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[Courage]

Not to mention the amount of debt you accumulate to become a doctor. I don't mind a more socialized healthcare system, even if it means reimbursement cuts, but they have to offset it with the cost of med school. Becoming a doctor shouldn't put you 200-300k in debt. Concern for the availability of residency spots is also valid. That's why I'm probably gonna pick a low-key specialty where I can live comfortably (psychiatry, physical medicine) so I don't have to worry about extreme competition or crazy reimbursement cuts (RIP fresh surgeon graduates) even if it means I have to pay off my loans for the rest of my life.


edit: I realized this applies to any type of post-secondary education in the US. Private schools can suck a dick.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Fuck med school. My brother got into Tufts this semester, and within minutes got an 80k loan. Note, most of his university costs were already paid before getting that loan, so he's been able to spend it on just about anything he wants (although obviously he had to get a place to stay first). 80k, first year. And he seems to have no concept or understanding of the fact that he has to not only pay that back, but also the loans he'll receive in the future.

Why would anyone want to come out of school with nearly 200k in debt, in a field where you don't even make a lot of money right away? What's the point of that shit? In his case I get the impression he really doesn't give a shit about people or patients, he just wants to be a doctor (surgeon) for the prestige. Good luck with that.

My advice? Go into business. Accounting specifically, or finance. Especially if you want a job immediately after graduation. Med school is a waste, and if you're going just because family members are pressuring you...you're going to take an L. They aren't going to help you pay off those loans. There are other good fields out there too, I know I'm biased but that's just my view. The most successful 20something people I know from my class went into business or IT fields. I know a lot of people who have quit med school, or are struggling with liberal arts degrees, or getting treated like shit as a programmer, etc.

 

[thabiz]

IT is a great avenue and you dont need crazy degrees to advance. IT will always be needed for the foreseeable future.

 

[Discotheque]

I'm in comp sci. The field interests me, i just hope the job prospects are decent.

 

[Courage]

It's not all about the money, PD. Medicine is one of the few things I'm, and I'm sure many prospective doctors, are passionate about. Although I'm gonna sit here and bitch about the debt, I can't see myself doing anything else.

I also realize there's other ways to go around doing it (being a PA/NP; they're in a lot of demand since they're cheaper and can do everything a doctor does) but they get treated like shit.

Also the whole "go into business" advice is so... broad. It's just as hard to get a good job there, especially with the oversaturation going on right now. It should never be about the money, even when you have a fucked up school system like America.

 

[Esch]

Not to mention the amount of debt you accumulate to become a doctor. I don't mind a more socialized healthcare system, even if it means reimbursement cuts, but they have to offset it with the cost of med school. Becoming a doctor shouldn't put you 200-300k in debt. Concern for the availability of residency spots is also valid. That's why I'm probably gonna pick a low-key specialty where I can live comfortably (psychiatry, physical medicine) so I don't have to worry about extreme competition or crazy reimbursement cuts (RIP fresh surgeon graduates) even if it means I have to pay off my loans for the rest of my life.
.

Psychiatry is a good specialty. If I end up going to med school in the next year or two, I'll go with that specifically because it interests me. However, med school is something you have to be 100% sure about. Like PD said it's expensive and life as a doctor is hell. I'm not gonna lie, I've had second thoughts even though I have the grades, MCAT and no debt + won't have to pay for grad school due to saving. I've been considering PT. I just turned 24. I work mostly in pharmaceutical research and have a part time hustle as a lab tech as well, but I'm definitely planning on grad school or a field change in the next 6 months. Shit is a lot of work.

Simply put I know a lot of doctors with ruined, unhappy lives. They have no free time. They never see their kids. Unless you have a private practice, it's a huge huge life sacrifice and money commitment, period.

 

[Courage]

Simply put I know a lot of doctors with ruined, unhappy lives. They have no free time. They never see their kids. Unless you have a private practice, it's a huge huge life sacrifice and money commitment, period.

