This is my first semester of college as a freshman. Before I arrived, I was undecided for a very long time between a Pre- PA health science or a music major. I ended up picking the health science major, but now I am questioning whether I chose the right choice and considering to switch to music. I feel like I picked health science because I know I am always guaranteed a job in the medical field, but my true passion is music. What should I do? Any advice?
P.S. I am also in ROTC and think I also chose the health major at first because I thought I wanted to be a PA in the Army. If I switched to the music major, could anyone tell me what I could do with music in the Army?
Thanks for any advice!
One of my coworkers used to play as a musician in the Army - as in, that was his enlisted job. He performed with the Army band he was in at state and military events and services. Check it out:
http://www.goarmy.com/band/careers-and-jobs.html
http://www.music.army.mil/careers/faq/
http://www.music.army.mil/
http://www.music.army.mil/careers/
You can start out as a Reservist or National Guard member and play part-time in a military band. Your ROTC detachment leader might be able to give you more information about that. I will say that becoming a musician in the military is probably harder than being a PA, since medical careers are in more demand than musicians. But you can also be a music major while taking the pre-PA prerequisites, maybe training to become an EMT or a paramedic so you can get the clinical hours necessary to become a PA.
Also, consider this: your passion might be music, but do you necessarily need to work as a musician? Is this a passion that you can satisfy by treating it as an elevated hobby (e.g., playing in a community chamber orchestra, giving lessons to children, etc.)?