Who Followed Their Career Passions?

[Leigh 87]

Lolz pink sugar, I doubt podiatry will lend itself t another field.

 

I would have to do either another bachelor degree with the first year anatomy / physiology knocked off. I wouldn't get government assistance to study a second degree and I don't wish to work full time and fit in full time study.

 

If podiatry doesn't work out I would have to work full time or part time in the field and study part time in another bachelor degree......

 

I don't want a more broad degree because with a bachelor of science, it is too general to ever land you a job unless you do post grad, which I wouldn't get government funding for and frankly I don't want to stomach working full time and studying full time.

 

I also want to study something specific so I feel like I am actually working towards something. I cannot see myself motivated at all, whilst studying such a general degree with low job prospects.

[Glinda.Good]

OK, so that is settled. Good job.

 

Now, you have 5 whole months ahead of you before you find out what you got into.

 

Then, how long until you start?

 

What are you going to do to be productive during the next half a year? The better you use this time, the better your chances for success.

 

Are you certified yet for taking care of the old folks?

 

I do agree with cerri above, regarding your problems with follow through, and I believe that if you don't face this and aggressively address it, it will bite you time and time again. Remember only about 2 months ago when you were posting masses about how you were working 2 jobs AND in school full time?

 

That seems like a different person wrote that, or a different life, doesn't it?

[Leigh 87]

Glinda,

 

I was sick of living at home and wanted to see if I could make it on my own without help. I was underpaid and decided I didn't want to support Australians that pay bellow minimum wage of 16 dollars per hour for full time work. I was excited to get out of home and earn what I thought would be a full time income but sadly, I learnt a lesson that I need to research things properly.

 

I was a shell of a person not following my passion honestly. I can internally, just in the way my body feels, feel so much better now I am out of that awful situation. I was set to study a degree I was not excited about. I was working with kids when I don't much like them the way I assumed I would. It was awful, I was trying to just be positive and be grateful for what I had been given.

 

I feel alive again for the first time since I started a food science degree, now that I have decided to work a little harder in order to do a more challenging degree that I am actually excited and enthused about.

 

The fear of failing has kept me from doing what I truly want to do. For some reason, I have the tendency to think I am "dense" and "stupid", even though I did get a 92% entry score into college without too much effort, where most people get 80% or less. But then again, many get mid to late 90's and I feel like a failure compared to them....I worry the mid to late 90's top tier students will excel with such little effort. People from the Uni have told me I am being ridiculous because a mere 5 % between our entry scores DO NOT make them that much more adept than me.

 

My family are convinced I am bright and can do whatever degree I want and they think I will do well. Where as I am thinking " haha yeah right, I am do dumb compared to the 98 entry score kids"I put it down to be getting bullied and not trying in high school until it came to getting and entry score. I only did about 1 year of high school work in total, I literally didn't attend or didn't listen in class before that point.

 

Then there is the fact I have not done math since year 10, nor have I even learnt basic physics before. Ever. The physics tutor seems to think I am bright and can pass it. I just think " LOL yeah right.... I will barely pass:laugh::lmao:"

I worry I will get lost and fail when others around me "get it" so much better than I do.

 

But make no mistake, it has been a long held dream of mine to actually get into the health sciences, it has always been what I wished to do but assumed I didn't have what it took....

 

That is why I have, quiet literally, spend ALL my time in education forums, talking to people within podiatry and medical radiation, and just researched the crap out of both degrees. I am adept at and good at health science subjects enough to pass them and enjoy them somewhat. I love chemistry and biology, cell biology and anything to do with immunology I always did very well in.

 

I have a near photographic memory - I am not the brightest, but it served me well in food science how I could look at a cell and pretty much instantly remember the main names for everything. Same goes for muscles and bones in the body. I think I have a huge scope in which to do well in for degrees that require ROTE learning, such as radiography and podiatry where you must know the body inside and out.

 

I tend to get anything to do with cell biology, chemistry and anything related, as I literally get up at 6am and obsessively study these areas without the least bit of effort.

 

Does that mean I am passionate about it? That I never found it an effort to study them because I was so driven? I am not sure.

 

I am worried because I will not do well in physics, I can tell I am probably not adept at it at all... That will have to be my "pass" subject I get mere "passes" in, and then I will have to really do amazingly in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, cell biology and general biology.

[Leigh 87]

I am still not 100% sure I wont do diagnostic radiography.

