<p>I posted this in the College Life Forum and got no response with the expectation of one saying to come here. I know I've posted about after college plans before, but lately I've been feeling confused.</p>
<p>My plan is to work after college, but I'm not sure what that will be. I've enjoyed my courses so far especially Anatomy/Physiology and I'm excited to start my major's courses this summer. I'm a kinesiology major, and I know most in this field continue on in some form because the pay with just a BS is not so great. I want to get work experience in a professional setting before going on to a Master's program, or a professional program. I keep switching what I want to do and after awhile the excitement is gone. My problem is my interests are so broad and I had this problem in my CISS assessment, Campbell Interest and Skill Survey. </p>
<p>I feel like I should've buckled down and went to the private university who had a no wait list policy for those interested in nursing because I would've had the support through tutoring. I don't want to transfer now because I'm half way done with one degree. It was the only career specific result that I had in the CISS that said pursue. </p>
<p>I've thought about law school with an emphasis on health care if possible but after reading it's still a hurting market I'm not so sure especially with the debt that would be occurred. </p>
<p>I guess I'm just looking for input on how to find the excitement for a career option and stay excited. I have thought about doing internships but all of them say if you take a summer course you won't be qualified. I have also submitted inquires to hospitals about shadowing and I do a follow up call but my schedule always conflicts with their options. </p>
<p>Any help or advice is appreciated. I apologize for the length.</p>
<p>Correct me if I am wrong , but isn’t it difficult to get a job relevant to a degree in kinesiology ? So many jobs are difficult to come by these days but it seems like kinesiology in itself is not particularly marketable unless you want to work in the fitness industry alongside people with certificates in personal training and such.
Can you perhaps transition into something in the health care field , such as research , nursing or something along that line ?
I didn’t mean to come off as insulting about your major but as a mom, I would worry about the options</p>
<p>I’m a sophomore. Yes, and no I mean it is a specific industry. Most of our DPT students start as Kinesiology students from other universities and when I did the CISS I immediately decided physical therapy was for me. I do still think about it, but I cannot handle the Chem and Physics at this university. Both departments are extremely difficult and almost all of the students I’ve talked with went to a local two year university to take the pre reqs for DPT.</p>
<p>There are many routes one can go after undergraduate besides the gym circuit. An example that comes to mind is Exercise Physiologist at a hospital but it requires a Master’s degree in most cases. You could also do something Bio-Mechanics and work for Nike. I did see recently that Apple was looking for interns with a background in Kinesiology.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’d like to be a PT, but don’t know that that’s possible. When you picture yourself as a PT, what kind of work do you picture yourself doing? What elements of the work appeal to your? That might give you a path.</p>
<p>e.g. If you picture yourself working in a hospital or skilled nursing setting, perhaps get a job as a CNA or even a volunteer position (do they still call these “candy stripers?”) so you can watch and learn about other roles – respiratory therapist? radiology tech? child life specialist?</p>
<p>If you picture yourself providing services in a school setting – what about an adaptive PE teacher, or a PE teacher, or a special ed teacher.</p>
<p>If you picture yourself doing rehab work with athletes what about a personal trainer or an athletic trainer?</p>
<p>You may like occupational or physical therapy. Having a wide variety of interests is good in those fields because you treat an assortments of injuries and there is a shortage in each field so it’s not difficult to switch specialties if you get bored.</p>
<p>CuriousJane I have thought about all the options you mentioned. Psychology didn’t work out for me so I decided against Child Life, I even volunteered under one who sparked that interest. In terms of PT I would like to work with children, but I also thought about the elderly so either a hospital or a skilled nursing setting was considered. I just doubt myself a lot because I was always told growing up that I did bad in math and science. I’ve thought about taking a cna course but it would conflict with my summer courses. I am thinking about volunteering in the hospital setting again just most by me are looking for gift shop workers and not people who want to explore different jobs (they all specifically state this)</p>
<p>Yup I’ve looked into Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy and Exercise Physiologist. I still have OT, and PT in mind but as I mention before I doubt myself with the chances of getting in. My university offers a certificate in rec therapy but to be licensed you have to continue on. As for Exercise Physiologist I believe you have to have a Master’s in that area as one of my lecturer’s was one. I was waiting until I take Exercise Physiology before getting to excited.</p>
