ok, do i even have a chance at columbia??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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money isn't really a motivating factor to enter the field of medicine, it's just one of the perks.

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<p>I think this is legitimate. I think it's perfectly fine to be attracted to a career because it provides you with a good salary and is relatively stable.</p>

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would anyone like argue that any six-figure salary is low?

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<p>If you consider the fact that you don't make six-figures until your mid 30's and have to pay back $150,000 in medical school loans, medicine isn't all that lucrative compared to what you could make as some other white-collar professionals. Doctor salaries aren't low in an absolute sense, someone who goes to a good college can make a lot more money.</p>

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<p>Coming from a very medical family there is no real mystery to medicine and income and I suspect Harvardman understands it precisely as I do.</p>

<p>Also, most Doc's know they want to be a doc. Especially those that are in medical families and have observed surgery.</p>

<p>There a med specialities that are incredibly lucrative and some that are not.</p>

<p>If you do not cut, if you do not do procedures you will be on the low end and be making about 150K.</p>

<p>HarvardMan is exactly right about neurosurgery and most surgeries other than general surgery. It's not uncommon to make 400K up to 1M in some of the specialties and you make it fast. </p>

<p>I don't know anything about not making six figures until your mid-thirties. </p>

<p>Medicine is pretty straightforward. </p>

<p>Four years med school. Internship one year and make your choice here surgical or internal medicine. THen you do your residency. Neurosurgery is about as long as it gets. You can be out at 29 and making serious money at that time. It does not take very long to build up a surgical practice. It's not uncommon to be making 300K a year by your early 30's.</p>

<p>Generally the longer you are in your residency the more you will make and the faster you will make it. The income increases exponentially at this point.</p>

<p>This is assuming you chose a specialty that either cuts or does highly renumerative procedures. Radiology good example of no surgery but they do procedures and it pays well.</p>

<p>Ob-gyn on the low side. General Surgery very low side. Gut surgery -- i.e. thoracic high pay. Heart surgeon - high pay. Neurosurgery - high pay.</p>

<p>Yep, as a resident you will be making about what even Columbia 2002 agreed a non-advanced degreed person makes after graduation and then add on moonlighting money.</p>

<p>So as a resident you are making okay money, getting subsidized housing.</p>

<p>I would, however, respectfully disagree about residents holding two jobs.</p>

<p>It is simple to get weekend moonlighting work once a month ... more if you want ... and bring home and extra two or three grand a month more if you have the time and energy. This is more common if you are in ophthalmology or something like that with more free time.</p>

<p>My boyfriend's in his residency ... so this is pretty straight stuff.</p>

<p>He's here now and does not disagree.</p>

<p>He lives near Columbia and does just fine and he's just a couple years out of college. He can't believe anyone would say you can do just as well with just a college degree. That's absurd.</p>

<p>Graduate school is what it's all about no matter what your passion.</p>