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There seems to be no shortage of threads from dentists stating that dentistry is no longer worth it, and that pre-dental students should go do anything else instead. Well, I decided to compile threads from forums of other professions/careers from forums related to other professions for a bit of perspective. I will underline and bold the common refrains we see here on our own forums. For now I'm just adding attorneys, bankers/traders, and pilots. Lots of gripes in other professions as well, but my time is limited.
...As far as prestige goes, first lets say that bankers will never have the prestige of doctors, firefighters, scientists, judges (not lawyers lol), and some politicians and other doing-good for humanity professions...
...And if you put prestige aside, then you can earn a great salary running a small business, for example- my 26 year old cousin owns two verizon franchise stores (running a cell phone store isn't rocket science) and makes 350K a year, hired store managers and now is working only 20-30 hours a week, real estate investing on the side just for fun because he doesn't know what else to do with all his extra cash, while his job is not dealmaking, he is happy and living the life, he has time to go out at night, and go out to dinner, have friends, hamptons in the summer, miami breaks in winter, int'l vacations, and when he goes to work everyday he is the boss. nobody to answer to...
...My question is now that the "prestige" of banking is no longer there, the bonuses sure ain't what they used to be, and exit opps are harder and harder to get, ibanking decreases your chances at b-school due to the overabundance of ibanking applicants, and the lifestyle kills your social/relationship life.....is banking worth it? 9/10 of people are in it for the money, prestige, and so-called lifestyle, not because they like sitting in a cubicle staring at an excel spreadsheet...
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/banker-careerlifestylenot-all-that-great-worth-it
...Lately though, I've begun to seriously question what the point of it all is--sure we get paid a lot of money, but not enough to become independently wealthy anytime soon--we're still wage slaves busting our ass primarily for the benefit of some other dude's wallet. And on top of that, the work is more often degrading than it is challenging or engaging--which I'm reminded of every time I fill out a working group list or change the font size in a presentation. Even the more enjoyable parts of the job such as modeling are only so interesting once you've done them a dozen times...
...And what's the cost of this relentless devotion to the rat race? We've all made pretty significant sacrifices to get where we are in life... soon I'll be 23 and I wonder how much of life I'm missing, 22 was spent behind a computer monitor becoming intimately familiar with powerpoint and excel. Is that really the wisest way to spend what is left of my youth?...
That one made me laugh 😆
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-it-worth-it-spending-my-youth
...Honestly, at what point does the number of hours you work a week actually matter. I'm considering entering ibanking/HFstarting this summer and 90 hours a week is just So much. I mean, honestly, how do you have friends, girlfriends, etc etc. How do you get to spend your money? I hear that once you get to associate its not as bad but still like 80hrs. I feel like ke the guy from There Will Be Blood, except my wife cheated on me because I was too tired to have sex with her...
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-90-hours-a-week-worth-it
...The sense I get from most of you on this forum, is that finance is incredibly saturated. When I ask how someone lands a mediocre AM job, I'm usually told that it's incredibly tough, you have to know the right people, have the right degrees, get lucky, etc. I'm posting this, because I'd like to get your guys opinion on the topic. How saturated/unsaturated is finance? Are there ample opportunities out there these days? Should a lot of us be considering other industries?...
...Finance is like this. Tons of people want the top spots. Very few get the spots. Those that don't take BO roles, sales, big 4 accounting, commercial banking, corp finance, etc. When you expand the world of finance to include all of these other opportunities then you will realize how wide open it really is...
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-finance-saturated
...Do you believe there are just way too many lawyers in the U.S. currently? Many people go into law due to prospective income that they may obtain by being a lawyer...
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/index.php?topic=4023478.0
..I mean the consensus seems to be there are too many law schools and too many lawyers and too many graduates every year Should we consider going into the health field instead? Medical, Dental or Pharmacy school perhaps? Im 26 graduated from college 4 years ago...
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/index.php?topic=4019047.0
...do we have too many law peoples... can the demand for lawyers keep up with supply
I have no idea... I just would like to know what everyone else believes / has researched.
The closer I get the start of law school the more and more I wonder if it is worth it... if I will be able to get employed not die poor and miserable etc...
