Partially. Truth is, I don't really know that much about podiatry. The SDN forums for podiatry aren't as active as the ones for medical school. I had no idea the residency stats were so high, but now that I know I have alot more comfort. And I still don't know about the salary situation, and it is really important because of the extreme debt that I will be in after graduating. I'm already in debt from undergrad and it really bothers me. This is a life altering decision, so I want to know every detail I can about it.
trying to answer this question, one of the things you need to consider / factor is what your own financial and spending habits are like. If you're reckless, like to be flashy, (nothing wrong with that) then you know you'll need to be in a certain income bracket in order to keep up with the Joneses. But if you know you're not much of a big spender, you were raised on certain bracket of income, lived in a certain neighborhood, then you also know you'll be comfortable with a certain kind of income.
Whether you go M.D./D.O./DPM, you're going to be in debt and take on loans regardless! Two pieces of advice I was given about education in America (1) NEVER use age as an excuse, or let age turn you back (2) don't use the loans as an excuse, or let the loans turn you back. Obama was still making payments on his student loans even after he got into the white house. So loans or no loans, go to school, man.
Second, there are spreadsheets out there that you can play with. Run some sample calculations on potential future scenarios. Play with mortgage rates, car insurance, student loan repayments, and you'll see how much you'll need to make to live the lifestyle you want to live. Try it with medical careers, and other potential careers you've looked into.
There was a thread late last year-- one of the really well-respected members that used to post around here--he left his DPM program. I think he would have graduated this year. Basically after about 2 years into it, he realized it wasn't for him and he was really just chasing the money. He points out he was scared about leaving because he had a very closed boxed thinking. He thought there weren't jobs out there where he could make as much as a DPM, etc. But after leaving he found work as a consultant, him and his spouse combined are making really great money and the calculations come out to be that he'll make something not too far from what he would have made as a DPM. Not to mention he'll pay his loans off faster now.
Sometimes what we're scared off isn't really that scary. And even if it does happen, it wont be as bad as we thought. I really endorse the DPM field for you and anyone else who doesn't mind working with feet. As far as salary goes, you'll be in the low to mid-low six figure income range. That's higher than the average population and right about average among physicians.
It's good you're sleeping with one eye open but don't let that rob you of your sleep altogether.
As far as your family goes, ideally parents just want their kids to be in safe hands. After you leave school and open a successful practice, or you're holding down some big position at the hospital, do you think your parents wouldn't say it with pride that "my son is the xyz at ABC hospital", or "my son is the owner of the 12345 Foot clinic"? And if they aren't happy, so long as your job keeps you from asking them for money, living under their roof, what more can you really do?
