Immunologist Ph.D as plan B?

[KristenD77]

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Hey everyone, I recently started considering getting my Ph.D in immunology if I get rejected again to dental school. I was wondering if anyone knew =
1) The job market (is it in demand?)
2) The average salary in NY and NJ
3) If it's easy to find a position that doesn't work with lab animals

 

[Medin2017]

might be better to post this to immunology doctor network instead

 

[KristenD77]

might be better to post this to immunology doctor network instead

Thanks

 

[periopocket]

All you really need to do is retake your DAT focus on that if you want dentistry.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[DOC YANKEM]

Podiatry and Optometry are both very rewarding in terms of salary to years in school. The inherent problem is the number of schools you can apply to. There are only NINE podiatric colleges, and 28 optometry schools in the United States. You won't see over saturation in these fields anytime soon like pharmacy.

Edit: For Optometry applications, you take the OAT which is very similar to the DAT. The PAT section is replaced by a physics section. If you ever decide to not pursue Dentistry, then I would think Optometry would be a good alternative.

 

[2jz]

Are you considering staying in academia once you have your PhD or do you want to go into industry? From what I've gathered from my program is that the positions for PhDs in industry are even more competitive compared to Masters (fewer compared to applicants). You'll likely make more money in industry than academia. Certainly consider programs that will waive your tuition if you're an RA or TA for both levels. Any programs you do consider find out how they do in terms of professional development, some programs offer extremely little exposure to industry and provide almost no help in terms of what to do once you have your degree.

 

[KristenD77]

Are you considering staying in academia once you have your PhD or do you want to go into industry? From what I've gathered from my program is that the positions for PhDs in industry are even more competitive compared to Masters (fewer compared to applicants). You'll likely make more money in industry than academia. Certainly consider programs that will waive your tuition if you're an RA or TA for both levels. Any programs you do consider find out how they do in terms of professional development, some programs offer extremely little exposure to industry and provide almost no help in terms of what to do once you have your degree.

I really don't want to stay in academia, I would want to do industry. Telling me that the positions are competitive is useful information. Thanks

 

[Craig_Sherwood234]

might be better to post this to immunology doctor network instead

 

[Winner32]

I've thought about the possibility of getting a PhD in Immunology also as a plan B. Immunotherapy research is huge right now. Powering the body's defence mechanisms (immune system on roids) to fight off illnesses like cancer has shown very promising results and will continue to grow and advance in the future.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Optometry is super saturated and generally a poor return on investment, salaries are at an all time low. Getting harder to crack the 100K mark.

Podiatry is a relatively good under the radar profession, but they have their own sets of issues with scope of practice and reimbursement (although, the horizon looks good for them in the future, lots of rejected MD and DO applicants who are forcing the profession to progress in a meaningful way).

Podiatry and Optometry are both very rewarding in terms of salary to years in school. The inherent problem is the number of schools you can apply to. There are only NINE podiatric colleges, and 28 optometry schools in the United States. You won't see over saturation in these fields anytime soon like pharmacy.

Edit: For Optometry applications, you take the OAT which is very similar to the DAT. The PAT section is replaced by a physics section. If you ever decide to not pursue Dentistry, then I would think Optometry would be a good alternative.

 

[ysrebob]

Far, far more so than in dentistry, if you want to make a career in academia / research science, you must be prepared to give it your ALL. I would never advocate it as a "fallback" career. You could harldy pick a more challenging path.

(Coming from somebody who washed out of science despite immense effort and commitment, and gratefully fell back on dentistry as a safer and easier Plan B.)

 

[deleted782438]

I think its a career in immunology is very tough. Very competitive and difficult for sure.
You gotta be talented and a genius to get far because there is alot of other immunologists out there.
definitely not a "fallback" career I think