Money vs. Passion / Fears and Thoughts of a Choosing a Career

[Lone Kendoka]

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I am at that point in life where I must decide on which path I should take. Finding my answer has never been harder and I am torn between two choices. Here’s my story:

My aspiration for a career is one where I can help people. I decided to choose a career in health because I aspire to help people live another day by helping them maintains the most important aspect they have: their health. I feel that this will be fulfilling for me because I am making a tremendous impact on their life. I also want to see and interact with the people I am treating; to follow their progress during my time with them; to witness firsthand that this is the person I am treating and these are the fruits of my labor.

At the beginning of my college career, I did not have an idea of what I wanted to do for a career, so my parents suggested the idea of becoming a pharmacist. Now, after completing my third year of undergraduate studies, I got accepted into the University Of Houston College Of Pharmacy. Right now, I’ve worked hard to keep my average GPA around 3.5. By fulfilling primarily the pre-pharmacy prerequisites, I did not take into consideration the possibility of getting a degree. I was very happy to get accepted, but it was then I began to wonder if the pre-med route would be better suited to fulfilling my passion. The problem was that I knew too little about both professions. I’ve done some volunteer work here and there, but it wasn’t enough to make a sound decision. I decided that I would spend the summer solely on exposing myself to both professions, where I would gain experience in the medical field for June and then volunteer in pharmacy for July. Hopefully by the end of the summer, I will know where I want to go from there. Either I would go straight into pharmacy school or I would continue my undergraduate for another year or two, fulfilling the pre-med requirements and getting my degree.

Currently, I have gained exposure to the medical profession in the Philippines, where it is easier to observe many procedures, such as consultations and surgeries. As I learned more about the profession, I started to feel as if this field was more aligned with my passion. Somehow, I can see myself fulfilling some of the roles the doctors I observed perform on a daily basis. However, rather than getting excited that I’ve gotten closer to finding my answer, I became scared. I was afraid of the path I would take should I pursue medicine. I understood that the road will be extremely challenging: you would have long, irregular hours, you would be in school for a longer period of time, stress and heavy workloads are inevitable, your values and beliefs will be challenged on a daily basis. This path requires a tremendous amount of commitment and determination to traverse the road. This is where I am torn. Many difficult questions are running through my head just thinking about choosing this path: “Do I have the resolve to see this through?” “Will my passion and determination be more than enough to walk this path?” I want to be able to go into a profession with no regrets. That’s why I must be absolutely certain that this is what I want to do with my life. But how will I know when I’m ready? Is there any way of knowing if I am ready or not?

My dad brought up another point when I mentioned my problem to him. He recommended that I become a plastic surgeon coming out of medical school; where you can still have a life, get paid handsomely, and not have to worry about lawsuits. I did not see myself becoming one because I want to help people on a greater scale. I want to help people live. The premise of his argument is that it’s important to be able to take care of yourself before taking care of others. With that said he suggested that I put my passion aside and focus first on earning money, even if the means of doing so does not run parallel with your passion. He argued that passions can always change in an instant; whereas the need for survival will always be there. Is there ever a balance between money and passion? If so, how do you find that balance?

So this is where I stand now. These sentiments may be a little subjective because I have not yet gotten exposure to the pharmacy. I know my point may be a little bit unclear, but I just want to get this out in the open. I want to organize my thoughts and see what others think of my situation. Any and every comment, suggestion, and thought is more than welcome. It may sound naïve and like a question only I can answer, but I guess all I’m trying to ask is “What should I do?”

 

[Auriel619]

that read like the intro to a Pre-med essay. (Needs a TL😀R )

I also grappled with this decision about a year ago. I had just finished my second year and had to decide whether or not to apply to Rutgers Pharmacy (my alma mater) or continue another year, graduate and go to Dental/Med School. I ended up choosing pharmacy for the following reasons:

1. Time- I think Med School's time commitment is ridiculous. 4 years undergraduate, 4 years graduate, 2 years residency, and no one wants to be a pediatrician or Primary Care, so another 2 years of specialization. You'll just start to make good money when you're ~28 years old!

2. Specialization Competition is INCREDIBLY fierce- No one wants to get sued and everyone wants a cushy job, hence Dermatology, Plastic, & other "easy" specialties are really sought after.

