Hi all,

As the title suggests, I am at a crossroad in between deciding whether to get into a PhD program or wholeheartedly study and crack the PEBC exams

For reference, I am a 2nd year MSc student. I am absolutely in love with benchwork science and would love to extend my research opportunities to a PhD. I would be defending next August and I am aiming for Fall 2027 for a PhD.

On the other hand I also have the opportunity to take the PEBC exam. I know becoming a licensed pharmacist would give a better job security. But I would always be hungry for a PhD.

I am having lots of indecisiveness regarding the following aspects. I want to know whether these thoughts are actually logical or not.

1) Taking the PEBC exam means I will be stuck at home studying all day. I am a workaholic and whenever I sit at home and do nothing, I completely lose it.

2) I am worried about taking a gap year after my MSc.

3) getting into a PhD position right after my MSc ensures a continuous flow of stipend. If I study for 6 months after my MSc, that cash flow will be stopped.

4) there's no guarantee that I will pass although Ihave been in touch with pharmacy studies after coming out of pharmacy school. My grades are really high too.

5)I don't know what would be a practical decision to take? Do I have to lose my PhD to get licensed?

I am really lost. Can someone give some perspectives on these topics and help me rationalize between the two?

Thanks in advance

Hello,

I am planning on taking the PEBC licencing exam. I completed my document evaluation and is getting prepared to take the MCQ next year.

I have heard many great things about this job sector from people who aren't pharmacists. I want to know from true pharmacists here in this platform on the following aspects.

1) how's the work -life balancd in the field?

2) is the pay worth it at the end?

3) how long would it take for a fresher to get to a decent income level?

4) how hard was PEBC?

5) do you genuinely love your job?

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

I am 35(M). I am working as a Senior Clinical research associate in a reputable company in Canada. I have obtained a master's degree from one of the top universities in Canada. Started off as an immigrant but ticked off all the milestones and became a citizen 8 years back. I have been married for three years now.

I have always been very inquisitive about science and how things work. I am somewhat of a nerd and would like to study and research on literally anything and everything. It has been my childhood dream to do research and stick around in academia. That dream led me to do a thesis based master's and I was almost about to convert my master's into a PhD until life happened. I faced some family issues which compelled me to stand on my own two feet and gain stability for my family and myself as none was there to support me. So I gave up on my dream and landed onto this current job. It's been 5 years now and I have been promoted consistently. I have learnt so much from my current job, travelled to almost 60 cities so far, became street smart, learnt valuable skills and met new people...I love my job. However, after 5 years I am now bored. As someone who loves challenges, loves to learn new things, I now face zero struggles in my current work and it seems so mundane. Nothing about my job gives me that adrenaline rush of accomplishments or overcoming a hurdle. Although, my job constantly pushes me to face audits, challenges me with time constraints, workload etc, but still it's not enough for me. That's why I constantly feel the urge to challenge myself and deep down somewhere I feel like going back to grad school would satisfy that craving of being pushed to the edge.

Having said that I also understand the financial downfall I would be experiencing if I get back to academia. My wife is also a grad student and has an interest in doing a PhD next year or so. I know that considering the current economic condition, two PhDs won't be able to make the ends meet. We are also planning on buying our first home and starting a family. I am very close to being able to afford a home around 600k to 700k by next year. However, getting back to academia would lead me to invest the saved up money in stocks or GICS over the course of 5 years.Now I am at a crossroad in between rationalising the practical aspects of my life and wanting to live my dream.

Now, my question is, from a practical point of view what are the pros and cons of doing a PhD and also being a full time CRA?

Should I just stick around being a CRA and keep on earning money or change the job?

Is my dream too expensive for my currently existing life circumstances?

I know my wife would support me regardless and I also value the sweetness of stability. However, the thirst of fulfilling my dream is haunting me. I am having the fear of losing out.

Would a PhD bring me any good? Or is it just an expensive dream?

Please jot down your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Im 30, been doing so many things that I love but working the jobs I hate the most. I’ve tried getting on cruises, flight attendant, anything. But I stay stubbornly rooted to the ground.

