pros and cons

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by nj593, Nov 1, 2011.

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  1. nj593

    nj593 Member

    Ok since my finishing my BA i have been trying to figure out my masters degree. I have to say I have wasted an entire year after finishing my BA and Associates so quickly.
    My Options are the following but worried about the following stuff. Please give me your advise on the degrees if you have experience to share on the choices.
    thanks

    Law school - worried that i will spend 3 years plus bar to earn 30k with no job prospects and spending another 10 years to build a practice. Im already 33. My desires are lead by the following positions and alot of it is because I want to make most bang for my buck.

    thanks

    Physician Assistant- worried that I will take all my science courses and then not even get into a program. Programs only accept 30 people per year and have over 1000 applicants.
    Mental health counselor- I have worked in this field for over 8 years and its my understanding that I will spend 2 years in grad school plus 2 years post before getting licensed. Only to come out and make 40k-45k per year.
    Paralegal I hear they make really good money for less requirement. But, still need about 2 years experience to make 40-50k and its less prestigious than attorney.
    Nurse- Make great money only 1 to 2 years school make 50-70k with BSN. Negatives none really just no real desire to do this one but wouldnt mind.
     
  2. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Well, I had "nurse, OB, midwife (NP)" in my sights. I'd not worked in health care, but I'd been a volunteer for over a decade and my mom was a nurse for over 40 years. I even have many friends who are doctors, nurses, and midwives! I felt like I knew enough to make the decision. I completed the nursing prereqs which were hard but fine. I took intro bio, gen bio with lab 1&2, intro chem, gen chem with lab 1&2, microbiology w/lab, nutrition, A&P w/lab 1&2, statistics, and started my last sequence which would qualify as med school/NP nursing prereqs as well. Physics, Genetics, and Orgo. In the meantime, I earned a certified nursing assistant certificate (6 weeks night classes) and the first aid/cpr for health care workers. This qualified me for several in hospital jobs, I applied like crazy and landed a dream job (OB floor aid). After a week I said "OMG this is awful!!!!! I can't be here another minute" and left. Done. No regrets- it's NOT for me. I even have 3 acceptance letters which my neighbor would kill for (she's tried ad been denied admission to all 3). Can't do it. It's not a fit.
    So, I guess my point is, that perhaps you need to dip in your toe before making the jump. I dont know about legal work, but you can do a lot of volunteer or CNA work to get a good feel for healthcare and how it goes. Being a patient isn't the same as being an employee any more than eating in a restaurant is anything like working in one lol. So, go get dirty.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 1, 2011
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    It's definitely not for me, but RN's are very much in demand, and that's one of the hottest job prospects right now, with the added bonus of only needing an Associate's degree (plus state licensing, or course).

    I can't speak for anywhere else, but if you're an RN in Massachusetts working full-time and you're not at least within striking distance of $100K every year, there is a serious problem.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    You're going about this backwards. The point of getting a degree is for it to help you reach your personal and professional goals. You need to figure out what you actually want to do all day. It will be the thing on which you spend the majority of your time in this life, choose something you actually like.

    Then, assuming that thing requires a degree, find the best degree program you can so as to reach that goal.

    What that also means is that you didn't just waste the last year by not being in school, you would have wasted it if you had been in school -- and a lot of money also.
     
  5. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    Basic science prerequisites for PA studies, nursing, and several other allied health fields overlap, so you could start to pursue them all together.

    You might want to think about other allied health fields - respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, physical therapy, etc. Occupational therapy in particular might dovetail well with your human services background.

    Becoming a licensed clinical social worker would probably open up a comparable number of doors as becoming a mental health counselor, and maybe on the whole a few more particularly in hospitals and health care settings, which might be relevant if you're feeling a calling there.

    Have you thought about teaching? School counseling?

    If you're seeing yourself in a professional practice like law, but you're dissuaded by the ceiling and somewhat status hierarchy issues of being a unlicensed paralegal, have you thought about accounting? Enrolled agent tax practice?

    There's a very wise career lawyer and degreeinfo oldtimer styled nosborne48, now pursuing a retirement career interest by adding qualifications in tax practice and law and maybe now accounting, who hangs out at degreediscussion.com now. He would have something thoughtful to say on the law school and paralegal questions if you posted there. Though on law school it would basically be, with a very few exceptions, DON'T DO IT, given cost relative to return these days.

    ETA: Also, what Steve said.
     