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...beware of the "average median salary" 6mos or 1year out
schools love to tell you that "our average grad 1 year post graduation is making 145,000 or 160,000" etc
generally speaking this is erroneous as they are basing that # upon a survey that does not require all participants to reply; as such, you usually only have those who have high paying jobs who respond...
----
If it makes you feel any better, I am about to finish my 1L and still worry a lot about those things, especially since I go to an ok ranked law school (108 on US News, but up from 116 the year before) but by no means a Harvard or Yale... but I think ultimately we have to figure that it all comes down to whether you like the law;
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/index.php?topic=3009437.0
...i am an associate with two kids and a spouse that doesn't work. First, ignore the law student above.
Whether it is worth it or not will come down to personal preferences. The one constant in biglaw is sacrafice. For example, my firm/group has been busy since the day I started. What I sacrifice in lifestyle I gain in job security.
To me, biglaw is worth it. My spouse would probably say it isn't worth it...
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=243963
...Honestly, I wouldn't do it. The good news is that yes... there's going to be tons of openings and you're nearly guaranteed to get a JOB flying, but unless you luck out and get the right connections at a posh corporate flight department flying Citation Xs right away, you're going to have to go the regional airline route and get your time that way. That means you're going to be away from your home and family a lot, miss them on birthdays and holidays, and as you already are aware, make lousy pay. At 28, you're not anywhere close to being too old... you could conceivably make it to a major airline before age 40 and once there, things really start to improve. The question is, do you really want to spend $70,000 (not counting a 4 year degree which you'll also need) to make only a third to half that amount at a regional for 8-10 years and go through all the beatings, before you wind up with a "good" job? You tell me, is it worth it?...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/career-questions/83281-worth.html
...Not trying to start a pity party, but I'm getting pretty burned out at the regionals and am thinking of getting out of the field entirely as I can't imagine it would get much better.
My question is does it get better? Is it worth it to stick it out?...
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...You have 1,900hrs and burned out already? You think you deserve the right seat of Boeing/Airbus? Jesus, GMAFB
You aggravate me.
To answer your question, yeah it gets better but probably not for you. if this is how you feel after such a short duration in the industry, you are likely to jump off a bridge before it gets better...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/81288-worth-does-get-better.html
I'm still fairly new in the airline profession. But, I worked in management with a number of Fortune 500 companies before changing careers to aviation. I would never consider going back into business. You'll run into some old guys who seem to do nothing but gripe about the arline management, the union, the passengers, the schedule, contract issues... whatever the topic of the day is, they'll find a way to complain about it. But, in my short experience so far, you can find just as much to complain about in any other job as you do the airlines. The most important thing though is this; if flying is something you really want to do, then do it. I really wanted to fly professionally for many years while I was working in management, and I absolutely hated going to work every day. Now I'm making about 1/3 of what I was before, but I can honestly say I'm much more satisfied.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/21013-pilot-career-worth.html
...This may draw some flames, but I just don't care, because it is the truth to me...
Flying is in my blood. It's what I do. Granted, several other things are in my blood (golfing, running, talking too much) that keep me a well-rounded person, but when it comes to jobs that pay, I just can't see myself doing anything else. In fact, I have done other things, and hated them passionately. While some jobs will pay better, many of those jobs will have you sitting at your keyboard for at least eight hours per day, going nowhere. Trying not to fall asleep after lunch is your excitement for the day. One cream or two in your coffee is a big decision. And when it comes down to it, your "view" consists of the same people, the same desk, etc. etc.
It's tough. It's been tough already. And it is probably going to get tougher. But that is life. Best of luck...chase your dreams...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/4588-worth-hardwork-not.html
...There are too many pilots. It is a fact. Pay is going down. Work rules are getting worse but yet the come.
There is no value in being a pilot anymore. The flight director is king...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/leaving-career/30274-too-many-pilots.html
...I agree with what Creflo said. You are already making 110k a year and in podiatry there isnt a guarantee that your salary will increase much from this. It is possible you could double it or even more than that but you could end up with the same thing your sitting at now plus you'll have 150k+ in loans and the 4 years of loss income (440k). Just in 4 years that can set you back about 600k+ between student loans and lost income. If you were shooting for the MD I could see a bit of a better argument especially if your're a gunner and were looking to get into ortho, plastics or one of the higher paid patient contact specialties...