3. Flexibility- a PharmD degree can fulfill many flexible job openings. Most people here are aiming for Industry or clinical/hospital jobs, but what you can do as a pharmacist is staggering. I was talking to a job recruiter last week from the US Dept of Health. They were hiring for new PharmD's to travel to other countries to inspect overseas generic manufacturing facilities. They give you a rank in the US Armed Forces, and after doing this for 2 years, they springboard you into the FDA. You work for another 20 years and you retire with a great pension. There's so many varied jobs you can do with a PharmD I'm still finding new ones every day.

4. the Future- A lot of the people in my pharmacy class don't really see pharmacy as a passion, but they see it as a means to an end. It's a means to get to a comfortable life with the means to support your family AND get a 6-figure salary. In my opinion, Pharmacy satisfies ALL those requirements with a LOT less work than other health professions.
Out of the 4 pharmacists I work with, 3 are happily married (none of whom are over 30), drive some pretty nice cars and are already homeowners. Even here in NJ where the cost of living is pretty high, Pharmacy will be able to satisfy all your future needs without making you work for peanuts til you're 28.

There's a few more but I gotta run to work. Best of luck on your decision!

 

[Auriel619]

Oh please use the search function next time
Here're some threads that might help.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=9672269

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-51357.html

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I'm really sleepy so I started to doze off halfway through that. No offense. What'd I'd do though is contact the school and request a deferral so that you can finish your bachelor's degree. Tell them nothing else. I don't see why they'd protest your pursuit of education. In that time you can reflect on it some more, also apply to a few med schools since you've likely finished their prereqs as well, and depending on what you hear back you can make your decision then. If not, you've always got pharmer school to fall back on. If you don't want it then make a recommendation to give your seat to me, lol. jk. wouldn't live in houston

Don't worry about picking your specialty now. You're so far away and the odds are so against you that it's not worth the time. I'm a realist so that's how I look at it.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

that read like the intro to a Pre-med essay. (Needs a TL😀R )

I also grappled with this decision about a year ago. I had just finished my second year and had to decide whether or not to apply to Rutgers Pharmacy (my alma mater) or continue another year, graduate and go to Dental/Med School. I ended up choosing pharmacy for the following reasons:

1. Time- I think Med School's time commitment is ridiculous. 4 years undergraduate, 4 years graduate, 2 years residency, and no one wants to be a pediatrician or Primary Care, so another 2 years of specialization. You'll just start to make good money when you're ~28 years old!

2. Specialization Competition is INCREDIBLY fierce- No one wants to get sued and everyone wants a cushy job, hence Dermatology, Plastic, & other "easy" specialties are really sought after.

3. Flexibility- a PharmD degree can fulfill many flexible job openings. Most people here are aiming for Industry or clinical/hospital jobs, but what you can do as a pharmacist is staggering. I was talking to a job recruiter last week from the US Dept of Health. They were hiring for new PharmD's to travel to other countries to inspect overseas generic manufacturing facilities. They give you a rank in the US Armed Forces, and after doing this for 2 years, they springboard you into the FDA. You work for another 20 years and you retire with a great pension. There's so many varied jobs you can do with a PharmD I'm still finding new ones every day.

4. the Future- A lot of the people in my pharmacy class don't really see pharmacy as a passion, but they see it as a means to an end. It's a means to get to a comfortable life with the means to support your family AND get a 6-figure salary. In my opinion, Pharmacy satisfies ALL those requirements with a LOT less work than other health professions.
Out of the 4 pharmacists I work with, 3 are happily married (none of whom are over 30), drive some pretty nice cars and are already homeowners. Even here in NJ where the cost of living is pretty high, Pharmacy will be able to satisfy all your future needs without making you work for peanuts til you're 28.

There's a few more but I gotta run to work. Best of luck on your decision!

Umm, brush up on your residency lengths. Generally, the primary care specialties' residencies that you mentioned are all three years, and if you want to subspecialize in those fields it's about three more on top of that. The other specialties, not including primary care, are generally four plus years depending on the field.

 

[DrPepsi]

When I was in pharmacy school and I had to do my rotations, I really regretted not going to med school. It was a rotation at a hospital and I was in a group of med students touring and while they were out shadowing doctors and looking at patients and charts, I was in the underground pharmacy stocking shelves. It was really depressing but looking back at it and looking at my career I am better off now than what I was after I graduated whether it be from pharmacy school or med school.

Would I have enjoyed med school more? Possibly but it's hard to put a roof over your head and food in your belly when you're buried in debt and having to pay for education while working. Just my two cents.

