What a sad life :-(

[postbacpremed87]

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Actuarial Science....you pass a few exams and get a starting job at 55-60K...once you do that, they take you on to their actuarial training program and pay you to take exams while they pay you for work....upon passing all exams/getting fully credentialed you can make as much as $217,000 a year (90th percentile)....$175,000 on average after 8 years of experience....after making a career of it (15-20+ years) salaries can reach 250-300k. Other than law or medicine it certainly pays the most and you only need a bachelors degree so it means less debt..

one catch...

You have to be a rockstar at math. By rockstar I mean a genius....

I pray thee, please name a Bachelor's degree that pays better than engineering and gives you less debt! (I personally don't have any yet)

 

[TheMightySmiter]

This thread makes me old and cranky.

I hear ya...well, metaphorically. And I wish these damn kids would get off my lawn.

 

[Stumpyman]

Actuarial Science....you pass a few exams and get a starting job at 55-60K...once you do that, they take you on to their actuarial training program and pay you to take exams while they pay you for work....upon passing all exams/getting fully credentialed you can make as much as $217,000 a year (90th percentile)....$175,000 on average after 8 years of experience....after making a career of it (15-20+ years) salaries can reach 250-300k. Other than law or medicine it certainly pays the most and you only need a bachelors degree so it means less debt..

one catch...

You have to be a rockstar at math. By rockstar I mean a genius....

I know many people who tried this and failed over and over. It's a REALLY hard process, the exams are grueling, one of my friends (mini einstein when it comes to math, really) couldn't pass all the exams (he is in med school now btw-not an idiot). And there are very, VERY few of these guys in all of america. Great job, yes, but you have to be a super genius.

 

[SisterDisco08]

I know someone whose parents are both actuaries, and she's about to graduate with a degree in it too @_@

 

[Frazier]

I know someone whose parents are both actuaries, and she's about to graduate with a degree in it too @_@

Takeaway: Obviously there's an inheritable actuary gene...

 

[deleted393595]

Takeaway: Obviously there's an inheritable actuary gene...

Or she was indoctrinated into the actuary cult at a young age.

 

[SilentSoldier]

Worked retail for 4 years while in CC and college. Sometimes you just need to man up and do what you got to do to make that money. I'm lucky to be doing something somewhat related to my degree now, but the experience I had before definitely helped me get there. Plus, the money didn't hurt either 😀

 

[JESSFALLING]

Grow up, at least you have a freakin' job! There are likely millions in this country that wish and dream that they were as LUCKY as you; ...as lucky as someone who has a car to drive and a job to go to!

I hope that you fix your thinking before you become a doctor because your lack of real world experience and empathy is frightening! Please, take some time and serve in a homeless shelter; serve some food to those that have nothing - car, job, or home. Or go visit cancer patients who don't have the rest of their lives to look forward to...LIKE YOU DO! Please, be thankful for what you have and what life has blessed you with. Watch the Christmas Carol for inspiration. Do something besides complain! Thank you.

 

[JESSFALLING]

I know many people who tried this and failed over and over. It's a REALLY hard process, the exams are grueling, one of my friends (mini einstein when it comes to math, really) couldn't pass all the exams (he is in med school now btw-not an idiot). And there are very, VERY few of these guys in all of america. Great job, yes, but you have to be a super genius.

'Actuary' is basically PhD in amazingness!

 

[kg062007]

this is ridiculous, a top grade student doing job in a pizza shop.

I see you live a sheltered life sweetheart

 

[theseeker4]

this is ridiculous, a top grade student doing job in a pizza shop.

Welcome to the real world.

 

[AntiHouseMD]

this is ridiculous, a top grade student doing job in a pizza shop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1o_mH_tZI8&t=0m58s

Sad, but true.

 

[Perrotfish]

Worked retail for 4 years while in CC and college. Sometimes you just need to man up and do what you got to do to make that money. I'm lucky to be doing something somewhat related to my degree now, but the experience I had before definitely helped me get there. Plus, the money didn't hurt either 😀

I don't feel like that's really the same thing as the OP's situation. When you work retail in college you are a part time employee, and you are not a college graduate. It doesn't really feel demeaning because you're not actually more qualified than those around you, yet, and also no one expects part time work to be good.

 

[postbacpremed87]

I would argue it requires more intelligence to become an actuarial fellow (those who make it all the way and pass all exams) than it does to be an MD. I took one of those first exams and passed it, but barely. **** is hard...

I know many people who tried this and failed over and over. It's a REALLY hard process, the exams are grueling, one of my friends (mini einstein when it comes to math, really) couldn't pass all the exams (he is in med school now btw-not an idiot). And there are very, VERY few of these guys in all of america. Great job, yes, but you have to be a super genius.

 

[robbieflick]

After spending years in college, getting top grades, and graduating top of my class I have been reduced to working at pizza hut during my gap year. What makes matters worse, I work under a district manager I have known since childhood. I was a honor student, and he was in special ed. How did my life end up like this!

After returning from a competitive social entrepreneurship fellowship to Cambodia immediately after college, I came back to land squarely back at the produce stand where I worked in years past.

