Pursuing software engineering or becoming a doctor from a TRP perspective

VandyMarine · 2017-02-14T21:16:04+00:00

Are you sure you're going to be paid six figures straight out of college? I'm not in programming, so maybe this is a thing. I'm in the hardware/networking part of IT/Computers, but this sounds like a stretch to me. Unless you're in SF or something - which $100K will net you a couch to sleep on in a shared apartment with 5 other people.

As for being a doctor... that's a huge commitment. If you're not 100% committed to it you will hate your life. You cannot do it for your family. It's seriously a calling - and if it's not, you'll be miserable for the next 10 years of your life before you ever see any real money.

I say go the software route - hell Healthcare Software actually sounds like a great option... but i'd do some research and see what people are really making with zero experience out of school... My guess is more like $60K if you're lucky.

Edit: Payscale says $53K

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Computer_Programmer/Salary/9fadb9f1/Entry-Level

Just a 34 year old giving his two cents.... YMMV

mi1a · 2017-02-14T22:08:35+00:00

What do you want to do? I got into software engineering because I legitimately enjoy it. I've been playing around with programming and hacking at things since middle school. I knew I wanted to work with satellites or something when I was 6. I don't work with satellites, but the point is, I enjoy technology and building things, and even if I didn't make a career out of software engineering, I'd still tinker with it on the side, because it's just fun, I can automate tons of things, and I love the challenge.

Despite all that, there are still days when I am unsure if this is really what I want to be doing. I also love working with people. Maybe I could write a book, start a blog or podcast, I have tons of things I love to do. For the most part, I do like what I do, and don't regret my decision to go into this field, but the point I'm trying to make is, unless you're really passionate about something, it's just going to be a job and it won't bring you much satisfaction other than the money. If you love programming, then become a software engineer. You don't even need a CS degree. Just go figure out what kinds of projects you want to work on/what the industry is demanding. Learn those languages and start contributing to projects, also put your own stuff up on Github. Create a portfolio of work and either start your own company (lot of work), or market yourself to potential employers. I went the CS route, and don't regret it, but it wasn't necessary.

If you love helping people, and have always wanted to become a doctor, then go do that. I don't have any experience in the medical field, so that's the most I can say about that.

If you are actually interested in both fields, and know you would enjoy both routes, then you'll have to weigh the pros and cons yourself. That's not something people on the internet can help you with, other than relaying our own experience in our respective industries.

Which path is more RP? I don't even know what that means. RP's main concern is male/female mating strategies, plus self improvement from a male perspective. I don't see how this is relevant to a career choice in any way, except for possibly boosting your beta bucks status by making more money.

office_bulgogi · 2017-02-14T21:44:57+00:00

Go do medicine.

A profession that everyone can relate to and easier to understand will add to your SMV.
Medicine has flat-out more women. Compare the 2 industries and medicine generally has more women in the office/industry.

J-baller · 2017-02-14T22:57:16+00:00

I dropped out of medical school during my 3rd year. The decision wasn't an easy one but I have no regrets. Started my own business and so far so good. Masculinity craves freedom and being a doctor starves you of that freedom. It's not rare for doctors to work 12 hour days. Imagine being stuck in a hospital with people who have different values from your own. Even just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine

Mowett · 2017-02-15T20:07:22+00:00

Around this time last year i was faced with a very similar choice: stay on a high-powered course that would've made me very employable, or pursue a different course that aligned much more closely with my goals.

I made the change, and my year has so far, without question, been fantastic. My grades are up, I have more time to pursue other things I enjoy, my course aligns completely with my interests and - most importantly - I'm happy.

The only thing that makes me hesitate to recommend switching courses is that you're in your third year. For me, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made, but you need to think about whether you can deal with those sunk costs.

19RomeoQuebec · 2017-02-15T04:30:11+00:00

First off, you should NOT be asking/looking for career choice approval from (family, friends, interwebz). What you do and enjoy in your life is your choice.

If you choose a high paying career field but don't enjoy it, you will be a slave to money. Do something you enjoy and get paid well doing it.

Thotwrecker · 2017-02-15T09:22:33+00:00

If you are halfway through your 3rd year, there's no feasible way you can get into any halfway decent med school if you're just now laying the groundwork. And if you have been, then there's no way you've accrued the courses you need for CS.

The kids who get into even very middling med schools have tons of prereqs, volunteering, somewhat relevant internships, etc. Likewise if you're thinking you're going to get Uber and FB tangled up in a bidding war over you and snag a 150k+ offer right out of college without a good SW internship, you're caught in 2011.