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...I'm just a student but unfortunately when it comes to podiatrist salaries there are no guarantees that a podiatrist will make a certain amount. Some podiatrists start with $70,00 and some start with $200,000. Some make $100,000 consistently for their whole career and never go above. Your patient interaction fulfillment may be overridden by the debt that you will have. It is not worth it at all in my opinion especially concerning the residency shortage where things might be improved in the future, or the residency situation could be worse...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pharmacist-considering-podiatry-school.1085908/
...100K-ish is normal to start out. Check out the podiatry residents and physicians forums. There's a pretty recent thread that has a lot of good and true talk about starting salary and salary ranges...
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...At the end of the day as mentioned earlier, being that it is a 7 year commitment for training and potential salary loss you and anyone else must assess what will truly make you happy. Financially speaking run your numbers too. Just to kindof lowball it:
4 years of school= -200k (quitting your current job)
-250k (school loans +interest)...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/is-podiatry-still-a-viable-option.1177800/
...is 200k [in debt] warranted given the salaries you hear about on here? 200k debt for 100k out of residency or sometimes even less?...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pod-school-student-debt.798000/
...I would say Chicago is pretty saturated because most of the associate positions there start off around $70,000. So while there may be jobs available, they won't be too desirable financially in saturated areas. Surprisingly podiatrists actually accept these kind of offers...
...According to MGMA, the average STARTING salary for Podiatrist in most of the saturated areas are below $100k...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/saturation-levels-by-area.1053908/
...You'll find someone that fails in their career in every profession out there. Sometimes it's their fault and sometimes it isn't. I wouldn't put too much stock in the experiences of others. Trust your gut...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/i-think-we-might-be-in-for-trouble.894092/
...I currently have $32k in undergraduate debt. I got accepted to an out-of-state pa program. I plan on living as cheap as possible. However, I estimate my total loan burden after two years of PA school will be around $155-160k including all fees and compounded interest.
Is that worth a $70-85k starting salary?...
...My sister in-law started at $63k working for the community health department, great benefits, but it didn't qualify for loan repayment. She just got an offer from the local prison to make $105k/year. Are these fears normal?...
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...Honestly if you don't change your lifestyle and live like a poor college grad after PA school you should be able to dump tons of money back into your loans... Also if you are planning on working in rural community health as a FP PA Then you should qualify for federal and state loan forgiveness programs. It's something like 70K (in WA state) and 50K in federal funds...
...Just live below your means, and be smart about where you live and the dept will take care of itself...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/13360-is-the-debt-worth-it/
..I enjoy being a PA but I hate to see so much hard earned money going to school loans. There are ways to repay loans faster (NHSC, military)...
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...I am in my third clinical rotation and I hate being a PA student and I really regret starting PA school. The only reason I haven't quit yet is because of all the debt I have acquired from the last year and a half of school...
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...Yes, it was worth it, but it's rapidly getting to the point of diminishing return. I went to school as a non-traditional student (age 40), pulled a total of $105k in loans for tuition and living expenses (at 8%+), and am now faced with the burden of paying that much off (as well as saving for retirement) at a later stage. Having said that, I figure I can do it in 4 yrs but it'll require NHSC loan repayment and continuing to live like a student to do it. It won't be as fun as it could be.... Tuition and fees, especially at private institutions, are rising way faster than inflation, and the return on your investment isn't increasing proportionally...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/415-was-it-worth-it/
...the lack of recognition and respect is very problematic. many docs hate PAs. many nurses think of PAs as the enemy. the public thinks we are medical assistants.
the autonomy and ability to work up to your skill set and gain an appropriate scope of practice is only won through a major struggle.
the potential for advancement is minimal. it has taken me 16 years to claw my way up to a job I enjoy. I have to drive 3 hrs from a major metro area to a very rural area to have that job.
if you have any doubts, go to medschool. I should have...
