Autumn
How should I decide a major/career path?
I'm interested in multiple careers paths and I can't decide on which one I should do #computer-science #college-major #computer #criminal-justice #careers #astronomy #undecided
5 answers
Joanne Mammarelli
Joanne’s Answer
Hi,
I absolutely agree with Ken in taking the time for those personality tests and exposing yourself to potential careers. (The outcome of my test is a perfect match for what I SHOULD be doing; instead, I have a career that 'kind of' matches' which explains some of the frustration with my daily existence.) I have used the test information to participate in recommended volunteer opportunities which balances out my work life.
Community college is a great option if you're not sure what you want to do. The cost is right and it will prepare you for disciplining yourself for future academic learning . and don't rule out trade schools.
If there is something that greatly interests you, try it out.
Joanne
Hagen Finley
Hagen’s Answer
For most people, it's almost impossible to know what kind of career will make you both happy and financially secure at this point in your life. College provides some initial experiences which help you sharpen that picture, but that image may still be blurry when you graduate. Therefore, picking an academic path which has a lot of long term options can help prepare you for the workplace without pigeon holing you into a career track you might find isn't well suited to you. Technology is one of those wide open paths and it's also a market which is eager to hire women, which might be less true in some other fields.
Going to a university carries with it its own challenges. Having lived in Boulder for 10 years, I know the social / party scene there can be a powerful distraction. Also college is expensive and the prospect of graduating with a large college tuition debt is another risk that might now strike you as a big problem today, but can be a heavy burden later in your life. It's also hard not to buy into the 'I need to go to college X because I need a degree from a ivy league university in order to get a leg up in the job market.
Peer pressure can be difficult to deal with and you may want to assess 1) how independent you are and 2) what kind of social pressure you'll likely face at one university versus another and choose realistically.
Unless you're going to be a doctor or lawyer (not on your list) graduating from a marquee college with a large student loan burden will almost never be worth it. In the computer arena where I work, an ivy league degree doesn't do that much work for you, but at least in the technology field, you might earn enough to pay off that loan. It might be nice to have a prestige degree in the criminal justice or astronomy fields, but the compensation you'll likely receive won't allow you to live well and pay off your loan.
I was fortunate enough to attend Berkeley when education was still affordable ($1,800 a trimester) and it was prior to the time where student loans were popular. I attended a junior college and entered Berkeley as a junior and I don't have any regrets about that pathway. It was much less expensive and it turns out that the knot hole through which freshmen must squeeze is a full sized doorway when you're a junior. You may find you can get accepted at the school for which you aspire as a junior much easier than as a freshman. At that point, you may have a better idea of what topics really interest you.
Regardless of where you choose to attend, anticipating both the good and the bad will be important. As is the case in life, most of your choices will involve some degree of compromise.
At the end of the day, you need to focus on how people in the career you choose spend their day; e.g. ' a day in the life of a astronomer' . I have always had a fascination with computer programming and although I am not a very good programmer, that idea still has a gravitational pull. However, one of our companies, Pivotal, employs some of the best programmers in the industry. What I've noticed is they are essentially tethered to their desks 8 hours a day, day after day, month after month, year after year. In my technical sales role, I get to travel, meet people, go to social events etc.. I am free to move about and I get a change of scenery 50% of the time. That turns out to be a much better fit for my personality. I wouldn't be happy chained to a desk all day, even if it was as a programmer at Google or Facebook.
Talking to people who work in your chosen career and getting a better sense of the way they spend their day, what they love about their job and just as importantly, what they hate, will do a lot to help you evaluate how happy you'll be walking in their shoes in the future.
Best,
Hagen
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to.</span>
This professional recommends the following next steps:
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Chat with your Guidance Counselor</span>
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Create a Collegeboard.org account</span>
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Start using CollegeBoard as a resource to look up schools.</span>
Corrine Graham
Corrine’s Answer
My answer is a little different but along the same lines. Do your research and follow a curriculum that will meet your needs as far as satisfaction and opportunities. In addition, there is no harm is switching career paths once you have graduated and are in the workplace. If you don't like your first job, figure out what you do like about it and use it to change directions a bit to find something more suited to you. Evaluate what you are doing that you like and push that "like" into following a new career path. Making smaller turns in your career can be helpful - it gives you time to develop skills, get the additional education you need, and view new horizons.
Keyodia Wells-Jackson
Keyodia’s Answer
Hi,
The best advice that was given to me is to choose the career that you are passionate about. That one thing that you think about all the time. If you do that, you will always love and enjoy working. You will also not have regrets, as you will know it was right for you.