Hi there, I’m going to be starting classes at a community college this Fall to then later transfer to The Ohio State University for their PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) program. I’m not entirely sure what I want to do with it career-wise yet, I do have a few ideas though (interning at the United Nations is one thing I know would love to do). I understand that I’ll need to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. in one of the subjects, but I was just curious if there will be any hardships beginning this major at my age. It seems that for a lot of people who don’t go to college right out of high school, usually tend to go into a more technical program.
If I’m looking at 6+ years of schooling, I’ll be in my thirties when I graduate. I plan on working throughout my college years so I won’t have a ton of debt. I was just hoping to get some advice from people who have majored in fields that don’t necessarily have a direct career route such as engineering, computer science, medical majors, etc.
First of all, good for you! I can’t speak for myself, but I can for two people I know very well. I built and ran my own consultancy for 20 years. During that, the absolute best person who ever worked for me was an intern. She was 26 and a senior in college when she first crossed my door. After HS, she worked as a legal secretary and then decided to go to college. She worked her way through an economics BS as a waitress. Then I hired her after being my intern. She completed her MS in economics and has worked with me since. I made a career shift a few years ago and turned the business over to her. She is a rousing success.
My husband didn’t start college until he was 22. He was a psych major and wanted to be a clinical psychologist. He then went straight through for 10 years and is indeed a licensed clinical psychologist.
When you are in college, you are still living your life. You have friends. See family. It is just that most of your time is spent doing something you don’t get paid for. Life continues to happen. So…go for it. The absolute best advice I ever got was to go to school until you cannot stand it anymore. I did. And every bit of it served me well.
This was so encouraging to read. Thanks so much.