Majors and Careers

Parents Forum
1

<p>I realize that a major part of being a college student, of being a teenager, is having everything you've known thrown up into the air. The thing you've held on to for your entire life gets tossed up there with all the new opportunities you have, and you have to try and find the one that "works" when they finally all land. Maybe you switch cards somewhere down the line, but there has to be a first.</p>

<p>I find myself torn between options. I know major doesn't necessarily equal career, but I know the choice of it can open or shut certain doors. If I don't have an undergrad science degree, for example, NASA will be FAR less likely to choose me as an astronaut or payload specialist. </p>

<p>I wanted to post these questions because I know there are others who have the same soul-searching problems, and I'm sure of the parents have experienced this themselves, or seen it in their children. I am asking, personally, because I am at an impasse in major selection and career aspirations, and the things I want to choose all require special education (doctor, teacher, going into publishing -- okay, maybe not so much the last).</p>

<p>How did you get where you are? Is it where you always wanted to be? Is it what you thought it was? Did college factor into it at all? Did it require a leap of faith -- that is, were you completely ambivalent and then finally just had to make a choice and live with it? Did it feel right from the get-go, or did you have to get used to it?</p>

2

<p>When I graduated from HS, I KNEW exactly what I wanted. I was in love with airplanes (designing, not piloting) and majored in Aerospace Engineering. But I was also a co-op student, worked in the field, and decided that it was definitely NOT what I wanted to spend my life doing. I changed majors to (and got my undergrad degee in) Physics, but that was kind of a technical placeholder until I figured out what I wanted.</p>

<p>I even taught Physics and Math in HS for two years before I REALLY figured out what I wanted to do (Artificial Intelligence/Computer Science). And, as I just said in another thread, I've had a WONDERFUL career that I wouldn't change.</p>

<p>The point is, it wasn't until AFTER college that I finally really made up my mind. But even in college, I knew it would be something technical, and I took a major that would kind-of, sort-of provide me a base for the new direction.</p>

3

<p>Hum... correcting a minor misconception before I move onwards:</p>

<p>Yes, being a doctor does require a special degree. It's called a MD and is obtained when you go to med school. All you need for that is a bachelor's degree, an MCAT score, and a handful of science courses, all of which can be taken after graduation. Not trying to be sarcastic - it's just that college students don't realize how very flexible their degrees are. They don't realize that being an English major and getting a degree in English cuts them off from... getting an undergrad degree in some other area. There is always grad school if you change your mind. Many schools will let you take part-time courses so you can get the appropriate background for whatever you want to do.</p>

<p>Teaching, likewise, requires an advanced degree in the field - usually a master's in the subject or in education. Presumably, you would major in something you like, and want to teach something you like - so no issues there.</p>

<p>There's also a tremendous amount of flexibility across disciplines. Engineers are highly sought after for finance - more so than econ and business majors. </p>

<p>Anyway... my story:
I started off as an engineer. I was considering medicine and thought that engin. would be a good route and provide a back-up career. I started to really love my courses and the work I was doing, so my then-plan was to be an engineer. I took a second major in a liberal arts field to balance out my courses - had ancient languages across from equilibrium separations. Later, I decided that no, engineering wasn't for me (just don't want to spend my life in a lab), so, during my senior year, I decided that law school might be a good choice. I took a year off, and now I'm here. I certainly miss the technical nerdiness of engineering, but I love law - so patent law is my preferred direction. </p>

<p>Big thing for me was that my gut wasn't going along with engineering. My head was - I was a good engineer, did well, and it's a very stable profession that pays well. My gut said that it wasn't where I'm meant to be. So, I switched. So far, it's worked out well (crosses fingers).</p>

4

<p>"everything you've known thrown up into the air"
"torn between options"
"soul-searching problems"
"impasse"</p>

<p>Relax!! Life is about the journey, not the end. Do the things you enjoy the most. Do them well. Everything that is supposed to happen will happen when the time is right.</p>

5

<p>Some people know early, but others don't. I wanted to be an attorney pre-high school and it never changed. When I took the LSAT, I was shocked to see a friend of mine who was a math major. He decided early in his senior year that he wanted to change course and did so.</p>

<p>You don't get extra credit for knowing your career direction from the get go. Being undecided is fine. That's part of what college is all about--learning to make independant choices after living in a less structured environment, trusting your gut to know what you want after experiencing what college has to offer, and then taking steps to make it happen.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

