phone company or medical school?

[wpbfjr]

i'm torn and asking for any relevant experience y'all might have...

i retired from the fire dept, and have been aimlessly floating along...

in september, i started ultrasound medical school... the biggest hardship is forcing myself to study... grades are so-so... skills are getting better... only 17 more months to go... low six figures after 5 years, including overtime...

off and on, i've applied to the phone company... they called, i interviewed, they want to hire me in may '07... basic tech job... hour commute... regular raises for 5 years... full medical ins... can relocate closer after 2 yrs... advancement if i fit the corporate profile...

both interest me... i'm afraid of going broke before i finish school... i've always heard 'risk and reward', not sure if it applies here...

if i had my 'druthers, i'd ruther start life anew elsewhere, but have no real means of support...

anybody been in this situation? anybody with experience with these kinda choices?

thanks,

dana

 

[cougar8000]

looks kind of simple to me. Which ever job will float your boat more. If you are into sticking people with needles and picking us up when we crash then medical school is for sure.

If you enjoy been stick and have an ability to place long distance or 900 calls using someone else number then phone company is it.

 

[Scab]

Money is only worth so much. Be happy first.

And just to make this choice more interesting, add prostitution to the list. The money is good and it's so easy you can do it lying down.

 

[radman]

Money is only worth so much. Be happy first.
And just to make this choice more interesting, add prostitution to the list. The money is good and it's so easy you can do it lying down.

This from the guy that can't even slice a wrist right. But, I have to +1 his post. At least part 1 anyway.

 

[Geezer]

I agree with the others, You gotta do what makes you happy. The money is secondary. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[6mmbr]

by "ultrasound medical school" I assume you mean to become and ultrasound technologist?

A good vascular ultrasound tech is very hard to find.

you could get a job anywhere in the country.

But its a 'career', not a job.

If it doesn't speak to you, do something else...

keys to success:

Availability

Affability

Ability

good luck

 

[twowheelnut]

You can try what I aspire to: Walmart Greeter. Mostly cuz I look spiffy in blue smocks festooned with badges.

 

[one day]

Mid-career going back to school to get an advanced degree, or going back to school mid career can be tough, tough, TOUGH!

I know some people who have done this and said if they knew then what they knew now, they wouldn't have done it. Why? Because they didn't have enough working years left to reap the investments.

I also know people who have done this and said it was the best thing they ever did and never looked back. The big factor that distinguishes the two camps is if they LOVE and are PASSIONATE about what they are doing. Go with your passion.

And in the meantime, watch the movie Invincible if you haven't already seen it. It may give you some inspiration!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Most elderly people interviewed identified their biggest regret as not taking enough risks. In other words, if you set your mind to it you can do whatever you want, things work out and you get to experience things more enjoyable for you.

Seems to me that you don't look forward to all the work and the discipline needed to accomplish the medical career route, but that's the job you would prefer. I might be reading you wrong, but that is what I gathered from your post.

The telephone tech job...well...it's a paycheck like any other job and how much you like it is based on your perspective and how you decide to regard it. Of course, there will be things you can decide to like and key in on, and there will be things you can dislike if you so choose.

Is there a way you could accelerate your medical schooling? Does it have to take 5 years?

Is there a way you can get grants that you haven't looked into? There are a tremendous number of grants that go unused and it wouldn't surprise me if you fit nicely into some niche having been a firefighter.

Explore your options, explore your desires, then make the choice you will be happiest with.

 

[odot]

You can always try selling crack/cocaine to middleschool kids......retirement guaranteed.....in a cell.

 

[Toecutter]

While I love my job, it has always been very geographically binding. Having a good health care skill would allow one to write his own ticket, so to speak. You wouldn't be bound to the corporate lifestyle so much, and it would be easier to take a hike to another locale if things went sour where you currently work.

Thanks for starting this. I need to look at my own options, and this reminds me of that need.

 

[gr8eyes]

I'm confused. Are you in Medical School now and going to specialize in radiology? I'm not sure what you mean by Ultrasound medical school.

 

[red2kcbr]

Hmmm....brain surgeon or street car conductor? No, wait, that was Jethro Clampett. Never mind.

Go with the one your heart tells you to, not just the money. If you don't like the work, you'll be miserable. No bills, but miserable. Ain't worth it.

I know some people that have good-paying jobs that they hate. Do what you enjoy.

 

[Windjammer]

Money is only worth so much. Be happy first.

That sounds like sour grapes from people who have great paying jobs they dislike. Not accusing anyone in particular, I just think it's BS advice.

There's no Utopia Job. All jobs have good days and days you wish you'd never heard of the damn place. That's life. I'm not saying you should take a job you know you'd hate. I am saying that passion for the work is secondary to the pay. I work at my job for one reason, and one reason only - you guessed it, the paycheck! If my employer stopped paying me or cut my pay, I'd quit working there.

You want passion? Go ride your FJR.

You want a job? Find one that will pay you enough to buy a new motorcycle and get all the farkles you want, and pay all your bills. That way, when you have time off, you can enjoy it instead of sitting around broke, worrying about your bills. :glare:

 

[Checkswrecks]

Try before you buy! Talk to a Doc or practitioner at a hospital or other ultrasound place to be able to follow them around for a day or two. Then try a short-term gig with a company that does some line work. The answer will be obvious.

Bob

 

[Clark Kent]

I agree with the others, You gotta do what makes you happy. The money is secondary. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Reminds me of a guy talking to his girlfriend.

"I know money can't buy happieness, but it's not happiness I want, it's Money!"

CK

 

[wpbfjr]

first, thanks everybody for your insights... very appreciated....

in the end, i've decided the phone company work location is a 'set-up-to-fail' thing... i'm not a morning dude, and an hour to work, for a company with a low tolerance for lateness, is not good for me... if they had a local slot open....but they don't...

at least the ultrasound school is moving forward, until i either have a great career, or a better offer comes along... i'll just aim high for the specialty field of vascular ultrasound... it was my original goal, so stick with it....

again, thanks for taking the time to share your personal experices....

dana

 

[Toecutter]

i'll just aim high for the specialty field of vascular ultrasound... it was my original goal, so stick with it....

FWIW, I know a guy who's a vascular ultrasound tech and he loves his job. I'm not just hearing that from him, I've seen him at work and he's having fun. Hang in there! :clapping:

 

[TruWrecks]

Glad you've decided not to do the phone company. I work for one, and can't stand it. They pay me pretty well, but I still hate my job. Every little customer complaint is a big emergency. The on-call type of work gets in the way of almost everything fun. Family time, riding motorcycles, playing with the car, all at the mercy of the customer!