Need guidance!

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Hey,

Its rolling admissions so you want to apply ASAP. The application cycle is open and they have already started interviews at most schools. The earlier you apply the better chance you have for admission because the school still has a lot of seats open. As seats fill it tends to get more competitive. The April 1st "priority consideration" deadline seems arbitrary to me. You should get that application in as soon as you have all the materials completed. If you are ready, send it in. Hope this helps.
 
No, fall admissions has been open for submitting applications since August 2013. So if you have your application complete, along with LOR's in order. Submit now for fall 2014 admissions. Release your MCAT to AACPMAS. If you need to finish the application, do it now. It will allow you time to receive interview invites for the smaller programs before they fill up. Hope this helps.
 
If you want full shot at scholarships and the like, then I would try to start interviewing by November and December. do not worry too much about being late. A lot of schools get most applications in the spring (I am guessing when potential MD/DO/DDS etc realize it is time for plan B). At Temple we had several people get in a week before classes start. You have plenty of time.
 
Thanks everyone, I called AACPM and they confirmed the same thing.

Now for a completely different shift of topic, my father was not very pleased with my decision to apply to podiatry, saying that podiatrists are not in demand and there really is no need for podiatrists. Is there any truth to this? I live in Los Angeles, so you can look at that for reference (every city is different). Is it worth doing 4 years of podiatry school and possibly 3 years of residency and not finding a well paying job? I don't mind working in a hospital if that's an option, I'm not dead set on private practice, maybe after the job security of a few years in hospital setting.

So trying to contain myself a little here and did some research for you...

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjourn...thomas/2013/04/pay-in-group-018.html?page=all

That's a ranking of podiatry salaries by city from the BLS. If you scroll all the way down to #49 you'll see that LA is pretty down there. Never been to LA except for a vacation in high school but that low number leads me to believe that the market there must be fairly saturated. You will notice however that SanFran sits at #22, though so it isn't like you can't get 6 figures in the state of CA. What does your dad consider too low?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-36944601/15-best-paid-jobs-in-america/

Look at #14. Obviously less than some other specialties so take from that whatever you will. Point is though if your dad wants you to pull in 500k plus right out of school, you need to get a job that isn't in medicine and probably doesn't exist (legally, anyway). If private practice is a goal, consider setting up in a city other than LA. I mentioned SF, but Sacramento is also higher on the list. I really don't want to disrespect anyone's family members on this site so I promise I mean none, but I would say it would possibly be worth a little more research on his part before making such a sweeping statement.
 
Thanks everyone, I called AACPM and they confirmed the same thing.

Now for a completely different shift of topic, my father was not very pleased with my decision to apply to podiatry, saying that podiatrists are not in demand and there really is no need for podiatrists. Is there any truth to this? I live in Los Angeles, so you can look at that for reference (every city is different). Is it worth doing 4 years of podiatry school and possibly 3 years of residency and not finding a well paying job? I don't mind working in a hospital if that's an option, I'm not dead set on private practice, maybe after the job security of a few years in hospital setting.

Here's another one that's more current, though I don't know where exactly this data comes from. Do a CTRL+F and type "California" and see what comes up.

http://www.healthcare-salaries.com/physicians/podiatrist-salary
 
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If you are just looking for easy money, go into a dentistry specialty.

No troll.
 
If you're looking for salary information, there have been numerous threads posted on this topic. Every source has a different number. MGMA is different from BLS, which is different from the APMA, which is also different from ACFAS. Take each with a grain of salt.

Again, it has been stated here many times that if you work hard, treat patients ethically, and have no sense of entitlement, you will make an above average salary.
 
not looking for easy money, just dont want to commit the next ~7 years doing podiatry and ending up having trouble in an already saturated market. I'm also considering nursing (would have to take 4 more classes as prereqs, apply next november for fall 2015 to complete my accelerated BSN, work 2-3 years in an ICU (i know that's also a hard position to find), then hopefully get into a nurse anesthesia program (another 3 years).

Podiatry= start fall 2014, graduate spring 2018, finish residency ~2021 and average salary is 130K
nursing/nurse anesthesia= start accelerated BSN fall 2015, finish spring 2017, work for 60k for 2-3 years, apply to CRNA program, and graduate in 2022/23 and make 150-200k

roughly same time frame, but nursing is more of a guarantee. the only thing i dont like is that i still have to take 4 prereqs at community colleges that are already overcrowded (hard to get classes) while working full time before I can even apply to a BSN program.

I feel like you proved yourself wrong? Being a nurse anesthetist is nothing like being a DPM. It's pretty obvious you just found that field because of the $$$$ and pressure from your father.

You want a job that guarantees money. I'm telling you: orthodontists and endodontists make some of the easiest money I have ever seen in healthcare.
 
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In my former career I worked side by side with anesthesiologist/CRNA's and I really think you need to look at what you want to do in life. Podiatry and Anesthesiology are 2 VERY different fields. I would personally go crazy working in anesthesiology, but if you feel that it is for you - more power to you. If you make your decision based off of money, you will probably be disappointed either way...
 
Just so you know, BLS figures are notoriously low. I think it is reasonable to expect to make 6 figures after graduation, then high 100's-low 200's as your career progresses. I'm not fully committed to pod, but this is what I have concluded after reading many sites as well as speaking to professionals in the field. Remember...becoming a CRNA is a big IF. And as mentioned, it's drastically different from podiatry.

Think of it this way- if you got into an MD/DO, DDS, DPM, or RN program, which one would you choose? An extra year to sort things out is a drop in the bucket. You will be working for 40 years...do what you enjoy. I too have already graduated undergrad, but as I work towards my distant goal, I often say to myself, I'll be 30 one day eventually, I might as well be 30 and a doctor.
 
Search online for Podiatry Economics' 30th Annual Salary Survey and the APMA salary survey. They are both fairly comprehensive salary surveys.
 
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