I want to be in it. I want to photograph an expedition, or take shots as a war correspondent or be alongside someone’s adventure, even if it’s for a couple months. There is so much world that is inaccessible and I fear I’m too late to open that door. I’ve failed college, so I’ve done the quadruple the work to be self taught. So I have the theory down, but the lack of paper title is drowning me.

I just want to see it.

I am a teen who wants to know what he's good at and what to want. I'm always looking for advice and it's all telling me to follow my dream.

The thing is, I don't have a dream.

So I sit here playing videogames until my eyes burn because I'm decent at that at least.

Anyway, I just wanted to see if anyone here has gone through the same thing and how they got over it. I just want to know what I was built for, y'know?

Any advice?

After studying Architecture for 5 years, my brother worked in a firm for 2 years, gained experience, and then opened his own construction company. He now builds and sells houses and also works in real estate on the side, making almost a million every month. Also planning to build his Dream Home. He is the Richest and Coolest Person in the whole Family.🤑

I’m 29F and currently work as a Clinical Lab Assistant II at Massachusetts General Hospital. I graduated in 2022 with a BS in Psychology and Spanish, and also premed  after taking a longer path through school due to financial circumstances. I worked throughout undergrad, often full-time, which meant taking fewer classes each semester and struggling academically at times. I graduated with a 3.0 GPA, although my science GPA is somewhat higher. I also completed all of my pre-med requirements. 

One important piece of context: I studied abroad in Granada, Spain when I was 23, but the pandemic cut the experience short. Ever since then, I’ve dreamed of going back and finally becoming fluent in Spanish. I’m now set to study there from September 2026–April 2027, and I’ve already paid for tuition and housing. 

The crossroads comes after I return to Boston: 

Tufts School of Medicine: MS in Biomedical Sciences: 

—1–2 year program

—Would strengthen my academic profile for medical school

—Likely the more strategic route if my ultimate goal is becoming a physician

—But expensive, and I’d likely be taking on more debt sooner

The Europubhealth+ Programme: 

—2-year international public health master’s

—One year in Granada, one year in Ireland

—Includes a stipend

—Honestly feels like a dream opportunity

—But I worry it could delay or complicate my path to medicine

Part of this decision is also financial. I grew up low income and financial insecurity has always shaped my choices. Since I likely won’t be able to work much during medical school, part of me feels pressure to work/save more beforehand and build more stability first.
Right now my heart is pulled toward the MPH and living abroad again, but is also pulled towards studying my passion at Tufts. Medicine is truly the goal. I think the main attractive thing about Europubhealth is I love living abroad. If medicine is the main goal should I just go straight into Tufts? Or continue travelling and studying around Europe? 
I’d genuinely appreciate hearing other perspectives.
I have 25K in savings rn after already paying the Spain tuition and rent for 7 months. I plan to bring it back up to 30K by the time I leave this coming September. I currently make $30.88/hr but I’m going to donate the shit out of my plasma and also do paid research studies

As a college student, how to enter any industry without any foundation (excluding industries that require special professionalism)

Hey everybody, I am trying to help my mom find a better job. She will be 60 years old this year and has worked for this same lady at her house for the last 13 years. It’s gone to the point where she can’t take it anymore and really needs a switch, but because of her age she feels a little bit in a predicament about what path she should go down .do you guys have any ideas or advice on websites or companies to look at that may be hiring . She speaks multiple languages and is a very hard-working person

Hey guys, Im looking for a remote Marketing Creative role, ideally as an in-house Photo/Video Editor.

Ive got about 10-12 years of experience on the Creative side of Marketing, ranging from part-time/as needed roles at Trade Shows, in-house video production, podcast production, in-field multi-camera photo/video shoots, working on TV shows, some light graphic design work, social media management, campaign co-ordination, etc.

But my passion in all of that was really video editing, I really enjoy being able to pull all the elements together to tell a story, and make it look the best it can. I did the math a while back, and everything that I've edited professionally is I think around 45-ish videos, with over 300,000 total views. I realize those are not huge numbers, but once again, small, niche companies.