 

The best and brightest try to get in; people who either couldn't get into medicine or dentistry do it, often in the hope to get into med or dentistry.....Seriously, the entry score is 97 plus at Sydney and Melb unis, where as I have a very unique opportunity to get in with my measly 92 entry rank.

 

My local uni is a great uni AND, due to less competition due to it NOT being in a major city, the cut off is 92.3. The program advisor urged me that I have a reasonable chance at still getting in. Next year is the LAST CHANCE I have of ever getting IN to radiography, as the cut off marks are VERY HIGH and are RISING every year... next year is my last shot at even getting a place in this degree.......

 

Radiation therapy and nuclear medicine have very slim prospects for employment, but diagnostic is much more broad and I would have a shot if I did very well, even with my low "passes" in physics. I don't know. Podiatry has a low entry score to get in because not many students want to do it and therefore there is NO issues for new grads getting employment! I love the sound of both careers so this is really hard. I have until September to make the final offer - I cam change preferences until then.

 

My intinscts are sort of screaming at me to at least TRY to get into diagnostic radiography even though it will be very tough. I was thinking of putting diagnostic radiography as first preference knowing my 92 entry mark may not get me a place, and therefore will prob end up studying podiatry anyway!

 

 

 

 

 

I have a month to choose..... I am so bored with not studying a degree and am very very, extremely driven to do hard core study, I am very hungry for it since I am academic and feel pretty crap not studying something challenging. Social work bored the crap out of me, it was so easy.

 

I have another friend who is like me. I am not ADHD, but I find it hard to stick to things I do not feel very driven by. My friend is the same. He has gone back to school to do engineering and be is doing well - we are both very similar with our study habits... we either go hard or don't want to bother study at all. I was so proud of him for going back to school at age 23 to follow his passion.... he loves the math and physics involved in engineering and after so much time off from school, he feels such purpose in life again, studying something challenging towards the ultimate career he feels very driven by.

 

 

 

I just worry about going after a safe degree which great rates of grads getting employment VERSUS diagnostic radiography where I would feel like the dumbest in the cohort LOL, having to travel 5 hours most days, and NOT getting a job as easily.

 

 

 

 

Thing is, I am very willing to move states into a rural, undesirable area just to get a start in the profession.. I actually love adventure and would welcome the move, I have moved my whole life to new places so perhaps if I do well and am willing to relocate wherever it took to get work, I would get a professional development place and a job out of that?????

 

 

 

 

Then again my podiatrist friend says if you are willing to move you can get 72K post grad salary, no questions asked about your grades......

 

 

She wants me to move to Western Australia with her once I graduate because the wages are extremely high for anew or recent grad.

[quankanne]

I knew what I wanted to do since I was 16, and pursued that degree whole-heartedly. Landed a job before graduating college, and with the exception of the two years I was unemployed, I've been working steadily in this field. Thankfully, a good friend was able to give me temp work in our field during that time.

 

sadly,mine is a dying profession but I wouldn't change a thing for the world. Yes, I've been given leads about positions in related fields that would double my annual salary, but I don't give them a second look. When you're doing something you really love, you might struggle at times, but you'll never work a day in your life, you know?

 

I'll die poor, but I'll also die doing what I love best.

[Leigh 87]

I just had an appointment at my doctors.. For a pill prescription.

 

They have hired a podiatrist. A new grad.

 

I asked if I could talk with the new graduate podiatrist. They are going to give me a call and talk to me about the job and employment prospects ( how easy it was for her and her peers to get full time work).

 

My friend got her poditary job through her doctor. He didn't even ask for her grades.....

[Hope Shimmers]

I started out my first two years of college as an English lit major because that was my "true calling". But then I woke up, saw reality, and switched to pharmacy school. Got my BS and doctorate in pharmacy, then went to medical school to get my MD. Then spent 2 more years getting a master's degree in public health and 2 more years still doing a fellowship in that area (in addition to residencies for med school). Thought about law school and even took the LSAT but decided that enough was enough.

 

Lots of years of college but I've never looked back. I have never had a problem with grades and never really had to study.

 

Podiatry isn't that easy to get into. I wish you the best!

[Leigh 87]

Wow I would have lived to have studied medicine.

 

Podiatry in Australia has a high rate of grads being able to find work. It is one of the least popular health science degrees. Not many students opt to study poditary.

 

All jobs are hard to get but podiatry has a fairly high rate of grads being able to get full time work.

