I'd love neurology
but not smart enough I reckon, so perhaps being a GP.

I'd redo A-levels. It's only a dream really, but it is a feasible one, depending on whether I had the guts to give up so many years
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:46, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Once you get into the rigor of life
Change becomes more difficult. If it's a feesable change, and you can afford/have the support to do it. And, if you think it'll make you happier.

Do it.

It's a lot easier to over-qualify later in life than it is to qualify in anything, once you've got commitments. By that, I mean if you are able to become a GP now, take it. You can think about neurology later. If you do neither now, you (probably) never will.

You'll have a degree in History and you'll be wishing you had your time over again.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:49, Reply)

The expense is offputting
and the knowledge of how old I'll be. I'm putting it aside for now, since it is dependent on getting a 2.1 in this degree anyway
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:52, Reply)

Yes, you will need a 2:1
At the last count, something like 20% of my friends are medics or have recently graduated from medicine, and half of those did it as a second degree. You'll be, what, 23 when you graduate? Plus another year or two to retake your A levels (or do a foundation year) - it's really not that old.
(berk, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:54, Reply)

turning 24, then 25/26 start
means that I won't be done until I'm in my thirties.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:56, Reply)

I'm applying for PhDs this year
if I get one, I'll be 30+ when I finish. I don't plan to let it stop me, and you shouldn't either. I'm aware that if I want kids, they'll have to happen in my 30s at some point, but at the minute they don't exist and I do, so my wants and needs come first.
(berk, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:01, Reply)

you can combine the 2 anyway if needs be
one of the girls on my masters is due to have her second in march
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:13, Reply)

plus who wants children?

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:19, Reply)

oh fuck yes
100000 times this. nieces and nephew are amazing. that's enough, thanks!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:21, Reply)

absolutely
I'll let my siblings have the kids, and I'll be a lovely aunt who brings presents, but bugger am I ever having any myself
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:24, Reply)

^ winning answer.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:27, Reply)

this is me
this is exactly what i do - i ruin my 3!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:31, Reply)

What is it you're actually studying just now?
Is it bio-medical science or somesuch?
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:54, Reply)

History
I'm wondering if it's just a pathetic mental yelp
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:58, Reply)

Or a desire to know more
Part of me wishes I'd done a medical degree, but can't be bothered now.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:59, Reply)

And the wages?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:55, Reply)

^ this
if you want a change of direction, do it now. I'm only 25 and I'm already encountering difficulties in changing career/qualifications etc.
(berk, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:53, Reply)

I'm 36 and I have another 30 years of being an office-boy
Okay, I get to do some interesting stuff now and again. But, months in advance, I know what each day will hold.

Don't live a life of regret. Do what you can when you're young to achieve what you want when you're older.

Amberl. Become a GP (If that's what you want to do).
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:55, Reply)

You can never have too many degrees :D

( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:53, Reply)

^ wise words ^
i have a BA and the equivalent of an LLB and will shortly have an MSt. then i am thinking of a phD. i miss academic stuff if i am just working.

have you decided you'd prefer medicine to law? i know they are totally different, but you'd only be 2 years plus 2 years training contract to qualify as a lawyer...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 23:58, Reply)

Oi! Bint.
Back to the piano. I reckon I can save you four-and-a-half grand.

(As you were everyone else).
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:01, Reply)

charming...................

( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:07, Reply)

Sorry.
I've been flawed all night. I apologise.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:09, Reply)

graciously accepted
although as a girl i will never forget it
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:10, Reply)

You've been lucky.
I've been horrible this evening. I don't know why.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:14, Reply)

PMT?

( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:16, Reply)

I don't know what it is.
I entered into a foul-mouthed outburst at Kristine regarding the sale of Dildos, I've been more rude (than usual) to Bob and rude to Roota about her lesbian encounter.

I apologise. And I've been rude to you.

It won't happen again. Sorry.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:19, Reply)

whoa
that's a bit serious... b3ta means never having to say you're sorry!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:20, Reply)

It's not serious.
You cunt.