You'll need to actually be good at relatively good at coding and have projects / shipped features / something to show for yourself to get these huge offers. As a CS student you'll find a job, but you won't be on this fast ramp up track where you start at 150k and ramp up to 200k in 3 years unless you are damn devoted and smart.

Likewise, I know a lot of med school burnouts, and most of the burnouts are the ones who just did it to appease their family, look cool, or make money. Your dollar / time investment is not great - and the most profit : work fields like dermatology are super competitive. You won't get far unless you have genuine passion, work ethic, and drive beyond the SMV that you may associate with "being a doctor".

Entropy-7 · 2017-02-15T15:46:13+00:00

If you are in Canada, with its (properly) socialized medicine, doctor. Specifically, EMERG (ie. ER doctor). You work 8 days a month and pull $350k a year (I have a friend who went this route). Now, these are 8 days of 24 hour shifts, and that gives you more than 2000 hours a year. However, my friend has a shit load of flexibility and jet sets around in his free time.

Software engineer is iffy. You can make $50k or maybe $100k in a work-a-day job. On the other hand, I had another buddy back in the day who went to Waterloo for computer science (I will date myself by saying this) and then he signed on with a young company who paid shit but gave him lots of stock options. That company was Microsoft. After a few years, he cashed in his stock options and has not had nor needed a real job since.

On the other hand, I licensed a property to a crew of software developers. We had a huge publisher and were expecting about $1.5 million revenues in the first year. And then crickets. The market didn't bite.

Brush up on your STEM shit and write your MCAT and then make a decision. It's a long haul in that you need 4 years of med school and then your residency and the rest. However, really consider what sort of lifestyle you want. Dermatology and radiology are boring as shit but you work 9-5 and make crap loads of money (my understanding is that in the USA these are one of the few private sector fields). The other option is opthalmology and opening your own LASIK centre. Nuclear medicine averages a million a year. But look into how EMERG works in the USA.

WiggedyWah · 2017-02-16T01:19:19+00:00

dont be a doctor. everything i read people say about working as a doctor is just awful. i don't know why anyone bothers to do it. it should be great working as one, considering how important they are to society, but nope. be a software engineer and get rich.

epistemic_humility · 2017-02-16T17:37:56+00:00

Software dev here,

do it. I have time to pursue other hobbies, I don't have to fuck with office life much because I'm the smart dude they 'need'. I worked remote for a year which was badass but moved to a higher wage back in the office. After a few more years I'll go the consultant route and only work when I need to supplement all my business ideas.

I'd expect salary to start around 60k if you're real good, maybe even lower. but as soon as you have experience move out of that company into the next to start building up experience. Learning business logic behind many software applications will also help.

Note I don't do this because I love it. I do it because I'm smart enough to understand it and to make it easy. I love many other things but day jobs are not one.

Mangoinhand · 2017-02-14T22:51:23+00:00

Software engineer here making mid 6 figures amd getting raped with taxes.

I should have become a medical doctor. Why?

Because the pay here (in Canada) for a specialist like a radiologist starts at 500k/year. My buddy just turned down an offer for 1 million dollar Base salary in some hick town out West so he could stay downtown in a big city here (read: more sexy woman)

PLUS over here a doctor gets paid as a Corporation as therefore can write off a lot of stuff and save more.

Work for 5 years as an MD and retire with your 2 million dollars (buy a few nice 4plex apartments with it and live for free). Done.

I am turning 34 soon and can easily pull woman in the 24-30 year range that it's a joke. You will be fine at the same age and can retire early.

zephyrprime · 2017-02-14T22:12:21+00:00

Forget about "redpill virtues". What do you think this is, a religion? Geez. You are way too green.

newtoredpil · 2017-02-14T21:14:29+00:00

This is not the right forum for this type of question. Decision should be made based on facts. Engineering and CS forum are way better Do not derail this forum. for me it's just a fanciful way of trolling or attention whoring.

Fuknmods · 2017-02-14T21:18:03+00:00

id be paid 6 figures right out of college

Yup, all these companies are desperate to pay college kids with no experience a 6 figure salary because they earned a paper diploma.

being a dr fucks up rp virtues

How? Really, how? Maybe while studying but nothing stops you from actually earning huge 6 figs and partying like a motherfucker once you're licensed and working.

Title	Pursuing software engineering or becoming a doctor from a TRP perspective
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	1
Comments	28
Date	February 14, 2017 9:00 PM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/5u2z3m/pursuing_software_engineering_or_becoming_a/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/pursuing-software-engineering-or-becoming-a-doctor.40916 https://theredarchive.com/post/40916

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