Setting myself up for bias/flamming

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WestCoastNative

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What are some other good careers besides medicine? Something that can be started much sooner. I'm on the edge with my living situation, I can't possibly see myself having to put up with it for much longer. I'd love to be a doctor, but the time it takes to become on is way to long. I've been starting to slack badly in school because of all the bull happening around me. What's a good potential way to earn some decent money in life? No engineering btw. Medicine really isn't for the weak, I don't feel that I can handle all the **** that comes with it.
 
There are a lot of other healthcare-related jobs out there. A physician assistant might be a good choice if you still want to work in a hospital setting. Jobs in this field are supposed to increase and they are well-paid based on years of experience and the type of specialty you choose to work in.
 
Gladiolus23 said:
There are a lot of other healthcare-related jobs out there. A physician assistant might be a good choice if you still want to work in a hospital setting. Jobs in this field are supposed to increase and they are well-paid based on years of experience and the type of specialty you choose to work in.
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Nothing in healthcare. If I'd go into healthcare, than might as well reach for the top. I would hate to be an assistant of whom I once wanted to be, for the rest of my life.
 
Computer Science/IT/Technology/Entrepreneurship are all good fields to go into right now, especially on the West Coast.

Electricians, plumbers, mechanics can all make good money with a little business sense and some talent workingh with your hands and people.

Nursing, PA school, Dental medicine are much shorter paths that can provide gainful employment in yhe healthcare field.

If you go to a school with decent connections in the industry then consulting seems like an interesting and varied field that a lot of young graduates use as a first-step on their career aspirations.

Finance.

Edit: just saw your post about no healthcare. Oops. Well, Dental medicine is still a top rung healthcare job.

Edit 2: out of curiousity, why no engineering? Too much time and money to commit?
 
I'm kind of looking for something that has more potential than a guaranteed income. Something that's realistic though. Finance is out since I'm in community college atm. I obviously wouldn't be able to get into a top 20, which is what's required to have good potential. I feel like community college kills ALL my chances of a good career. To get into schools with good connects, you have to do it from freshman year. Most of the business schools that I'm looking at, require a whole ton of courses that aren't articulated for in any community college around me.
 
Lucca said:
Computer Science/IT/Technology/Entrepreneurship are all good fields to go into right now, especially on the West Coast.

Electricians, plumbers, mechanics can all make good money with a little business sense and some talent workingh with your hands and people.

Nursing, PA school, Dental medicine are much shorter paths that can provide gainful employment in yhe healthcare field.

If you go to a school with decent connections in the industry then consulting seems like an interesting and varied field that a lot of young graduates use as a first-step on their career aspirations.

Finance.

Edit: just saw your post about no healthcare. Oops. Well, Dental medicine is still a top rung healthcare job.

Edit 2: out of curiousity, why no engineering? Too much time and money to commit?
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Thanks for the help. As for why no engineering, because my community college doesn't have a whole bunch of classes that are needed for the better engineering schools. Plus, it seems like there's an income cap. I'd like a job where I'm not necessarily guaranteed a high income, but where potential to make more is high.
 
WestCoastNative said:
I'm kind of looking for something that has more potential than a guaranteed income.
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What does this even mean? If you are looking for something intangible, then you have some soul-searching to do. What makes you happy? What interests you? What do you want to accomplish?

Or do you mean you want a job that has no income ceiling? Issue with such jobs is that they take a lot of luck, and a lot of work. I am sure Warren Buffet took more risks and worked harder than most physicians, which is where his success comes from. If you can't stomach being a premed, then what exactly are you willing to sacrifice?

You mentioned you feel a need to "reach for the top." That's called ambition, but it might be getting in the way of your happiness. So you'll have to decide which one is more important for you. Either you work hard and sacrifice to get what you want (assuming you know what you want). Alternatively, just relax and figure out what kind of income you need to sustain a life of contentedness.

Honestly though, being a PA is an excellent gig. Nursing isn't a bad idea either, since you can always work your way up the hierarchy later on. You should reconsider if healthcare is really incompatible with you.

Otherwise; consider engineering (you might be in school for 5 years total though). Also consider getting a BA in accounting, which should land you an accounting/auditing job with respectable pay.

Edit: Is business management your boat? If you work your way up a retail store with a business degree, you can reach middle-management. Franchising might be a possibility if you have enough money to start up a store or something.
 
There are plenty of vocational careers that can put you in very good income with just tech school education. Apparently, underwater welding is a high demand skill. I suggest looking into some of those. The tech school in my town is awesome. Something like 95% of their semester by semester graduates land solid jobs within a month, and that's because the school sets them up. Some over the road truckers make six figures.

