College. Advice from current and post-college kids please?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Izzy B on October 23, 2009 at 11:57am

Lauren, I have the EXACT same problem! Except maybe you have a few more possibilities and potential paths vying for your attention just now!

I couldn't decide what I wanted to do or major in, so I chose journalism because the coursework allowed me to learn about and do a little bit of everything - you have to know about it to begin exploring and writing about it, right?

Long story short, I've gone through phases of environmental policy, mechanical engineering, astrophysics, marketing certificates, business minors, classics, Greek and history. I've also joined and dropped out of my university's NROTC program, worked at two jobs and volunteered my summer working with little kids.

Right now, I feel simultaneously paralyzed and frantic because I can't seem to do anything (including stopping what I'm currently doing) without cutting one of those options out.

So...advice? I'm more than interested in what people have to say. I'm not the best source, but I'm currently working on figuring out what is versatile enough to give me flexibility in what I do but secure enough where I'll have some sort of income. Personally, I think we can all have our dreams, we just need to get to them one at a time.

Can anyone offer some advice?

Permalink Reply by lauren lankford on October 23, 2009 at 12:05pm

"Personally, I think we can all have our dreams, we just need to get to them one at a time."

Dang. So true. Alright so...which one first. Hahaha.

Permalink Reply by Emily on October 24, 2009 at 7:13pm

Here's my two cents: GRADUATE. PERIOD. I went to school for journalism and have been out for two years now. Everybody goes through the "what am I going to do with my life" issue in college. It's normal. Here's what they don't tell you: It doesn't matter what degree you graduate with as long as you graduate with something.

People typically change careers an average of nine (fact check?) times in their lifetime. That's a lot. Also, how many people do you know who actually have a job in the field they went to school for?

In college, your best shot is to graduate and not waste your time and money changing majors. You can change your career path later and fine tune it along the way as your interests and passions change.

Permalink Reply by Josh Opinion on January 18, 2010 at 9:36pm

This is great advice. Right now I am in the midst of trying to change my career from a financial background to something that is more interactive and creative. Don't worry about not knowing what you truly want. College will go by you pretty fast and you will only realize this when your at your graduation, look around, and ask yourself what just happend :)

Don't focus too much about what you should major or minor in. Focus on the experiences you can only gain from colleges. Your an adult without responsibilities for 4 years (the smart ones take 6 ;). Cultivate relationships and do things only the college environment.

You will be able to pick up the skills you need to pursue whatever you chose as your first step into a career, but you can never get the time you spent worrying about what you should be doing back.

Permalink Reply by D.T. Pennington on October 26, 2009 at 11:43pm

I think "What Should I Do With My Life?" is one of the worst questions someone can pose to themselves.

What should you do? Well, finish school. Then. . .live?

I graduated with three separate degrees, all of them based in English, and I work as a media specialist with a startup company.

What you end up doing after you graduate will probably have very little with what study while you're in college. The best you can do is make sure you have a well-rounded knowledge of the basics - like composition, writing, and networking.

Permalink Reply by Grant Grigorian on October 28, 2009 at 12:16am

Lauren,

I had a similar dilemma in college - I felt like I had a limited time to take ALL of these interesting classes - and if I don't I might miss an amazing opportunity.

But at the end of the day you gotta choose a major and graduate.

Here's what I wish someone would have told me when I was a sophomore. Pretend like it's your last day of school You are senior about to graduate. What are you going to do now? Are you going to grad school? Which program are you applying to? Are you looking for a job? What job? For what company? Be specific - you'll actually - in real life - have to make all of those decisions in a couple of years.

So my two cents are - think about what you want to do after college - and use your time in college to get there.

PS if you like arts and business and journalism - maybe you should go into marketing? You could work for an ad agency.

Permalink Reply by Phyllis on November 1, 2009 at 7:55pm

^^^^ I couldn't agree more. I spent my whole life working on getting to college (how many 4 year olds do you know who tell you they want to go to college when they grow up?) that I didn't spend any time thinking about what i wanted to do after college - you know, a "for the rest of my life" type thing.

