Two options: which path should I take?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>As I am applying for college, I am trying to finalize the 'path' I am taking.
I know for a fact my major is going to be for a BA in English with a focus in Technical Writing.
What I have not settled on is my minor.
Choice A) minor in biology. Then try to get a job in medical writing.
Choice B) minor in Law and Criminology. Get a simple, entry level technical writing job while attending a community college to get associates in Paralegal Studies. I would transfer about 2 or 3 classes’ worth of credits from the college I would attend for English. That college does not offer paralegal studies though. So I would have to go to a community college to get the associates degree. Once I had that degree I’d work as a paralegal.</p>

<p>I like writing, both creative and essay. That’s why I want an English major. My original plan was for the biology minor and medical writing because I didn’t want to work as a writer for something too complicated like computers or fancy schmancy technology. Then my friend said she was going to be certified as a paralegal and just do that. She said it involves a lot of research writing. She hates the idea, I love it. I looked at courses and curricula for paralegal studies and it looks interesting. And I know “why not just skip English and get the paralegal degree?” But I want the technical writing more as a plan and the paralegal studies as a safety net- like if my English degree doesn’t get me anywhere, I could manage something with the paralegal stuff.
I don’t know.</p>

<p>Any advice is welcome</p>

2

<p>

With that attitude, you’ll go far.</p>

<p>Seriously, here are a few links that might be useful to you:</p>

<p>[Technical</a> Writers : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm]Technical”>Technical Writers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
[American</a> Medical Writers Association](<a href=“http://www.amwa.org/default.asp?Mode=DirectoryDisplay&id=382]American”>http://www.amwa.org/default.asp?Mode=DirectoryDisplay&id=382)
[Working</a> as a Medical Writer - Science Careers - Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Faculty, Postdoc jobs on Science Careers](<a href=“http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2007_06_22/caredit.a0700088]Working”>http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2007_06_22/caredit.a0700088)</p>

<p>[Paralegals</a> and Legal Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Legal/Paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm]Paralegals”>Paralegals and Legal Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
<a href=“http://www.paralegals.org/associations/2270/files/Paralegal_Responsibilities_v.pdf[/url]”>http://www.paralegals.org/associations/2270/files/Paralegal_Responsibilities_v.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Generally, people who go into technical writing do so because, in part, they are comfortable with a broad range of technical subjects and are adept at quickly absorbing enough detail about almost any technology to be able to produce a credible written product. If that does not describe you, then you’re looking at the wrong career path.</p>