Career choice, suggestions?

[Skulblaka]

This is the time in a humans life to choose a career path. It's unbelievably hard for me to choose where to go, not due to the amount of choices, but the lack of them. I simply have no idea what I can do.

I'm good at computers, I hope, I sit at one as much as I'm able to. I enjoy it. IT seems like the proper choice. The jobs are in demand, and the pay's good, but I'm afraid of having the feeling of not satisfying my curiosity of the universe. :shock:

So...

I'm very interested into how the universe operates, thus "Physics" fits into that category. Alas, it requires love for math and such, I lack those skills. the pay may not be so good, also, the jobs may be hard to come by.

This is what situation I'm in, I think about it everyday, without any success. Any suggestions would greatly contribute to my ability to choose. :huh:

 

[wakeboardr116]

I'm in somewhat of the same boat. I'm in college and the first year and a half was studying mechanical engineering. All the math was kicking my butt and it just wasn't for me. I ended up changing my major to MIS. I knew I liked computers but didn't want to go straight IT. I figure with MIS i can have a little bit of IT and a little bit of business, kinda the best of both worlds. The best thing to do is find what you enjoy. I was doing engineering simply because everyone said the pay was good. I found some things in it to be interesting but it was not what I wanted. I'd rather be happy, than making a lot of money but being miserable too.

 

[bigmck]

I'm in somewhat of the same boat. I'm in college and the first year and a half was studying mechanical engineering. All the math was kicking my butt and it just wasn't for me. I ended up changing my major to MIS. I knew I liked computers but didn't want to go straight IT. I figure with MIS i can have a little bit of IT and a little bit of business, kinda the best of both worlds. The best thing to do is find what you enjoy. I was doing engineering simply because everyone said the pay was good. I found some things in it to be interesting but it was not what I wanted. I'd rather be happy, than making a lot of money but being miserable too.

I'm probably 40 years older than the two of you. Having a job that you really like is important. You will be going to it for the next 40 years. My advice is get a college degree no matter what. That opens the doors for you. Don't go to an school like ITT Technical who claims to get you on the fast career path. There is no substitute for a four year college degree. If you don't know what path to take in college, just get some good business and computer courses. You can't go wrong there. That will get you into any job after you graduate. Good Luck.

 

[DirtyElf]

getting my BSME was the best thing that has happened to me so far

that and seeing the f-22 fly on the beach this afternoon

 

[Benjamin Hall]

Do what you feel most passionate about If you don't think you'll be that interested in it 5 years from now, don't pick it as your primary career path. Also, it's not a bad idea to get two degrees in two different areas. Always good to have a Plan B. That's why I'm working on my IT degree right now. IT will be my Plan B. After this I'm working on my primary, which will be youth ministry, because I feel more pasionate about that than I do IT.
Do what YOU want to do, but it is a good idea to have a backup.

 

[Skulblaka]

I'm probably 40 years older than the two of you. Having a job that you really like is important. You will be going to it for the next 40 years. My advice is get a college degree no matter what. That opens the doors for you. Don't go to an school like ITT Technical who claims to get you on the fast career path. There is no substitute for a four year college degree. If you don't know what path to take in college, just get some good business and computer courses. You can't go wrong there. That will get you into any job after you graduate. Good Luck.

I heard a lot of bad things about ITT tech. So business and computer classes are essential, I'll make sure to remember that.

getting my BSME was the best thing that has happened to me so far

I've never heard of BSME, what is it?

Do what you feel most passionate about If you don't think you'll be that interested in it 5 years from now, don't pick it as your primary career path.

I didn't think of it that way, thanks for the advice.

Does anyone know what college is decent for "computer" type of a career path?

 

[Trucidation]

I'm not american so here's my take. Good college, average, or bad, isn't a life or death choice (unless it's a particularly bad coll but the others here should be able to advise you on that). Once I graduated and started lining up interviews it became pretty apparent experience/ability counted for more. Also, if you plan on sticking with IT try to specialize in something; I don't know what your job markets are like but in southeast asia scads of IT grads hit the market each year.

I kinda faced the same choice back in college too, in my case it was music. Picked IT though as it seemed more practical, and I have to admit I had no freaking idea of what options I'd have if I picked music, other than possibly teaching. Still, I don't really regret it. Settled into the corporate beast and do my 9-5, then tend to my interests in my free time. Could be worse.

 

[DirtyElf]

getting my BSME was the best thing that has happened to me so far

I've never heard of BSME, what is it?