 

Plus I am willing to move for work.

 

I hear it's hard to get a job as a doctor some many grads are being churned through?

 

Law sounds especially hard to get into if you don't get top marks and finish in the top 25 % of your cohort....

[MuddyFootprints]

I just had an appointment at my doctors.. For a pill prescription.

 

They have hired a podiatrist. A new grad.

 

I asked if I could talk with the new graduate podiatrist. They are going to give me a call and talk to me about the job and employment prospects ( how easy it was for her and her peers to get full time work).

 

My friend got her poditary job through her doctor. He didn't even ask for her grades.....

 

Personally, I'd avoid both these medical practitioners.

[Hope Shimmers]

Wow I would have lived to have studied medicine.

 

Podiatry in Australia has a high rate of grads being able to find work. It is one of the least popular health science degrees. Not many students opt to study poditary.

 

All jobs are hard to get but podiatry has a fairly high rate of grads being able to get full time work.

 

Plus I am willing to move for work.

 

I hear it's hard to get a job as a doctor some many grads are being churned through?

 

Here in the US I think it's the same regarding podiatry not being one of the more popular fields (and therefore more need of practitioners in that area). I haven't checked in a couple of years though and it could have changed as lots of things have.

 

I have training as an endocrinologist but have chosen to work in family practice. It's not hard to get a job as a physician here in the US most anywhere (not yet anyway - Obama is trying really hard to change that).

 

Whatever you choose to do, don't give up.

[Hope Shimmers]

My friend got her poditary job through her doctor. He didn't even ask for her grades.....

 

Once you're licensed, no one cares about your grades.

[Hope Shimmers]

[/b]

Personally, I'd avoid both these medical practitioners.

 

Curious - why do you say that?

[Leigh 87]

[/b]

 

Personally, I'd avoid both these medical practitioners.

 

 

Really?

 

Well why don't you try going to her country (Belarus) and starting a challenging degree, when Belarussian is your second language?

 

Also, try doing two years of a medical degree in Belarus - they have twice as many subjects per semester there. I am sure you couldn't last as long as she did (before she moved countries).

 

My friend comes across as intelligent and pleasant mannered. That is why she got offered a job. She is polite, hard working and desirable.

 

Many people who are academically brilliant have terrible bedside manner as doctors, for instance.

 

Grades aren't everything. Although high marks is something I WOULD put on my resume (I am aiming for a distinction average...). It makes you more competitive but it is certainly not the be all or end all for MOST degrees.....

 

Getting unpaid internships and flogging your guts out whilst you are still dealing with full time study, is what you do if you want to get a job upon graduating....

[Leigh 87]

Here in the US I think it's the same regarding podiatry not being one of the more popular fields (and therefore more need of practitioners in that area). I haven't checked in a couple of years though and it could have changed as lots of things have.

 

I have training as an endocrinologist but have chosen to work in family practice. It's not hard to get a job as a physician here in the US most anywhere (not yet anyway - Obama is trying really hard to change that).

 

Whatever you choose to do, don't give up.

 

 

 

I would love to be an endocrinologist or a pharmacist if I had my time again... chemistry is my favourite subject and I have always been fascinated with hormones, as well as plagued with hormonally challenges.

 

Sometimes I have PSOS, just after I had an eating disorder, and then I am told I may not have it at all, but it may just be the result of anorexia? go figure!

 

And I always wondered why my mum eats next to nothing and is getting well, large. She got so stressed from work that her body stopped producing cortisol and resulted in a slow metabolism and she is now dealing with a whole heap of tests to determine what her hormones are doing and how the doctor can address any medical issues.

[Leigh 87]

Here in the US I think it's the same regarding podiatry not being one of the more popular fields (and therefore more need of practitioners in that area). I haven't checked in a couple of years though and it could have changed as lots of things have.

 

Well I have always been a fan of getting up close and personal to "gross" things. I also like repetition and focusing and even obsessing over a small areas so being a physio or an occupational therapist wouldn't drive me as much as being say, a specialised surgeon that does just one type of surgery... or fussing over feet every day as a podiatrist!

 

It is the attention to detail that appealed to me about medical imaging! I love looking at things and perfecting every little detail.

 

Although I do enjoy hands on jobs like podiatry or oral health/ followed by dentistry.

 

I like the way you can train up in medical imaging to CT scans, MRI, and then do a post grad degree in sonography if someone is willing to take you on and train you up (hard to find a willing participant, good grades and a great work reference or two would go far).

