Posted by Mashogr8 on January 24, 2003, at 15:30:46
In reply to Re: Midlife Career Change » Mashogr8, posted by Tabitha on January 24, 2003, at 2:42:23
> You know what, Mash, speech/language pathologist and audiologist are predicted as fastest growing careers in the U.S. over 2000-2010 time frame.
I did stay and get my Master's in Speech/language Pathology and have worked in the field for over 33 years. The position has been good to me. I was able to work two days a week when my children were quite young. Then four days a week when they started school and finally five days as they aged. Plus I was home for all vacations and summers.
That shortage is going to grow over the years. Most SLP/Audiology graduates do not seem to be choosing to work in the University/Academia environment. We might need all those therapists but if there is noone to teach them........
You might consider that field. It would take at least two years time (less, I think, if you went the route of a speech aide -- but that would pay less). When you work in a school system you are usually vested after 10 years and would qualify for some pension.The other plus side for you would be to open a private practice -- you could choose the number of clients you would work with. However, the small caseload severely limits the income.
> (I was confused about whether you're still in English or you did go into speech/language so excuse me if this post doesn't make sense)SLP -- there were way too many essays and creativity needed for English. The only thing I liked about my English courses was getting to read and not feel like I was wasting time.
>>I also have regret about not choosing medical school after high school. My parents were blue collar and I didn't think they would support a decision to go into a profession that required more than 4 years college. Little did I know, what's 11 years of training compared to the years you'll spend working? Not much. I wish I'd gone for it. (Though the appeal was more the income, prestige, and intellectual challenge of it rather than any real desire to practice medicine.) I was looking up info about medical school too, and I don't even have the undergraduate coursework required. I read that schools in the UK typically limit admissions to those under age 30, and it hit me, the US probably does something similar. It might truly be too late for that one.
I don't think that you need to rule out medicine yet. It's my understanding that some older students are actually at an advantage to be admitted to Med School. You'd need to look at the Princeton Review of Med Schools to find out what the average age of Med Students is. An average of 25 or 26 means some have to be over 30. I imagine the competition must be quite keen. (Sorry, I can't remember if you are UK or US. If I remember, you are married, but you could always consider being educated outside the US. Getting a residency after Med School (Mexico, Granada, Italy, Hungary) might prove too difficult after acquiring all that knowledge. But there are practicing physicians in this country hwo have done that. (Geez, it's so easy for me to be an ardent cheerleader for you. I wished I had been the same for me. As you said, time is not that important when you figure how long you will practice and loans eventually get paid off albeit not at the speed of those loans in years past.)
Geesh I almost forgot, there are many MD's who are employed in research positions rather than a practice.
I just had another idea -- My daughter just got her Master's in Public Health. She loves what she can do with that degree. She plans to apply to Med School next year and if she isn't accepted, then she'll go on for her doctorate in some form of Public Health. For some time now, she has desired to work in the infectious diseases/epidemiology and biological warfare areas (MD or Public Health, she could make a compromise. (I apologize, I have definitely digressed). However, Public Health with its emphasis on health services for all, women, children specialty areas as well as infectious diseases and AIDS prevention sure does open up a lot of possibilities.
> I did have a friend who started training in Chinese medicine and acupuncture at age 50. In my state, acupunturists can get licensed to be primary care doctors! She's probably done by now. Before that, she was a part-time piano teacher eking out a living.
Because you said "state", I've assumed you are US.MA
poster:Mashogr8
thread:35659
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030120/msgs/35746.html