6

<p>dadtimesthree: I'm not trying to settle on something right now. I've figured I'll never be one of those people who gets to say "X started <career-related action=""> when she was three and never looked back" and I'm completely fine with that. Thank you for your advice. :)</career-related></p>

<p>edad: I'm sorry if it came out like I was stressing. I wrote it this morning in the wee hours of "are you insane?! it's still dark outside!" so it's perhaps a bit more melodramatic than it needed to be. I have a T-shirt I bought in Moab that says: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. See, there is no 'someday.' I have another one that says "The journey is the destination." Carpe diem and "stop and smell the roses" all rolled up in one! </p>

<p>Anyway, the gist of it is that I really have no clue what it is I enjoy, and, coming from a working-class family, I feel <em>guilty</em> enjoying myself.</p>

<p>ariesathena: I wanted to delete the reference to the doctor, because I'm very much aware that there are post-grad options and that I could probably finish the science courses before I got my degree if I took nothing but those and my major classes. </p>

<p>I realize that, even beyond being a college student, being an American affords me with a plethora of options and second and third chances. </p>

<p>But I am not much of a school person. I very much dislike dealing with the bureacracy of education, and I also have to find ways to pay for it, so I'd like to do it as "right" as I can the first time so I'm not wasting time, effort and money. Even if I do end up going back /later/ to change careers, that's something I'll cross when I get to it.</p>

<p>The recognition of the difference between what your head says and your gut says is closer to what I'm experiencing. Thank you for your story and your advice.</p>

<p>digmedia: :D I was afraid of the "after-college" bit, but it makes sense! I'm very glad it worked out for you. Thank you for sharing. :)</p>

<p>In general, let me be more specific. I'm finishing my second year of college at a community college near home (after an unpleasant year of university). I have been waffling between biology and English and something more obscure (Celtic Studies most recently) with complete ambivalence. I don't have any idea what I want to be because there are a /lot/ of things I want to be, and each one asks something different of initiates. I am looking into internships for next summer, which is the "most important" summer for these internships because of the timing in relation to on-time graduation. </p>

<p>I am okay with not knowing as long as I am reassured that it /is/ okay to be okay with not knowing. I may not change according to what everyone else happens to be doing, but I gauge my progress based on it. So if every parent says that they went into college knowing what they were doing and left with the career they still have today, well...</p>

<p>But everyone didn't. So I'll continue going through college like I am now: trying out new things, thinking about what it would be like to be such-and-such, taking trips wherever I can and absorbing as much knowledge as I can so that I can someday end up on Jeopardy should my fortunes run south.</p>

<p>I hope that other parents will continue to post their experiences, though. I think it's reassuring to other students to know that they don't have to choose a major and stick with it, it is not only okay to change majors but expected, and that you rmajor doesn't dictate what you can and cannot do for the rest of your life.</p>

7

<p>I think these are good questions that you are asking so I am happy to share my experiences with you. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I never changed my major in undergrad once. However, I am about the ONLY person I know who never changed their major at least once. My freshman year roommate went from biological sciences, to biological engineering, to pre-pharmacy all in the span of a year and a half. However, she went to pharmacy school, loved it, and is now happy in her choice. </p>

<p>My change of heart occurred in grad school. I thought I wanted to be a college professor so I went to obtain the degrees in order to do that. Halfway through my Ph.D. program I realized that I was miserable and missed teaching in an elementary classroom setting. I had to really face that crossroads of oops I picked to do something that I really don't like. I ended up finishing my degree, but then returned to the elementary classroom setting I enjoyed. I occasionally teach college courses adjunct, but I know the full time life of a professor is not for me because I miss kids. It was not the end of the world and I'm glad I tried it rather than always wishing I had.</p>

<p>I had a good friend in undergrad who became a teacher like myself. After three years of teaching she realized she had made a mistake. She went back and got a second bachelor's degree in nursing and is now a happy nurse. My point is that nothing is unchangeable. If you choose a field and decide you hate it or made a mistake, you can always do something else even if it requires more education.</p>

8

<p>UNDECIDED - I guess I will be your 'lifetime' - 'got it in one shot' - parent. Tho my travels thru school were interupted several times - I did achieve a degree in what I was predestined to be from my childhood - and am still there and happily so - and would not change a thing - except to have been able to get to where I am now on a bit shorter route.</p>