Psychiatrists work 32 hrs/wk and are the second happiest specialty behind derms. With the stigma they've been getting and the demand for mental health providers, it's pretty much a goldmine. Plus psychopharmacology is fascinating; taking abnormal psych/neurobiology right now and it's :wow:.

In my experience, the doctors you're talking about are the ones that focus almost every second of their life trying to maximize revenue. This includes surgeons, and doctors that I've worked for in the past, that have no idea how to cut costs in their practice (kinda goes back to what PD said about having no financial sensibilities) and keep working harder and harder. Anyone going into med school for the "big bucks" and "comfy life" are usually the ones that end up miserable.

 

[Discotheque]

Breh I thought you were in your residency that whole time lol. What was your major that you graduated with to get pharm research job?

 

[Esch]

Psychiatrists work 32 hrs/wk and are the second happiest specialty behind derms. With the stigma they've been getting and the demand for mental health help, it's pretty much a goldmine. Plus psychopharmacology is fascinating; taking abnormal psych/neurobiology right now and it's :wow:.

Depends on where you work. I work with physicians in geri and child psych for my main gig. I will say this: the mental health demand for geriatric psychiatrists in the next couple of decades due to the aging of baby boomers is inevitable and will offer plenty of job openings especially. Demand for child psychiatry is also going to be consistent, given that attitudes toward mental health in the United States is shifting drastically. I don't know much about adult psychiatry, but those two for sure are going to have consistent work.

As far as work weeks... I work with two med schools and fellows and residents. It's a brutal seven+ years, no doubts about it. 32 hours a week is news to me, dude these guys are run ragged. Neurosci is indeed an awesome field as far as interest and research on it is expanding rapidly. If you really love it though, do it. Honestly psychiatry is the only reason i'm still interested in medicine anymore.

Breh I thought you were in your residency that whole time lol. What was your major that you graduated with to get pharm research job?

I have a BS in Bio (with heavy concentration in neuro and some pharm/chem) and a BA in Poli sci, but I got my job(s) because I had a lot of published behavioral and pharm research in undergrad. Honestly it was the result of a lot of wheeling and dealing, connections. You don't get shit by sending in job apps from my experience.

 

[Complex Shadow]

IT is a great avenue and you dont need crazy degrees to advance. IT will always be needed for the foreseeable future.

i am in IT. jobs are out there. i do get interview every now and then. but fuck if it isn't hard to get in if your new.

 

[Courage]

I'm going by the 2014 Medscape compensation report.

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2014/psychiatry#16

I forgot where I read 32, but a majority work 30-40 hours, which isn't that bad compared to 50+ hr weeks other specialties put in.

 

[PhoenixDark]

I always say if you want to be a doctor, become a dentist. You'll make more money, won't have nearly as much stress or debt, and will quickly be able to control your schedule after you get settled.

When I worked at a dental office we did business with a specialist who works 6 cases a year and makes six figures. 6 cases. Dude is chilling on a beach for most of the year.

 

[Esch]

I'm going by the 2014 Medscape compensation report.

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2014/psychiatry#16


I forgot where I read 32, but a majority work 30-40 hours, which isn't that bad compared to 50+ hr weeks other specialties put in.

Definitely believable. But like i said depends on where you work. I know some private practice people that work 3 days a week, do all their own paperwork and billing, pull in 6 figures and keep a really low overhead. The people I know in hospitals earn more, but they work a lot more. My point was that residents and fellows are squeezed dry, and that will be a large portion of your (and potentially my) young life.

Low low key? Best thing next to PP in medicine is academia. Grant money, get to fuck around with students, teaching is rewarding, lots of variety.

 

[Courage]

I always say if you want to be a doctor, become a dentist. You'll make more money, won't have nearly as much stress or debt, and will quickly be able to control your schedule after you get settled.

When I worked at a dental office we did business with a specialist who works 6 cases a year and makes six figures. 6 cases. Dude is chilling on a beach for most of the year.

