Trying to decide my career path

[Matt105]

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So I graduated last May with a BS in Biochemistry from Clemson University. I've been working as a lab technician (research specialist) at a medical university for about 9 months now, and though I plan to work at this job until july/august 2010, I am positive I am either going to go to medscool or go to pharm.school. The problem is that I just can't make up my mind.

I love chemistry and I'm a problem-solver. Pharmacy school interests me because I would like to work retail for awhile and then possibly pursue pharmaceutical research. Medschool interests me because of all the specializations there are to choose from. After looking at them, I think Neurology is what interests me most. I've always had a huge fascination of the brain and though I was never able to fit a neurology course into my undergrad schedule, I always wanted to. I realize it would be tough, but I could make it.

Does anyone have any suggestions or holy words of wisdom for me? I can tell you more about myself if that would help. I like research, but after 9 months of it, it is starting to get a bit repetitive and I could never make a career out of writing grants and proposals. I would hate that.

edit: And I would assume Neurology is highly competitive.. is it? I have the grades and whatnot to make it to a nice school. I have not yet taken the PCAT/MCAT (because I haven't decided which one to take), but I've already began studying for both and I'm a good standardized test taker. But I digress, I probably don't have the money for a school with a very large tuition.

 

[236116]

Go shadow a doc and a pharm.

If one makes you want to stab yourself, it's probably a bad idea.

 

[Matt105]

How does the shadowing process work. It's for one day, correct? If it's like that "shadow day" in highschool, I did it to an ophthalmologist once and got to see a cataract removal 😀

 

[236116]

You can do it for longer.

Like, go hang out with a EM doc for a few days. Go to work with a pharm for a week. Follow a couple of different people around.

Maybe get a volunteer gig that exposes you to different departments.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Go shadow a doc and a pharm.

If one makes you want to stab yourself, it's probably a bad idea.

👍 👍

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Go shadow a doc and a pharm.

If one makes you want to stab yourself, it's probably a bad idea.

not quite true...I stabbed myself and then stuck with it 😀

But yea...get real-life, varied, multiple, semi-long term exposure to different fields in both pharm and med and then make a decision. Don't let a single experience fool you into anything. A crappy ER volunteer gig could turn you off to medicine when really, all you had to walk down to the intensive care unit to figure out that you want to be a respiratory specialist (just an example).

Good luck!