 

Sonography is very highly paid. I love the description of the job.

 

Podiatry progresses to about 60K within two years, and caps at about 75 K, which you would earn within 8 years post grad....

 

I have training as an endocrinologist but have chosen to work in family practice. It's not hard to get a job as a physician here in the US most anywhere (not yet anyway - Obama is trying really hard to change that).

 

What is Obama doing? Just curious.

 

Well it is not hard to get a job ad a podiatrist here although you may not get full time work fresh out of college in your HOME TOWN, for instance; if you are willing to relocate or commute however, podiatry has plenty of jobs around.

 

I have never heard of podiatry grads unable to find work if they were willing to work outside of their home town.

 

Whatever you choose to do, don't give up.

 

Oh I wont give up. Once I am into something I obsess and am a perfectionist. It is all or nothing with me... I find something I feel strongly enough about and I do very well.

 

I am scared I will be the dumbest in my cohort honestly. lolz!

[MidwestUSA]

Oh I wont give up. Once I am into something I obsess and am a perfectionist. It is all or nothing with me... I find something I feel strongly enough about and I do very well.

 

I am scared I will be the dumbest in my cohort honestly. lolz!

 

Hey Leigh, does your boyfriend have an opinion on what you should do? I mean, he should know you well enough to have an inkling what you'll be good at.

 

 

Is he supportive?

[Leigh 87]

Hey Leigh, does your boyfriend have an opinion on what you should do? I mean, he should know you well enough to have an inkling what you'll be good at.

 

 

Is he supportive?

 

My boyfriend is very supportive and lovely to me regarding my career choices.

 

He feels podiatry would suit me best. He can see me more working one on one with diabetics and the elderly (the main patients of podiatrists).

 

He thinks being able to be "the podiatrist" of the doctors clinic that gets to deal with patients alone, would be more rewarding for me than working in a team" as a medical imaging expert... obviously the radiologist is higher ranked and would be the one "above me".

 

As a podiatrist I would have more free reign of my own development.. if I screw up, I have no radiologist on my case (in the case of medical imaging) or dentist ( in the case of the oral health therapy degree).He says he can tell that I love talking to people but I am better suited to one on one cases,

 

He thinks I would appreciate having autonomy and actually diagnosing and treating my own patients. I would be the health professional alone, without a team having to give input. THAT is the thing he really urges me to consider.....

 

I also like working in a team and would enjoy being the one to process medical images that the radiologist then diagnosis disease from.

 

It is a very hard call to be honest.

 

 

 

 

My family and boyfriend say podiatry. I really feel good about it but I like the novelty that I did well enough to get into diagnostic medical imaging, when thousands of students fail to.

 

The high entrance score is indicative of MANY students wanting to do that course..... Not many students want to study, live and breath feet, and then cut toenails for a living (all students know that podiatrist spend the majority of time cutting toe nails and treating very minor issues).

 

Personally, I think it is a great deal = instant grad salary of 55K for mostly cutting toenails and having to talk to clients all day. Bliss.

 

I don't really need to be challenged in my professional job honestly... it sounds bad but I prefer challenges at my own whim.. be it reading about world affairs and trying to understand everything going on, or trying to understand why we cannot cure cancer yet.

 

 

 

I would like a challenging degree though in the area of chemistry, biology and what not.... So I feel accomplished and proud of my achievements.

 

I don't want it to be given to me on a platter, I want to have to work hard and then feel very fulfilled that I was able to not only pass, but excel.

 

 

 

My boyfriend thinks I should do podiatry. He doesn't think I would appreciate the physics in medical imaging nor the poor job prospects - he thinks I would find it hard to be motivated if I say, didn't get distinctions... he thinks that I would panic if I didn't get good marks due to the immense difficulty of grads finding jobs.

 

He can see me performing better academically in podiatry.

 

 

 

 

 

He also wants to move states when I graduate as new graduates start on 72K in Western Australia. They earn a lot more money, but I would need to be smart about it and ensure that I had 3 or 4 people to share a house with so I really could earn a decent salary for a new grad.

 

My podiatrist friend is urging me to move to Western Australia with her as soon as I graduate, as she wants to move there with me and my bf in order to make a lot of money.

 

I

[Eternal Sunshine]

Cost of life in Western Australia is high.

It has skyrocketed in the last few years. Just something to keep in mind.

