Hi Annie,

I have a mate who did a ‘baccalaureate’ program, and by passing the core subjects they admitted him into Med school. Maybe look for programs like that, one’s that feed into major programs. I don’t know a lot about the industry, so i can’t comment on how you would enter into it. Have you considered doing counselling instead? You use the word counseling to describe psychiatry. They are two different fields; Psychology looks at the mind, behavior and how our mind works. Whereas counseling looks at helping others understanding and assisting others with their everyday lives (problems, situations etc.). This forum is basically a form of counseling. 🙂 I don’t know where you are, but in Australia you can do specific degrees for counseling at TAFE (tech college) or at university. Most of the time, counselors work everywhere and anywhere, they are not regulated and as such cannot dispense medication (I believe). Just ignore this section if i got the wrong end of the stick 😉

As for loans and rising debt. This is something i think about often. Personally, even if low paying, turning down work isn’t the best option nowadays. Maybe/ hopefully you will get a call back for some of the other jobs you applied for. The loans if they are like Australia, you shouldn’t have to pay back instantly. The only thing you could do is keep going for a masters or looking for a way into med school. And just pay if off later on in life. This is the reality of the situation i’m afraid. I worked for 7 years or so after finishing high-school so i had income to support myself up until recently to continue to go to university. Now i take loans since i left work to go full time. If i had time and was offered a job, i would definitely take it.

What I think may work is if I get a job to pay off some of my loans while looking for masters programs and doing a masters program while I work.

THis is a great idea. What about community college’s? Night courses? This way you could work during the day and attend class at night. Either way, working and studying is what a lot of students do. If you can find part time work even casual in the field you want to get into, you may be able to see if it’s for you etc. As someone said to me today, ‘this is my future self’s issue, not right now”, so look at it that way, if you want.

I don’t think you are too lost. You seem to have a goal, somewhat of an idea of where you want to go, it’s more the financial side of things that concern you the most. I would be speaking to professors, professionals in the field you want to get involved in, because they can give you the down low and where and what to study. What are you studying now? Maybe some of those courses may allow you to enter into post grad courses. Speak to career advisers at college as well.

Hopefully this was helpful. Overall, as long as you have a direction then whether it takes a year to 10 years to reach the destination, you will still get there in the end.

Sincerely,
Matty