*smugs it up like a good'un!*

(Although I am amazed at how foul I've been, and I'm not like that in real life).
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:23, Reply)

I've always wanted to do law
and still want to. I'm not sure why medicine has reared it's ugly head, apart from a basic feeling of if you want something fixed, fix it yourself
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:03, Reply)

If you don't know what it is you want to do
Then you are probably doing the wrong thing.

*Apologies for being blunt*
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:07, Reply)

why don't you
get some shadowing at oxford court and/or a local law firm before a vacation scheme? that should be kill or cure!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:07, Reply)

sounds good
and kill or cure is right haha
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:08, Reply)

compromise
specialise in medical law!

although you get paid less for PI. i probably earn about 25k more per year for prop lit.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:10, Reply)

Damn you!
I would easily settle for a £25k job, most likely less.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:14, Reply)

We might have a vacancy for a plant operator next month.
Are you up to 12-hour shifts of physically demanding work involving large amounts of chemicals?
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:17, Reply)

bring it on
can I work at night and will you keep it a secret?

also thanks to your link above I refound this www.goaste.cx/goaste/whenegbertmetlucas001a.html
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:19, Reply)

Have you tried Monty?
Or is it a different type of chemical?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:19, Reply)

They're handled on multi-kilogram scales and they're going into cosmetics, so he may not be much help.
Unless he's a chronic wax- and grease-abuser.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:28, Reply)

honestly
i think his tastes are pretty wide
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:29, Reply)

I read that as vile
which I suppose is equally true
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:40, Reply)

Again
Have you tried Monty?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:39, Reply)

I do love playing with large amounts of chemicals
Although knowing someone that burned a hole in their leg puts me off slightly.

Can I have your job instead?
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:21, Reply)

it's all relative though
as a trainee i got 21k and i worked at least 14 hours a day, often 6 days a week, and as a baby lawyer i got about 38k for the same hours. this is after essentially 5 years at uni. and if i left london now i'd instantly have to take a 30k hit.

i do get a ridiculous salary compared to doctors or teachers or nurses, i freely admit that. BUT i do work my arse off for it!!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:19, Reply)

I've got a friend who has just taken a massive paycut
To move away from London (slimilar line of work to yours) having done 10 years of high-pressure/big salary.

He's never been happier. He has his weekends back and can usually leave the office by 6pm after a 8.30am start.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:21, Reply)

that's the dream!
you either put up with the stress and go for partner - at my firm they earn 500k upwards per annum - because that is what you want, or you get to a certain level and then go elsewhere. i'm about 2-3 years off that particular decision.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:23, Reply)

That is where he was.
The partnership was on the table, but he had to work out if that is what he wanted.

He could see that the partnership (whilst a massive bank loan) would make him a very wealthy young(ish) man, but he wanted more out of life than money.

Granted (in his view) partners do less work than anyone else, but he said it was too big a life-commitment to warrant signing everything away to make it happen.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:25, Reply)

very wise
it doesn't appeal to me. i have to play the game for the next 2 years, but in reality i'd much rather move out to the countryside somewhere (prob back to cheshire or even home to yorkshire) and do something else.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:28, Reply)

He has staying in the industry (contract law)
But working for a national, rather than an international company.

Rewards are far less, but so in the expectation on his time.

He'll probably regret not taking partnership in 5 years time when he can't afford the house he wants, but aside from that, he's happy.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:31, Reply)

there's more to life than cash
but it is a good place to start for some people if that is what they want. just not for everyone.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:35, Reply)

cash is good
I can live with that
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:40, Reply)

500k a year
you can see why they do it!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:41, Reply)

I'd quite happily be doing 15 hour days just now
If it meant I had a job. Some days I think my brain's actually just turning to mush.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:22, Reply)

i can totally see that
you're far too bright for that to happen. and i am crap at doing nothing myself.

you'll get something perfect soon, i am 200% convinced of that.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:27, Reply)

I ended up designing a house today
Just for the hell of it. Anyone want to buy a compact house design, perfect for a city?
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:32, Reply)

i don't even own a city
YET.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:35, Reply)

hahahaha
It's only a matter of time!
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:43, Reply)

You'll be fine POD
You wait, in 5 years time, you'll be moaning about how you've got no time to do anything!

Good luck mate.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 0:29, Reply)