I chose Biology; science is the only subject that I truly enjoy. I'm working my way to medical school, but I'm currently a sophomore. Don't worry about not being sure, you can take a few years of basics before you really have to decide what you want to do. Also, by experiencing classes you'll have a better idea of what you want to major in. Just pick something you enjoy...it'll make everything a lot easier.
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I went and tried to do Mech Engr. I choose that as I like to design and build things. I figuered I could make better designs with the information in the classes and eventually what I build might make me some money.:thumbsup: However I couldn't handle the last series of calculas and diff EQs, got mad at school and became a mechanic. 5yrs into being a mechanic and I was finally making what an engineer starting out makes and I was working a lot harder to do it.:madman: I have since decided to change to industrial tech and try again.
My words of wisdom are; Its ok to not know what you want to do, but find something you like and try to make that happen, its ok to change your mind and many students do that and lastly STAY IN SCHOOL! Above all else concentrate on getting the degree DONE. You will save yourself a lot of headache and wasted time, plus open up a lot of doors that wouldn't be available otherwise.
There are blue collar jobs that you can make decent money and sometimes great money at, but its not easy to get to that spot either. Its far easier to pursue a degree if you are young. Its also more fun when you are young and you can enjoy the rest of the college scene without many other cares in world(ie: kids, house, etc....).
Kevo
BTW, I've been pursueing college since 1995.
My words of wisdom are; Its ok to not know what you want to do, but find something you like and try to make that happen, its ok to change your mind and many students do that and lastly STAY IN SCHOOL! Above all else concentrate on getting the degree DONE. You will save yourself a lot of headache and wasted time, plus open up a lot of doors that wouldn't be available otherwise.
There are blue collar jobs that you can make decent money and sometimes great money at, but its not easy to get to that spot either. Its far easier to pursue a degree if you are young. Its also more fun when you are young and you can enjoy the rest of the college scene without many other cares in world(ie: kids, house, etc....).
Kevo
BTW, I've been pursueing college since 1995.
Followed my heart/interests as that was the advice I was always given....example, you'll never work a day in your life if you do what you love.cmktech said:
three...started pre med as I was following money/prestige.....realized why I was doing pre-med and switched to pre vet as I really like animals, and they make money. It was sort of a compromise.... moved to NC to live on the beach and study marine biology. My heart was truly into that.
five years of school, with one semester off(to refocus after realizing my partying was getting a little out of hand
) One of those semsesters was used to obtain a second degree/double major.B.S. Marine Bio B.S. Environmental Science
I've done a lot of jobs since leaving college.....non of them has been related to my degree unfortunately. Except for one four month stint working with sage grouse in Utah, which was temporary and went nowhere afterwords.
e. none of above...most i've made since graduating has been 40k. And that was bartending.
My advice:
This will be very different than what most will tell you, but it is my take on it. Decide whether you a) really want to do x as a job, with future income potential not a factor and do that...getting as much experience/intern in the actual field as possible while in college. Working your way through college and not getting lots of loans sounds nice, but what you give up in ability to gain practical experience is not worth it...trust me. b)ignore your interests if they will not meet your future wants for income and quality of life. Instead find the career that has lots of jobs nationwide(so you can live wherever you wish/can always find employment wherever life takes you), pays well(meets your quality of life requirements), has a great job demand/future growth(so you can get hired immediately after graduation) and then do your passion in your spare time.
If you are one of the lucky ones then those two may both be attainable in your career choice(like an accountant who actually really likes to do accounting)...but for most they aren't. I may be a little cynical about it all....and don't let this hamper your spirits any but I know when I was younger and in college I just thought everything would end up working out. In hindsight, life really needs to be planned and thought out, and you really need to evaluate where you want to be in 5years, 10years etc and decide if what you are doing is going to get you there.
Sorry for the verbose response, I tried to condense it as best as I could. Anyways....just take all things with a grain of salt, and don't take too many of those idealized quotes you hear too seriously. Wish I hadn't. Needless to say, I am now studying for the gre and am heading back to school
Peace.
G'day Cmktech . I did my tertiary education in Australia, so I am not too familiar with the American "Major" system; but here goes my ramble anyway.
How did you choose the right major?
I chose to do Mechanical Engineering. This was an easy choice for me as I have wanted to be an engineer my entire life.
How many times did you change your major?
Never.
How long did you go to school (years)?
Four years.
What degree did you obtain?
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering.
What do you do for a living?
Work as an Aircraft Mechanic for Cathay Pacific and a Research Associate at University.
What salary bracket are you in?
A) 40k-50k
B) 50k-60k
C) 70k-80k
D) 80k +
I haven't really earned any salary directly from my degree yet.
Parting thoughts;
- Don't be afraid if you spend a year or two or even three finding out what you want to do. I worked as an Aircraft Mechanic for 7 years before I started university / college at the age of 25.
- Do something you are interested in and have an aptitude for, as it is the only way you will get through 4 or 5 years of hard study. Don't do something purely for perceived status or money; you will lose interest and motivation very rapidly (No point being a high paid dentist if you can't stand looking inside peoples mouths all day).
- Don't go into a degree thinking it will necessarily end with you earning more than a blue collar job. The way I see it; the most priceless aspect of a degree is education, knowledge and the additional opportunity it provides.
- Work hard; if it hurts to do it today, it will hurt a whole lot more in the future because you didn't do it. There is no point prolonging your pain and misery by having to repeat subjects. Hit it hard the first time and put in as much effort as you can muster. By all means socialise, but put your study first and foremost. Hard work is much more critical for success in your studies than raw intelligence.
- Learn all the required course material. Anything you can't be bothered with is sure to turn up in a final exam.
- Appreciate it as one of the best experiences of your life !
. I did my tertiary education in Australia, so I am not too familiar with the American "Major" system; but here goes my ramble anyway.How did you choose the right major?
I chose to do Mechanical Engineering. This was an easy choice for me as I have wanted to be an engineer my entire life.
How many times did you change your major?
Never.
How long did you go to school (years)?
Four years.
What degree did you obtain?
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering.
What do you do for a living?
Work as an Aircraft Mechanic for Cathay Pacific and a Research Associate at University.
What salary bracket are you in?
A) 40k-50k
B) 50k-60k
C) 70k-80k
D) 80k +
I haven't really earned any salary directly from my degree yet.
Parting thoughts;
- Don't be afraid if you spend a year or two or even three finding out what you want to do. I worked as an Aircraft Mechanic for 7 years before I started university / college at the age of 25.
- Do something you are interested in and have an aptitude for, as it is the only way you will get through 4 or 5 years of hard study. Don't do something purely for perceived status or money; you will lose interest and motivation very rapidly (No point being a high paid dentist if you can't stand looking inside peoples mouths all day).
- Don't go into a degree thinking it will necessarily end with you earning more than a blue collar job. The way I see it; the most priceless aspect of a degree is education, knowledge and the additional opportunity it provides.
- Work hard; if it hurts to do it today, it will hurt a whole lot more in the future because you didn't do it. There is no point prolonging your pain and misery by having to repeat subjects. Hit it hard the first time and put in as much effort as you can muster. By all means socialise, but put your study first and foremost. Hard work is much more critical for success in your studies than raw intelligence.
- Learn all the required course material. Anything you can't be bothered with is sure to turn up in a final exam.
- Appreciate it as one of the best experiences of your life
!
School certainly did pay off big time for you Rev BubbaRev Bubba said:
! US 80K+! You must be able to affort some blinged out rides :thumbsup: !
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