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...Want money go work on wallstreet! If you have a desire to help people go into healthcare please! Tired of hospital people who are in the game for the wrong reasons which is at an all time high I am afraid... (I think I adequately demonstrated that the Wall Street guys are complaining too! 😉 )
http://www.physicianassistantforum....pa-school-worth-the-future-of-the-profession/
...in my opinion the market is about to become super saturated. Over EIGHTY PA PROGRAMS ARE IN DEVELOPMENT. The university system in the United States is absurd in how it creates a business out of degrees regardless of how it positions students. PA's might be better off than NP in the future in that PAs are versatile...
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...Well FNPs are versatile as well, and that is my main concern: FNPs ruining the market for other FNPs as well as PAs. I didn't realize PA programs were exploding like that as well, very scary.
Part of me feels like the NP profession does have one built in "safety" that the PA profession does not - all NPs are RN's and must maintain their RN license to remain an NP. As such, the NP salary could never dip below the RN salary for an area, as NPs would simply be able to return to their RN roots. This creates a floor of about 50-60K in most areas, and as high as 70-80K in other areas. PAs on the other hand have no fallback - if an out of work PA had to pay bills and the only job offer was for 45K, they have no choice but to take it...
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...This forum is notorious for being negative about the future...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/11298-will-nps-destroy-the-job-market/
...I agree with SocialMed, I think saturation is happening as we speak and will peak in the next 5 years or so...
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...Those of us who have been out practicing for a few years will be fine. But I could see those who are applying or planning to apply in the near future may struggle with an increasingly saturated job market- which, as many pointed out above, has a lot to do with location and specialty...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/18723-pa-field-saturation/
...Hello. I am a new PA-C. Graduated in May, have had a couple of interviews, but have not been able to secure employment. The last interview went fantastic but I was not chosen due to lack of experience. Most of the positions in my area are for experienced PAs or require relocation, which I am not able to do at this time. I have applied for a residency program, but, even if selected, this is likely to not start until September. I am very frustrated and stir-crazy. I have put my CV out to several recruiting sites. I was told that finding a position would be easy. Not so much for me. Any suggestions?...
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...This is a very a common problem that I had also faced after I graduated in 2011. It took me 3 or 4 months to land a part time gig and then another 3-4 months to actually be able to start full time at an ER full time. The field is saturated now and you will have better luck if you relocate. Also, if you are more flexible with your pay and specialty. Good Luck...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/40073-cant-get-hired/
********************Banking / Trading********************
...As far as prestige goes, first lets say that bankers will never have the prestige of doctors, firefighters, scientists, judges (not lawyers lol), and some politicians and other doing-good for humanity professions...
...And if you put prestige aside, then you can earn a great salary running a small business, for example- my 26 year old cousin owns two verizon franchise stores (running a cell phone store isn't rocket science) and makes 350K a year, hired store managers and now is working only 20-30 hours a week, real estate investing on the side just for fun because he doesn't know what else to do with all his extra cash, while his job is not dealmaking, he is happy and living the life, he has time to go out at night, and go out to dinner, have friends, hamptons in the summer, miami breaks in winter, int'l vacations, and when he goes to work everyday he is the boss. nobody to answer to...
...My question is now that the "prestige" of banking is no longer there, the bonuses sure ain't what they used to be, and exit opps are harder and harder to get, ibanking decreases your chances at b-school due to the overabundance of ibanking applicants, and the lifestyle kills your social/relationship life.....is banking worth it? 9/10 of people are in it for the money, prestige, and so-called lifestyle, not because they like sitting in a cubicle staring at an excel spreadsheet...
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/banker-careerlifestylenot-all-that-great-worth-it
...Lately though, I've begun to seriously question what the point of it all is--sure we get paid a lot of money, but not enough to become independently wealthy anytime soon--we're still wage slaves busting our ass primarily for the benefit of some other dude's wallet. And on top of that, the work is more often degrading than it is challenging or engaging--which I'm reminded of every time I fill out a working group list or change the font size in a presentation. Even the more enjoyable parts of the job such as modeling are only so interesting once you've done them a dozen times...
...And what's the cost of this relentless devotion to the rat race? We've all made pretty significant sacrifices to get where we are in life... soon I'll be 23 and I wonder how much of life I'm missing, 22 was spent behind a computer monitor becoming intimately familiar with powerpoint and excel. Is that really the wisest way to spend what is left of my youth?...