 

[SHC1984]

Medical school isn't worth it at all unless you can get into a Derm residency.

And your father is wrong, plastic surgeons can get sued the easiest! If you mess up someone's nose or if it doesn't look 100% to their liking you will be sued.

 

[tungsten87]

When I was in pharmacy school and I had to do my rotations, I really regretted not going to med school. It was a rotation at a hospital and I was in a group of med students touring and while they were out shadowing doctors and looking at patients and charts, I was in the underground pharmacy stocking shelves. It was really depressing but looking back at it and looking at my career I am better off now than what I was after I graduated whether it be from pharmacy school or med school.

Would I have enjoyed med school more? Possibly but it's hard to put a roof over your head and food in your belly when you're buried in debt and having to pay for education while working. Just my two cents.

ouch, that is kind of frustrating. one thing you should know about becoming a pharmacist (op) is that the physician is the top dog in healthcare, and as a pharmacist this can become challenging when you think you can help a patient, but the physician treating the patient turns down your advice. there will be situations where you will know what is best for the patient and yet you may not be able to help that particular patient. this is something you must acknowledge, but remember there is always the possibility of you carving a niche in pharmacy where you can run an MTM clinic, etc... no matter what career you choose there will be opportunities to put yourself in the position to make decisions to improve the lives of patients. just know that as a physician you will be able to have more of a direct impact (in general) on the lives of patients but with that comes increased responsibility and liability/accountability. op, just get experience in both fields and know that as a physician you are in a better position to make a difference due to more autonomy and authority. just be aware of all the red tape you will have to deal with as a doc. also, the loans/money don't/shouldn't matter to you.

 

[tungsten87]

Medical school isn't worth it at all unless you can get into a Derm residency.

And your father is wrong, plastic surgeons can get sued the easiest! If you mess up someone's nose or if it doesn't look 100% to their liking you will be sued.

this post is incredibly stupid. especially coming from someone who wants to sit on their ass all day either at home or in mail order and make 100k a year. you're definitely in the position to be giving advice on if a career in medicine is worth it or not 🙄

 

[ArkansasRanger]

When I was in pharmacy school and I had to do my rotations, I really regretted not going to med school. It was a rotation at a hospital and I was in a group of med students touring and while they were out shadowing doctors and looking at patients and charts, I was in the underground pharmacy stocking shelves. It was really depressing but looking back at it and looking at my career I am better off now than what I was after I graduated whether it be from pharmacy school or med school.

Would I have enjoyed med school more? Possibly but it's hard to put a roof over your head and food in your belly when you're buried in debt and having to pay for education while working. Just my two cents.

I wonder this. As you can see, I'm a premed / nontrad. Med school, particularly the process of getting accepted, is filled with so much B.S. that it really makes me think it's not worth it all. Pharmacy has since become appealing. I'm a realist and don't live in a fantasy world of occupational passion. I just want a job I like doing things that interests me.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Yeah, for sure Ranger. other schools have it so much harder than we do... By contrast to my wife's arduous, tedious, long-freaking-ass process to apply to law school, I am so thrilled that PharmCAS was by and large completely transparent and easy to work with.

 

[rxlea]

Uhm plastic surgery = help people.

What about burn victims? People with deformities? Women who need reconstructive surgery after breast cancer? Why is it that when people mention plastic surgery, they think of facelifts first? Oh...wait a minute...media. Point is, you need to do a little more research on what you want to do. There are good reasons to go into either field. You can help save lives in pharmacy, too. I guess it depends on what role you want to take- diagnosis/prescribing? Or advocate/safety net? It also depends on how much money you want to make. Personally, the 4 years of residency = not worth it.

 

[SHC1984]

this post is incredibly stupid. especially coming from someone who wants to sit on their ass all day either at home or in mail order and make 100k a year. you're definitely in the position to be giving advice on if a career in medicine is worth it or not 🙄

And you think you know everything about medicine? 🙄👎 I have friends that are doctors and med students. Most of them are trying to get into Derm or Radiology residency because that's where the money is with the least amount of work. Do some research before you look stupid.

