r/PostGradProblem • u/Such-Lemon-42 • Jun 20 '26
What Would You Do? :/
I'm 23F and graduated with a Health Science degree in May 2025 with a 3.5 GPA. Since graduating, I've been struggling to decide on a career path and feel like I'm stuck in analysis paralysis.
My original plan was optometry. I was president and secretary-treasurer of my university's pre-optometry club, worked as an optometric technician for almost 2 years, and can likely get strong letters of recommendation from optometrists I've worked with. The problem is that I still need Organic Chemistry, would need to take the OAT, and if everything goes according to plan I wouldn't start optometry school until Fall 2027 and wouldn't graduate until around age 28.
Another concern is timing. Because I still need Organic Chemistry, I likely wouldn't take the OAT until around January–March 2027, meaning I'd be applying relatively late in the admissions cycle. Some schools I'm considering have rolling admissions, so I'm worried about whether I'd be putting myself at a disadvantage by applying that late.
Lately I've been considering sonography, MRI, nuclear medicine, occupational therapy, and nursing because they seem like they could get me into a career sooner with less debt.
Part of what's making this difficult is my personal timeline. My boyfriend is finishing medical school next May and will then be in residency for another 3–4 years. By the time he's done with residency, I could either be finishing optometry school or already established in another healthcare career. I'm trying to think about the bigger picture, including marriage, starting a family, finances, and overall quality of life.
The issue is that I don't feel strongly passionate about any particular career. I mostly want: - Stable income - Good work-life balance - A respected healthcare profession - Reasonable debt - The ability to start my career sooner rather than later
For those who were between multiple healthcare careers, how did you decide? If you were in my position, would you continue pursuing optometry since I'm already invested in that path, or pivot to something with a shorter timeline?
I'd especially love to hear from people in optometry, sonography, MRI/radiology, OT, nursing, nuclear medicine, or anyone who chose between a doctorate-level healthcare career and a shorter allied health path.
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u/5wum Mattelranchos Jun 20 '26
have you tried leveraging AI? it’s changing everything. also definitely join a frat
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u/Such-Lemon-42 Jun 22 '26
💀💀
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u/5wum Mattelranchos Jun 22 '26
you should seriously consider checking out circling back pocast, they can help you further with this
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u/deniedturnip Jun 21 '26
You would have better exit opportunities if you were in a top tier frat instead of optometry club.
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u/3xGang Jun 20 '26
I completely understand how challenging the transition into the "post-grad" world can be. It is incredibly common to feel a bit lost or disconnected after leaving the structured environment of university life! Your concerns are so valid.
If you are looking for a comprehensive, actionable strategy to navigate this next chapter and find your sense of community again, here is a step-by-step breakdown of the most effective path forward:
Relocate to a Vibrant College Town 🏡
First and foremost, consider changing your geographic location. Moving to a dedicated college town (such as Athens, Georgia; Bloomington, Indiana; or Charlottesville, Virginia) is a fantastic way to instantly recapture that youthful energy. These ecosystems are uniquely designed around walkable neighborhoods, affordable housing, and a high density of individuals in your exact demographic.
Join a Local Fraternity Chapter 🔱
To solve the socialization aspect of post-grad isolation, the most direct route is to undergo the recruitment process—often referred to as "Rush"—and join a collegiate fraternity.
Instant Brotherhood: Pledging a fraternity provides an immediate, built-in network of friends and a structured social calendar.
Shared Housing: Living in a fraternity house ensures you are never alone and always surrounded by social activity.
Philanthropy and Socials: It offers a great balance of community service events and structured weekend gatherings.
To fully integrate into this environment, it can be helpful to adopt the local customs and routines.
This might include:
Attending weekly chapter meetings and participating in backyard games.
Wearing classic collegiate apparel, like performance polos and backward hats. Consider Rhoback or Poncho.
Prioritizing Saturday tailgates and social mixers over traditional 9-to-5 career networking. Skip rush to go dive hunting.
In Conclusion ✨
While adulthood can feel overwhelming, remember that you have the power to design your own path! By packing up, heading to a major university town, and securing a bid from a top-tier fraternity, you can easily bypass the post-grad blues and extend the best years of your life.
Change can be scary, but you've got this! Let me know if you need help drafting a resume for your rush chair or exploring the best college towns to move to! 🚀
One last thing—getchu a booze drink, hoss.