Engineering Or Med School: Should I Keep My Options Open?

Two thing to consider. First, consult with a special kind of doctor known as a HOSPITALIST. He can tell you with some precision about the direction of the medical field in consideration of Obumma Care. Second, If as you say you love to build and create things you might consider the engineering pursuit with the aim of creating and/or repair of medical equipment. I know of a man who is trained similarly and it has been very lucrative for him. Check with a hospital human resource person and explain to that person the same thing you have expressed here. Ask to speak to the Hospitalist for a short time as they are very busy. Then see if you can find the contractor (most hospitals contract this specialty) who would do the design, Creation and repair of surgical and analytical devices. A very diverse and interesting field. In all of your pursuit, I wish you great promise and success.

1. Jobs in the Medical Field?

Do not pick a career based on salary because you will not be happy. You have to love it because you will be going to school for 7 plus years. Pharm and PT is 7 years. MD is 4 years undergrad, 4 years of med school, 4 years of residency and then a fellowship so 12 plus years. I am a PT and love what I do.

I am not in it for the money. I live ok but I do not get paid for all of my education. I work in peds which is the poorest of the PTs. I was at a picnic with several of my colleagues, their significant others, and friends who are not PTs. The non PTs all mentioned our passion for our profession that they or their colleagues do not. They work in the corporate world and one was a mechanic. You need to shadow each to see what you like.

For the most part, many of the undergrad work is the same. Here is some info on PT from the national PT association Physical therapists (PTs) are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility - in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes.

State licensure is required in each state in which a physical therapist practices. All PTs must receive a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapist program before taking the national licensure examination that allows them to practice. The majority of programs offer the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree. WHAT DO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS EARN? More than 175,000 physical therapists are licensed in the U.S. today. The median salary for a physical therapist is $80,000 depending on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location, and practice setting.

WHERE DO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS PRACTICE? Although many physical therapists practice in hospitals, over 80 percent practice in: Outpatient clinics or offices Inpatient rehabilitation facilities Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities Homes Education or research centers Schools Hospices Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments Fitness centers and sports training facilities WHAT ARE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A PT? The minimum educational requirement is a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited education program. While some programs offer a master's degree, a growing majority of programs offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Currently, 199 colleges and universities nationwide support 212 accredited professional physical therapist education programs; 96% now offer the DPT and the remaining programs are planning to convert. WHAT ARE THE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A PT? After graduation, candidates must pass a state-administered national exam. Other requirements for physical therapy practice vary from state to state according to physical therapy practice acts or state regulations governing physical therapy.

WHAT IS THE EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), with just a 0.2 percent unemployment rate, physical therapists are now experiencing the best employment conditions since enactment of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

2. Are undergraduate studies a waste of time if I want to go to med school?

No, you have to complete the prerequisites to ready you for medical school. It's also helpful to mature a bit and learn something about humanity. Questions like this indicate that you are not ready.

3. How do you know if you're cut out for med school?

its a matter of how hard you want to work; medical school is very hard but its by far not the hardest thing you can do; phds are much much much much harder and founding a business and running it is a thousand times harder; its really about how much work do you wish to do? even if your grades are strong but not incredible; if after you bachelors or during; you become an RN right? now also you get an mph ( master of public health ) and you do a masters in a social science like psychology and or a masters in a basic medical science; and or an mpa; you walk in with 2 - 3 pertinent masters degrees and you get in for sure; particularly if you work as an RN etc at a hospital and the doctors know you and like you or as an EMT or a health administrator or social worker or mph; if you are willing to break your ass youll do it; you also find out if its for you; all honors students want to be doctors; i found out instead im a psychologist a researcher a writer a director and i run a major production company; be sure you really want to be a doctor and not just want it because its the thing for honors students to want because it is " the best " ; thats a major thing; i couldnt deal with the blood and the body fluids so that was the end of that; and science is my worst subject; i got 98 - 99 in everything else lol; be sure its what you really want and that you dont just want it because you like the idea of it