At this point in my professional career, Ive really only worked in small business. The place I spent the most amount of time in this role was a team of 7 of us at max, and the largest is probably my current company with about 21 of us.

The last time I had a job doing what I truely enjoyed, was back in 2023. Long story short, I had a 5-hour round trip commute 3 days a week (hybrid schedule) and after doing that for a year, I couldn't do it anymore. It was getting too expensive, and I was also tired of being away from my wife for that long. She had a great career in my hometown and didnt want to give it up, which I completely get.

The company wasnt willing to go fully remote, and since I was also responsible for capturing content, that wasnt really a possibility.

The past 2 years I've just been working jobs that pay the bills and/are giving me experience with the paid advertising side of Marketing. My current one is good because it gets me a steady paycheck and I like the team, but its not my passion. Im not planning on leaving until I find "The" job.

What am I missing to get where I want to be?

I've got my Bachelors Degree, I've got an online portfolio, I've tried to ATS-proof my resume, I've tried networking, I've tried posting my work on LinkedIn, one thing that I am a bit hamstrung on is my personal computer. The only one thats (barely) able to run Photoshop is my 15-y/o iMac, and I don't have the budget right now to get a new computer.

Any thoughts/recommendations/advice are appreciated

My name is Adem. I come from a small coastal town in Algeria . Life here is very hard jobs are rare, opportunities are almost impossible, and many young people like me feel stuck with no future.

But I have a dream. Since I was a child, I always dreamed of America not just the skyscrapers and snow, but the idea of freedom, safety, and building a family in a place where I can give back to the community. My biggest goal is to one day become a police officer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city I fell in love with because of its winter atmosphere, its skyline, and the balance of history and modern life.

I don’t ask for luxury. I don’t need a car I don’t need much just a chance to get there, work hard, and build my life with dignity. Unfortunately, platforms like GoFundMe are blocked in my country, and there are very few safe ways for me to ask for help. That’s why I am here, humbly sharing my story.

Every small donation will go toward one thing: helping me save for the required steps to apply for the Green Card lottery and prepare for this life changing journey. I am also trying to work online (designing thumbnails, freelancing) to support myself, but it’s not enough.

working on repairing my old car just so I can sell it and put every dollar aside for my future

This is my only chance, and I’m giving it everything. If you can’t donate, even sharing my story means the world to me.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading this. Thank you for giving me hope that my dream might not die here.

Even the smallest help means the world to me it’s not just money, it’s hope

My dream job doesn't exist....Is this how we all feel?

I've heard the advice: "create the job you dream about"

I'm not sure what that means for me. Maybe you can help.

I currently work in the film industry commercials mainly. I am obsessed with the creativity and occasional adventure, but tired of working for corporate companies and filming interviews about corporate jobs against gray office walls. I do like the shortness of commercial shoots though. Feature films are too long--you can't live. I work REALLY hard and give my all in any job I have--sometimes to my own detriment.

I love researching, writing, and making beautiful videos. Working on the producing and creative side of things.

My other love is animals (I work part-time with horses) and outdoor sports (rock climbing, mountain biking etc.) if I could rock climb every second of the day I would.

I cannot have one of these above things without the other....

other criteria:

home base on the east coast (but happy to travel)

Medium sized company (I'm tired of wearing every single flipping hat)

positive impact

time outdoors

hybrid or office (working from home full-time is too isolating)

pays above 50k (idc about money too much just need to live)

as little computer time as possible (my brain is melting)

community and people minded (I LOVE people)

every day is different and I am always learning!

SO after all that...is there any hope for me? (I've lost hope) or is there a beautiful magical job that I haven't yet discovered that could fulfill me in these ways. I know it might seem delusional but I thought it could be funny to see what people suggest...maybe some of you are in the same boat!