I start graduate school next year, but I feel like i've wasted 2 years of my life figuring that out.

so take his advice and figure out what it is you want to do - and then get your degree in that.

Permalink Reply by Jesse on November 12, 2009 at 11:54am

From my experience in the business and I.T. fields I would not major in general business, I would pick something more focused (accounting, finance, marketing etc) It seems like people who do major in business and want to go into business end up getting stuck with a general kind of business job they are not passionate or just don't care about. Ultimately it seems like you are more on the artsy side and it that is was you enjoy and can be passionate about go for that. I majored in Management Information Systems which is business\ technology and did get an I.T. Job out of college but found I hate it. I am now trying to get to the point where I do not need to come to an office every day sit in a chair for 8 hours and be bossed around.

Although at the point you are at it is hard to know exactly what you wanna do when you haven't even had a chance to experience it. Basically just do what you know you will be happy doing every single day of your life regardless of pay or prestige I see so many people every day who look like drones doing the same desk job over and over and very unhappy I am 25 and realize I cant do that for the rest of my life so I am trying to change that now. If I had to do over I would choose what I am most passionate about and major in something based off of that, it definitely is not I.T.

Permalink Reply by Lauren Griff on November 18, 2009 at 12:42am

Study what you love... if you study something you feel passionate about a career will eventually follow.

Example: I majored in Communication and International Studies. This gave me the opportunity to read, write, actively research the media, collectively & professionally present my thoughts, & TRAVEL!
I minored in Theology & Spanish. As a result, I learned another language and lived in Spain.... Theology/Social Justice/Peacemaking just happens to be an interest of mine.

Overall, the diversification of my studies opened many doors.

Although a more focused course of study may work for some... if you don't know what kind of career you want right NOW; it can be limiting. Your experiences inside & outside the lecture hall will prove valuable no matter what!

NO TE PREOCUPES, BUENA SUERTE

Permalink Reply by Christina Olson on November 18, 2009 at 11:08am

I got my undergraduate degree in graphic design and my master's degree in public address... I've worked as a communications coordinator, an editor of several websites (academic, pop culture, etc.), written radio scripts and gift solicitation when working with non-profits, taught college classes, etc.

My point is to pick a major that you truly enjoy, learn lots of skills, and be good at figuring out how they can help people in fields that aren't immediately obvious. Sometimes that means you'll need to pitch it to the higher-ups, because they've never thought about things the way you can think about them. But it makes the job more fulfilling for you and makes you more valuable to the company.

I'm biased and think a degree in COMS would be the best way to go, but I'm realistic enough to know you have to figure out what works for you, given your own skills and traits and the programs offered at your college. No matter what, don't be afraid -- this is an adventure and you're going to do great!

Permalink Reply by Kristen on December 29, 2009 at 6:49pm

My advice is.. if you want to do anything psyc related you pretty much need a doctorate. So unless you plan on being in school another 8 years... pick something else. Or you can get an MFT license, but that can be limited. I am about to graduate with my Masters in Clinical Psyc and I work in a law firm. Ironic?... it was the only job I could get out of college with a BS in psyc. I'm excited to get a PsyD, but at the same time disheartened I cannot work in my field without.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Permalink Reply by Adrienne H on December 30, 2009 at 12:24am

Dude, I got my degree in education - credential and everything and I'm stuck as a barely above minimum wage receptionist. My advice is to explore your options until you're absolutely sure what you want. Get a degree that's open and not too specific. Plus, most "good" jobs require a masters so you always have time to get more specific in the future when you have a better idea of what you want to do. There are so few job opportunities right now that taking your time in school is actually a great idea. Maybe even try traveling, do a study abroad program - that will not only be fun but it will help you expand your horizons and all that. No to mention, if you're in to a lot of different things than embrace that and be one of those ecclectic people who has a different career every few years. It's not always about the Benjamins, sometimes it's just about the adventure. Hope that helped.

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