[Leigh 87]

Cost of life in Western Australia is high.

It has skyrocketed in the last few years. Just something to keep in mind.

 

Absolutely true.

 

We would only consider moving if all three of us shared a cheap rental together. The idea would be to make money for a few years before moving back home and putting a mortgage deposit on a reasonably priced house.

[pink_sugar]

Hey Leigh, does your boyfriend have an opinion on what you should do? I mean, he should know you well enough to have an inkling what you'll be good at.

 

 

Is he supportive?

 

I too am curious about the boyfriend's stance. I never hear about him.

[Leigh 87]

So, you find out in January. After that, when does the course work start?

 

What are you doing with your time right now, and what are your plans for the upcoming months?

 

Are you working with the aged yet?

 

 

 

I have basic math and physics lessons once every two weeks with nightly home work set.

 

I am completing an online diploma in youth work as well as a cert three in aged care. Both online.

 

The 23 Rd of February is the day podiatry starts.

[Leigh 87]

I too am curious about the boyfriend's stance. I never hear about him.

 

 

 

 

He thinks podiatry would be better. Based on my research, he doesn't think the employment prospects of medical imaging are worthwhile enough. Plus the five hour round trip to get to the medical imaging degree could hinder my studies.

[Leigh 87]

I am more interested in becoming a diagnostic radiographer. The study and actually jobs is more interesting to me that podiatry.

 

In saying that, I still very much like the area of study podiatry covers and I do like and feel excited about the career prospects.

 

 

 

Studying diagnostic radiography is a bit of a privilege because it is very hard to get into. You need 96 ish college entrance scores. I only got 92. However, my local uni is known for producing great medical imaging grads and has a cut off of 92....due to being out of a major city like Sydney or Melbourne...

 

 

 

 

 

My gut tells me to put diagnostic radiography because I probably won't even get a place, and will most likely get an offer for my second choice: poditary.

 

 

Cons of medical imaging: has physics, is a five hour a day round trip, and the smartest kids all get into the course. Even worse, it is hard to get professional development placements post grad which you need to become registered.

 

Pros of medical imaging: the job interests me more than podiatry, perhaps if I am willing to move anywhere on the country, I will get a professional development placement post grad, and the pay is good.

You have the chance to ask to be put on call, which can earn you 30k a year extra. I am a night owl and couldn't give a hoot about being on call and on fact, called in while I am having sex at night with my partner. I am a very hard worker when I apply myself and am very happy to do what it takes to get more money.

 

You can also then go on to do a two year masters of sonography which is very well paid and a more interesting job. It's hard to find a place willing to take you on as a trainee sonography student but if you're willing to relocate anywhere, it's not impossible...

 

Cons of podiatry: less interesting job than diagnostic radiography.

 

Pros: very nearby college campus to where I am situated, there are still good employment prospects for new grads, it is much easier to get job than in the other allied health degrees, the pay is good and the job is easy for new grads ( new grads get paid 55k to cut toenails all day). It is good pay for relatively easy work.

 

I think attending the universities career information day will allow me to make my final decision.

 

I only have 92. Something and entry into diagnostic radiography is 92.3 so I may not actually get accepted.

 

My gut tells me.....apply for diagnostic radiography and if I am not successful, then podiatry was meant to be.

 

 

 

 

I feel foolish for even wanting to do a degree with low employment prospects and that is five hours a day commute, JUST because the job is the more interesting to me.

Edited August 9, 2014 by Leigh 87

[clia]

A five hour a day commute is not reasonable or realistic. If you do go that route, you should find a room or apartment to rent. There should be plenty available near a college campus.

[Leigh 87]

A five hour a day commute is not reasonable or realistic. If you do go that route, you should find a room or apartment to rent. There should be plenty available near a college campus.

 

It's 1.5 hours there and back via train.

 

It'd also a 15 minute walk from the train station to campus.

 

Five hours is if I walked slowly or had to wait more than twenty mins for the connecting trains....

 

 

 

 

I am 98% sure I'll do podiatry as it is what my parents and boyfriend think I have some talent for where as they feel I'd struggle a lot with the long daily commute for diagnostic radiography......

 

I have a cat and wouldnt want to pay rent when I live at home for free and save crapload of money.

 

 

 

It's all good. I have very good faith that I'll get good marks and a job out of a podiatry degree.

 

With diagnostic radiography I would not be confident in getting a job plus the daily commute to lectures would totally suck.....