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

I really enjoy what I do, opto-mechanical design. I enjoy computers as well, but it is more of a hobby for me. I didn't think it would be a good idea to try to transfer a hobby into a career. Many times if you are forced to do something you enjoy, you tend to not enjoy it as much. Its hard to find the right balance, but you'll never know until you try it.

 

[Skulblaka]

Gah, right now, I'm in a state of mind where I'm back to base one, I've no idea what to do in the future. One second I'm thinking going into IT, but I'm not sure about specifics or what field within it I should go. Then the second second, I'm worrying about not feeling accomplished about my life.

 

[Windows i7 920]

I wish you luck in finding a suitable career path. An enjoyable career is important. I mean, how can you do something all your life that you hate? It seems to me that it would be very bad for anyone to do that. Personally, I really enjoy programming, but as of now have not had access to many resources to help me along. Whatever you do, don't give up. Find something you really enjoy and try to make money off it.

 

[Skulblaka]

I wish you luck in finding a suitable career path. An enjoyable career is important. I mean, how can you do something all your life that you hate? It seems to me that it would be very bad for anyone to do that. Personally, I really enjoy programming, but as of now have not had access to many resources to help me along. Whatever you do, don't give up. Find something you really enjoy and try to make money off it.

That makes sense, I simply cannot find what I actually enjoy or will enjoy. :sarc:

 

[DirtyElf]

sometimes you have to just go for it... try new things

 

[Lemur]

getting my BSME was the best thing that has happened to me so far

that and seeing the f-22 fly on the beach this afternoon

The Raptor is so cool. Why do they have to go with the JSF? Oh yeah, money...

 

[Lordbob75]

sometimes you have to just go for it... try new things

+1

I am in my 3rd week of college now, and this is perhaps the best advice I have ever heard.
Go meet new people, do new things, and have fun.

Join clubs that sound fun, experiment. You can always change majors at some point.

~Lordbob

 

[Skulblaka]

sometimes you have to just go for it... try new things

It's a lot harder than simply listening to what someone tells you, I don't know what to even try, I'm simply blank on that subject.

 

[Skulblaka]

sometimes you have to just go for it... try new things

+1

I am in my 3rd week of college now, and this is perhaps the best advice I have ever heard.
Go meet new people, do new things, and have fun.

Join clubs that sound fun, experiment. You can always change majors at some point.

~Lordbob

I'm not a social person, that is one of my largest fears, don't tell me to face them, that will not work...

 

[Lordbob75]

sometimes you have to just go for it... try new things

+1

I am in my 3rd week of college now, and this is perhaps the best advice I have ever heard.
Go meet new people, do new things, and have fun.

Join clubs that sound fun, experiment. You can always change majors at some point.

~Lordbob

I'm not a social person, that is one of my largest fears, don't tell me to face them, that will not work...

Been there, done that. Trust me, its worth it.

~Lordbob

 

[Skulblaka]

+1

I am in my 3rd week of college now, and this is perhaps the best advice I have ever heard.
Go meet new people, do new things, and have fun.

Join clubs that sound fun, experiment. You can always change majors at some point.

~Lordbob

I'm not a social person, that is one of my largest fears, don't tell me to face them, that will not work...

Been there, done that. Trust me, its worth it.

~Lordbob

Than how about, I don't want to know them simply because I cannot stand them. Seriously, at school, they're unbelievably immature and simply pathetic. It's hard to make friends, even if I wanted to I'd be repulsed...

I lack skills to make friends, let alone approach them or even start a conversation.
(Hah, 500th post)

 

[The Howling Wolves]

If I had to do it all over again I would have chosen the Health Industry. Seeing what Nurses and specialty Tech's are making it would have been a no brainer!
Another field to explore would have been Health Business. There's a lot of avenues to choose from once you get your Business Degree with a Health Minor.

So whatever you choose give it a 110% effort because the guy/gal next to you, is wanting that job just as bad as you do. IMHO

 

[Skulblaka]

If I had to do it all over again I would have chosen the Health Industry. Seeing what Nurses and specialty Tech's are making it would have been a no brainer!
Another field to explore would have been Health Business. There's a lot of avenues to choose from once you get your Business Degree with a Health Minor.

So whatever you choose give it a 110% effort because the guy/gal next to you, is wanting that job just as bad as you do. IMHO

I need to first figure out what I want to do, that is the hardest part. Once I know, I will have to work hard, I know.