[jwagenet]

In the US, phds and professional degrees are more or less geared toward students who are comfortable enough financially to stomach the opportunity cost of 6-10+ years of additional education, unpaid or underpaid residencies and internships, and long apprenticeship hours (which prevent backfilling financial gaps) before making “real” income.

[MikeTheGreat]

Can I ask why this is getting downvoted?

Most of the other comments are basically saying this ("the pay is too low for too long for not enough reward").

Anecdotally: I'm teaching a course in "How To Be Successful In College" (not it's real name) at the US community college where I teach Computer Science. I've got more than 1 student who are going to get a credential for nursing because there's just no way they can spend 8-10 years in school to become a doctor.

Would they be good doctors? The question is moot because it's never gonna happen.

[underlipton]

I don't know that people even care, at that. The way most are forced to interact with the healthcare system, a doctor is just a nurse in a white coat who's also a bit of an asshole (aloof and/or smarmy). Especially when they misdiagnose or miss a diagnoses.

[9x39]

>a doctor is just a nurse in a white coat

plus 10-15k hours of school, residency, etc give-or-take. Let's give credit where it's due.

[underlipton]

>The way most are forced to interact with the healthcare system

If you have an advanced CS degree, and I come to you with a complex issue concerning my desktop, and you spend 15 minutes filling out a digital intake form, 2 minutes tapping the tower, and finally tell me to power cycle whenever it comes up, I have every right to call you no better than a Geek Squad agent.

Let's be less pompous and let conduct speak for itself. If you're a skilled and highly-trained professional, demonstrate it. No credit for phoning it in, no credit for limiting your level of consideration and attentiveness to what a nurse is capable of. You're not owed prestige.

[underlipton]

*diagnosis

I can never tell if I'm pissing off [professionals] or third-parties invested in the idea of [profession] not being dysfunctional.

Best medical system in the world, except for all the others.