Changing my career goals

[Envy]

I'm a 24 (25 in less than a month) year old male living in NC, and currently attending a university. I have an associates degree from a community college, but i'm about ready to give up on the university i'm attending. I originally wanted to get an EMT B/P before I ever stepped foot on a college campus, but at the time I was living in Florida and the wait list was a year and a half. So I decided to attend the community college and work toward an associates degree. Well I got the associates degree, and my family really wanted me to transfer to a university since I have a free ride from financial aid. I applied, got in and started. I decided on a major of exercise science, pre-professional (to become a PT). Well, during my first semester I realized I really didn't like the university, and tried to join the military but I was turned down for what I consider a stupid reason. Without any direction sorted out, I started my second semester at the university...things haven't changed and I still hate it, even more so now. I no longer want to go to graduate school or become a PT. My girlfriend is about to receive her associates degree and also doesn't want to attend a university. We've lived together for many years and are financially independent, but both agree university life is not for us. My main problem is all the chemistry and physics required. I'm really struggling with it and have no interest so it's very hard for me to excel in these classes. I have a good GPA (3.1) but i'm currently repeating chemistry I and struggling just as much. I can't imagine getting through this, let alone taking chemistry II, organic chem, and all the other nonsense that's required just for a bachelors.

I went back to the community college here in NC, and asked about their EMT program. It starts right after this semester ends, and I was told there is no wait list. To me this sounded like a great way out of the university. I won't drop out because i'd be forced to pay back free money, so i'll finish my semester, but then i'm hoping to get the EMT B cert. and maybe find work with it while attaining the EMT I/P.

I'm physically fit and have been my entire life. I've competed in many sports including power lifting which I quit only because of injuries, but I can still lift in any practical manner. I've never had any problem with gore, needles, etc. I've done excellent in human anatomy and physiology I & II as well as other coursework that I think would help me exceed in the EMT field. Also, i have a perfect driving record...just some tickets for not wearing my seat belt. All i'm really looking for with this post is some third party opinions. Anybody taken a similar route? Advice of any kind is appreciated. I just feel like this is a better route for me. I can't imagine continuing university studies for another 3 to 4 years to become a PT. The money would be much better, but i've lived most of my life without a spare dollar to my name and i'm still happy. It's doing things that I don't enjoy that discourage me.

 

[mgr22]

"Advice of any kind is appreciated."

Ok, here goes:

1. Don't be so quick to turn your back on a "free ride" for a BS degree.
2. Be more willing to do things you don't enjoy -- for a little while, at least -- if they lead to better, long-term opportunities.
3. You and your girlfriend don't necessarily have to choose the same career paths.
4. None of the things you say you're good at would help you much in EMS.
5. Some of those things you say you hate might become obstacles in EMS.

 

[VFlutter]

1. Don't be so quick to turn your back on a "free ride" for a BS degree.

+10000

A bachelors degree, if any field, will open up many opportunities for you in the future. I would be very hesitant to give that up, especially since it is "free". Suffer through it and just get it over with. It may suck now and you may not enjoy it but it is better than regret when your are 35 with a family and burnout on being a medic with limited other options due to lack of a degree.

 

[mycrofft]

I quit my 8 year dream to become vertebrate paleontologist at age 16. I couldn't hack the math or the chemistry.

I went to college, dropped a lot of classes, kept up a B av, then dropped out to work in a factory and then get married.

Seven years after dropping out, I went back for a nursing degree once I decided that degree was what was needed to take a positive and long term path in my life. What did I have to take? Statistics (math)...chemistry (basic, organic and bio).

What made the difference? Riding tailboard on a fire pumper in a Nebraska winter, and later having a wife AND a baby to take care of.

Maybe you need to ripen a little, or maybe you will get blown sideways a little until you find a niche, but you have to decide on a goal and plot a realistic path to keep from being blown away. Don't kick yourself for failures or sidetracks, but don't turn around and kick dirt on them and call the reasons you didn't succeed "stupid":angry:; figure out what happened or if your goal was unrealistic (your lady and counselors/instructors can help), readjust and press on.

Best of luck!!!