<p>Once I was able to pursue my 'life career' - many stumbling blocks had to be overcome first - I was on my way and there was NO stopping me. Since I was not able to start school til into my 20's - I was also completely on my own as well.</p>

<p>I am unique tho - it is a rare bird who leaves high school and enters college - knowing exactly where they are destined to be - or how to get there either. My kiddos are perfect examples of this as well - both left high school with ideas of what they thought they wanted to do - both found a change of direction after about a year - both 'threw caution to the wind' - after doing some soul searching and had taken an out off the wall course - that literally changed their lives and direction - both having discovered where they really want to be and do - both happy with their choices..... one graduated doing exactly what he was meant to be - one a junior and pursuing her real passion tho newly discovered - both will be very successful - even if they still decide to change direction at some point in the future. Both - very much their own person.</p>

<p>Be as open minded as you can be - dare to step out of the box once in a while - explore what is there for - grab the gold ring - follow your heart - take a chance every once in a while........... good advice - don't expect yourself to be just 1 thing in this life - enjoy your education and what is supposed to come your way will - somehow. As long as you are prepared with the basics - you can go in any direction you choose to - even if it is just for a while - that is ok.</p>

<p>My dad once gave me this advice - and I have carried it with me since I was a kid .....................Life is an education - til your very last breath............ I have taken that as one NEVER stops learning - til we no longer can.</p>

9

<p>I knew what I wanted to be since second grade: a veterinarian. Although I grew up in a NYC apartment that didn't allow pets, I had read all of the Dr. Doolittle books so I was set. I mostly applied to colleges that had agriculture programs so I could fulfill my dream. All it took was one large animal course freshman year where I realized I had no clue what I was getting into. Immediately after the lecture & demonstration on castrating pigs and checking cows for pregnancy, I made a beeline to my GC's office to discuss alternatives to pre-vet. So now, instead of sticking my arm into cows' rectums, I use small tools (some rotating at 400,000 rpm) in people's mouths. Oh, and I love what I do and have no regrets.</p>

10

<p>Audiophile, that story made me laugh and made me think of a friend of mine from high school. I can remember in 9th grade she was struggling with her geometry homework. She very calmy explained to me that it was okay that she didn't understand. She was going to be an architect so she would never need to know geometry. Needless to say, she is not an architect at this present time. </p>

<p>It's funny how sometimes we get an idea of what a certain career is like but the reality tends to be different. One of the state consultants for our State Department of Education began his career as an engineer. He said once he got a job he realized he really enjoyed his engineering classes, but not being an actual engineer so he went back to school to become a teacher.</p>

11

<p>LOL--2 great stories! Undecided, it's OK. Unlike your grandparent's generation (and our parents) most people these days change careers more than once during a lifetime.</p>

<p>I went to college wanting to learn everything and fell in love with economics. Grad school was a choice between business & city planning, went with the latter because I loved it. Went to work at it and HATED it. My temperament simply doesn't fit working for the government.</p>

<p>I have never regretted my grad school study, it turned out to be exceptional training anyway. I've indulged my interest in planning in other ways, but that's another story.</p>

<p>In short, don't worry about it--when it's right you'll know.</p>

12

<p>I have to chime in here: if you don't know what you want to do, pursue a degree that keeps your options open. Take lots of electives. Go to a school that has distribution requirements.</p>

<p>I am on my fourth (or fifth, perhaps) career, at the young age of 50. I've worked as a bio lab technician (and decided against going to grad school in bio), a technical writer, an ad writer, a teacher, a full-time mom, small (and growing) business owner, and a dog trainer. These days the work I do (I have four different paid jobs right now, none of them full time) combines elements from all of these. It's astonishing to me a) how easy it is to go back to school, b) how courses I took a million years ago are suddenly useful, and c) how many unexpected twists life takes.</p>

13

<p>What's the connection between calligraphy and the Macintosh computer? </p>

<p>Steve Jobs spoke about "connecting the dots" at the Stanford graduation. He spoke of how you can't see where things are leading when you are looking forward and it is only when you look back that you can see how the dots connected. </p>

<p>The text of the speech, 'You've got to find what you love,' is online: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=109071%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=109071&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>