and now I'm in school for electrical engineering. By the time I graduate, I'll have almost 15 years of experience in the field).

Degree + experience trumps degree with no experience any day of the week.

I've also come to the conclusion that in order to succeed, the first 1/4 to 1/2 of life must be spent living in the suck. If you work hard, and endure the suck, it will eventually pay off.


Just my $.02

 

[gbru316]

I also believe that "smart" has as much to do with motivation/effort as it does with mental ability.

Instructors also play a hugely important role in teaching subjects, specifically advanced math and physics. Sometimes the only difference between passing and failing a course is the method of instruction.

 

[relaxednature]

I don't do anything in a field your listing, but I have no real advanced education. Just self taught. but in a Technology field, as an architect designing Storage area networks.

Pay is good, base is about 10k over what your listing for your max.. and if your really dedicated you can get a CCIE certificate and make about 80k more then that.

I have to agree with gbru316, I do the final technical interviews for new highers. I usually don't base it on what they know or education they have, but more on their "drive" (motivation/effort). we can train anyone to do the job if they have that.

good luck picking something.

 

[rafajara1985]

I'm going for mechanical engineering at ASU right now. I dont want to be an engineer, I want to start my own business. The only reason I'm getting the degree is so I can have a plan B in case my business doesnt work out. Plus, I have the knowledge and funds to finish school so it would be stupid of me not to.

 

[ZombieExistence]

Thank you everyone for chiming in so far.
I do think I'll be happy as a therapist, and who can really not live comfortably off a career with 60-100k earnings.

I know I don't want to work with technology, too frustrating to keep learning the forever changing market.

Finance would be my only other option and like I said, I dont know really where else to go other than CPA and that seems boring.

 

[renisel]

My mother is a PT and has been in the field for a few decades. She makes more than what you're listing as the top end and she is not in an administrative position, but she does work a lot of hours. She seems pretty happy with her career choice.

As for myself, I'm a systems engineer with an MS in EE, a BS in biomedical engineering and four years of work on a PhD in biomedical engineering that I decided not to finish. I'm going to have to disagree with what was said previously about grad school; almost everyone I've talked to would agree with my opinion that grad school is easier than undergrad in many ways. I think it's partly that you have fewer courses and that those courses are focused on an area of study you've chosen. It tends to seem less like work in that situation even if you put in more time.

As for the math and chem you're struggling with, I seriously doubt you'll see much of that stuff once you've completed the courses. If you can get through the courses with satisfactory grades and you think you'll like the work when you're done with school, I'd say plug away at it, get it done, and move on.

 

[reefdna]

Firefighter/Paramedic always a student though

 

[918ReefCpl]

+1

I also believe that "smart" has as much to do with motivation/effort as it does with mental ability.

Instructors also play a hugely important role in teaching subjects, specifically advanced math and physics. Sometimes the only difference between passing and failing a course is the method of instruction.

Firefighter/Paramedic always a student though

Where at?

 

[brian cummings]

I build/install museum exhibits.

 

[Helfrichs Chic]

My new career hopefully starts in January: snorkel/diver tour guide on Buck Island St. Croix, USVI.... Stay tuned.