Hi everyone! I’m currently in my final year of high school and really struggling to decide on my college major. There are so many different paths I could take and I’m genuinely interested in several fields (though computer science just doesn’t click with me for whatever reason).
Most of my extracurricular activities have focused on business and finance topics, but recently I’ve started exploring other possibilities since these decisions will shape my entire career. My original goal was to work in investment banking for a while and then move into private equity, though I keep hearing horror stories about the work environment. I was also considering public accounting but now I’m second-guessing that choice.
Lately I’ve been drawn to the medical field, specifically looking at becoming a nurse practitioner or doctor. Taking advanced biology, chemistry, and physics classes really sparked my interest in healthcare and human anatomy. However, when I research this path online, I get completely different opinions. Some people say doctors make excellent money and will be financially secure by retirement if they manage their finances well. Others argue there are faster ways to build wealth and that medical training often leads to serious burnout issues. I know my parents would be thrilled if I chose medicine because of the social status that comes with it. My grades are solid (perfect GPA so far) so I think I could handle medical school academically, but I’m not convinced it’s the smartest financial decision. My parents keep telling me that choosing accounting would be settling for less and that business careers lack respect, but I’m not sure if that’s actually true.
I’ve also been looking into becoming an actuary since I really enjoy working with data analysis and risk assessment in financial contexts. From what I’ve read, actuaries have excellent job stability and much better work-life balance compared to other high-paying careers. This makes me think about majoring in finance with additional coursework in mathematics to keep this option available.
Sorry for the long post and if this seems all over the place, but I’m honestly overwhelmed by all these choices and would really value any guidance you can offer.
Look, each path has different timelines and trade-offs you need to think through. Medicine means 8+ years of school plus residency before you’re making real money, all while racking up serious debt. But if you’re genuinely passionate about patient care, the long-term stability and personal satisfaction can be worth it. The real question isn’t whether doctors make good money—it’s whether you can handle the delayed payoff and brutal training. Actuarial science is an interesting middle option that fits your analytical skills and work-life balance goals. The pay progression is solid without the crazy hours you’d get in investment banking, and modeling risk can be genuinely engaging work. Your parents are wrong about business careers lacking respect—actuaries are well-compensated and valued in financial services. I’d suggest shadowing people in both fields and taking some intro courses to see what actually interests you beyond the prestige and salary numbers.
The money varies wildly between these fields. Investment banking pays the most upfront ($150K+ starting) but you’re looking at 80-100 hour weeks and serious burnout risk. Medicine hits you with massive debt first—med school averages over $200K—but doctors make $200K-$400K+ depending on specialty. Actuaries are the sweet spot here. Median salary’s around $108K, job growth looks great (18% through 2031), and the hours are reasonable. Your analytical skills would fit perfectly since actuarial work is complex math modeling, not boring accounting stuff. Here’s the thing—job satisfaction usually depends more on your daily work and environment than just the paycheck. Since you’re into data analysis and want work-life balance, actuarial science could give you financial stability and fulfillment without the insane hours of banking or medicine.
Your parents saying business careers lack respect is pretty outdated thinking, honestly. I made a similar choice five years ago - picked finance over pre-med and it was one of my best decisions. What really helped was talking to people actually working in these fields instead of just reading forums (which are super biased). The doctors I talked to seemed genuinely burned out - not just from long hours but from dealing with insurance companies and admin work that has nothing to do with patients. The actuaries I met were way more chill and actually enjoyed what they did. With your grades, you’ve got options. Think about what your daily life would look like in each field instead of just focusing on money.