I'm nearing the end of my first year of college, and getting no closer to deciding what I want to do. I've taken classes to assist me in deciding and researched majors and career paths over and over again. I'm slightly interested in a few things but just can't bring myself to commit. It either wouldn't pay enough, or I'm afraid I won't get jobs. I've talked to counselors and taken personality tests. I would love to be able to just pick something I'd love to do, but I dont know what that is!!! And I'm not being materialistic, just realistic when I say I need a relatively high-paying job. It's just really important to me to be able to give my future family a great life. But nothing seems to be good enough... or interesting enough. I really need some advice. The pressure is overwhelming... I thought i would have decided by now. But I'm no closer than I was in elementary school!
2007-03-19 17:07:16 · 7 answers · asked by Katie 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
The best advice I can give you is calm down.
Lots of people have no clue what they wanna do after their first year of college. What you are going through is not uncommon.
Right now you should try and branch out, experience alot of things and see what there is out there that elicits your interest. It can be volunteering or taking different classes or travelling. But just get out there and try to experience various things in the world.
If you sit around and stress about it then of course you're not going to come to any conclusion. As far as counselors and personality tests go, that's all well and good, but they can never tell you what to do with your life, it's something you have to figure out on your own. I know that might sound cliche, but it gets used alot because it's true.
Don't worry, you're not the only one going through this. I didn't know what I wanted to do until my senior year in college and I'm definetely no worse for it. you'll do fine, just keep moving forward.
2007-03-19 17:15:06 · answer #1 · answered by Will 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It took me three years to finally settle on a major, and I still graduated within a reasonable amount of time. Don't fret.
My advice, stay away from career tests. Focus on what you like. Remember being successful is doing something you like, and getting paid to do it. There are a great many jobs out there. Perhaps, look into getting some internships. An internship will let you get an inside look at the jobs you are considering, or fields you are interested in.
Take classes that sound interesting. Don't worry about statistical salary figures, or you will never be happy. If you focus on your happiness, you will find that it will all work out for you. Statistics now say people will do a career change three times in their life. Remember, pick something you love over something that will reap a higher check. You could be in that career for a long time, and 1/3 a lifetime is a lot of time to waste, hoping the day will end or the weekend will come just because you do not like what you do.
Good luck, and don't give up, you will find something truly great!
2007-03-20 00:22:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just need more time. Everyone doesn't know what s/he wants to do in the third grade!
You simply have to take whatever time you need to come to your decision. Don't rush it, whatever you do.
It's just about impossible to try to give or get advice on how an individual should spend the rest of his or her life. Ask a hundred people and you'll get a hundred recommendations - can't be done. You'll just have to keep on pluggin' and checking out all possibilities. Just be sure you keep the "high-paying job equals giving your future family a great life" where it belongs, i.e., well in the bottom 50% of your requirements list.
It will come. And even if you do end up making the wrong choice, you don't have to stay in that profession/field until you wither away, you know. So what if you kill yourself to get through law school, then decide you really want to run a dude ranch in New Mexico? Nobody dies!
Life is short, so remember:
Lucky is the person who gets paid for doing what s/he loves to do. And
Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life.
Good luck - :)
2007-03-20 00:39:54 · answer #3 · answered by Zebra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You still have time. Maybe some summer internships would give you an idea what you want to do? You might want to do some industry interviews with people in careers you're interested in and try and get a feel for what it's really like. I found some great websites from people in the medical field talking abut how they feel about their jobs.
If all you really care about is monetary (I don't mean that in a bad way, just being honest) then get info in the most rewarding jobs money-wise and work in that direction. I still think it's too early to start panicking.
2007-03-20 00:16:07 · answer #4 · answered by Mark in Boulder 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was the exact same way. I like science, but not enough to take chemistry and physics and all of that. I like math, but I'm not calc genius and don't want to major in math. I'm good at all things english. So what do i do with interest in science, math, and english? I'm a geography major. I think once you figure out what kinds of classes you enjoy, then you can somewhat categorize what kind of classes you like best. I'm not a geography major because I know what job i want to have. I'm a geography major because I simply like geography. Do something you like. Not necessarily something you want to be paid well for. Pretty much anyone with a college education is going to get a decent pay. Don't worry. You'll figure it out.
2007-03-20 00:14:49 · answer #5 · answered by CatCatherson 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
talk to people with various jobs and see what sounds cool and something you could see yourself doing...possibly even put a que on here asking what everyone does for a living that went to college and browse through those options....until u decide tho jus do all of your gen ed usually gen ed classes take up a year and a half of college so why not get the boring stuff out of the way
2007-03-20 00:19:35 · answer #6 · answered by yea boy1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey girl, you should be deciding much earlier if you don't want to end up where you don't want to be. just like me, i've never had any decisions when im almost finished in my high school days.
but now i end up as a mechanical engineer and i love it!!! so just don't listen to what people want for you, its what you think for yourself.
2007-03-20 00:18:07 · answer #7 · answered by Archangel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