alienationware

Hey guys, I need your help on a computer career topic.

I am your classic example of someone who doesn't follow their dreams. I am a 26 years old medical student. The reason why I got into medicine is because my parents told me to. (Enough, quit teasing me). When you are not in medical school, the medical profession seems like a great idea. But when you actually get into it, it can become your worse nightmare: Working for minimum wage for 2-3 years after 4 years of medical school, where they often work you for 20 continuous hours w/o sleep for twice a week. But this is only for the general medicine stuff. If you want to become like a surgeon, it's around 130 hrs/week of work. How the heck are you supposed to fit sleep into this kind of schedule? Some brilliant medical students just plain quit medicine after they obtain their degree and pursue a 1 year MBA and never make use of the stuff they learnt in med school ever again. Anyways, enough about the medical career.

I have always had my heart set on computers. So I am considering dropping out of med school to pursue a career in computers instead, with the ultimate goal of owning my own business later on (companies tend not to hire computer guys after they've reached a certain age).

So, here are my questions:

1. Is college better than university, or vice versa? Can you fast-track (like compress a 3-4 year program into 1-2 years?)

2. What kind of degree would land me a lucrative job (around $80k) after I graduate? What are some of the more lucrative jobs in working with computers?

3. Besides opening up a computer shop, what are some other businesses that I can run after I've acquired some experience?

Thanks a bunch for helping this old guy out.

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