The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsLounge thoughts needed.
I am seriously considering changing my major at school. I am just finishing up my first semester, and was going to major in Health Information Technology. The problem isn't the major itself -- I have some medical background and still feel that this major would be a good fit for me. The problem is this: It's a very competitive major because the number of spots in it is dictated by the number of internships available. I can hold my own pretty easily in the grade department, but that may not be enough. My Plan B was to switch to Paralegal Studies if I don't get into HIT. That major doesn't have the same problem. I can't decide whether to make the change now or wait until I would be ready to apply for the HIT program. By that time I will have taken two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology and a semester of Pathophysiology, as well as the Medical Terminology class I am just finishing up now. Those classes won't be of much use in the paralegal program, and the idea of taking them just to try to get into HIT just isn't appealing at my age (almost 54). I'm not afraid of a little competition, I don't like the idea of having wasted all that time and effort. Your thoughts?
Kaleva
(36,145 posts)And while my stepson has straight A's, he missed the cut for an internship that he really worked hard to get. There were only a few openings and everyone that applied had straight A's.
sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)Medical terminology could be useful as a para but I can understand your position.
What I did before actually applying for med school was go through the first year of a pre-med oriented biology program and then assess my ability to continue. When I thought that I would be competitive enough I started in on it wholeheartedly the next semester but I was ready to bail to a more applied degree field at all times through the first two years of my undergraduate program.
Right now you're in a tough spot because you're competitive but you don't know if you're competitive enough for the few spots. If your school ranks you it might be possible to compare your position to your classmates but if nobody has declared yet that might be tough as well.
Good luck with whatever choice you go with.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)a good reading on your chances?
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Brigid
(17,621 posts)Last year 54 people applied for 15 spots.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)I believe there's such a glut of full lawyers that many are taking paralegal jobs to get their feet in the door. Beyond that, I seem to remember reading that even paralegal work is being outsourced....
Good luck with whatever you decide.
WhoIsNumberNone
(7,875 posts)I'd suggest sitting down with an academic counselor from the university to talk it over. Find out if I'm right about the age problem and maybe see if there's a plan B where those classes could be useful if you don't get the internship.
rug
(82,333 posts)Even if it doesn't pan out, you'll be gold to a personal injury or medical malpractice firm. The cost of an outside review of medical records can be enormous. That's just for a review, not for expert opinions. Try to pick up some paralegal clases as electives if you can.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)That these classes might not be such a waste of time as they might seem -- that they might interest a malpractice or personal injury law firm. I may arrange to talk with someone in the Paralegal Studies program about that.