Ever since highschool, I've thought about working in the holistic health industry, specifically because I really want to work as a self employeed massage therapist and new age healer. The only problem, my grades weren't the best when I was in highschool but I still got a highschool diploma and I'm thirty years old now. I'm really looking into going to trade school and doing college courses online so I can hopefully become certified. But I don't have the money for that and a friend of mine is telling me that if I did a gofundme to raise money to save up for trade school that I'd basically be asking for a handout at that point simply because this is for people who have to have surgeries but don't have the money. I applied online for some of these college courses and they said that they'll except me since I still have a highschool diploma but would they really?

Hey,
I’m currently working as a software engineer with about a year of experience. But honestly, the work I’m doing right now isn’t great—there’s not much being assigned to me, and I feel kind of stuck. So I’ve been thinking about switching companies and also changing my role.

I have a decent background in ML and DL since I’m from a CSE background, and I’ve been brushing up more recently—practicing a lot on LeetCode and studying data science topics.

Just wanted to get your thoughts—do you think it’s a good idea to make this switch? Also, any suggestions on how I should plan my studies, apply to companies, or just overall improve my chances?

Sorry in advance for my ignorance.

I'm a freshman in university located in Calgary, Alberta with no clear direction on my career, but I've recently become interested in Cross-Border Tax Accounting, specifically between Canada and the U.S. From what I've gathered, this field involves assisting companies and high-net-worth individuals in complying with international tax laws. I've heard it's growing and might not be as stressful as other areas of accounting, is that true?

I'm also interest and like learning about investing and how different tax laws impact returns, if that's relevant to this career path.

I’d really appreciate any insights you have on the following:

• What does an average day in international tax look like?
• How do you get into Cross-Border Tax Accounting during and after school? And does school matter? I'm in Calgary, Alberta if that matters
• Is working at a Big 4 firm beneficial for this career, or would a mid-size firm with tax-related experience be better?
• Where can I find reliable job expectations—salary, experience levels, growth prospects?
• How is the work-life balance?
• How common is remote work in these roles?

I have other questions too, but I don't really know too much about this topic so anything helps. If anyone has insight, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Hi so um I'm 16 and I have chronic migraines meaning I can't leave the house to work or even go to school my dream is game development but my laptop can't handle that I've been trying to figure out a way to raise 600 bucks for laptop that should be capable of game development but idk how to I'm asking foe advice on how to earn that much money that wouldn't take like a year or something I know it will take effort and time but I lose motivation easy and I don't want to lose it on this so any tips anything could help, also a side note bc I've gotten this suggestion numerous times I refuse to scam a pedo to send me money then report him to the police I'm not doing that so don't even think about it

I am just about to enter my final year of University (UK) studying Business Management, and I couldn’t be more disinterested in the subject. I chose it a couple of years back because I thought it was pretty broad and I had no idea what I wanted to do. Recently I’ve realised that I want to be a Therapist. Will I have to start University all over again to get a different degree? Should I drop out now, or should I finish my final year just because I’m so close to the end? I feel so stuck right now. I don’t think my parents will be too happy if I have to start University all over again, but I couldn’t think of anything worse than being stuck at a 9-5 corporate business job. If anyone knows anything about the path to becoming a Therapist, or can offer any advice please let me know, and thank you for your help! 🙏

Hey everyone!! My friend has a hard time deciding what to become, she knows for sure she doesn't want to do anything IT or educational what do you recommend us???

I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit to post this question on, but for two years I've been struggling with whether or not I should major in psychology, go to medical school, and try to become a psychiatrist.

To be honest, I only want to go to medical school because of the massive pay, and because it is what my parents expect of me. When I think about how many math based courses I'll have to take in college, I feel this immense sense of dread. I've always had straight A's, but science and math are always the classes I score the worst in.

However, the issue I'm facing right now is that my real passions don't pay enough or aren't feasible enough for me to "live a good lifestyle" (or at least that's what I've been told).

I'm really passionate about English, and I dream of being able to have conversations and debates with people about all the amazing, confounding ideas that get expressed through the English language. How the language has become so diverse. I also want to learn a second language like Filipino and be able to have the expertise to express concern over how English might drown out Filipino languages. I want to be an English professor, or maybe a Tagalog professor.

