i take lifestyle to a certain extent:
don't choose:
a) professions where one's earnings in a lifetime are capped at 75k or significantly less per annum, BUT, derived satisfaction is greater than in choice (b);
b) professions where one's earnings in a lifetime range between 75k-150k or more per annum, BUT, derived satisfaction is less than in choice (a);
choose:
c) professions where one's earnings are capped in 75-120k per annum range, AND, derived satisfaction is less than in choice (a) AND greater than in choice (b).
Form you're own opinions depending on what satisfies you, but, my opinions on such professions are:
a) medical/veterinary nurses, midwives, police officer/detective, fire fighter, ambo, scientist, carpenter, teacher, architect, academics,
b) accountant, actuary, investment banking, financial analyst, non-trial lawyer/barrister, computer programer, un-stimulating engineering(elect, telecom, computer, enviro),
c) doctor, surgeon, dentist, optom, physio(bias much?), pharmacist, trial lawyer/barrister (particularly criminal/negligence/IP, academic/engineer (civil) in stimulating field etc
Basically, imo b) are all repetitive, limited human contact, boring, maths based, making profit for some soulless corporation, long hours, limited work/life balance but high income/prestige;
imo c) are stimulating, less repetitive, high human contact, not boring, clinical/diagnostic based, nothings the same thing every fukn day for the next 40 years of your working life, making profit for yourself and patient, okay hours(not docs, but gp's do), decent work life balance, decent pay - income which is more than comfortable, high prestige, BUT hard to get into, just like some in (b),
Basically your going to work for the next 35-40 years, the arguement that "i'd rather come home to a mansion but suffer at a dead end job" is BS, cos once you leave school you'll realise that we all can't be IB'ers, top end barristers, qualify as actuaries, financial planners etc so 1. you prob wont have a mansion, and 2. will still be stuck in a boring job......
So pick a career in category c! cos when you're married and earning 85K + (< or >85K) between both of you, and a stimulating job is a pretty rosy life.
I know what i'm picking.