Ain't into teeth tho

 

[Tokubetsu]

All the doctors I know basically went full speed med school into work, lost friends etc and didn't slow up until mid 30s. Then they pop back up in social circles married with three kids and live for travel vacations.

 

[Courage]

Also Esch, PT is a dope career. I work for physical therapists and they get to practice what they love (they're into fitness on the side) while making good money. Also, seeing progress in your patients must be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.

 

[LOZLINK]

Damn, we out here starving by the looks of things. I've popped in twice this week and both conversations weren't music related

 

[perfectchaos007]

Congrats to Lecrae for the #1 album on Billboard's 200. That's unprecedented for a Christian Rapper, or whatever you want to label him as.

 

[Cudder]

I always say if you want to be a doctor, become a dentist. You'll make more money, won't have nearly as much stress or debt, and will quickly be able to control your schedule after you get settled.

When I worked at a dental office we did business with a specialist who works 6 cases a year and makes six figures. 6 cases. Dude is chilling on a beach for most of the year.

You don't work there anymore? fuck, every time I see one of your posts I picture you sitting behind that receptionist desk posting on gaf, looking at the clock every 10 minutes only to see that 5 minutes have gone by.

what do you do now breh? I need ta know

 

[Esch]

Also Esch, PT is a dope career. I work for physical therapists and they get to practice what they love (they're into fitness on the side) while making good money. Also, seeing progress in your patients must be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.

Yea lol, I became interested in it based off all the injuries i've accumulated over my years of being a dumbass/bad luck. Every PT i've been to from said injuries is super happy and content. It's a rewarding, decent hustle and you can't really automate it or replace it very easily. I guess I'd have to take the GRE but I have all the requirements pretty much. make high 5 figures, work good hours, help people, and yeah stay fit.

 

[PhoenixDark]

You don't work there anymore? fuck, every time I see one of your posts I picture you sitting behind that receptionist desk posting on gaf, looking at the clock every 10 minutes only to see that 5 minutes have gone by.

what do you do now breh? I need ta know

Accountant.

 

[IrishNinja]

man, it can be a bitch getting in, but civil service at least (mostly) treats you right, with the right union anyway. i don't worry about job security or none of that, and the schedule's pretty nice too

House of Flying Daggers is one of my favorite beats of all time. I wish it weren't so squashed though.

this was my shit, had that on loop forever

I am hoping I can ignore the singles and just go into it blind like I did with GKMC

me too, i do media blackouts of shit like bloodborne/silent hills etc, need to bring that over here as well

 

[Rastafarian42]

Headed toward Pharmacy myself got my recommendation letters ready and I have someone that I can shadow behind. I'm gonna go ahead and sign for the PKat prep class and I know the loans and shit will be crazy once I head towards graduate school. I just look at it as I'll most likely die before I pay them off all the way pay whatever they have installments.

 

[Courage]

Headed toward Pharmacy myself got my recommendation letters ready and I have someone that I can shadow behind. I'm gonna go ahead and sign for the PKat prep class and I know the loans and shit will be crazy once I head towards graduate school but I just look at it as I'll most likely die before I pay them off all the way pay whatever they have installments.

Good luck man; I'm taking the MCAT this January. I have one shot to make it count, because they're entirely changing the format after January and extending the test from 3.5 hours to 6
hours.

I hope the PCAT isn't as bad.

 

[Tokubetsu]

http://trapsntrunks.com/2014/09/19/2-chainz-ft-young-thug-dresser/

 

[Rastafarian42]

Good luck man; I'm taking the MCAT this January. I have one shot to make it count, because they're entirely changing the format after January and extending the test from 3.5 hours to 6
hours.

I hope the PCAT isn't as bad.

holy SHIT did you take a prep class ?

 

[Courage]

holy SHIT did you take a prep class ?

Nah, ordered a bunch of books and I'm following a schedule from studentdoctor.net. It's pretty tough.

