Undecided? Choosing the Right Path for You
The Career Choice Dilemma: How to Pick a Path You Won’t Regret
If you’re at a career crossroads—whether you’re an undergraduate choosing a major or someone exploring the possibilities of health informatics—this article is for you.
Deciding what to do with your education is a big deal. It’s hard to feel confident that you’re making the right choice, especially when you’re told to pick a path at 18 that could define the rest of your life. No pressure, right?
Except… huge pressure. Because what if you invest two years in a program only to realize you hate it? What if you’re halfway through clinicals when it hits you that this is not what you want to do forever?
Most people think they know what they want, but they’re often guessing. They choose majors based on a vague idea of what a job might be like, or because someone told them they’d be good at it. Sometimes that works out. Other times, it leads to an expensive career crisis.
Right now, you might be focused on job stability, making money, and finding something you enjoy. But what you’re probably not thinking about? The details (the every day things) that will eventually matter more than you expect.
Like waking up on a Monday in December.
Your alarm blares its 6am. You groggily slap the snooze button (again.. for the third time). You roll out of bed, throw on work clothes, and shuffle to the kitchen for coffee. No time to enjoy it yet—winter is waiting.
You step outside, and an icy wind smacks you in the face as a friendly reminder that winter isn't messing around. Your car, now an impromptu overnight ice sculpture, is covered in a thick layer of frost. Your fingers go numb as you scrape at it. Finally done with task one of the day, you climb into your car, which feels like sitting in a freezer, and immediately regret not starting it before the great ice battle. Your phone buzzes—your friend Snapchats you a picture of them curled up at home, pajama-pants on, sipping coffee from their cozy and warm home office while you are cold and contemplating your life choices.
That might not seem important now. But when it’s 6 a.m., and you’re frozen to your core, it will be.
Choosing a career with options matters. You might love the idea of a traditional office job now, but what about ten years from now? Maybe you thrive on in-person collaboration, or maybe you’d rather have the flexibility to work remotely, travel, or shift industries without going back to school.
Two Roads Diverged in a Wood…
Robert Frost said it best:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
Choosing a major or career may not feel as poetic as a walk through the woods, but in a way, it is. You can choose a path that locks you into a narrow career, or you can take the road that keeps your options open—the one that lets you pivot, explore, and grow.
Spoiler alert: Health Informatics is that road!
Why Health Informatics is the Best Choice for the Future
Health Informatics is one of the fastest-growing industries, projected to grow 32% by 2029, driven by artificial intelligence, virtual healthcare, and secure health data management. Demand is skyrocketing, which means job security, competitive salaries, and opportunities beyond just healthcare.
This field is ideal if you:
Pitt’s Health Informatics program prepares you for a variety of paths—hospitals, tech startups, government agencies, consulting firms, and more.
Why Health Informatics is the Best Choice for the Future
Health Informatics is one of the fastest-growing industries, projected to grow 32% by 2029, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence, virtual healthcare, and secure health data management. The demand for professionals in this field is increasing rapidly, which means job security, competitive salaries, and opportunities in industries beyond just healthcare.
This field is ideal if you:
Pitt’s Health Informatics program is designed to prepare you for whatever path you choose—whether that’s working in hospitals, health tech startups, government agencies, or even consulting firms.
A Degree That Grows With You
Think about it—when you were younger, you probably had a favorite band you swore you’d love forever. Now, when their old songs pop up on shuffle, you cringe. Fashion works the same way. Trends change, and so do you.
If music and fashion tastes shift that much, shouldn’t your career have room to evolve too? The last thing you want is to feel stuck in a field that no longer fits just because you picked it at 18.
Some degrees lock you into a rigid path. A purely business or purely clinical career might not leave much room for change. But Health Informatics? It sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and data—giving you a skill set that applies everywhere.
Start in data analytics but realize you want to work with people? Pivot to consulting. Begin in a hospital but crave more flexibility? Transition into health IT for a tech company. Want to move from research to leadership? That’s an option, too. Even graduate school isn’t limited—you can take a traditional path or explore law, finance, or even PA school.
With this degree, you’re not stuck. You have choices.
领英推荐
And now let’s talk about why Pitt’s Health Informatics program is the best. (I mean, I’m biased, but am I really biased if it’s true?)
What Do You Actually Learn?
Health Informatics is far more than medical records or coding diagnoses. This degree teaches high-value, transferable skills like:
This degree gives you technical skills, business knowledge, leadership experience, and healthcare expertise(just to name a few)—making you one of the most versatile professionals in the industry.
How Pitt’s Health Informatics Program Sets You Up for Success
Year One: Exposure to the Field
From day one, you’ll hear from industry professionals—some with decades of experience, some who just graduated, and others who took non-traditional paths like research or entrepreneurship. They won’t just tell you what they do—they’ll tell you what their jobs really look like, what they love, and what they wish they had known earlier.
You don’t have to guess what a career in this field might be like. You’ll see it firsthand.
The Summer Internship: Hands-On Experience
Every student secures an internship, and many land rotational programs that let them explore multiple areas of Health Informatics before deciding what fits best.
Many of these internships lead to job offers, meaning you’ll already have your foot in the door before you graduate.
Senior Year: Leading Your Own Project
By your last semester, you’ve built the technical skills, industry knowledge, and hands-on experience to take charge. Whether it’s a research project, a technology initiative, or a consulting challenge, this is your moment to put it all together.
You’re not just following instructions—you’re making decisions, leading projects, and preparing for the transition into the workforce. You’re no longer a student just learning about the field—you’re part of it.
How You Can’t Go Wrong
The reality is, most people change jobs—and even careers—multiple times throughout their lives. Health Informatics lets you do that without starting over.
Declaring a major is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to feel like a life sentence. If you want a degree that gives you the freedom to explore, the ability to pivot, and the security of a growing field, Pitt’s Health Informatics program is the smartest choice you can make.
And if this sounds interesting to you, we’d love to tell you more. We hold BSHI and MSHI information sessions where we talk about Health Informatics, the courses you’ll take, and what you’ll learn. You’ll have the chance to ask faculty questions, and we even bring in students who are currently in the program so you can hear directly from them about their experiences.
Applications Due by March 1st
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Have Questions?
Contact this program's enrollment specialist(s):