If you're set on a career which requires a college education, IT is great, as others have suggested. Look into options for business students.

Since you are at a point of indecision, keep your options open. You might end up doing something you never even imagined seeing yourself in.
 
Mmmmm most jobs have an income cap.

Entrepreneurship and finance are the only two industries I can think of where you can go in with nothing and come out with everything and not go through any salary disputes but they both require a lot of hard work, ingenuity, and luck.
 
It's weird. I can ONLY see myself being a physician/surgeon, but the requirements are killing me.
 
WestCoastNative said:
It's weird. I can ONLY see myself being a physician/surgeon, but the requirements are killing me.
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So cowboy up, friend. If you can't put in the work for pre-reqs, there's no way you'll make it big in any of these industries.

This is some tough love here, but if you want this, and it seems like you do, then make it happen.
 
Lucca said:
Welcome to the club! That's just the nature of the game. If your grades are alright, you might survive yet.
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What discourages me as well, is my position atm. I'll have to take all prereqs at community college, and it just bothers me on a daily basis. I won't be on par with applicants who took all of their credits (even non prereqs) at a university.
 
WestCoastNative said:
What discourages me as well, is my position atm. I'll have to take all prereqs at community college, and it just bothers me on a daily basis. I won't be on par with applicants who took all of their credits (even non prereqs) at a university.
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If you transfer into a university and do well there I'm sure you can still succeed. Johns Hopkins isn't an option but hey it won't be for most of us anyway and there are other top-tiers that take CC credit if you want to go into research/that is your bag, man.

Maybe transfer to a Uni in Texas?
 
Lucca said:
If you transfer into a university and do well there I'm sure you can still succeed. Johns Hopkins isn't an option but hey it won't be for most of us anyway and there are other top-tiers that take CC credit if you want to go into research/that is your bag, man.

Maybe transfer to a Uni in Texas?
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If I was to apply, I'd definitely include all U.C. and Texas schools. I know that California schools are highly competitive, but maybe I'd be able to get some preference from my home state. I know that getting into ANY medical school is a great accomplishment in itself, but do you see someone who has cc credits to get into a top 40?
 
WestCoastNative said:
If I was to apply, I'd definitely include all U.C. and Texas schools. I know that California schools are highly competitive, but maybe I'd be able to get some preference from my home state. I know that getting into ANY medical school is a great accomplishment in itself, but do you see someone who has cc credits to get into a top 40?
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No idea, but I'm sure there are some. Lots of people here at my Uni (in TX) take Physics 1/2 at CC because the physics dept. here eats people alive and I know some who are going to UTSW/Baylor next year. UT Houston too. Heavy in-state preference obviously but definitely awesome schools.
 
Sounds more like you are just having a rough time right now instead of actually deciding that you don't want to go to medical school.
 
What interest you? Are you a people person? gregarious? A leader? Think sales.

Like helping? Lots of things there....fireman, police, other first responder. Join the Armed Forces, serve your country and earn some college money.

Like to take things apart or figure out how they work? Tech.

Good with languages? State Dep't or other gov't service.

Or just be a barrista for a few years, save some money, and then figure out what to do.

Check in with your college's career counseling people as well.

WestCoastNative said:
What are some other good careers besides medicine? Something that can be started much sooner. I'm on the edge with my living situation, I can't possibly see myself having to put up with it for much longer. I'd love to be a doctor, but the time it takes to become on is way to long. I've been starting to slack badly in school because of all the bull happening around me. What's a good potential way to earn some decent money in life? No engineering btw. Medicine really isn't for the weak, I don't feel that I can handle all the **** that comes with it.
Click to expand...
 
Lucca said:
No idea, but I'm sure there are some. Lots of people here at my Uni (in TX) take Physics 1/2 at CC because the physics dept. here eats people alive and I know some who are going to UTSW/Baylor next year. UT Houston too. Heavy in-state preference obviously but definitely awesome schools.
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I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I sort of picture lesser known medical schools as being "one way". One way, as in they lead to the more common specialties such as pediatrics, family medicine, geriatrics. There aren't many radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, dermatologists, etc.. who graduate from Top 50 < schools. Are there? I know not to choose a specialty before you get in, and that my preference will probably chance a bunch of times in the near future, but I kind of got my heart on surgery atm.

TheWeeIceMan said:
Sounds more like you are just having a rough time right now instead of actually deciding that you don't want to go to medical school.
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You're right. I would love to attend medical school and graduate, but I'd also like to start working and get my life "started".
 
