<p>Hi guys, I'm sorry that my first post is a lengthy pathetic seek for help but at this point I could really use some advice from people who might have been in my situation at one point. Please please help!</p>
<p>Gist of the story: I'm now almost half way through my junior year in a prestigious bioengineering program in the nation. I'm having a mental breakdown because I really don't know how I'm going to survive the next year and half. </p>
<p>A little background first: Throughout high school I've enjoyed science classes and was good in math so when I got into college I figured what the heck I should do engineering, that way I can make some good money when I graduate. First two years in college it was just general science requirements, some I did well in some not so much, most of it was moderately interesting to not interesting at all, but I've always thought that when my true major classes come along they will truly excite me. Except that never happened, I'm now bored to death in all my classes and I can't imagine having to do research (which is unfortunately a requirement to get the degree) from what I've seen working inside a lab. </p>
<p>However, Bioengineering is a true rabbit hole of a major for me: because the program is like a springboard for medical school, we have to take prereq classes from almost all engineering fields (from cs to cheme to ee) and that pretty much tanked my gpa (it is hovering below 3.0). The job prospects of a bioe degree is very slim because whatever we can do a cheme and ee can do better in the work force.</p>
<p>I've taken part time jobs working in retail and honestly I feel like working 50-60 hour weeks in fashion and merchandising is much more suited for me as a career. I am well aware that its a completely different field where I'd be lucky to be able to feed myself, but I'm not sure if a bioe degree with a crappy gpa in bad economy will fare any better. At least I will be happier working in fashion (and I can draw, I have really good eye, I think --most of my used clothing sells on ebay quite easily and second hand clothing stores love it when i go drop off my clothes).</p>
<p>I'm pretty desperate right now, I can't focus in class anymore because this is haunting me day and night. Should I just quit and cut my losses now and start anew to get a business major? Stay and truck through the engineering degree? Both choices are scaring me to death...any advice is appreciated. THANK YOU!!!!</p>
<p>If I were you I’d try to stick it through. You’re almost done with the program and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Anywhere you apply, even if it’s not related to your major, and they see that you have an engineering degree, they’ll be impressed and you probably have an edge over some kid who majored in African-American Arts. If fashion and design is your passion, try to get jobs in that field. There really isn’t a major for that unless you go to some expensive schools like FIDM. I read a statistic that most business people (including CEO’s) hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering so you’re good to go. If you want to boost your GPA, take a summer class or two in some BS classes.</p>
<p>I think you need some time to think things through. Maybe you should take a quarter/semester or two off to think things through. Consult friends, family members, classmates, faculty, your advisors, etc. Be honest with yourself. What WILL work for you? Pay attention to that. If you are young, you got plenty of time to take it take it slow if you have to. …For me…I’m about 30 years old. I’m trying to finish in a little over a year from now…I probably don’t have as much time as you. If taking less classes is going to take you an extra year or more, then you should take that route. It’s better to finish well than to crash and burn…</p>
<p>Thanks guys for your advice. I really want to stick through it but sometimes the degree feels so close yet so far. My major is very heavy on the science prereqs and even though I’m already in my third year, i’ve really only taken like 1.5 semesters worth of real bioe courses, and now I realize how much I don’t have anything to do with it. There’s still a year of research and design (a cumulative project) left to do that I’m really worried about. It also sucks that the classes are so much easier for the arts and business side and they probably see a 3.5+ gpa as standard so my hope of getting into the business school is not high (our business school is good too).</p>
<p>all in all I feel especially frustrated because I feel like my major has placed me even further away from the business/fashion side of the world than if I didn’t do this major in the first place (I mean let’s get real, engineers are like the least dressed and the least to care about how they look so I’m not sure if telling people I did engineering they will believe I can do fashion)…but sadly I guess there is no other way for me aside from finishing the degree and then go fight for a chance at a non-paying internship or something to get started in what I wanted to do.</p>
<p>Many years ago I knew someone who had entirely finished Dental school and when it was time for graduation, he just didn’t go. He took a look at himself and felt, he really didn’t want to be a dentist. He then went on to study chemistry and became a chemist.</p>
<p>I know it feels like you have invested 2+ years of your life in a field you thought you wanted to do and now you really don’t. Those last 1 1/2 years will feel long and it is hard to be enthusiastic about a field that just isn’t inspiring you. </p>
<p>Many people start one major, then change or change schools and they always lose credits and feel like they lost time. In reality, you lose nothing by changing because your brain learned about a field you have interest, just not for a career. Yes, you lost money but everyone who changes schools and/or majors loses money. </p>
<p>Thoroughly research what it would take to find a place that teaches what you are now interested. You could perhaps change to a Design major at your current school and see if all your engineering classes would qualify as a minor. I would save business courses for later as an MBA. There are schools that do fashion that are not probably as prestigious as your school but if that is what you really want to do, you might decide you are willing to make a break from your safe path of engineering to the unstable field of fashion.</p>
<p>Can you find a way to fund a fifth year of college? Many students these days require five years to graduate, and I am sure you can find a major that will count at least half of the courses you have already taken. One thing I learned in college economics - don’t consider money already spent when making future decisions. Instead, focus on the future. Do you want to spend 1.5 years to get a degree that you don’t want or maybe 2.5 years to get a degree that you do want? That is the trade-off you are considering. Maybe plan on taking 2.5 years regardless and take some classes now in majors that sound interesting, to see if you prefer them and can excel.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether you should change majors or stay the course.</p>
<p>But I do think you are wise to grapple with it now. I hope you will take the above advice to meet with an advisor, as well as with a counselor, to help you sort through it. It is burdensome to face this dilemma alone - I think it will help a lot to talk it through with someone from advising/counseling offices.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to my parents and although they’re not very thrilled by the idea they’re trying to be accomodating and they said that they will fund my fifth year, if I get myself into the business school. I’ve talked to them about my future plans and showed them that I did my research, and they know that I’m pretty serious about wanting to go into business and fashion. So we came to the conclusion that becoming an accountant is the safest way to go because its not as hard as engineering (and not as boring in my opinion), can get me a secure job and is still useful for a future business if I don’t want to be an accountant for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>To those who said to keep going with my degree, I’ve considered it but then I realized that what I get out of the degree is another 1.5 year wasted on things that I really should have no business doing. Instead I could be working toward a business degree, and even if that doesn’t land me a job like an engineering degree would, I would still be learning the kind of things I need to learn anyway…so why wait?</p>
<p>Basically, I would apply to the business school and then ditch my bioe degree if I get in and hang on to bioe if I don’t. Its a gutsy move that I am really scared of, because now I have 40 more credits of prereqs (2 accounting 2 econ classes) to take just to have my application considered by the business school. I’m crossing my fingers that my bioe degree allows me to slow down a little so I can squeeze in some business courses. </p>
<p>Thanks to all those who gave me advice, I am very grateful for all these different perspectives. With all your support (and my parents’ of course) I don’t feel as bitter about the past two years of my life. I guess I’ll have to take on life one day at a time and let you all know how that goes…</p>