 

[big ander]

http://trapsntrunks.com/2014/09/19/2-chainz-ft-young-thug-dresser/

 

[Cheddahz]

Damn, I wish I knew what I want to do with my life

 

[IrishNinja]

Damn, I wish I knew what I want to do with my life

like dating, most of your time gets spent figuring out shit you don't wanna do - the world is basically your oyster right now, so try some shit, and don't be afraid to fail at it.

lotsa people are gonna tell you you're supposed to sort out your path in your 20's, or your 30's or 40's or whatever - fuck them. finding it is great, but it's more important that you not stop looking for too long at a time, or you'll end up lost & bumping cudi

 

[JohnDoe]

I feel sorry for you US guys having to worry about student loans and crippling debts and shit, shit sounds rough as fuck

 

[codhand]

A good field is Project managers for university med research or that same thing for big pharma. less stress, no patients, and good pay. Very high demand for these positions.

 

[Storm Chamber]

Brehs. Only Built for Cuban Linx II is a great album. I know it's mixed in here but I've had it playing tonight and it's fantastic.

Wu stannery aside this shit rides these whole way through.

Also has the last great RZA beat in Black Mozart. Deck kills his verse on there.

The difference with this album and Shoaling V Wu is readily apparent. Without the Cuban Linx moniker and ghost all over it this would be immobility tier trash. Ghosts features are among the highlights when him and Rae are just flowing over a gritty beat.

Even the non wu features are good. Beans on no mercy, jada and styles on broken safety, even slick rick on we will rob you with the hook fits and sounds great.

This album is underrated in here for real.

Shame dre couldn't give Chef some good beats though. Catalina is okay bit doesn't fit on here.

Agreed.

Black Mozart has my favorite sample of all time too

 

[IrishNinja]

also: blunt roller

 

[cacophony]

Damn, I wish I knew what I want to do with my life

no you don't, then shit is boring because you'll feel like you have to do something/stick to a certain path

 

[Esch]

I feel sorry for you US guys having to worry about student loans and crippling debts and shit, shit sounds rough as fuck

The problems are really really endemic. It's honestly destroying a generation of futures for a lot of people. The education requirements for employment rising along with the price of education and inflation, terrible job prospects, and the simple facts that to get a decent living you have to either be in a small area of fields or talents or go to grad school. The illusion of 2 kids, 2 cars a house is broken for a lot of people in their 20s here. Theres a lot of blame to go around too

 

[IrishNinja]

no you don't, then shit is boring because you'll feel like you have to do something/stick to a certain path

oh yeah, this is the unseen "grass is always greener" part - when you commit to something - like i'm gonna be about this life - shit can get kinda scary, cause you occasionally get to eat shit without the blissful freedom of saying fuck you, fuck you, you're cool, i'm out

i say this as a dude with no kids. i can only imagine this stuff (plus what esh is talking about) and having a dependent.

 

[Cheddahz]

 

[Kwixotik]

Also Esch, PT is a dope career. I work for physical therapists and they get to practice what they love (they're into fitness on the side) while making good money. Also, seeing progress in your patients must be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.

Yea lol, I became interested in it based off all the injuries i've accumulated over my years of being a dumbass/bad luck. Every PT i've been to from said injuries is super happy and content. It's a rewarding, decent hustle and you can't really automate it or replace it very easily. I guess I'd have to take the GRE but I have all the requirements pretty much. make high 5 figures, work good hours, help people, and yeah stay fit.

I'm in PT school right now. I'm not really into personal fitness hardcore or anything, I just like watching people make progress and helping them get there. Anyway, it's pretty cool so far but the debt load can be significant. If you work travel PT you can work 15-20% more money and potentially break into 6 figures with enough experience traveling around on 3-6 month assignments, and you get to choose the location with your agency. I don't know if I'll do that long term but I think it'd be a cool way to travel around the country and at the same time make more money to throw at my loans than I would otherwise.