Have you considered the military? They have great benefits for you and your family, and have a huge variety of jobs. Go see a recruiter and have a chat.
 
It sounds like you want a job as a professional excuse giver.

Seriously, if you arent willing to sacrifice or work hard, then you don't really want a well paying job.

And if you REALLY wanted to be a physician, I have a feeling the a lower tier school wouldn't be an issue.
 
WestCoastNative said:
You're right. I would love to attend medical school and graduate, but I'd also like to start working and get my life "started".
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When you're a little older, you'll hopefully realize your life has started, and it's going on right now. 🙂 You'll be living life regardless of what you do. Choose something that excites you and you can see yourself doing for the long haul. Just make sure it's a realistic expectation about whatever career that is.
 
OP it seems like you are just struggling in your pre-reqs and thus are looking for another easy way out. Let me tell you this--if you can't put in the work to get through the pre-reqs successfully than I doubt you will find success elsewhere. A bunch of people are throwing around finance as an option, but honestly that route is so pedigree driven regarding schools that it would be tough for you coming out of a CC to get into a quality MBA program. However, if you transfer over to a solid 4 year uni and do well you could eventually with impressive work experience land yourself in a solid MBA program. My Dad is a financial adviser for a large firm, got his MBA from Upenn Wharton (#1 business school ahead of Harvard) and told me the only way to go into I-banking /financial adviser at a decent firm/boutique now a days is to go to a top 10 MBA program.

I can tell you business isn't necessarily easier than medicine. My dad works 80-90 hours a week at his job, and is salaried at roughly 250k a year plus bonus. I can think of a lot of physicians that out-earn him. In short do what you think you will love. In business you will be dealing with a lot of D-bags all day, and while there is the select few I bankers that make it big these are few and far between. The majority of people in business are making much less than the average physician. So yes, while the ceiling of business is essentially unlimited the basement is much lower than medicine. And over 90% of people in business probably don't make six figures. Trying to be that guy making millions in I-banking is essentially wanting to be a pro athlete when your a kid--a ****ing long shot! I have considered both careers and am choosing medicine. I think if you start putting in the work you will be more positive towards medicine. To make the bucks in business you have to be hardworking and smart as well--just like being a physician. Don't trick yourself into thinking you can just switch over to business and ride off into the sunset. My Dad btw was a chem E in undergrad and finished with a 3.95 GPA, killed his GMAT, attended Wharton and is still working 90 hours a week to make 250k. I say this because some people think medicine requires more intelligence than business (especially in the pre-med community), but there are many bright people in business that if they decided could have pursued medicine! Also his job cost my parents their marriage. I can tell you my Dad is way smarter than me, and he isn't making the "big bucks" in business, so why should I think I could..? I decided to pursue medicine because it is more enjoyable, personable, and your income is more "guaranteed" in a sense. Decide what you would enjoy more, and pursue that! I just have heard so many people make business out to be the Wolf of Wall Street like, and thats just not the case. I think the outlook in medicine is much brighter, and my Dad told me to 110% pursue medicine over business if that matters to you. GL either way.
 
Elewynne said:
When you're a little older, you'll hopefully realize your life has started, and it's going on right now. 🙂 You'll be living life regardless of what you do. Choose something that excites you and you can see yourself doing for the long haul. Just make sure it's a realistic expectation about whatever career that is.
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Nothing excites me. Worthless piece of **** life. DocMcMommy, stop being an arrogant dingus. Don't try and act like you know what's going on in my life.
 
Do you like math? Computers? Actuary is a stable career that provides a comfortable living and it is not a career that requires pedigree. Take the tests, work hard during internships.
 
WestCoastNative said:
What discourages me as well, is my position atm. I'll have to take all prereqs at community college, and it just bothers me on a daily basis. I won't be on par with applicants who took all of their credits (even non prereqs) at a university.
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That's not necessarily true.I know people that are at top 20 med school and did two years of prereq at the community college. There is a reason why you are not attending a private/state university and maybe that's something that could set you apart if you do well.
 
WestCoastNative said:
I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I sort of picture lesser known medical schools as being "one way". One way, as in they lead to the more common specialties such as pediatrics, family medicine, geriatrics. There aren't many radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, dermatologists, etc.. who graduate from Top 50 < schools. Are there? I know not to choose a specialty before you get in, and that my preference will probably chance a bunch of times in the near future, but I kind of got my heart on surgery atm.