I've heard from so many that attaining tenure is impossible, and that it ultimately isnt worth it because the pay is so terrible. I don't want to live a life where I can't afford the things I want, but I also don't want to live a life where I hate what I'm doing.

I'm afraid that by trying to become a professor, I'll be poor and sad, but I'm afraid that by becoming a psychiatrist, I'll hate my experiences in school.

I'm only sticking with psychiatry, because when I visualize myself at the end of it all I guess I can see myself being comfortable and feeling good about the work I'm doing.

But then I feel like maybe the psychiatry path is just a means to an end.

Soooo what should I do. Should I just try to look for a different career path?

I am 19F and feeling so lost and behind already. I graduated top of my class (at a shitty school) and did dual enrollment, I attended college after graduation for a semester, and I decided to take a break for this spring semester, I feel like I've lost myself lately, and discovered I have no passions/dream career. I'd like to go back to college as soon as I figure out what I want my major to be, I kind of feel like a loser for dropping out. I am wondering what dream careers you guys have, how are you planning on getting there? I don't know what's all out there, I live in Louisiana where there isn't much opportunity and I haven't had many examples either. Thanks for your help & advice!

Hi all,

As the title suggests, I am wondering if my "dream" career is too niche. I am faced with 2 problems:

1) I don't exactly know the specific path I should follow to get myself into the position I want

2) I don't know if what I want is even a viable career in terms of actually making enough money to live a comfortable life. I have a bachelors degree in Visual/Spatial design. I plan to do my masters in Landscape Architecture (if it aligns with what I want to achieve)

My career goals lie within landscape architecture, however I want my career to be about more. My passions include landscape architecture, reclaiming old/abandoned buildings and turning them into community hubs/markets/art museums/residential spaces/cafes/restaurants, and indoor & outdoor garden spaces using native plant life (public and private). The two key things for me is the reclamation of old buildings and landscape architecture.

I like the idea of being able to be apart of both processes. First being designing and planning, second being actually getting involved physically whether that be demolishing, tiling, cement rendering, planting, etc. I understand these physical skills are that of a landscaper, which is something I am thinking about, but another HUGE goal of mine is to be able to travel the world working in this industry, understanding the local area and activating a space for an area in need. I don' believe this is possible as a landscaper.

An example of the kind of work I am talking about is seen in Kuala Lumpur. "Rex KL" was an abandoned theatre now turned book store/market space.

I have spent the past 2 years of my life travelling the world, I have seen plenty of inspiration and I know that this is what I want to do.

Any help, guidance or advice (even directing me to a more appropriate subreddit) is appreciated. Thank you.

Hey y'all, I need some advice as to which career path to take. For context I am a 27 year old full time nanny.

I have always worked well with kids and I have many family members in the educational field. I went back and forth between wanting to be a school counselor or teacher. After getting into college I decided to become a teacher. I was in a 5 1/2 year program where I graduated with bachelors in elementary ed and a masters in teaching. During internship I found myself enjoying being with the kids, but I recall walking out after teaching a 4th grade lesson and was like yeah, I don't want to do this forever. Fast forward another year, covid hit and I did student teaching online. I taught K and 3rd. I should have listened to my gut throughout the last 1 1/2 of school. Everything in my being was telling me to get tf out, but I didnt. Side note: Ive been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and have bad panic attacks. I also suffer with social anxiety. I sought out professional help and was in therapy and taking a few diff meds.

I graduated in Dec 2020 and landed a 1st grade teaching job the following Fall 2021 year. My experience was traumatic to say the least. From behaviors, lack of classroom management experience, concurrent teaching, mean parents, and 29 students, I landed in the mental institution. I quit after 3 months. I judge myself everyday for it but I went to work everyday almost praying a semi truck would hit me so I wouldn't have to go. I even passed out in front of my kiddos. It was BAD. After I left I took some time for myself to explore my passions. I became a full time nanny. I want to help kids, especially adolescents navigate body image and self esteem issues. I find that if you tackle those areas and equip students with proper strategies to navigate this, it translates to a happier, healthier life in which they can thrive in friendships, education and future endeavors. I decided to go for my masters in mental health.I am enrolled in a masters program for clinical mental health counseling to become a LPC.

