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College dilemma
#1

College dilemma

Could use a bit of wisdom from you guys. I am currently in the process of applying to nursing school in college. However, as with any college program, seats are limited, and I may or may not get in. Foolishly, I was/am relying on this college program to eventually have a good paying job and make my escape from poverty, but as always, I need a plan B incase I don't get into the program.

My question to you guys is, what can I do in college that will allow me to graduate quickly and start working? Anything STEM related? Anything else in the medical field? (credits do transfer over)
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#2

College dilemma

Why don't you ask your advisor about this? Or fellow students?
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#3

College dilemma

Maybe medical related IT?

Something along the lines of what this program at Duke is offering (this is a masters degree however):

http://www.dukemmci.org/about/

or this at Marymount University (another Master's)

http://www.marymount.edu/academics/progr.../ITMS.aspx

or this (A bachelor's degree! better option if you are only an early undergraduate)

http://www.wgu.edu/online_health_profess...ics_degree


From what it sounds like, these are information technology degrees solely concentrated for the medical field.

Basically anything involved with information technology is a well paying job, combined with it being focused in the medical field, I'd imagine you can find a good paying job quickly at a hospital or medical clinic. Google a few colleges in your area to see if they offer these types of programs.

Good luck!
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#4

College dilemma

I'd recommend looking into geology.

It's one of the easiest science degrees to get; very little in terms of math. Pay is very good. My very first job after graduating, I was making $350 a day as a contract geologist (this was in 2009). After a year of contracting, I was signed on with a salary of $95,000 a year plus benefits and stock options.

An American friend of mine had similar experiences. He went to a small liberal arts college in Colorado and got a BA in geology which I didn't even know existed. He got a job at one of the gold mines in Colorado and was making around $80,000 a year.

You can expect to work in camps or at mines for the first 5 years after graduating. After that, it's usually possible to get into the corporate office in a city somewhere.

As for medical-related, my fiance does sonography (ultrasound) and it pays almost as well as nursing does. She also argues that the job is a lot nicer than being a nurse; less bullshit to deal with and less disgusting shit to deal with.
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#5

College dilemma

Quote: (04-07-2014 05:04 PM)cmrocks Wrote:  

I'd recommend looking into geology.

It's one of the easiest science degrees to get; very little in terms of math. Pay is very good. My very first job after graduating, I was making $350 a day as a contract geologist (this was in 2009). After a year of contracting, I was signed on with a salary of $95,000 a year plus benefits and stock options.

An American friend of mine had similar experiences. He went to a small liberal arts college in Colorado and got a BA in geology which I didn't even know existed. He got a job at one of the gold mines in Colorado and was making around $80,000 a year.

You can expect to work in camps or at mines for the first 5 years after graduating. After that, it's usually possible to get into the corporate office in a city somewhere.

As for medical-related, my fiance does sonography (ultrasound) and it pays almost as well as nursing does. She also argues that the job is a lot nicer than being a nurse; less bullshit to deal with and less disgusting shit to deal with.

Ah, a fellow geologist at RVF! Welcome...

Honestly, I would have to say that being a geologist is a tough nut to crack. Look at all the kids bemoaning their inability to land jobs on this thread:
http://www.reddit.com/r/geology/comments...t_geology/

Mining is shit right now, and the oil patch is really gearing towards being an engineering game right now with horizontal drilling and fracking. Lots of young geos (like myself) do well site geology, but it is a tough and unpredictable lifestyle. There are 'environmental geologist' positions, but those pay like shit and have a low ceiling. Obviously you had luck with mining, but for the most part it is a very difficult industry to get into as a young geo right now... However, you can do a hell of a lot worse than geology these days.

OP: I would consider engineering or a trade if your nursing plans crap out. Engineering is the most stable 4 year degree there is because it is so fucking hard, and tradesmen have a lot of opportunities, but is a tough lifestyle as well. If you want, list some industries that appeal to you (if there are others besides medical). Lots of guys in the forum have energy/natural resource experience so if that is something that appeals to you then we can steer you in the right direction...
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#6

College dilemma

Apply to a PA school that does both a bachelor's and a masters. They get more respect and pay than a nurse anyway.