I thought about law and pharmacy and shit like that, but I'm really more about quality of life. I've got a life outside of school/work that I don't want to lose, and PT is the perfect balance of hours worked, personal satisfaction, and money. Also a lot of people don't realize but the field goes beyond sports injuries and orthopedic rehab. You can also specialize in neurological PT, cardiopulmonary, wound care, and all sorts of other stuff - I think oncology is starting to get big now too. Anyway, between all the specialties and settings there's a lot of room to figure out what you like best.

It's pretty coo

 

[Syph Medwes]

Good luck man; I'm taking the MCAT this January. I have one shot to make it count, because they're entirely changing the format after January and extending the test from 3.5 hours to 6
hours.

I hope the PCAT isn't as bad.

Yea I'm taking the 2015 MCAT aka the new one you're talking about. But I've already started studying so I think I'll be fine.
Also thinking about taking the LSATs. Good luck!

I'm hoping to be a paediatric oncologist.
Or a lawyer obviously lol #factsonly

 

[overcast]

he lives by a code. he doesn't want to be mr. steal yo girl.

Swerved quick. Intoxicated good decisions brehs.

I'm an English major trying to eventually teach. Job will be hard to come by.

 

[IrishNinja]

don't be scared; UPS is hirin'

 

[Courage]

I Also a lot of people don't realize but the field goes beyond sports injuries and orthopedic rehab. You can also specialize in neurological PT, cardiopulmonary, wound care, and all sorts of other stuff - I think oncology is starting to get big now too.

Had no idea. That sounds interesting; is there an actual demand for specialties like that though? When I think of physical therapist I just think of the traditional model of instructing patients exercises and utilizing a bunch of modalities to relieve pain.

don't be scared; UPS is hirin'

Working for UPS is slavery. I have a few UPS employees on workers comp that come to the office I work for and HQ sends people to come check on them every week, to make sure they're doing PT and not slacking off. It's fucking crazy.

 

[Esch]

Thanks for the insight, kwix. Luckily debt isnt a problem for me, but yeah thats one of the reasons PT is appealing; quality of life.

Swerved quick. Intoxicated good decisions brehs.

I'm an English major trying to eventually teach. Job will be hard to come by.

Dude, shit. You can always get those CELTA certs and say fuck america like siddx and go do TEFL somewhere. He seems to enjoy it a lot.

 

[Cheddahz]

Dude, shit. You can always get those CELTA certs and say fuck america like siddx and go do TEFL somewhere. He seems to enjoy it a lot.

I've actually been thinking about doing this (the art gig isn't working for me and I was previously an English major)

 

[IrishNinja]

Working for UPS is slavery. I have a few UPS employees on workers comp that come to the office I work for and HQ sends people to come check on them every week, to make sure they're doing PT and not slacking off. It's fucking crazy.

you hear that, cast? and remember, united parcel service & the people at the post office didn't call you back because you had cloudy piss

 

[wenis]

I'm moving to the mountains when I'm forty and dying up there. Fuck society man. I'm done.

 

[Syph Medwes]

I'm moving to the mountains when I'm forty and dying up there. Fuck society man. I'm done.

you joke but if i could drop everything and do that right now id seriously consider
becoming a monk or something that is

 

[IrishNinja]

whenever i think about dropping everything & walking the earth in search of adventure, i think about Louis CK talking about how we are today - "try just walking around your block without your cellphone, and watch the panic set in"

don't get me wrong, some people can do it but i'd just feel like thoreau, leaving society for its comfort & patterns only to notice having made a walking path from his house to a nearby pond a few weeks later: we are what we are, fam

 

[big ander]

you joke but if i could drop everything and do that right now id seriously consider
becoming a monk or something that is

The whole monk thing is too far but this past year more than a handful of times I've thought "why don't I just move to canada, get a bum part time job at a ski resort, scrape by for my entire life"

Not ruling it out.