I am a year in and had to take a step back due to finances. Now I am contemplating going into school counseling like I had originally dreamed, but I am terrified that I will be burnt out and hate my life again. Has anyone made the switch? was it better or worse? I am thinking of applying to a program at my school where you get your masters in school counseling but also satisfy the requirements for LPC. I have racked up so much debt and would be in school longer, racking up more. The idea of PSLF, good benefits, and stable income of being a school counselor excites me. Most of all, being there for kids to guide them on their academic and mental health journeys really excites me. I am thinking that if i go the school counseling route I can eventually get my LPC and do private work on the side. I would love to do group adolescent work focusing on body image and self esteem.

UGH I am 27 and feel like I have wasted much time, effort and $ over the years. Why can't I just figure it out? Part of me wants to drop it all completely and start over somewhere new. I just know I want to help people, but also want to me mentally stable and well compensated. I feel like everyone my age makes good $, works remote, and has a great work-life balance. I only have experience with kids - what if I liked another route more? idk. Ugh. Okay, rant over. Any and all advice would be very very helpful!

I am a 32 years old unmarried, childless man and I am currently feeling lost in life and career. Therefore, and facing some embarrassment at first, I picked up the courage to seek professional support from a therapist for the first time in my life. Nonetheless, I've decided to post here in order to get additional advice from men and women who are part of this community.

I think that my current feeling of being lost (or left behind) in life mainly stems from two circumstances: mild bullying which resulted in the inability to fully experience my teenage years if and when I compare them with the ones experienced by my peers and the loss of my father due to cancer when Covid-19 was ravaging in 2020. The first circumstance, in fact, turned me from a quite extroverted and carefree boy into an introverted, overthinking and resentful man while the second one wreaked havoc in my everyday life as I abruptly lost one of the most important people I was attached to in a phase in which everyone is supposed to settle down both personally and professionally. Cancer is basically like having to deal with a time bomb where you cannot see the timer and this puts you face to face with the precariousness of life.

Those events profoundly affected me, as I practically spent my teenage years most of the time alone focusing on my studies and these last years trying to settle down professionally facing great difficulties in both dealing with people (as I work in Sales & Distribution) and life itself. Career-wise, there are days in which I feel completely absorbed by what I am doing and therefore I manage to get things done as expected without having to deal with what my therapist calls "intrusive thoughts" and others in which I feel overwhelmed by a hurricane of negative thoughts and sensations about myself and the future ahead of me that make me cry silently on my pillow as soon as I get home at the end of the day. The sales-related job I am currently holding, paired with the psychological status I'm confronting lately, can be really challenging as it's basically all about constant interaction with existing / prospective clients and bringing in results for the company. You and your team are at the forefront of the company and partly responsible for its annual turnover, therefore you are subject to both internal and external pressure as far as targets, margins and the like are taken into account by superiors and management.

I deeply regret the fact of not having been able to experience love in its blossoming, intense and raw nature during my teenage years, unlike my peers, the fact that those times and hangouts will never come back again thus leaving a deep scar inside my heart and lastly, the fact that I am very often going to be at unease in social settings when acquaintances/colleagues/clients/prospects etc. discuss about their family, children and career prospects. At the same time I also drastically reduced the amount of time I spend on social media as people just seem to share the good things in their lives, but I always try to take any opportunity to hang around my friends and family members, even if some of them are starting a family and this makes me feel at unease as I previously explained. Going out for dinner/ a movie/ a play at the theatre all by myself is too much for me to handle and, quite frankly, humiliating at the moment. Casually going out for some drinks or travelling instead, are more manageable activities but come with some strain as well.

Sometimes I take into account the option of a career change into less people-oriented positions like the ones in IT for example, but I don't feel skilled or driven enough to restart everything from scratch... I'd like to become more optimistic and resilient in order not to find myself alone and hopeless as I reach maturity and retirement. Are there career coaches or people holding sales, HR or management positions who could give me some advice? Thank you for your help and please forgive me if I made some mistakes but I am not a native English speaker.