-- S.G.

Hi S.G.,
It's really great that you're already taking the time to think about the path you'd like to pursue once you get to college. And by planning now, you'll be ahead of the game. Here's a breakdown of both Nursing and Pediatrics to give you a little more info on what you might want to pursue.

Nursing can require anywhere from an associate's degree to a doctorate in nursing. How much schooling you pursue is up to you. You can become a registered nurse (RN) with an associate's degree and after you pass the state board exam. To get more skills and become more marketable to employers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is usually suggested to students.

In the case of a four-year degree, the first year is usually for general liberal arts classes. Specialized nursing classes don't begin until sophomore or junior year, depending on the school you attend. During your junior and senior years, you begin your fieldwork in hospitals or clinics to get hands-on experience in nursing.

When looking for a school, check out the nursing programs they offer. What are the requirements? How much hands-on experience will you get? What's the success rate of job placement? And it's also good to see if you can talk to a current student about their experience. Contact the admissions office for more information.

Pediatrics, on the other hand, requires more schooling than nursing. You must complete you bachelor's degree, take the MCAT, complete four years of medical school, and commit to at least three years of a residency at a hospital to really hone in on your specialization. Total time to complete your degree is at least 11 years after you graduate high school.

But don't be discouraged by the time. Pediatrics entails being a doctor to newborns up to children who are sometimes 21 years of age. If it's something that interests you, you should definitely pursue it. Make sure that you are involved now in activities at your high school and have good grades so that you can get into a good college. When in college you can basically major in anything, as long as you take basic science classes to fulfill med school requirements. Volunteering at a hospital or working around medical people (such as at a clinic or Pharmacy) will give you more experience and increase your chances of getting into med school.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the average salary of an RN was $52,330 in May 2004, holding 2.4 million jobs. It is the largest health care occupation and the fastest growing. Pediatricians in general medicine with less than two years experience in the field made an average of $132,953 a year in May 2004, according to the BLS. They may work in hospitals, in schools, or at their own practices.

The path you choose is ultimately up to you but be sure to do some research before you make any big decisions. Also, be sure to take a couple of different classes while in college to see what might be the best fit for you. And experience in the field itself is always a good indication of what you may like to do in the future. Hope this helps! For more information about the college application process, check out CollegeBound Teen.

Best of luck!

-Amanda Fornecker, Staff Writer, The CollegeBound Network

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