It sucked, but I kept looking and eventually found a great job at a local nonprofit. Didn't pay much, but an incredible and meaningful experience.

If you're interested, and making a lot of money is not your top priority, that job was funded through an Americorps program. You may want to look them up...

 

[Fort]

I can at least be a little empathetic.

After gettting my newly minted science degree my first job was a cart attendant at Sam's Club. Boy was that job awful. I pushed carts all through the summer in the blazing heat up through the chill of early December. Wind, rain, snow, ice, or sleet, I was pushing carts. I had no medical insurance and was only working part time but I got the most hours because I was good at my job and most people liked me.

Then in December I "moved up" as a maintenance associate, which is basically a very glorified janitor who is massively underpaid. Most of my time as a janitor at Sam's Club was actually spent "filling holes" in employment rather than scrubbing toilets; that is, I was expected to cover shifts that were purposely left unfilled on the floor, in the produce department, tire department, etc. The benefits to this job were, well, the benefits. I finally had health insurance again, including vision and dental. The employment was also full-time.

After another 6 months of humility (I have a lot more respect for janitors now than I ever had) I was promoted again to Receiving Supervisor. I got extremely lucky with this job and I am grateful for the experience. For once, someone was willing to give me a chance to function as a leader. The pay increase was nice, but I'm still struggling a bit financially. Not nearly as bad as when I was pushing carts, though.

I guess my point is, no matter how degrading or mindless the job may seem, do your best and put out (I mean actually do work, be a beast, not put out like a prostitute lol). There is always something to be learned from every job, including the people above and below you. If you work hard and have a positive attitude, the right people will notice and you'll move on.

The job market is tough, but remember, this too shall pass.

 

[jeffro1080]

If I could go back, I would have seriously considered an engineering degree vs biology. Our eng students here go full-time for 4 years but make bank (>$20,000) in each of their co-op/intern semesters. That's big money while you're in school. Plus, you're set to find a decent job when you graduate.

too bad engineering is hard.

 

[Perrotfish]

too bad engineering is hard.

Yeah, engineering might make you some $$ in your gap year, but it can also cost you an application cycle.

 

[FTFY]

I understand where the OP is coming from because I had a similar view point on jobs until I had to take time off of school to obtain state residency.

I had worked all throughout high school to help pay my family's bills, but when I got to college I was under the impression that my hard work had afforded me the opportunity to never take a step back into the world of food service. However, when I had to take time off and jump back into the "real world", I found out how important my experiences really were.

I believe it is a large problem with many, including doctors, who stay sequestered in one life path. It does not introduce one the variety of people who are around them every day. It is this type of experience that helps one appreciate others from different backgrounds. I believe that having a broad range of experiences with all sorts of people really helps one prepare for the diversity one will likely experience in one's journey as a physician.

Furthermore, I believe the best doctors I have met understand the "lower level" employees they work with and to talk them, not down to them. I think many pre-meds seem to think that being a doctor means that they every employee will do everything in their power to help the patient. However, the reality is that many in the healthcare field, like many other fields, are not college educated and view their position as a job and not a calling. It is through valuing your employees that you will, hopefully, obtain their best work so that your work can be focused on the medicine you wanted to practice.

So, suck it up. Learn from the experience. And most importantly, be humble.

 

[deleted393595]

However, the reality is that many in the healthcare field, like many other fields, are not college educated and view their position as a job and not a calling. It is through valuing your employees that you will, hopefully, obtain their best work so that your work can be focused on the medicine you wanted to practice.

Agreed. Saw it at a private practice that I shadowed at. There were a couple of rotten apples here and there, but I got to meet a bunch of great front desk people and the office manager and learned that to have an effective practice, you really have to show respect and find ways to work closer together.

 

[DrArete]

After spending years in college, getting top grades, and graduating top of my class I have been reduced to working at pizza hut during my gap year. What makes matters worse, I work under a district manager I have known since childhood. I was a honor student, and he was in special ed. How did my life end up like this!

As a resident, you will likely earn less per hour.

You will also look back on this time fondly as one of the last care free periods of your life.

 

[n3xa]

I understand where the OP is coming from because I had a similar view point on jobs until I had to take time off of school to obtain state residency.

I had worked all throughout high school to help pay my family's bills, but when I got to college I was under the impression that my hard work had afforded me the opportunity to never take a step back into the world of food service. However, when I had to take time off and jump back into the "real world", I found out how important my experiences really were.

I believe it is a large problem with many, including doctors, who stay sequestered in one life path. It does not introduce one the variety of people who are around them every day. It is this type of experience that helps one appreciate others from different backgrounds. I believe that having a broad range of experiences with all sorts of people really helps one prepare for the diversity one will likely experience in one's journey as a physician.

Furthermore, I believe the best doctors I have met understand the "lower level" employees they work with and to talk them, not down to them. I think many pre-meds seem to think that being a doctor means that they every employee will do everything in their power to help the patient. However, the reality is that many in the healthcare field, like many other fields, are not college educated and view their position as a job and not a calling. It is through valuing your employees that you will, hopefully, obtain their best work so that your work can be focused on the medicine you wanted to practice.

So, suck it up. Learn from the experience. And most importantly, be humble.

I like you. 😍