So I’m in my third year of an environmental science degree and I don’t really have any interest in the subject anymore. I went into it because, when it was time to choose a college, I loved conservation and science subjects (bio, chem, physics, etc) in high school. I’ve enjoyed the classes that were the college versions of those, but anything deeper into the field of env science hasn’t been sparking my interest. I like the interesting facts and tidbits but most of it seems so irrelevant and goes over my head.
I didn’t really see a problem until earlier this year when I had the chance to work with other students in similar fields on a project. They seemed to understand material and concepts and procedures so much better than I did, and actually seemed interested in making a career in their fields. I can barely remember anything from the classes I’ve taken outside of the core science ones.
I’m going to finish this degree because my family and I have already spent so much money on it and I would be wasting so many credits to change majors (wouldn’t know what to study regardless). I’m just really afraid I’m wasting all this money and time anyway because I feel so underqualified compared to other students. Has anyone else been/is anyone currently in the same situation?
I’ve been in a similar situation. No worries. You can relay your degree into a decent job either in environmental science or not by adding skill sets. Those can be added by picking up a few classes in your final year(s) of school and/or at community colleges or certificate programs – or on the job someplace such as through internships.
If you take your basic degree and add from several other areas, you have a better chance of becoming employed rather than underemployed.
data analysis and data visualization skills
marketing skills
graphic design sills
general business skills including bookkeeping, management skills, grants writing, development (fundraising)
@Dustyfeathers Thanks for the response, I feel a little less lost now. I should have enough “leftover” needed credits to do a minor or certificate after fulfilling my major requirements. My school offers ones in GIS, business, and writing among other subjects, so I’ll take a look at what skills would be good to pick up.
You are way ahead of most people because you realize that finishing the degree is 80% of getting jobs…the actual major is sometimes not that important if you don’t want to specialize.
I majored in Electrical Engineering but soon found out that I didn’t like hands on lab classes…I ended up with a job where you need to be technical, but it didn’t rely on actual circuit building.
If you would still like to work in Environmental science, i am sure your company would have training in specific techniques they would want you to use.
Go to the Career Center and talk to them…find out what kind of jobs are in the environmental area or any area where it is good to have your degree.
I became dismayed with my degree in mathematics as I was approaching the end of my degree. I thought about switching to mechanical engineering, but it was an impossibility at my college because I really didn’t have the money to go on for a couple more years. I decided I would just do my best to graduate and I tried so hard that I was so proud of what I had accomplished I was smiling ear to ear at graduation. Afterwards, I ended up doing only something tangentially related to mathematics, which is software engineering.
I haven’t used any calculus or advanced mathematics while working at any of my jobs during my career yet. I did go back to school for mechanical engineering classes for a bit while I tried to sort out what I wanted to do with my life but ended up switching to a master’s degree in computer science. That was probably a 25K worth of a mistake but lesson learned.
Anyways, your degree is a stepping stone. Having a degree absolutely mattered for me because it was a gatekeeper whether it was for a promotion or argument for compensation or even obtaining a job itself.