Are Radiology Techs generally satisfied or are they too limited?

[V781]

I will have to decide in the next few months if I want to go on to a Radiology Tech Program or continue on to a 4 year to get a Bio degree (I've completed the GE classes - would have two more years left of undergraduate). If I pursued the degree, I would need to head on to Medical school or get into Physical Therapy.

I've considered both options for a year and still cannot make a decision. The school counselor said that I would be bored as a Radiology Tech; "day in and day out, they sit and press a button throughout the day. They don't observe the x-rays, they turn them into the Radiologist."

I can understand his point. I almost feel that I would prefer to be making decisions and applying my education. I wouldn't want to feel stuck for life. A degree or certificate in Radiology Technology could not go toward any other position.

I recently turned 23. Being in school into my 30s scares me. And the end financial debt is a turn off. Also, I fear that I wouldn't even be able to get into Medical School after completing my four year. I DO know that I want to be involved in medicine, as health science is my favorite subject. I've always been interested in Anatomy and Physiology. Can you all give some insight?

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[hawkbit]

Well, you do get to observe the xrays, you have to decide whether to keep them or not; you are the first line of quality control. And yes, you will xray anything and everything. If it can have pain, it gets xrays. And don't worry, you'll get to do exciting things like barium enemas (BEs) and voiding cysto-urethrograms. Admittedly, upward career progress is limited to generally lead tech and/or supervisor, but there's plenty of lateral movement. You can go into CT, and interventional radiology (tech) fairly easy, and in the right places you can cross train to MRI and US. Actually, for a two year degree the pay is better than many people get out of their bachelors. Of course, there are four year radiology degrees, but the extra classes are mostly fluff, stuff, and management/teaching content. I don't know that much about Physical therapy (as far as day to day job and career movement), someone else would have to chime in for that. It depends on what you want to do, if you want to be able to use critical thinking ability to make informed decisions that can deeply impact someones future, then radiology tech is not for you.

Source: myself. Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Science, Bachelors of Applied Science in Radiologic Science. RT(R), RVT, RDMS (AB)
And finishing O chem 2 next week, then MCAT prep for January.