Was reading the past couple of years on cognitive science, philosophy, sociology, and linguistics. Simply looking at a single page from a book on the neural basis of language and philosophical applications of cognitive science… sparks my mind and passions like nothing else in the world. Can’t even sit still or feel stable thinking about it! Like a huge amount of excitement can’t escape my body. Always passionate about discussing theories in personality psychology to cognition, to culture.
It’s just… that I wouldn’t feel too fulfilled doing such a thing as a career. It doesn’t feel like it gets directly applied to people being a researcher or scientist. Thought about majoring in philosophy (logic) and anthropology (sociocultural) to apply to law school, studying international relations/policy, and self-studying cognitive science along the way. It doesn’t have that same spark, although a hardwired and ingrained natural ability of mine is understanding and diplomatically communicating with people. Loved Model UN! Very challenging (as an introvert) and pushes my comfort zone, and gives great satisfaction when something gets through.
Have always been referred to the level headed, reserved, bookworm guy with people skills. Which area to choose? The one that’s good for the sake of theoretical interest (to the point of obsession) or the one that’s less internally driven, but directly applicable to people? Your advice would be immensely appreciated!
Have you ever considered medical school followed by residency training in neurology?
As long as you complete the premed requirements, you could major in any one of cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, or linguistics. This would accommodate your interests in those areas. As a neurologist, you could maintain many of these interests with the added perspective of how neurological diseases affect cognition, language, etc. You be directly applying these interests to help people, and, certainly, your people skills would be an asset in medical practice.
Alternatively, you could consider graduate school in clinical neuropsychology.
Wow! Thank you @zapfino. I’ve considered it strongly before, and even neurosurgery. It may have been a bit less socially oriented (in the context of broad societal change) than I wished. Being able to speak effectively and with rationale in order to get on the same page with someone, having an understanding of cognitive processes - how human nature works. Can’t say I’m very well off in many of the hard/exact sciences however. My interest fades away with technical details over insight to how people socially are through mind/language in light of ethics, logic, and diplomacy. Anything more detailed in neuro- in terms of technicality usually phases me out (ie. the mathematics/chemistry/physics of it).
Not really going into a career for the money though. I’d be happy equally with a 50-100k salary to one far over, as long as I love what I’m doing like nothing else, and can obsess about it day to day.
You can major in cognitive science without becoming a researcher - you can major in cognitive science and go onto become a lawyer, or a foreign service officer, or a social worker, or whatever else. You can major in cognitive science and do general work in global NGOs and nonprofits and potentially get an MIA or MPP one day. Your major doesn’t need to absolutely determine your career; most college majors do not directly lead to some sort of predestined job.
So if you love cognitive science/linguistics, then pick that! Then do internships, jobs, and experiences that are interesting to you and might lead to employment in international/global affairs outreach work.