Pathology, neurology...need direction.

[Rev71]

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Hello, I will be attending Drexel University next month as a biological sciences major.

I have come up with a little list of career paths/fields I am interested in. These are pharmeceutical science, pathology, and neourology. My current schedule is based on a concentration titled pathobiology, but the courses are the same for the first year which lets me switch at any time.

I have considered medical school, pharmacy school, and other graduate options. After doing some research online, I have been a bit...discouraged. I know medical school is competitive, but is it worth the huge debt and stress? I havent heard good things about PharmD either, especially the part about too many PharmD grads and not enough jobs. I found the drug development/industry part of pharmeceutical science interesting. I also looked at the pathologist assistant career and saw it as a middle ground, where I can just get a masters' at my university, make 75-90k a year, do something I like 40 hours a week, and have time to raise a family. I'm probably misinformed so I'd like some advice.

I feel like I have the motivation and work ethic (as well as a few contacts) to pursue the lengthier, more difficult options. But I dont want to become a pathologist or neurologist thinking I'll be rich but ending up drowning in debt.

 

[AlteredScale]

Have you heard of Patholgy Assistant? I beleive Drexel or Duke has a masters program. You might like if you want to pursue medicine but don't want the hassle and sacrifice of entering the MD or PharmD programs.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You should figure out whether you even like working in a lab setting and doing pathology related work like microsurgery, cell cultures, etc. Secondly burn the idea that you'll be making anywhere above 50k as a lab employee of any rank outside of a tenured position in academia or down the road 10 years after you finish your masters or PhD. Truth is that lab work pays poorly, it is constantly a battle of grants and funding either cutting your positions or finding you suddenly doing the work that previously was done by 3 employees if not entirely replaced by wide eyed premeds and interns looking experience.

Honestly take your time study and get a good foundation your first year. Get an internship working in pathology and see if you like it. If you don't consider alternative careers and internships.

 

[BuckyBadger!]

I encourage you NOT to be discouraged about pursuing medicine. It is a long and difficult road, and I'm far from the end as well, but I'm running with the best of them. Check out this chart put out by the AAMC: https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/2013factstable24.pdf. This is what I look at when I get discouraged. When you get into your college career, use this chart to get a better look at your chances of admission. Note that if you have a 3.6 cGPA or better, your odds are at least 53.3%. AND you have the benefit of knowing you are interested in medicine early. Take some time to shadow some doctors in high school, volunteer, get some college courses our of the way via AP/IB/College level courses. When you get to college, revamp your efforts. Keep in mind that it takes a "well-rounded" person to get into medical school: grades/MCAT alone are SUPER important as they are the two (along with LORs) most important pieces of information medical schools use for choosing who to interview, but they are FAR from the whole story. Good luck!

 

[ConfusedChemist]

Don't give up yet-wait and see how undergrad goes! You might surprise yourself, who knows who will have the highest grades? High school doesn't predict that. Also don't worry yet, the fact that you've even opened your mind past medicine if it doesn't work out puts you miles ahead of so many other people. You clearly are thinking this through, and by the time graduation comes you'll figure something out. Enjoy your first year!

 

[wholeheartedly]

You should figure out whether you even like working in a lab setting and doing pathology related work like microsurgery, cell cultures, etc. Secondly burn the idea that you'll be making anywhere above 50k as a lab employee of any rank outside of a tenured position in academia or down the road 10 years after you finish your masters or PhD.

There's a big difference between academic PhD type research and the clinical work the OP is talking about as a pathologist assistant or pathologist. There isn't much cell culturing outside of micro possibly going on in a clinical setting for these roles.

These positions aren't dependent on grants (unless you are an academic pathologist who is primarily research focused). My first year as a clinical lab scientist doing diagnostic testing and stuff (in the dept of lab medicine and pathology) I started out making $50,000 a year with great benefits with just a bachelors, shift differential for working straight nights brought me to almost 60k the next year. Healthcare fields are doing well right now, despite the uncertainty. It's a good stepping stone to both medical school or pathology assistant, or a host of healthcare other jobs.

Now, I'm not sure about the current job market for path assistants.

@Rev71 the best thing you can do right now is to take it one semester at a time, do your best in your classes, try not to stress too much over the future at this point, and just keep on exploring with an open mind. Try to get as much interaction or shadowing as you can in fields you think might interest you. First hand exposure is going to be one of the best ways to get a feel for what fits.

Your ultimate mission is to find a good fit that allows you to get a job that you can also support yourself with. A lot of people in college seem to forget that second part 😛