You're right. I would love to attend medical school and graduate, but I'd also like to start working and get my life "started".
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All accredited medical schools can match into any specialty. Some med students will tell you prestige does not matter at all, others will tell you it only matters a bit and only in certain specialties (they tend to be the more academic specialties like Neurosurgery).

Look at this way if you don't feel like looking up match-lists all night: If all less than top 50 schools produced was Primary Care + Family Med then we wouldn't have a PCP/FM shortage in this country, now would we.
 
bambam92 said:
I decided to pursue medicine because it is more enjoyable, personable, and your income is more "guaranteed" in a sense. Decide what you would enjoy more, and pursue that! I just have heard so many people make business out to be the Wolf of Wall Street like, and thats just not the case. I think the outlook in medicine is much brighter, and my Dad told me to 110% pursue medicine over business if that matters to you. GL either way.
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Its funny how so many people in high paying professions tell their children to go into something other than what they are doing. That includes medicine.

Grass is greener and all that.
 
WestCoastNative said:
I'm kind of looking for something that has more potential than a guaranteed income. Something that's realistic though. Finance is out since I'm in community college atm. I obviously wouldn't be able to get into a top 20, which is what's required to have good potential. I feel like community college kills ALL my chances of a good career. To get into schools with good connects, you have to do it from freshman year. Most of the business schools that I'm looking at, require a whole ton of courses that aren't articulated for in any community college around me.
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I'm assuming you're aiming to be a science major? If you take upper level science courses once you transfer to your 4 year university and continue to do well in them, no one will question your ability. And there are actually A LOT of anesthesisologists and radiologists and general surgeons that come out of lower tier med schools, it is definitely not all primary care outside of the top 40
 
WestCoastNative said:
What are some other good careers besides medicine? Something that can be started much sooner. I'm on the edge with my living situation, I can't possibly see myself having to put up with it for much longer. I'd love to be a doctor, but the time it takes to become on is way to long. I've been starting to slack badly in school because of all the bull happening around me. What's a good potential way to earn some decent money in life? No engineering btw. Medicine really isn't for the weak, I don't feel that I can handle all the **** that comes with it.
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  • Become a corporate lawyer. 100k+
  • Major in MIS pay starts at 60k right now for that major and it has potential to earn more as the years go. Business meets technology.
  • Join a cartel jk
Hey man, whatever is happening it will get better. I come from a really rough background, lets just say once in my life I put myself and my family in danger. I also have gone from wanting to be a doctor to thinking that takes too long, but I always ended up coming back to my first dream to become a doctor and that hasn't gone away for years. You don't want to be 45 and say you wished you could of gone to medical school, unless you are rich AF lol.
 
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I don't even know what OP is complaining about anymore. The thread reads like this:

OP: My life is hard and I want to be successful and make lots of money but my life is so hard so I don't want to put up with med school.
SDN: Here are some options X, Y, Z.
OP: None of those work because (vague description of situation and why X, Y, Z wouldn't be feasible)

Let me give you some real life advice OP:
1) If you have not the endurance to do med school you do not have what it takes to make it in banking, consulting, law, other top-paying/top-prestige careers. There's an oft quoted little article on HBR that says that the greatest skill a successful person has is grit. And you sir have no grit.

2) Interest doesn't come (to most) from magically finding your calling. It comes from trying and trying and trying and trying and trying a huge range of things ie. living a life. If you haven't even started on that, OP, you are far from a strong candidate for MD, let alone McKinsey.

I'm being harsh, but this is something you have to understand: you can ask forums and try to "figure out" what you want to do as a career all you want, but it takes years of experience to fully understand what its like to do anything worth a damn. You will not get this from asking around - you have to go out and do something cool.

I see you coming in with the mentality that "I can't do this, I can't do that". Maybe it's just within the context of this thread, but it looks like right now you are just full of excuses. It seems to me like you already know what you want. What's important now is that you figure out how to do it. Plan out what you would have to do to make what you want happen and then make it happen. That's the most important skill you will ever learn.
 
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WestCoastNative said:
Nothing excites me. Worthless piece of **** life. DocMcMommy, stop being an arrogant dingus. Don't try and act like you know what's going on in my life.
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She's not the one being an @$$#0|e here. Whether you LIKE your life or not right now, you ARE living it. Find a way to make the path to med school livable/enjoyable. It's hard, yeah, but it will get you where you want to be, and learning to enjoy the ride is probably the MOST important life skill you will ever learn. You're going to have to learn it eventually. Maybe it requires a drastic change, such as forgoing your dream of being a surgeon, but maybe it takes some other changes. I don't know, because as you pointed out we don't know you or your life. However, THAT should be your focus, not simply 'finding something else because the path to med school is overwhelming and MIGHT be why you are not enjoying your life'.