Or go to Cuba.
http://medicc.org/ns/documents/How-to-Apply.pdf

The Cuban medical program accepts Americans on scholarship, you spend two years in the classroom then another four working in the field - literally, the field. They go donde no hay doctor. Tuition, accommodation and board are free, and a small stipend is provided for students

If I could go back in time, I'd do it. No joke. Master Spanish, have a medical degree and experience working in adverse conditions across the globe. I had a Cuban doctor in El Salvador who really knew her shit and was the only person who spoke English in the clinic I was at, saved my ass.

If you are going to impose your will on the world, you must have control over what you believe.

Data Sheet Minneapolis / Data Sheet St. Paul / Data Sheet Northern MN/BWCA / Data Sheet Duluth
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#7

College dilemma

Quote: (04-07-2014 08:40 PM)komatiite Wrote:  

Quote: (04-07-2014 05:04 PM)cmrocks Wrote:  

I'd recommend looking into geology.

It's one of the easiest science degrees to get; very little in terms of math. Pay is very good. My very first job after graduating, I was making $350 a day as a contract geologist (this was in 2009). After a year of contracting, I was signed on with a salary of $95,000 a year plus benefits and stock options.

An American friend of mine had similar experiences. He went to a small liberal arts college in Colorado and got a BA in geology which I didn't even know existed. He got a job at one of the gold mines in Colorado and was making around $80,000 a year.

You can expect to work in camps or at mines for the first 5 years after graduating. After that, it's usually possible to get into the corporate office in a city somewhere.

As for medical-related, my fiance does sonography (ultrasound) and it pays almost as well as nursing does. She also argues that the job is a lot nicer than being a nurse; less bullshit to deal with and less disgusting shit to deal with.

Ah, a fellow geologist at RVF! Welcome...

Honestly, I would have to say that being a geologist is a tough nut to crack. Look at all the kids bemoaning their inability to land jobs on this thread:
http://www.reddit.com/r/geology/comments...t_geology/

Mining is shit right now, and the oil patch is really gearing towards being an engineering game right now with horizontal drilling and fracking. Lots of young geos (like myself) do well site geology, but it is a tough and unpredictable lifestyle. There are 'environmental geologist' positions, but those pay like shit and have a low ceiling. Obviously you had luck with mining, but for the most part it is a very difficult industry to get into as a young geo right now... However, you can do a hell of a lot worse than geology these days.

OP: I would consider engineering or a trade if your nursing plans crap out. Engineering is the most stable 4 year degree there is because it is so fucking hard, and tradesmen have a lot of opportunities, but is a tough lifestyle as well. If you want, list some industries that appeal to you (if there are others besides medical). Lots of guys in the forum have energy/natural resource experience so if that is something that appeals to you then we can steer you in the right direction...

Hey,

That's awesome. I have a few friends that do wellsite in Alberta. Are you Alberta based?

I'm actually in Edmonton right now doing my MSc in geostatistics; which is in the mining engineering department. A lot of math and computer programming for a geologist!
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#8

College dilemma

Not sure how the pay is, but EMT's usually only work four days a week, 12 hour shifts. This could be a good foray into nursing. Good experience, good hours, high demand.
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#9

College dilemma

Quote: (04-07-2014 10:19 PM)Osiris Wrote:  

Apply to a PA school that does both a bachelor's and a masters. They get more respect and pay than a nurse anyway.

Or go to Cuba.
http://medicc.org/ns/documents/How-to-Apply.pdf

The Cuban medical program accepts Americans on scholarship, you spend two years in the classroom then another four working in the field - literally, the field. They go donde no hay doctor. Tuition, accommodation and board are free, and a small stipend is provided for students

If I could go back in time, I'd do it. No joke. Master Spanish, have a medical degree and experience working in adverse conditions across the globe. I had a Cuban doctor in El Salvador who really knew her shit and was the only person who spoke English in the clinic I was at, saved my ass.