That one made me laugh 😆
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-it-worth-it-spending-my-youth
...Honestly, at what point does the number of hours you work a week actually matter. I'm considering entering ibanking/HFstarting this summer and 90 hours a week is just So much. I mean, honestly, how do you have friends, girlfriends, etc etc. How do you get to spend your money? I hear that once you get to associate its not as bad but still like 80hrs. I feel like ke the guy from There Will Be Blood, except my wife cheated on me because I was too tired to have sex with her...
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-90-hours-a-week-worth-it
...The sense I get from most of you on this forum, is that finance is incredibly saturated. When I ask how someone lands a mediocre AM job, I'm usually told that it's incredibly tough, you have to know the right people, have the right degrees, get lucky, etc. I'm posting this, because I'd like to get your guys opinion on the topic. How saturated/unsaturated is finance? Are there ample opportunities out there these days? Should a lot of us be considering other industries?...
...Finance is like this. Tons of people want the top spots. Very few get the spots. Those that don't take BO roles, sales, big 4 accounting, commercial banking, corp finance, etc. When you expand the world of finance to include all of these other opportunities then you will realize how wide open it really is...
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-finance-saturated
********************Attorneys********************
...Do you believe there are just way too many lawyers in the U.S. currently? Many people go into law due to prospective income that they may obtain by being a lawyer...
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/index.php?topic=4023478.0
..I mean the consensus seems to be there are too many law schools and too many lawyers and too many graduates every year Should we consider going into the health field instead? Medical, Dental or Pharmacy school perhaps? Im 26 graduated from college 4 years ago...
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/index.php?topic=4019047.0
...do we have too many law peoples... can the demand for lawyers keep up with supply
I have no idea... I just would like to know what everyone else believes / has researched.
The closer I get the start of law school the more and more I wonder if it is worth it... if I will be able to get employed not die poor and miserable etc...
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...beware of the "average median salary" 6mos or 1year out
schools love to tell you that "our average grad 1 year post graduation is making 145,000 or 160,000" etc
generally speaking this is erroneous as they are basing that # upon a survey that does not require all participants to reply; as such, you usually only have those who have high paying jobs who respond...
----
If it makes you feel any better, I am about to finish my 1L and still worry a lot about those things, especially since I go to an ok ranked law school (108 on US News, but up from 116 the year before) but by no means a Harvard or Yale... but I think ultimately we have to figure that it all comes down to whether you like the law;
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/index.php?topic=3009437.0
...i am an associate with two kids and a spouse that doesn't work. First, ignore the law student above.
Whether it is worth it or not will come down to personal preferences. The one constant in biglaw is sacrafice. For example, my firm/group has been busy since the day I started. What I sacrifice in lifestyle I gain in job security.
To me, biglaw is worth it. My spouse would probably say it isn't worth it...
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=243963
********************Pilots********************
...Honestly, I wouldn't do it. The good news is that yes... there's going to be tons of openings and you're nearly guaranteed to get a JOB flying, but unless you luck out and get the right connections at a posh corporate flight department flying Citation Xs right away, you're going to have to go the regional airline route and get your time that way. That means you're going to be away from your home and family a lot, miss them on birthdays and holidays, and as you already are aware, make lousy pay. At 28, you're not anywhere close to being too old... you could conceivably make it to a major airline before age 40 and once there, things really start to improve. The question is, do you really want to spend $70,000 (not counting a 4 year degree which you'll also need) to make only a third to half that amount at a regional for 8-10 years and go through all the beatings, before you wind up with a "good" job? You tell me, is it worth it?...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/career-questions/83281-worth.html
...Not trying to start a pity party, but I'm getting pretty burned out at the regionals and am thinking of getting out of the field entirely as I can't imagine it would get much better.
My question is does it get better? Is it worth it to stick it out?...
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...You have 1,900hrs and burned out already? You think you deserve the right seat of Boeing/Airbus? Jesus, GMAFB
You aggravate me.