  6. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member


    My vote would be for nursing. It is an EXTREMELY in demand field, which virtually garuntees employment. Furthermore, there are multiple options for advancement that could lead to 6 figure salaries, if you so chose. After you graduate with your BSN, you may want to pursue one of the high paying advanced practice nursing careers such as nurse anesthetist or family practice nurse. Nurse anesthetists can make over $100K per year, as can nurse administers and full professors at good nursing schools.

    Regarding your option of becoming a PA, I would prefer to go the family nurse practitioner route instead. Not only can you do the same things a PA can do, but you can open your own practice, usually WITHOUT being under the supervision of a Physician, unlike PA's. My opinion is that health insurance companies are gradually moving to utilizing NP's (and PA's) as primary care providers. You mentioned mental health counsellor. you could also go back to grad school and get a masters in mental health nursing, and open up your own practice in many/most states.

    At your age, unless you are going to a top law school, or have a passion for the law, I probably would shy away from law school. There are way too many people graduating from law schools these days (and racking up $100K in debt) for me to consider that a good choice for folks in their 30's. I know WAY too many folks that have law degrees that are making crap for a salary. The last stat I heard was that 50% of law school grads wind up taking jobs that do not require a law degree after graduation.
     
  7. BobbyJim

    BobbyJim New Member

    What are your goals, besides ‘wow’ factors?


    I'll have to agree with Steve here. What are your goals, besides ‘wow’ factors?

    What do you like to do? Can you make a living doing it? What is the trade-offs like family time vs. 12 hour days, lots of time off but low pay, etc.? Do you have a passion for something?
     
  8. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    What he said, plus one of my colleagues is married to a nurse, who was a dialysis tech until he saw how much more the RNs made. He now has an associate's RN and returned to the dialysis field, which is a very easy job for an RN. The RN associate's degree has an incredible ROI, and nursing is multidimensional. Volunteer at a local hospital for a while to see if the RN and allied professions hold any interest for you.
     
  9. nj593

    nj593 Member

    Should have added some experience to my statement prior then I guess would have helped. But I hate to talk about myself :)
    So i have lots of medical experience as well. 2 years CNA experience and 2 years phlebotomy, medical experience.
    The jobs I chose to talk about are not jobs I chose random. They are areas I know about and have been in. They are jobs that would be further in my areas of interest but money is the issue in the end.

    thanks


     
  10. nj593

    nj593 Member

    Thats the problem I have no clue... I enjoy all those fields, medical, human service and legal.
    All of them in one way or another help others. I just dont want to be broke again, ever.... So trying to do the one that will work. Someone below said Nursing and that does sound to be the best route with employment and money. I guess I could work in a mental health hospital etc. Dont know,,, keep the options coming and thank you guys.

     
  11. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I definitely understand about not wanting to be broke! And for that reason I can see why nursing is on the list. But the way you talk about nursing, e.g., "no real desire to do this one", is a serious red flag. This is your life we're talking about!
     
  12. nj593

    nj593 Member

    I guess the real no desire comment comes from because I do not want to work in a nursing home or end up working on some unit in a hospital. I would rather work with individuals on more of a one on one base if that makes sense. I know NP's and Pa's do but right now Im looking for something that will put me over so I can then focus on going further. Honestly, nursing is very catchy right now with the salary, easier in length of education and fits the prereqs to where I could then always go back for PA or NP school. And if i did not get in well who cares I still would be making minimal 60k :headbang: I know Cook is big in this area. She was one of the ones that helped me in my voyage to start my associates then on to my Bachelors degree. Cook what do you think Nursing ? :pat:

     
  13. mbaonline

    mbaonline New Member

    NJ, the good thing about nursing is how versatile it is and how high the ROI is compared to, for example, law school or med school. You don't have to work in a nursing home or a clinical setting. School nurse, research, diabetes education, substance abuse. How about as an insurance hot-line nurse or even at a law firm researching for med malpractice lawsuits? Mental health is an expanding area. And as someone else said a nurse practitioner is a better way to go than a physician's assistant, and RN is the first step.

    Nurses can work in hospitals, companies, schools, insurance offices, counseling offices, out in people's homes etc. Many options.

    So you do the prereqs. Then decide. You might also consider pharmacy school, physical therapy and rehab. Most of these would have the same pre-reqs so you wouldn't be wasting time to switch later.

    It's good to ask these questions first. Enjoy and good luck with your choice!
     
  14. nj593

    nj593 Member

    thanks guys going to start moving on prereqs. Be back in a while to post updates.
     

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