Wow, that is amazing. I also seem to fufill the requirements. I take it spanish isn't required? I have a very basic knowledge of spanish...

Wow, will definetly look into this! Thank you!

And thanks to everyone else for the suggestions and ideas. Just the kind of help I hoped Id get. This forum never, ever fails me.
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#10

College dilemma

Talk to somebody who already has the career before doing it. You'll get a different perspective than an outsider.
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#11

College dilemma

Quote: (04-08-2014 01:30 AM)Ironbound Wrote:  

Wow, that is amazing. I also seem to fufill the requirements. I take it spanish isn't required? I have a very basic knowledge of spanish...

Wow, will definetly look into this! Thank you!

And thanks to everyone else for the suggestions and ideas. Just the kind of help I hoped Id get. This forum never, ever fails me.

Classes are in Spanish, but luckily this forum is also full of people who have done some serious language hacking. Get to work!

Also, being an EMT is rough. Most go on to nursing after awhile because it's (literally) back breaking labor at times. I speak from experience on this.

If you are going to impose your will on the world, you must have control over what you believe.

Data Sheet Minneapolis / Data Sheet St. Paul / Data Sheet Northern MN/BWCA / Data Sheet Duluth
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#12

College dilemma

Check your school's spanish curriculum before you enroll. If your school is anything like mine they will try to convey feminism in your spanish courses. Seriously. I had to write a paper on women's rights for my spanish class.

I ended up taking my last two spanish courses online, which is something I recommend. I wasn't good at it until I started learning it on my own.
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#13

College dilemma

This is tough because you can make money in anything or not make much money in anything, and much depends on how much you like it. It's still a valid question though. Nursing would actually be the degree that is safe to make decent money simply by having the degree. Plus you can go on to be anesthetist nurse. I have two bros as anesthetist nurse $$$$. One sister as nurse, three sister-in-law nurses. Again great field. I have a friend from college who is a travelling nurse. I wish I woulda done it.

If you can't get into nursing school learn a trade. It's another safe bet because always needed. You can go anywhere in the world as an electrician, plumber, etc.

My best advice would be to just go start working somewhere and see what your strengths are and what you like. If I had a son, I would say don't get a college degree straight out of high school. It's like investing $50-$100k (at the least) in a totally unknown business. Get a job, start networking, find a better job...you'll figure out what you like.

+1 Earth's comment, talk to someone in each career...but always take it with a grain of salt.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
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#14

College dilemma

If your looking for some type of program you can move through quickly I believe the phlebotomy or whatever bloodwork is is a pretty quick program. I know a number of girls who have gone through that. It's a prettty quick progam and probably pay isn't huge but at least you can start working and making money and then continue your education vs sitting in school for years before you can make any money.

Also, potentially if you get a job at a clinic or hospital maybe they will pay for you to get additional certifications or maybe even become a nurse.

Radiology is a bit of a longer course though I think they do have fast track programs where you can do like 8 hour days and get through in a couple months. Radiology pays very well. It used to be very in demand however all the yahoo and newspaper articles about become a radiologist to make good money have kind of flooded the industry in the past several years so not quite as easy to find a job as it wsa in the past.
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#15

College dilemma

The only downside to nursing would be working with 90% females I think. Having worked in a male-dominated profession (mining), I don't know if I could handle that.
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#16

College dilemma

Quote: (04-08-2014 10:36 AM)cmrocks Wrote:  

The only downside to nursing would be working with 90% females I think. Having worked in a male-dominated profession (mining), I don't know if I could handle that.

Not necessarily, male nurses are fast tracked to positions of management because no one wants to deal with females in positions of power. Especially doctors.

If you're going for nursing, I would consider also getting some form of a business degree to go with it on the side. Maybe an MBA after a few years of doing it (if you're serious).

You can also become an RN which would again, put you on a fast track.

I will warn you, most (not all) female bosses are horrible and with nursing you will get one. Game may or may not help you.

As for me, my backup career was IT. Started in desktop support as a college job and moved into proprietary web applications. Your journey may be different.
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