 

[Wheel]

I think you can do it if you feel like you really want to be there, but I would suggest doing some ride alongs to get an idea of what it is really like. It's definitely not all gore and trauma. For example, I just started at a job in a small city with a high crime rate, and I've run on one good trauma in the last 3 weeks (gsw) and I've run on many, many bs medical calls. It's the nature of the beast.

I also would not crap out on the sciences you are taking right now. While some might argue that they aren't necessary to be a medic, they can certainly help you be a better medic. Chemistry is the class that helped me the most in medic school.

Finallly, as someone who switched from a chemistry degree to going to medic school I would say suck it upand finish. That being said, you are young, so you still have time to make some decisions and grow up a little before deciding to finish your bachelors. That's what I've done. I definitely wasn't happy in college and I am happy working. In order to do this you have to take your past experiences to heart and learn from them, not dismiss them as stupid.

This is my two cents coming from someone who was in a very similar situation. Whatever you decide to do, welcome, and I hope you stick around and learn from the great minds here.

 

[Envy]

First of all, I appreciate the responses. I think what i'm going to do is take the EMT B along with a few classes at my university. I'll have to talk to financial aid and an adviser to see how light of a schedule I can get away with, but that way I can get a good feel for how I like it. If I do, i'll probably take a break from the university and just focus on becoming a paramedic. I can always go back later and finish the bachelors. Volunteering is something I already had in mind too. I'm excited about it. If I don't think I can juggle the university classes, emt basic, and work all together then I may just decide to take a semester off and try some volunteering and get the basic cert. I'll see how burnt out I feel come December/January.

I talked to my family about this plan today and they're all supportive. Nobody in my family has a college degree, and I actually dropped out of high school when I was 16 or 17, but went and got a GED at 18 and then at 21 enrolled at the community college when I was injured and on disability leave from work. I liked the community college so I didn't return to a full time job, but now i'm on my fourth or fifth year and just burnt out on these mundane lectures. I think a little change will help even in the long run.

 

[mycrofft]

"I can always go back later and finish the bachelors."

I said that in 1973. I was back in school in 1980. (OK, EMT-Ambulance class 1978)

You seem to show the ability to come back hard, though. Set a deadline. Do your best.

 

[titmouse]

Keep in mind that financial aid might not cover the EMT class. Here in Miami, Fl there are no grants so I saved up the 1500 dollars to pay for the class, med exams, uniform, etc. If you feel like its something you really want to do and enjoy the medical part to for it.

 

[Envy]

Yeah I don't think financial aid pays for continuing education courses. I still have to check, but I can come up with the money if need be. I have a decent gun collection and i'm working on selling off a bit of it now.

 

[gicts]

Second vote for not giving up on a Bachelors.

I took both my EMT and Paramedic class while FT at college. I hated college so much due to the others immaturity and the lack of knowledge presented in the class. Looking back, I shouldn't have done EMS, but focused on a real college degree.

If you want to become a paramedic and only want a spare buck, that's what you'll get...but you're selling yourself short.

A nursing degree takes the same amount of time and you get twice the pay out the door. Not to mention there are 101 different job potentials for nurses, from nursing to sales, to insurance and business.

At the very least keep focused on some long term goals. EMS will always be here, and it will cover your living expenses, but not much more. There are few to no growth opportunities, and the only way people here increase their salaries is by giving 50-80 hours of their life away each week. You'll be tired and pissed, and there is no hole at the end of the tunnel.

 

[gicts]

On a side note, I am thoroughly disenchanted with EMS. It provides the least amount of promotional opportunities of the three tiers.
Police-Sargent, Lieutenant, Detective, This department, that department
Fire-Engineer, Lt, Captain, this specialist, that specialist
EMS:Supervisor

You should have access to your town's public employees salaries. Look at it. EMS is the loser before overtime. There is a whole lot of responsibility and pressure recognizing and treating a person by yourself in the back of a truck. I think we're very underpaid and doubt things will change.

What about nursing with an emphasis on fitness or preventative medicine? Physical trainer?

My girlfriend is 2 years older than you. She has a degree in Communications :rofl: and is already making more than me. Plus she gets to work from home twice a week and is treated with dignity. Who knows what she may make in 10 or 20 years. I know sticking with EMS will get me $55k in 15 years....and a broken back.