How can I tell what career is right for me? Is it okay to plan now?

Question

Hello all, I would like to know how I can tell what type of career I should look into.

I am drawn to language arts, and enjoy writing creative pieces.
I love to explore the science world.
I enjoy reading up on history.

Can you infer what career field I would be most successful in?

I am wondering if I should start planning for college while I am still in Junior high. Do your grades count in Junior High or in Highschool? I want to be able to get into a good college, though I prefer a private college.


Does it matter which college I go to in order to get a maximum wage occupation? You help is needed!


Please and thank you,
Fashion Freak

Answer 1

Grades only start to count in high school. However, it's never too early to start to plan.

For example, you can start preparing yourself to find things that will help you in high school. If you know what field you want to go into, you can start researching on how to be successful at it. Say you want to be a scientist. Well, you can start studying up your science subjects. You can start building relationships with those in the science field. Start looking into what kind of internships or research projects you can do. That will help you get into a good college, where you repeat the process to get into a good grad school. Do the same in grad school so you can get the scientific career you want.

Answer 2

It's hard to tell what career you will like with that information. Your years in high school will definitely give you a better idea of what field you're most interested in entering. Also, many students enter college not knowing their career; they discover it later during their college years.

It doesn't hurt to start planning for college early, but you don't necessarily need to in Junior High. I'm glad that you want to get a head start though--you seem very motivated. Your grades from Junior High won't count, but your grades in High School will. Even for grades in High School, alot of colleges place more of an emphasis on your grades from junior and senior year and your SAT scores.

It doesn't really matter which college you go to as long as you do really well at the college you go to. Depending on which type of maximum wage occupation you're looking for, it will determine how much schooling you will need to obtain that. For doctors, there is med school. For lawyers, law school. The best occupation for making the most money straight out of college with just an undergraduate degree is to be an engineer. For a maximum wage occupation in the social sciences and language arts, they will almost always require a Master's Degree and/or PhD.

Just remember that a job that gets you alot of money isn't as important as having a job you love. For now though, don't worry about college too much or finding the perfect career. Study hard in school, and make a note to yourself when you particularly enjoy a certain class or when you're inspired by something you read. Those are signs of what field you may enjoy in the future.

Answer 3

If you were independently wealthy, what kind of job would you most want to have?

Therein lies your answer.

Your Jr high grades don't mean anything. And unless you're plannign on going to an Ivy league school, it's really not going to matter what kind of college/university you attend.

You should plan on attending college and looking for avenues now (like taking academic courses instead of woodshop or vocational-technical classes. not that there's a single thing wrong with anything like that), but no more than just mapping it out. The real tough work will come your junior year of HS. That's when the SAT's and all that start kicking in. Senior year is often a blow off and most people have their acceptance into college around christmas break anyway, pending your final transcripts being sent to the college of your choice.

Right now, just pay attention in school, get good grades, take academic classes, participate in activities (sports,volunteering, etc.). Colleges (and places of business after schooling) like a well-rounded person, so just work hard and try to have some fun at the same time. Good luck.

Answer 4

Look at your interests and see what you are PASSIONATE about. Think of it this way...if you were'nt getting paid for your work, what work could you do all day long and find the utmost enjoyment in it? Find something that drives you and pursue it. When you get bored with it, try something else. BUT...give your fullest to whatever you are doing at the time. As Tony Robbins says, "live with passion"!