School results and future studies thoughts

[annabtg]

As of today, I'm a high school graduate.

And I'm happy to say that the grade thing went great. I've got a final grade of 19.3/20, which grants me both Distinctions (one for being above 18 and one for being top of my class) this year too *and* is above 19, as I wanted. Not to mention that, along with another girl who got the same grade, I'm top of the whole graduate class! :)) (There's some monetary prize that goes with being top of the graduate class, too. Cool! Dunno how much it is, though.)

Currently (read: since I've got my university access grade) I'm stressing out over what to study. Medicine is probably the one school in my available fields I won't be able to access. And I know I was thinking Biology and Chemistry as my alternatives, but everyone's making me reconsider, since I have also access to departments such as Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Pharmaceutics, which have better financial prospects and are also interesting. The thing with Biology and Chemistry is that your options after you're done are either teaching (and I'm too short-tempered for that), research (which is fabulous, but doesn't pay) and work in hospitals or factories respectively (with low salary and almost no prospect of promotion, because of doctors and engineers, respectively, being the main wheels of these engines). I knew all that already, and didn't mind the low salary part, but as my father pointed out, "you'll mind when you grow up". Well, I guess that's true, since he won't be covering all of my expenses forever...
Anyways, Dad, the Biologist, says I should only keep them as my last option. And I guess that so I will.

So now I'm examining the pros and cons of Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Pharmaceutics. (I'll spare you the ramblings that constitute this examination.) I'm leaning towards Pharmaceutics, but still haven't fully made up my mind.

We'll see.

Off to write fic! (Muse came back yesterday, yay!)

See ya,
Anna :)

Comments

Re: kapello... you get the idea :p

[(Anonymous)]

I have a cousin that's in last year of her her pharmacy studies. Dunno how it works in Greece but here, it's a bit like studying law: you spend the first two years memorizing name of pills with what they cure, what are their second effects, when can you prescribe it? when can you not? What are their component (molecularly speaking), etc. It's interesting, but I know I would have troubles with the 'learning by heart for two years'part. OTOH, if it's really what you want to do, once again I'd say: 'Go for it!

I also know scientists that teach at various universities. But if you dig a little depeer and listen, their real fantasy is to drop teaching and dedicate themselve to research. Again, matters from which POV you're seing it.

and...do I make sense? coz I don't think so.

Carole

Re: kapello... you get the idea :p

[annabtg.livejournal.com]

No, you *are* making sense.

That's not what Pharmaceutics studies are about over here, according to what I see in the schedule of the University of Thessaloniki. You study various subjects of Chemistry and Biology - Botanics, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Enzymes, stuff like that. *rubs hands* Just what I like. That's why the more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to study it.

Besides, there's another pro with working in a pharmacy; I'll be able to have a flexible schedule, which is very important for me. I want to be able to have a family life.

See ya,
Anna.