 

[TonyRx]

Life is a fine balance between following your heart, as well as being rational and realistic with your ideas, dreams and aspirations. It's not an easy journey and we all go through it in one way or another. But, something tells me that deep down you already know the answer to your own question. 😉

 

[Lone Kendoka]

I'm not motivated by extrinsic factors like money or reputation, although they are important factors and also need to be considered. I want to be able to expand my mind even when my schooling is over. I want to take a path that will not only allow me to learn more knowledge and concepts to better help people, but I also want to grow. I want to become a more enlightened and developed person.

Recently, I realized that reputation may be playing an influence on my decision. I thought that if I made a difference in people's lives, more people will recognize me and I would be able to help more people. However, now I'm beginning to understand that gaining such reputation makes me dependent on the word of others and that would not help me with my inner growth. It comes with both professions, but I feel as if it is wrong for me to expect it, let alone rely on it. I need to tell myself that self-fulfillment through inner growth needs not the voice of others. Rather, I must understand that regardless of whether or not I get recognized for my efforts, somehow somewhere in the world, I am making a difference.

Maybe I need to restructure my passion a bit to allow fulfillment within myself rather than solely among others.

 

[UNMorBUST]

Have you shadowed a physician yet? If not, shadow one. It will give you a glimpse into the life of what a doctor really does and the impact they have. Also remember to ask about lifestyle, happiness, and if they made the right choice for them and why. Investigate my friend. There are so many possibilities that many are not exposed to in our lives.

 

[UNMorBUST]

And you think you know everything about medicine? 🙄👎 I have friends that are doctors and med students. Most of them are trying to get into Derm or Radiology residency because that's where the money is with the least amount of work. Do some research before you look stupid.

One issue with your two statments in this thread are they are both related to money. The sole purpose for many to pursue medicine is not strictly money or lifestyle. If it was money, they would be much happier in business. If it was lifestyle, they would be happier in Dentistry. Medicine is not as lucrative or lifestyle friendly as many think.

Yes many med students are interested in Derm and Rads. Some for lifestyle and money. However, Derm is not nearly one of the highest paid specialties and Rads is not one of the ones with the fewest hours. Also you speak of least amount of work. Do you realize how many hours doctors work even in the specialties with the least amount of hours. It's still ALOT.

Also guys stop calling each other stupid. Only i'm stupid.😀

 

[bear9288]

And you think you know everything about medicine? 🙄👎 I have friends that are doctors and med students. Most of them are trying to get into Derm or Radiology residency because that's where the money is with the least amount of work. Do some research before you look stupid.

i agree with tungsten, that was pretty stupid advice. you arent the only one with med school/doctor friends bud. job security, high income, tons of residents work <50hrs/week.


http://www.allied-physicians.com/salary_surveys/physician-salaries.htm

 

[UNMorBUST]

tons of residents work <50hrs/week.

I think you may have gotten this turned backwards. If not it's wrong. Most work more then 50 hrs.

Edit: You are being sarcastic aren't you😉.

 

[rxlea]

Sarcasm FTW

 

[BigEvilRx]

I spent 6 1/2 years in the Navy, working at an okay job with great benefits as a Cryptologic Tech and deployed on 6 Nuclear-Powered Submarines. After a few years, I finally decided that I couldn't continue working in a cushy job that wasn't interesting to me. Sure, I went to tons of cool places and met a lot of good friends but the military lifestyle is kind of like always living with your parents (that adopted you @ eighteen.)

I needed to feel an independence. So I went for a new adventure and life is perfect. I'm not in a long-term relationship like I would like to be, but at least I am happy with the direction I am taking. While I was happy in the Navy, I feel I have accomplished more in the past 3 years than I ever did in the military. Just because the military is such a huge push in getting things done.

I fell into pharmacy and it fit my personality. That's how I got here and that is where my passion came from.

 

[UNMorBUST]

I spent 6 1/2 years in the Navy, working at an okay job with great benefits as a Cryptologic Tech and deployed on 6 Nuclear-Powered Submarines. After a few years, I finally decided that I couldn't continue working in a cushy job that wasn't interesting to me. Sure, I went to tons of cool places and met a lot of good friends but the military lifestyle is kind of like always living with your parents (that adopted you @ eighteen.)

I needed to feel an independence. So I went for a new adventure and life is perfect. I'm not in a long-term relationship like I would like to be, but at least I am happy with the direction I am taking. While I was happy in the Navy, I feel I have accomplished more in the past 3 years than I ever did in the military. Just because the military is such a huge push in getting things done.

I fell into pharmacy and it fit my personality. That's how I got here and that is where my passion came from.

👍