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College dilemma
04-07-2014, 02:22 PM
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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College dilemma
04-07-2014, 03:34 PM
Why don't you ask your advisor about this? Or fellow students?
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04-07-2014, 05:04 PM
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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College dilemma
04-08-2014, 12:20 AM
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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College dilemma
04-08-2014, 02:23 AM
Talk to somebody who already has the career before doing it. You'll get a different perspective than an outsider.
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College dilemma
04-08-2014, 08:11 AM
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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College dilemma
04-08-2014, 08:24 AM
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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04-08-2014, 08:47 AM
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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04-08-2014, 10:36 AM
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.