Going to college to pursue a career in dive medicine research-any advice?

[kaylee_ann]

Let me respectfully suggest that a lot of people go into college/grad school with this attitude and this often changes after years living a spartan student's existence, then getting out and having huge loan payments that are often more than a nice house mortgage, plus spouse and kid considerations. A lot of people feel driven to move toward higher pay in order to be able to pay their loans and still have house in a decent school district. Of course, this changes over time and eventually you'll be taking up 2 parking spots with your Porsche.

I've not lived in Durham, though NC overall seems to be booming and I'm sure prices are going up. I did live in the suburbs of Philadelphia for 8 years and that is not a cheap place to live (at least not where the schools are good).

They’re both expensive areas. I’d have to live about 2 hours away from Philly if I couldn’t afford 350k+ housing. But I don’t mind that.
For your first point, yeah I’m sure. I don’t know how I’d feel after graduation about the money I’d be making, and not sure what my loan payments would be. We shall see
I’m not having kids due to medical reasons for both my husband and I. So, living is a bit cheaper for us thankfully. Eta- I don’t care about the school district for that reason.

 

[RyanT]

Let me respectfully suggest that a lot of people go into college/grad school with this attitude and this often changes after years living a spartan student's existence, then getting out and having huge loan payments that are often more than a nice house mortgage,

I agree with this. When you are young, it is easy to not worry about your future salary. Later, as the bills accumulate, many people start wondering if a higher paying job might have been a better career decision. I've certainly experienced this in my own career as a professor/scientist. But, there are always trade-offs in life and despite the lack of money, there are still some real positives in my job.

One thing that does help though, is the fact that graduate students in the sciences get paid to go to school. It's not much, but it allows students to live a poverty-level, student life and have their tuition paid. It at least prevents wracking up huge student loan debts during the 5-8 years of graduate training.

 

[kaylee_ann]

I agree with this. When you are young, it is easy to not worry about your future salary. Later, as the bills accumulate, many people start wondering if a higher paying job might have been a better career decision. I've certainly experienced this in my own career as a professor/scientist. But, there are always trade-offs in life and despite the lack of money, there are still some real positives in my job.

One thing that does help though, is the fact that graduate students in the sciences get paid to go to school. It's not much, but it allows students to live a poverty-level, student life and have their tuition paid. It at least prevents wracking up huge student loan debts during the 5-8 years of graduate training.

I guess I just think if I have enough to live a comfortable (enough) lifestyle, it’s no big deal. But yeah I may be wrong later on.

 

[Akimbo]

I agree with this. When you are young, it is easy to not worry about your future salary.

True, but the education path she will need to work in the hyperbaric research is in very high demand and pays REALLY well. People can make opportunities if they are interested enough.

Take Dr Stephen Thom, Professor of Emergency Medicine for example. @Dr Simon Mitchell is an anesthesiologist at Auckland City Hospital. Both are able to pursue their interests in diving-related research. I'm sure they both "made it happen" because of their interest in the subject. How bad would it be to have to live in Panama City Florida to work at NEDU?

Motivation and persistence is a magical combination.

 

[kaylee_ann]

True, but the education path she will need to work in the hyperbaric research is in very high demand and pays REALLY well. People can make opportunities if they are interested enough.

Take Dr Stephen Thom, Professor of Emergency Medicine for example. @Dr Simon Mitchell is an anesthesiologist at Auckland City Hospital. Both are able to pursue their interests in diving-related research. I'm sure they both "made it happen" because of their interest in the subject. How bad would it be to have to live in Panama City Florida to work at NEDU?

Motivation and persistence is a magical combination.

I think they’re saying if I just go from bachelors to Ph.D, not be a medical doctor

 

[Akimbo]

I think they’re saying if I just go from bachelors to Ph.D, not be a medical doctor

Either way, they all pay well if you change your mind. I know people with Bachelor's of Science degrees in Marine Biology that work in pharma sales and make good money. It's not like your education path is limited to finding a job in hyperbaric research.

The point is your employment options are in high demand with any related degree, even IF you discover a new interest and choose not to get a Ph.D., medical degree, or even a Masters. I knew a guy that worked at NEDU with a Bachelor's in Physiology.