<p>Since you have an interest in children, and in the physical side, I’d try and get a job that relates to those. Many aftercare programs and summer camps want people to lead sports with children. Could you look into one of those? I’d also look at the adaptive rec programs through your county, they often need volunteers. Having a job like that might help you define your interests more closely. </p>
<p>You might also want to keep looking for CNA courses, you might be able to find a different one with hours that work. Alternately, around here one way to get medical experience and knowledge is to volunteer with the rescue squad. They’ll pay for you to get an EMT which would probably look great on a resume.</p>
<p>I applied for a coaching position with a YMCA and had a good chance but they had more qualified adults. I will look into the Rec idea and summer camps. My aunt does run a summer camp for huge manufacturing company she actually works in the daycare too but last time they wouldn’t hire me because we were related yet they hired other students that had relatives there.</p>
<p>I’ll have to look into the EMT and rescue squads. I had a classmate whose’s brother did this for experience before medical school and he said there was a lot of abuse from the poor area of our city. I think it would be interesting though! I’m think I’ll have too look for PT’s or OT that own their business if I want to get in for volunteering.</p>
<p>Forgot to add there is another cna course that if offered for like 3 weeks but they want $1,000 which would mean I couldn’t take any summer school since that will cost me $2,500 unless I take out the rest of my unsub loan.</p>
<p>No need to commit to a career as a sophomore. But I second the idea of becoming a personal trainer (VERY well paid, at least where I live) until you decide on your further schooling. Meanwhile, to see what you like, try to get a job w/ a PT, orthopedist or at a pilates center this summer.</p>
<p>For volunteer experiences, maybe look into assistant coaching for some of the local rec teams. If you choose the younger kids you don’t even really need to be able to play the sport. </p>
<p>Why are you taking summer classes? I’m a big believer that kids should graduate with some work experience, especially if they’re unclear on where they’re going. CNA and a job might be a better choice for the summer, even if it means you’ll graduate a semester later. </p>
<p>Another thought – what about getting a lifeguarding certificate. Around her the YMCA’s and gyms are always looking for lifeguards, and that might lead to a chance to work in the gym, be around the personal trainers and see if you like that kind of work.</p>
<p>I just want to make sure I know that I won’t be taking more than a few credits as pre reqs after graduation. I will have to discuss personal training with the major’s coordinator as I believe it is self study and see what she says. I think I might need to be in better shape too. lol Since my accident I had to cut back on exercise and I’m still not on the same level.</p>
<p>I get bored just sitting and working during the winter break. Even last summer with school, work, and additional activities I became bored. I do have work experience in terms of fitness related. Our university had a partnership with the department of aging to place students at local senior centers in their fitness rooms. I pretty much was in charge of the room, and the director liked me so much she wanted me to apply for the job of fitness center coordinator since they switched the university’s involvement. I wasn’t able to because they wanted me to give up 5 hrs a day and then to travel around the city. To me school was priority and I wouldn’t have been able to take my courses anyway by working 5 hrs during the day. Before that I worked at a fast food place and almost all the people who have interviewed me appreciated that I started there because they knew I could handle people.</p>
<p>Sorry to bring this back up but I spent most of the night thinking about the various options again. I hate to say it but when I first started looking at this university I found their Biomedical Sciences (submajor) Radiology Technology program interesting. You spend two years taking undergrad course work and then apply to various programs either at hospitals, on campus, or at another university’s hospital for professional course work.</p>
<p>Now, I feel like I made a mistake. I read on other forums that the BS in radiology does nothing because someone with a 2 yr degree is equally considered for positions especially because they are considered “cheaper” labor. From what I understand is you may still have to go on to get certified in CT, MRI’s, Nuclear Med, Radiation type of thing but my university does not mention this at all, it just says you are able to sit for the national exam. At the same time I’m wondering if I should go talk with the adviser. If they accept my higher level physics in place of the required physics and take a course in the summer it would leave me with additional year of coursework. I would have apply this September to get accepted for Fall 14 professional coursework. So there is no way getting around the additional year. </p>
<p>Anyone know if the BS in Radiology is worth it? I feel like it would be a good fit especially if I get to do some of the rotations at the local Children’s Hospital. I did volunteer in that department for a week along with Hematology/Oncology so I know what it’s like. I will be emailing relative who is a MD in Radiology and get their input.</p>