Medical? Pharmacy? Majors? UCLA!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I am currently a second year student at UCLA and a biochemistry major. My gpa is currently 3.45, but I'm afraid its going to drop. I just started participating in a research program, and shadowing a PA. However, I'm having difficulty deciding which career pathway I really want to take. I've thought about going towards the medical direction when I came in to college, but honestly, I'm not sure I will thrive well in that competitive nature. Medical school was something I had in mind, but like many undergrads here, I came in as a science major/premed, not knowing what medical school was really about. </p>

<p>I've done some researched, and I found the Physician Assistant Program and Nursing Program to be interesting as well. However, I also like the pharmacy pathway too. </p>

<p>I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm having personal conflicts and don't know which direction to take, whether its med school, PA , nursing, pharmacy.. I was thinking about PA b/c it's shorter but I found out many programs required clinical experiences so it seems as if the length will be as long as pharm/ MD. I'm also debating switching my major as well because I though phy sci/ mimg looks interesting after taking a couple of classes. </p>

<p>The thing is my parents aren't that young anymore, and I really want to get out there, get my degree, and start earning money for them. Don't get me wrong, I'm currently volunteering at the hospital and shadowing a PA, and I LOVE the hospital environment. I KNOW that I want to work in the health field, it's just I don't know which specific position I would want to take and whether or not I have the ability to get there.</p>

<p>So any doctors/ nurses/ PA/ pharmacists, please share your experiences with me. Your undergrad MAJORS/ why you decided to choose that career path/ how you got there/ the process/ and any other tips and suggestions you have for a lost and confused student.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long message, and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT!! Be harsh and realistic! I want the HARD HARSH COLD TRUTH!!</p>

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<p>Although I'm just a high school senior I have a few things to say. Being a physician assistant might make you miserable. Since you are at UCLA, it probably means you were at the top of your class in high school. You are most probably very bright. Think about it, would you be happy being an assistant because you couldn't make it to medical school. Pharmacy would be a good option because pay is good, hours are flexible, and theres less stress from what i hear. Maybe it's just me, but I would take nothing less than a doctor if I was going into the medical field. But UCLA is a hard school, you might have a better chance at another school at getting into medical school.</p>