About whether I should choose Neuroradiology

[dingdong98]

I am an entering as a freshman in UT austin and I was thinking about going into neurology but I wasn't sure then so I chose architecture but now thinking about it again. I'm thinking about getting into neurology. The problem is I don't want to wait too long when thinking about what I want to do. I like art and design and coming up with ideas but at the same time as weird as it sounds I always been wanting to learn about the brain and have become very interested in the subject of the brain. I have enjoyed watching the health channel more than the design shows I see in home and garden network. I've been interested in health almost as long as I have been interested in art its just back then I wasn't focused that much about the human body as I was about art and design. I'm now reading a book about the brain and this really made want to think about changing my plans but then I thought, I really like design. There are some downsides and fun things about both fields but I don't know what to do now. Especially my schedule, I don't want to drop the architecture course I chose just in case I find it more interesting than I thought but if I was curious about getting into neuroradiology or architecture, what should I do to know what career I want to be in as far as what classes to take and stuff?

 

Architecture and Neuroradiology are almost similar (ok not really) in education (long hours, years of education, internship, license and exams) but the downside of architecture is the starting salary and probably the demand for architectures in the future. THe downside is neurology is the long hours and I don't think have that caring or nurturing experience, I'm afraid I may not be good enough for that, I mean I'm not a cold person or anything. I like how there are many specific fields of neurology that you can get into. I don't know what to do right now.

 

I looked into neuroscience but I'm not sure if I want to spend my days doing nothing but research. I like to look at images of the brain and know what the brain looks like when theres a problem and how it functions and then I found neuroradiology. I don't mind working in a hospital setting but I'm not sure about the managing patient care although it could be something I can get used to and learn to handle. I'm more interested in knowing the functions of the brain and the imaging.

 

I understand the long hours and the medical residency and the amount of years the amount of rigorous work to do in the field of neurology especially radiology and if I do get into this field then it would be something I would work very hard for so it can pay off but for now I'm having a hard time picking what to do as I don't want to make any mistakes.

 

Edited July 19, 2010 by dingdong98

[iNow]

You're a freshman. Why do you feel the need to declare now? Take classes in both... Then, answer your question after you have a better understanding of each... Or, see how your time management skills are and see about doing both (ambitious to double major, but certainly possible... or maybe even have one as a minor...). You're still early into it. Why decide immediately? Do some research first and form conclusions after gathering data.

Edited July 20, 2010 by iNow

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

First off, welcome to UT, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I'm a sophomore natural sciences major (physics), so I can tell you a bit about how things work.

 

If I recall correctly, you aren't actually required to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year. In natural sciences, you'll have quite a few required courses to get out of the way -- calculus, government, US history, your foreign language, your fine arts hours, and the basics of biology and chemistry and so on -- so you'll have plenty of time to decide before it's too late.

 

If you're really curious about research and whether you'd enjoy doing it, take a look at the Freshman Research Initiative and see if there's a research stream that interests you. If you find nothing on FRI, you might consider using Eureka to find a lab doing research in your field, and ask if you can join for a semester or just have a tour. (From what I'm told, many professors will gladly let you have a look around while they explain their work, if you ask in advance and schedule a time.) If you do start doing research, remember you can leave whenever you want. You're just doing it to experience the field and learn what research is like.

 

Finally, let me remind you of a few things they told us in freshman orientation. Among the over 1,000 freshman who enter seeking to go to medical school after college, only half do so -- the rest change majors and choose to do something else. In general, the average student will change majors at least once or twice. (I know a physics major who's on his fifth major.)

 

You won't be locked in to your degree after the first semester or two. If you're uncertain about the future, talk to the natural sciences advisors or find your professors during office hours. Generally, if you ask a professor about their job, their field of science, and what their research is like, they'll gladly tell you far more than you want to know. (Make an appointment if necessary, of course.)

 

And, of course, enjoy Austin!

[dingdong98]

Thanks inow and cap n' refsmmat I'm kinda relieved now. Well I don't have a science course this semester so I probably will next semester. But I'll talk to

my current advisor and natural sciences advisor to see what I need to do. Hopefully I'll see where I'm better off the most. it's a good thing I have time 'whew'.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Oh, one other thing -- if you're often in RLM, check out the posters for the Pizza Talks. They're lectures by professors who're seeking undergraduates for research, and they have free pizza for everyone who attends. Usually they give the schedule for the next few lectures, so you can look for talks you're interested in.

 

Hmm. I need to start taking my own advice.

[dingdong98]

Interesting but I'm not sure I would want to go into research though. I thought it would be more interesting but Idk its not for me.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

One way to find out. You can try out a lab for a semester and see what it's like. There's no real commitment, particularly in the Freshman Research Initiative.

[dingdong98]

do you know any basic courses that a person wanting to go into this profession would take?