I was just wondering, with all of the degrees, licenses, and so forth floating around on this board, if you guys would be willing to share what route you chose, why you chose it, what you do now, and how you feel about the choices you've made, and the path that you've taken?
Don't think I count, I am a first year student but.... Since I actually have a "job", it's to get my Ph.D., and it's an integral part of my career, I think I should say something. Provided I don't somehow screw it up, my path is pretty cleanly laid out for me... that takes a LOT of stress off me.
I commissioned in the U.S. Navy, my job, to attend USUHS full time in pursuit of a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Downsides: I am limited to a Navy internship, I owe them 6 years post internship (an 11 year commitment), and I will have to go where they send me when I graduate, they work us hard through the program in a VERY limited time and expectations are extremely high. Random Drug Tests, Weigh-ins, Fitness Tests, and having to wear a uniform everyday (sorry, lame but some people feel it's a downside... I like Camo.)
Upsides: I'm non-deployable the entire time I am in school and on internship (5 years total time), I get a great paycheck and I would argue the highest stipend in the country with 100% tuition remission (there is no tuition there.), I have a great faculty, support system, and I don't have much worry about internship placement (I WILL get a Navy internship, guaranteed. -= once again provided I don't slack off and finish the program, because yes, you can fail out! Just like anywhere else.=-)
The reason I post is because my career path is somewhat set for the next 5 years and will likely follow a given trajectory with some flexibility in assignment. I also will leave school with 0 education debt and a salary near 100k per year (due to prior service and including my DC housing allowance.) It's not a gravy train, or a method of getting rich, but I sure as hell won't be poor. For me, I feel like I won the lottery, I couldn't ask for a better situation... sure, I hate the workload and long nights doing assignments, but that's common for all of us going through the process.
In the end, I just feel so fortunate.... It's definitely NOT for everyone, but I wouldn't change my path for anything.
Mark
