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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
  
| I am going to be a senior in hs next year, and I'm starting to think more and more about college. I would love some insight/experiences that you've had to help me make a plan.
I know I want to work with horses in some way, I am planning on getting my animal chiro certification next summer, which will be my part time job. My first idea is to go into the medical field and get my RN. This would be my "backup" plan so that I can graduate, train colts and do chiro for as long as I can/want to, and then start working as a nurse when I need to.
My second idea is get a degree in business management. This would help me be able to manage chiro/training as a business. My family was big in the cattle business and we have feedlots, and pasture that is just rented out. I could get back into the cattle business and a business degree would help me be able to manage it. I wanted to get an agribusiness degree until I realized in my area it's completely crop focused.
Any other suggestions? TIA |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I don't know anything about the medical field other than it sounds like it's a big, long term commitment and the course work can be challenging.
In my state, you have to be a licensed DVM or human DC to do chiropractic work, so did you mean massage therapy cert?
I would definitely recommend anything business or marketing based whether it's Ag or not. I think that leaves you open to a lot of career options. I graduated with a degree in Ag Business Economics; I worked in commercial and Ag lending for several years and I am currently a grain merchandiser. I don't think ALL Ag business degrees are focused on crop production, but definitely something to be aware of when searching programs.
Good luck to you! |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
 
| The equine chiropractors that I know or use, have attended a university and are either a Doctor of Chiropractic for humans or are a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The youngest one that I know just graduated from Parker University in Dallas.
That being said, now is the time to start planning for college. I have a lot of friends who are nurses that barrel race. I have about 5 friends that just graduated from nursing school with a 2 year Associate RN and one with a 4 year BSRN. In this area there seems to be a good demand for nurses. I would find a nursing school near you and contact a counselor there or talk to your high school to get lined out. Also Agribusiness has a lot of directions to go. Feed rep., drug rep. to name a couple. |
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Veteran
Posts: 134
| Have you thought about something in Animal Science? http://casnr.okstate.edu/academics/majors/ansi |
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 The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | I am actually a high school counselor, so I hope I can help a little bit. First of all, between nursing and business management, I'd try to encourage you to pursue nursing. It is a relatively quick post-secondary program and the jobs pay well, are readily available, and can be found in all areas. Business administration, however, tends to be a field that is a little over-populated and the jobs are less specific for that type of degree.
You can totally do the chiropractic program also, and it sounds like you understand that it wont yield sufficient income to be a stand alone job.
Your high school counselor should be a wealth of information about local post-secondary institutions in your area. Just make an appointment with him or her and I'm sure they'd be able to discuss anything with you. This is a crazy time of the year for them, but they should willingly help as soon as they are able. You have time.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Do you have a passion for nursing? It can be a great and fulfilling career - but I strongly feel it's one you have to have a passion for and aren't just in it for the good paycheck. Depending on your speciality it can take an emotional toll - I speak as a friend to many nurses.
Do check the chiropractic rules for the state, if you plan on staying in Iowa PM me and I will give you the name of my chiropractor to talk to about her career path (incidentally she is also a hospice nurse).
What are you passionate about? college will help with that too - as a high school senior I had no clue what I wanted to do, I just knew it wasn't working in fast food. I started in ani sci but turns out I kind of hate animal science... I ended up with an Ag economics degree, I work with farmers sourcing commodity for a processing plant, love it, pays well, would have not been anywhere close to what I figured I might end up doing 11 years ago. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | horsegirl - 2017-05-18 1:02 PM
I am actually a high school counselor, so I hope I can help a little bit. First of all, between nursing and business management, I'd try to encourage you to pursue nursing. It is a relatively quick post-secondary program and the jobs pay well, are readily available, and can be found in all areas. Business administration, however, tends to be a field that is a little over-populated and the jobs are less specific for that type of degree.
You can totally do the chiropractic program also, and it sounds like you understand that it wont yield sufficient income to be a stand alone job.
Your high school counselor should be a wealth of information about local post-secondary institutions in your area. Just make an appointment with him or her and I'm sure they'd be able to discuss anything with you. This is a crazy time of the year for them, but they should willingly help as soon as they are able. You have time.
This is really sound advice.
Nurses are in very high demand in our area right now and well paid. But like another poster mentioned, you have to be passionate about the work. 3 out of 4 of my closest friends are nurses. It is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. |
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 Googly Goo
Posts: 7053
| The last job report I saw predicted a shortage of 800,000 nurses in the next 5 years. Many hospitals are already giving sign-on bonuses in return for long term contracts. Inless you just become a real screwup, you'd have a well paying job anywhere you wanted to live.
I business management degree means little in opening doors or preparing to run a business. If you want a business degree, major in accounting and get your CPA. It's valuable in any industry. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | TXBO - 2017-05-18 1:38 PM
The last job report I saw predicted a shortage of 800,000 nurses in the next 5 years. Many hospitals are already giving sign-on bonuses in return for long term contracts. Inless you just become a real screwup, you'd have a well paying job anywhere you wanted to live.
I business management degree means little in opening doors or preparing to run a business. If you want a business degree, major in accounting and get your CPA. It's valuable in any industry.
I agree. Business is very broad. If you are good with numbers go for accounting if you're not certain on the nursing route. You can get a job in accounting or practically anywhere else. Business is just too broad and does t really set you up for a specific career. I made the mistake of picking a broad degree and have found it difficult to determine what I Actually want to do in life. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| Thank you so much for the helpful information! I have always been very interested in the medical field and helping people. As for accounting, Math really isn't my strongest suit. If I get my chiro certificate I would most likely work as a "therapist", so I don't have to go through vet school. My current chiro is the same lady as someone mentioned, and she's given me lots of great info on that. It's good to know that business is so broad and hard to find a specific job. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | You can't go wrong with nursing! I am almost 30 and quit my job when I had my son. I worked for the state of Texas in the prison system, I loved what I did but it was simply too dangerous for me as a mom. I am starting nursing school in the fall. I live in a rural community and they are BEGGING for nurses. 4 members of my family are in the medical field so I have kind of been around it my whole life. People will ALWAYS need healthcare! Not to mention there is SO MUCH you can do with a nursing degree. You can teach, travel, become a flight nurse.... the possibilities are endless. |
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