To answer your question, yeah it gets better but probably not for you. if this is how you feel after such a short duration in the industry, you are likely to jump off a bridge before it gets better...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/81288-worth-does-get-better.html
I'm still fairly new in the airline profession. But, I worked in management with a number of Fortune 500 companies before changing careers to aviation. I would never consider going back into business. You'll run into some old guys who seem to do nothing but gripe about the arline management, the union, the passengers, the schedule, contract issues... whatever the topic of the day is, they'll find a way to complain about it. But, in my short experience so far, you can find just as much to complain about in any other job as you do the airlines. The most important thing though is this; if flying is something you really want to do, then do it. I really wanted to fly professionally for many years while I was working in management, and I absolutely hated going to work every day. Now I'm making about 1/3 of what I was before, but I can honestly say I'm much more satisfied.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/21013-pilot-career-worth.html
...This may draw some flames, but I just don't care, because it is the truth to me...
Flying is in my blood. It's what I do. Granted, several other things are in my blood (golfing, running, talking too much) that keep me a well-rounded person, but when it comes to jobs that pay, I just can't see myself doing anything else. In fact, I have done other things, and hated them passionately. While some jobs will pay better, many of those jobs will have you sitting at your keyboard for at least eight hours per day, going nowhere. Trying not to fall asleep after lunch is your excitement for the day. One cream or two in your coffee is a big decision. And when it comes down to it, your "view" consists of the same people, the same desk, etc. etc.
It's tough. It's been tough already. And it is probably going to get tougher. But that is life. Best of luck...chase your dreams...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/4588-worth-hardwork-not.html
...There are too many pilots. It is a fact. Pay is going down. Work rules are getting worse but yet the come.
There is no value in being a pilot anymore. The flight director is king...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/leaving-career/30274-too-many-pilots.html
********************Podiatry********************
...I agree with what Creflo said. You are already making 110k a year and in podiatry there isnt a guarantee that your salary will increase much from this. It is possible you could double it or even more than that but you could end up with the same thing your sitting at now plus you'll have 150k+ in loans and the 4 years of loss income (440k). Just in 4 years that can set you back about 600k+ between student loans and lost income. If you were shooting for the MD I could see a bit of a better argument especially if your're a gunner and were looking to get into ortho, plastics or one of the higher paid patient contact specialties...
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...I'm just a student but unfortunately when it comes to podiatrist salaries there are no guarantees that a podiatrist will make a certain amount. Some podiatrists start with $70,00 and some start with $200,000. Some make $100,000 consistently for their whole career and never go above. Your patient interaction fulfillment may be overridden by the debt that you will have. It is not worth it at all in my opinion especially concerning the residency shortage where things might be improved in the future, or the residency situation could be worse...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pharmacist-considering-podiatry-school.1085908/
...100K-ish is normal to start out. Check out the podiatry residents and physicians forums. There's a pretty recent thread that has a lot of good and true talk about starting salary and salary ranges...
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...At the end of the day as mentioned earlier, being that it is a 7 year commitment for training and potential salary loss you and anyone else must assess what will truly make you happy. Financially speaking run your numbers too. Just to kindof lowball it:
4 years of school= -200k (quitting your current job)
-250k (school loans +interest)...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/is-podiatry-still-a-viable-option.1177800/
...is 200k [in debt] warranted given the salaries you hear about on here? 200k debt for 100k out of residency or sometimes even less?...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pod-school-student-debt.798000/
...I would say Chicago is pretty saturated because most of the associate positions there start off around $70,000. So while there may be jobs available, they won't be too desirable financially in saturated areas. Surprisingly podiatrists actually accept these kind of offers...
...According to MGMA, the average STARTING salary for Podiatrist in most of the saturated areas are below $100k...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/saturation-levels-by-area.1053908/
...You'll find someone that fails in their career in every profession out there. Sometimes it's their fault and sometimes it isn't. I wouldn't put too much stock in the experiences of others. Trust your gut...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/i-think-we-might-be-in-for-trouble.894092/
********************Physician Assistant********************
...I currently have $32k in undergraduate debt. I got accepted to an out-of-state pa program. I plan on living as cheap as possible. However, I estimate my total loan burden after two years of PA school will be around $155-160k including all fees and compounded interest.
Is that worth a $70-85k starting salary?...
...My sister in-law started at $63k working for the community health department, great benefits, but it didn't qualify for loan repayment. She just got an offer from the local prison to make $105k/year. Are these fears normal?...
