I'm About to Make a Really Hard Choice and Time is Running Out (Long Post)

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hi all, I’m currently a sophomore in college and I’m torn over whether or not I want to continue pursing the Physician Assistant route. (I won’t be applying for at least another 2 cycles). I have to make this choice very soon since summer is approaching and summer CNA classes are filling up. Plus, I don’t want to be in a state of indecision any longer (I’ve been like this for two years already)

In my studies thus far, I’ve noticed that I’m not very fond of my Biology/Anatomy courses, whereas classes like Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology pique my interest more. I have shadowed PAs and I do like their work environment, as well has their interaction with patients and some of their other tasks, but I feel conflicted because the subjects that pertain most to the profession interest me the least.

I understand this question may be difficult to answer, but would you advise that I continue down this path and feel it out a little longer, or should I consider other options? I just feel frustrated when I’m in Bio or Anatomy (Digesting 150-300 slides for an exam makes me want to throw a brick at my computer… Plus I hate the labs, practicals, etc.) Overall, when I’m in those classes I wish I were somewhere else.

I do have other things in mind if PA doesn’t pan out, but I have been thinking about the PA profession for the past year, and I don’t know how to go about this choice. In a way, it feels wrong to leave it, yet also wrong to stay. I’ve met with countless advisors, all giving me mixed responses. Some other things I’m considering are Civil Engineering (completely unrelated to PA, but it is another interest of mine (i.e. I like physics, structures, buildings, etc)), and Business (Albeit, this is more of a back-up if nothing else works out). I guess I could also do Psychology, but I’m afraid of going into that because of low job prospects.

Based only on interest, here’s how I’d rank everything I’ve considered while in college:
Architecture > Urban Planning > Civil Engineering > Physics > Psychology > Chemistry > Physician Assistant > Finance > Physical Therapy > Computer Science > Accounting > Occupational Therapy > Anatomy/Physiology > Biology
Note: There are other factors besides interest at play, so this ranking isn’t definitive.

If anyone can offer me any advice, I’d appreciate it!
Thank you for reading!

Tl;Dr: Need to decide whether or not I should be a Physician Assistant. I like their work, but not the subjects most related to their career. Advice would be appreciated.

2

If you can get through the coursework successfully in spite of your dislike for it, it will be worth the effort. If you can’t, you have tons of other options, so its a win win situation. It might take an extra year to complete an engineering degree since you are starting late.

3

You should not base your career decision on whether you like the classes. The issue is whether you like the work you would be doing if you went into that profession.

As noted by nw2this, most of the other professions require very difficult classes too. Most people don’t like the classes and don’t like expending the effort-but they have to acquire a lot of information and that is hard.

You are at the end of your sophomore year. Engineering would take 4 more years-extending your college years by two. Architecture is just as bad. You are likely to " hit the wall" at some point with all the topics you have listed. And unlike training to be a PA, some don’t lead to an obvious profession. What would you do with biology?? What would you do with psychology. Those two are probably easier majors but they lead to a degree that will help you get a job that pays what a high school graduate makes. You just have to tough out the hard courses like everyone else. Who likes them? Nobody. But you need to learn the material and that is hard work but true for every field worth anything. You need to have knowledge that is unique to that profession-if everyone had it, they’d not be paying you.