Journalism or Physical Therapy?

Question

I have just currently finished my freshman year in college and I'm struggling to make a decision on what to major in. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be in the news room. I love broadcast media, and the idea of Journalism really makes me happy. However, I have been tossing Journalism and Physical Therapy back and forth and I am just at a dead stop. I want to do Physical Therapy because it pays well, and I am very interested in sciences. I just can't make a decision, and everyone is telling me "to do what makes me happy". I've also been told a thousand times Journalism is a "dead-end" career.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice so I could hear what other people think about these two.

Answer 1

A member of the YA population cannot answer that question for you. You must answer that question for yourself.

A book called "Stumbling Upon Happiness" is based on scientific research about happiness and careers in particular. It made the remarkable statement that humans are very bad at predicting what will make them happy. It also states that we are not all that different from one another. It said that the best way to judge whether a career will make you happy is to talk to someone who is doing the work right now. Surprisingly, a retiree is not a good choice, because people tend to forget and rationalize their experiences.

I suggest that you talk to 2 or 3 physical therapists right now to see if they are happy with their career choice. I'd also try to talk to 2 or 3 journalists to see if they like there jobs. If you have the qualifications for both, you might get some good career planning tips while you are at it.

I'd not focus too much on income. A higher income will make you happier if you do not have enough money to cover your basic needs, but generally having a lot more money does not significantly contribute to your happiness.

Please talk to someone who is currently doing the work in those fields right now. Perhaps we have a few people out there who are doing journalism or physical therapy right now and can advise you about their degree of satisfaction with their career choices.

Answer 2

There's nothing saying you can't do both. Major in one. Minor in the other. Probably, by the time you're a junior, your preference for one over the other will be revealed.

The important thing is to do something you love. Never pursue a career primarily because of the money. It's true that money can't buy happiness, but finding fulfillment and purpose from doing something you love every day of your life and getting paid for it besides? Priceless!

Answer 3

Why don't you major in journalism, but at the same time take the PT prerequisite courses.  If you decide by the time you are done with your BS that you are happy and can find a job in journalism, then the only thing you've lost is about an extra year or so in college doing the extra science classes.  If you find that the job market in journalism isn't what you hoped, then you can still always apply to the physical therapy program which is a graduate degree anyway.

Answer 4

I hear that a job in physical therapy is a very competitive profession.  However, I have a friend that just adores her job. She loves the pay and the people. It's very social and takes a lot of people skills. Journalism is not a necessarily a dead-end career if you get the right job. Both are good choices but if it were my choice, I would take up a job in physical therapy. That's me though. Do what you really want.