I do not know what I want to pursue in college. I know I want to help people, what careers can I go in?

Hi Jennifer,

It is hard to narrow down to just one career idea, especially when you have a variety of interests. It sounds like you're looking at healthcare of some kind. There are two activities I often suggest people complete when I help them with career goals. I hope they are helpful for you.

1. 
   

   Make a list of each of the careers/majors you are considering. Then do some research about each one. Look at things like: number of years of school required; future salary potential; how many hours per week people work in that job; what will a standard day look like (sitting all day, standing all day, at a computer all day, looking at teeth all day..etc..); does this fit into the type of lifestyle you want to have as an adult? Then assess and see if one fits you more than another.

   
   


2. 
   

   On one piece of paper, write down the skills and talents you have (learned or inherited from clubs, activities, at home, other places - even if they don't see to relate), the knowledge and courses you've taken, and the interests you have (creative ones, curious ones, from any part of your life), and hopes you have for your life in the future (outside of a career). Look at it all together on this paper. It gives you a broad, integrated look at YOU. What does it tell you about yourself? Does any of it surprise you? Or seem to fit together well? What does it show you about the types of things you are interested in or would be good at? Does it give you hints as to what type of career you would prefer?

   
   

Have fun with these, and they are usually pretty helpful. Good luck!

If you find you have an affinity for healthcare, you should get a good all-around college education with a focus on biomedical sciences. You can go in a great many directions from there. It's not unusual to get into college with no fixed idea of the specific area you will be aiming for several years down the road.
You may think you would like to be a clinician like me or Dr. Enneking; but even if you decided to aim (for instance) at dentistry right now--even if you go to dental school, and later discover that having a private practice is not for you, there are many directions you can take off to from there. I know a dentist who specialized in orthodontia, then went to law school and became a malpractice attorney. I know another dentist who went to work for a large dental supplies manufacturer. You can be in academia--teaching or doing research. You can find similar areas of specialization in industry.
I guess my point is--you don't need to consider your career path as preordained from the moment you enter college. You're smart, and you'll figure it out along the way.
Don't forget to have fun!

Hello
I agree with the previous comments in terms of exploring careers, I would encourage you to tell your dentist you are interested in the field, job shadow them. I have been a general Dds for 24 years, it is an amazing diverse field. It is more then "teeth', it's diagnosing diseases both oral and systemically, and understanding the cross over factors there in and the treating or referring appropriatly.
I have 4 younger people who presently job shadow, it is an education and helped them better understand what the career I entails.
Enjoy your career journey