Passion or Practicality

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I desperately need some advice on choosing a college major. I have been going to school for 3+ years, and have yet to settle on anything. I wanted to take a few semesters off to decide, but my parents wouldn't hear of it. They feared I would never go back. Instead, I have been taking a variety of classes, trying to find my passion. Basically, I feel I've just been wasting time, and their money. I'm at my wits end, and feel like giving up. </p>

<p>I've had such a hard time deciding, because I'm torn between my passion, and practicality. I loved my freshmen biology class, as well as anatomy and physiology. I was especially interested in the brain, nervous system, and cell biology. However, I am struggling with general chem, and algebra based physics. I'm not a problem solver. I'm not sure whether I am cut out for a science degree. </p>

<p>On the other side of the spectrum, I was considering accounting. I enjoy tasks that involve organizing, and are very detail oriented. I like doing things with set procedures. I have taken many aptitude tests, and accounting was usually one of my fits.</p>

<p>I know accounting is a great career choice. I'm just afraid it may be boring to me, considering my love for biology and neuroscience. I simply don't know what I would do with a biology or neuroscience degree. I would never want to be a Dr., and may not want to go to graduate school. It's just that I took several business classes, and found them to be extremely dull. I also didn't like the intro accounting class. Does this mean I won't enjoy accounting? I hate to assume I won't like something, after having only a small taste of what it entails.</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated</p>

<p>Have you considered teaching? Science teachers are in great demand in many school districts. Kids need teachers who have a passion for the subject matter.</p>

<p>I actually have considered teaching, I'm just not sure if I have the personality for it. I realize it would be extremely rewarding, but I wouldn't want it to be my only option. With a science degree and no graduate school, it seems teaching would be one of my only choices. As far as my personality goes, as I said, I don't think I'm fit for teaching. I'm not very good with dicipline, and prefer to work alone. I was a night manager at a restaurant for a while, and I hated it. Mostly becuase I hated being in charge of everyone, and enforcing rules. </p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestion!
Any more would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Don't like working with lots of others.....like detail, go for accounting. You and paper + numbers.</p>

<p>I agree with Hazmat. Your personality seems more fit to it. :)</p>

<p>Assessment......your college should have a program to help you get some testing done to determine what occupations will suit you. Usually this service is free or low cost. I would invest a little time in taking some diagnostic exams and discussing the results with a professional. What you are talking about is the conflict of choosing a job you think will pay versus a job you think you'd love but you don't seem totally realistic about your personality traits.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone, I was leaning more towards accounting anyway. I was just worried, since I didn't like the intro accouting class. But I can't base my entire career choice on one class!</p>

<p>Any more advice?</p>

<p>I have taken many, many assestment tests. I even took an entire class on career assestment as an elective. They all said pretty much the same thing:</p>

<p>I would enjoy careers that involve organizing, detail-oriented, predictable work. Jobs that are supportive, with little confrontation, and allow me to think before acting. </p>

<p>I did talk to a career counselor, but she wasn't very helpful. She Asked me what careers I was considering, I told her accounting, and she said, "Oh that would be perfect!"</p>

<p>You could be a lab assistant. Many universities and organizations will hire people with only BA/BS degrees as lab assistants. The work tends to be very methodical and detail-oriented. </p>

<p>You could also be a scientific writer, which is a rapidly expanding field. Many biologists cannot convey their findings well, and many writers do not have a firm grasp of science, so scientific writers are becoming increasingly important.</p>

<p>Have you considered psychology? It fits in with your interests in neuroscience, but it avoids some of the heavier science courses.</p>

<p>The BA and BS degrees are generally quite versatile. You can find lists and lists of potential jobs one can get with just about any subject as a major and a BA or BS degree.</p>

<p>It sounds like you have taken a variety of classes already, in both science and accounting, with the credits you already have- is it feasible for you to double major?</p>

<p>medical statistics
biometry
medical / neural research</p>