 

[kaylee_ann]

Either way, they all pay well if you change your mind. I know people with Bachelor's of Science degrees in Marine Biology that work in pharma sales and make good money. It's not like your education path is limited to finding a job in hyperbaric research.

The point is your employment options are in high demand with any related degree, even IF you discover a new interest and choose not to get a Ph.D., medical degree, or even a Masters. I knew a guy that worked at NEDU with a Bachelor's in Physiology.

Yeah- I don’t know how much time I’d need to dedicate to hyperbaric research, but I could possibly work another job alongside it.

 

[drrich2]

Take Dr Stephen Thom, Professor of Emergency Medicine for example. @Dr Simon Mitchell is an anesthesiologist at Auckland City Hospital. Both are able to pursue their interests in diving-related research. I'm sure they both "made it happen" because of their interest in the subject.

I read between the lines there a 'see' some issues that are a bit touchy, and not easy to know in advance, but they're important.

Anesthesiology is part of the 'ROAD to Happiness' - one of the informally recognized quartet of medical specialties (Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology and Dermatology) seen as providing big income and a pretty comfortable lifestyle. Oh, sure, a cardiothoracic surgeon can knock down a very large gross income, but if you saw what those people go through in training...

So those specialities are very competitive to get into. Not so sure about Anesthesiology now that Nurse Anesthetists have been eating up some of their jobs, but I would guess still competitive.

At the undergrad. level, most students who eventually get into medical school were stand-out high achievers. In medical school, many of us...got introduced the class mid-range status.

A professor of emergency medicine appointment wouldn't be easy to secure, either. My point is, some career options aren't very viable unless you show yourself to be amongst the cream of the crop, and in some cases, the crop you're trying to out-cream are pretty creamy themselves. To do that, you've got to have the raw brain power, talent and sheer drive/dedication to make it happen.

Also note that 'big money' is more likely to be found working in industry than academia.

Pharmaceutical sales were mentioned as an alternative path; I've known many superficially, and like them, but sometimes their sales region gets reassigned, and they can get downsized. A drug company's fortunes may rise and fall rather quickly. Just something to know.

 

[drrich2]

By the way, a topic you can't anticipate and at your point in life may not've even thought much of, but that can be very important later is...politics. The kind I'm talking about is how well you get along with your supervisor and/or department head/chairman.

If you and the boss have bad chemistry, or you resent the way he runs things, a job can go badly. Even if you've been there long enough to be somewhat secure (let's say tenured in an academic position, or valuable enough in industry not to be arbitrarily downsized), you may find yourself wanting to leave.

The more specialized you get vocationally, the narrower your job position opportunities. So highly specialized positions with few employers make a person more vulnerable to workplace politics.

I doubt pointing this out is helpful to you right now. I'm doing it because the 'school' part of professional career paths is often light on discussion of politics, but in real life politics are a big deal.

You can't have a detailed answer for every possible contingency in making a career plan. This isn't about discouraging you, just shining a little light on the path so when things come up, you're not surprised. 'Forewarned is forearmed...'

 

[Marie13]

By the way, a topic you can't anticipate and at your point in life may not've even thought much of, but that can be very important later is...politics. The kind I'm talking about is how well you get along with your supervisor and/or department head/chairman.

If you and the boss have bad chemistry, or you resent the way he runs things, a job can go badly. Even if you've been there long enough to be somewhat secure (let's say tenured in an academic position, or valuable enough in industry not to be arbitrarily downsized), you may find yourself wanting to leave.

The more specialized you get vocationally, the narrower your job position opportunities. So highly specialized positions with few employers make a person more vulnerable to workplace politics.

I doubt pointing this out is helpful to you right now. I'm doing it because the 'school' part of professional career paths is often light on discussion of politics, but in real life politics are a big deal.

You can't have a detailed answer for every possible contingency in making a career plan. This isn't about discouraging you, just shining a little light on the path so when things come up, you're not surprised. 'Forewarned is forearmed...'

In other words, how well you tolerate BS and can pucker up to kiss a$$.