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...Honestly if you don't change your lifestyle and live like a poor college grad after PA school you should be able to dump tons of money back into your loans... Also if you are planning on working in rural community health as a FP PA Then you should qualify for federal and state loan forgiveness programs. It's something like 70K (in WA state) and 50K in federal funds...
...Just live below your means, and be smart about where you live and the dept will take care of itself...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/13360-is-the-debt-worth-it/
..I enjoy being a PA but I hate to see so much hard earned money going to school loans. There are ways to repay loans faster (NHSC, military)...
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...I am in my third clinical rotation and I hate being a PA student and I really regret starting PA school. The only reason I haven't quit yet is because of all the debt I have acquired from the last year and a half of school...
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...Yes, it was worth it, but it's rapidly getting to the point of diminishing return. I went to school as a non-traditional student (age 40), pulled a total of $105k in loans for tuition and living expenses (at 8%+), and am now faced with the burden of paying that much off (as well as saving for retirement) at a later stage. Having said that, I figure I can do it in 4 yrs but it'll require NHSC loan repayment and continuing to live like a student to do it. It won't be as fun as it could be.... Tuition and fees, especially at private institutions, are rising way faster than inflation, and the return on your investment isn't increasing proportionally...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/415-was-it-worth-it/
...the lack of recognition and respect is very problematic. many docs hate PAs. many nurses think of PAs as the enemy. the public thinks we are medical assistants.
the autonomy and ability to work up to your skill set and gain an appropriate scope of practice is only won through a major struggle.
the potential for advancement is minimal. it has taken me 16 years to claw my way up to a job I enjoy. I have to drive 3 hrs from a major metro area to a very rural area to have that job.
if you have any doubts, go to medschool. I should have...
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...Want money go work on wallstreet! If you have a desire to help people go into healthcare please! Tired of hospital people who are in the game for the wrong reasons which is at an all time high I am afraid... (I think I adequately demonstrated that the Wall Street guys are complaining too! 😉 )
http://www.physicianassistantforum....pa-school-worth-the-future-of-the-profession/
...in my opinion the market is about to become super saturated. Over EIGHTY PA PROGRAMS ARE IN DEVELOPMENT. The university system in the United States is absurd in how it creates a business out of degrees regardless of how it positions students. PA's might be better off than NP in the future in that PAs are versatile...
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...Well FNPs are versatile as well, and that is my main concern: FNPs ruining the market for other FNPs as well as PAs. I didn't realize PA programs were exploding like that as well, very scary.
Part of me feels like the NP profession does have one built in "safety" that the PA profession does not - all NPs are RN's and must maintain their RN license to remain an NP. As such, the NP salary could never dip below the RN salary for an area, as NPs would simply be able to return to their RN roots. This creates a floor of about 50-60K in most areas, and as high as 70-80K in other areas. PAs on the other hand have no fallback - if an out of work PA had to pay bills and the only job offer was for 45K, they have no choice but to take it...
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...This forum is notorious for being negative about the future...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/11298-will-nps-destroy-the-job-market/
...I agree with SocialMed, I think saturation is happening as we speak and will peak in the next 5 years or so...
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...Those of us who have been out practicing for a few years will be fine. But I could see those who are applying or planning to apply in the near future may struggle with an increasingly saturated job market- which, as many pointed out above, has a lot to do with location and specialty...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/18723-pa-field-saturation/
...Hello. I am a new PA-C. Graduated in May, have had a couple of interviews, but have not been able to secure employment. The last interview went fantastic but I was not chosen due to lack of experience. Most of the positions in my area are for experienced PAs or require relocation, which I am not able to do at this time. I have applied for a residency program, but, even if selected, this is likely to not start until September. I am very frustrated and stir-crazy. I have put my CV out to several recruiting sites. I was told that finding a position would be easy. Not so much for me. Any suggestions?...
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...This is a very a common problem that I had also faced after I graduated in 2011. It took me 3 or 4 months to land a part time gig and then another 3-4 months to actually be able to start full time at an ER full time. The field is saturated now and you will have better luck if you relocate. Also, if you are more flexible with your pay and specialty. Good Luck...
http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/40073-cant-get-hired/
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Do all people fit this mold? Of course not. Some of these threads, though, may actually help people out there who have a primary motivation for money.