Honestly, I used to think that nothing excited me and I was just going through the stupid, routine, pointless motions...until I found my passion last year and realized that I wanted to go for med. Some people find a lifestyle, or an activity, or a group of people to surround themselves with.

Whatever you do, please don't just take it out on people who are just trying to help with what limited information they have.
 
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Wow OP, there is no reason for you to be rude here. Everyone has given you respectful advice based off of the information we were given, so there is no need to go on the attack.

In regards to some of your other comments, I think you are greatly overstating the importance of medical school prestige. You can match into any specialty you want at any med school in the US. You just have to put in the hard work for it.

I think you are also making way too much of a deal out of doing your prerequisites at a CC. It is not that big of a deal. Adcoms understand that cost wise that's the most efficient way to get an education. Just take some upper level science courses when you transfer to a 4 year college to prove you can handle the work. NBD
 
Don't know how it's like in the states but in Canada it's at best highly improbable that, with a community college degree, you would be able to work in:

engineering (no b.eng degree),
science (no b.s degree, no research),
corporate management track (the days of working your way up from the mail room are gone)
finance (only recruits at university, extraordinarily hard to break into laterally),
and consulting (see finance).

(ie. non-medicine high earning/high prestige entry-level careers) Do med schools ordinarily accept graduates from cc in the States?

Edit: law might be a decent option.
 
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Sounds like you want the "high paying career" with no salary cap and ability to be your own boss without hard work and sacrifices..

Your answer -> Its not gonna happen

You need to decide what is important to you because you wont get it all...
 
Dumb question, but do CCs grant a BA/BS?

If not, OP shouldn't worry. Just take the pre-reqs at CC, transfer to Uni, get BA/BS.
 
masaraksh said:
Dumb question, but do CCs grant a BA/BS?

If not, OP shouldn't worry. Just take the pre-reqs at CC, transfer to Uni, get BA/BS.
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No, it's an associates degree. 2 years
 
I think that in order to become truly successful in any field you still have to be prepared to sacrifice a lot of time and energy in order to achieve your goals. If you choose a computer science related field, for example, you can put it the minimal effort required and find a decent IT position for a small company. Or alternatively, you can spend years putting in extra hours off the clock perfecting your coding ability, building up your portfolio, networking with other individuals in your field and expanding your value to companies. What I'm trying to say is that from where I'm sitting, there is no easy way to glide through life lavishly; everything has to be earned with work and dedication. Doctor or no doctor.
 
Be a franchise owner. If you are business savvy, you can make a lot of money. One little known fact is that conventional millionaires tend to not be the flashy people with flashy jobs but instead laundry owners, etc. It is a minority of salaried people that make enough to turn into millionaires.
 
WestCoastNative said:
Nothing excites me. Worthless piece of **** life. DocMcMommy, stop being an arrogant dingus. Don't try and act like you know what's going on in my life.
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Why is that every single time when someone creates a thread asking for help, they later lash out and insult people because their advice is unsatisfactory? OP, there is no reason for any of us to help you if you're going to be rude and condescending. You only provided vague information about yourself, complain that you don't like engineering and business, and somehow demand a career with good money and less stress. Yeah sorry. That ain't happening. If you're not willing to work hard, then don't get mad when you land in a less-than-desirable career.
 
WestCoastNative said:
Nothing excites me. Worthless piece of **** life. DocMcMommy, stop being an arrogant dingus. Don't try and act like you know what's going on in my life.
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The truth is, nothing we can give you on this thread will have any ultimate bearing on what you end up doing and where you go. Take the information offered and use it to explore some careers. I'm sure that if you contact your local tech school, they would provide you with a personality/aptitude assessment to see what jobs may be a good fit for you. I recommend this because it seems that you have yet to figure this out for yourself. It's up to you to, not anyone else, find what makes you happy and gives you the chance to make a living. Don't take your frustration out on other people.

If you have had any recent thoughts that involve any kind of self harm, you need to go see your doctor.
 
Goro said:
OP: driving a diesel rig you can start at $40K and be a paid tourist. I've met drivers who make >$100K and one even made $250K!
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Tends to be a very unhealthy lifestyle. I have a few friends who do this, and have developed diabetes, heart failure, DVT, etc. due to the diet (grab fast food as you can find it) and sedentary lifestyle. There are always exceptions, of course.
 
No engineering or healthcare, and you still want to make a ton of money?

Uhh, drop out of college and go work the oilfields.
 
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