<p><em>Note: This will be long. Only those with patience are advised to read</em></p>
<p>Its normally preferable for one to independently research the topics of careers or post-colligate life given the broad scope of educational options, economic factors, ROI, etc., but due to my immense lack of knowledge on these topics, Ill have to defer to a CC posting as I seriously need help. </p>
<p>My first two years of college were comprised of taking inconsequential classes due to a poor registration day and budget reductions (which resulted in courses such as The Chicano Child, The Psychology of the Deaf, et al). It became obvious during the second semester of my freshman year that transferring to a more rigorous university was in order. This should have been a relatively straight forward process aside from the fact that I had attended *four *different high schools and had selected my current university due to its proximity. My family was in the military and although education was stressed the transition from schools took primacy over researching universities for the future. Fast forward to college and I began the infamous college search not unlike a high school junior. I basically knew nothing of college (What is this PSAT thing? What is an International Baccalaureate? LAC? Large university? Is this a "reach school"? What is a career center? Wait, was my high school a competitive or a sandbox school? Alumni why does that matter?).</p>
<p>After overcoming my initial ignorance I took the SAT for the first time at 20 (scoring 2150: 780 Reading, 780 Essay + 590 Math), received glowing references and earned a 3.93 cumulative GPA. Finally, after two long years in a third-tier university, I transferred. However, unlike other students who spent the first two years of college discovering career paths and gathering contacts for internships, I researched like a high school student and had no time to allocate to typical post-college planning. </p>
<p>Basically, Ive moved into to a new highly ranked university as a History major; obviously I am not painting myself as a pragmatic individual since I am a humanities major. The basic transfer process took up all my time and now as a junior in college I have no idea of what I want to do with my life. In truth, the decision to major in History was a default because it was a relatively non-impacted major. I have no intention of becoming a professor, nor receiving a PhD in it. I cannot change my major at this time.</p>
<p>Which brings me to the actual point of this essay: What steps would you recommend that I take in order to decide on a career path, graduate school, etc.? I purchased other books which consistently present a predetermined timeline running from frosh. to senior year in what each colligate should do to maximize his or her marketability and ultimately determine a career choice. There seems to be a noticeable gap for those who have not had a dream career since high school or do not comply with the archetypal student. Ive already set up a meeting with the career counselor at my new university, though I am hesitant to announce Hey, you accepted my to your university but I have no idea what to do with my life! </p>
<p>Im not writing this as a plea for attention as I am hoping to determine some information from alumni, students, or those in administration. I have looked at some grad schools that sound excellent, such as Cornells ILR which almost seems like a business oriented liberal arts degree. However, does one select a career path and then grad school? Or grad school first? And how does one discover what they want to do at all!? All I can say is that Ill be as academically masochistic as is possible while attempting to get a 3.7+ but beyond that I would love any advice.</p>