college help, opinions, advice, please.?

Question

i want to go to college next year, and i'm totally lost on what i want to do exactly.
i was thinking double major in computer science and environmental studies & ecology.
and a minor in philosophy.

i want to do something for the planet so we don't kill it, but i also don't want to be poor.

would i be able to make a decent living off these majors/minor together?
what could i do as a career?
and could i finish it in 4 years?

i'm going to be going to college next year when i'm 16, yes i can go to college at 16. it's called simon's rock college of bard if you're wondering what the college is, i am going to talk to them about double majoring and getting a minor. so i'll finish at the age of 20 (hopefully), would that in any way hurt or help me?

Answer 1

If you're just 16, you might not yet really see the "big picture" of career possibilities or even untapped interests in your life yet. I graduated from high school at 18 (I'm 36 now) and decided to take a year off before starting college, and that year of working helped me gain more "real world" experience and learn more about myself. You might consider this, maybe join some organizations in your expected fields of study in the meantime to see if these are in fact areas you want to study after all. I started off with a broadcast major and philosophy minor, but ended up with a major in print journalism (which I use every day) and a minor in sociology. Bottom line, don't feel like at 16 that you need to figure out right now what you want to do for the rest of your life, or at least the beginning of the rest of your life. Dabble in several different areas of study, read books, talk to people in these fields and just take your time. It'd be a lot cheaper to do informal research right now than to spend thousands of dollars taking classes in fields that might not end up being interesting to you in the long run.

Answer 2

Okay, if you are attending college but don't know what you want to do, I would first start and take all the requisite courses that you will need to get any diploma. That is what our son did and after 2 years he was better able to decide what he wanted to major in.

As for your concerns about the planet and your wallet, there are pros and cons to every job, regardless of what it is. If you're looking for the big bucks, with all due respect, take a number. You will be competing with others like yourself. Most of the environmental jobs do not pay top dollar unless you are the head honcho. Most everyone else makes lower to mid income. You also need to decide what is enough for you to live on.

As for your choice in career, you could do any of the following:

1) Hook up with Al Gore and other environmentalists and ask them where the true need is.

2) You could work some of the bigger companies (research is necessary) that are honestly trying to change how they produce their products.

3) Put your computer studies to work by working with the Genealogical Surveyors, Meteorology (yes, really), Archaeologists, Museum Curators, etc. The list really is endless.

4) Depending on what type of career (job) you choose will define how long you will need to be in university. However, it is possible to attend university and try for an internship where you can still work with the desired company or in the desired field. Most times it doesn't pay much, or at all, but gives you vital learning experience and sometimes can lead to a job position in the company.

5) As for finishing college at age 20, sometimes that can actually be a hindrance. Sorry. But the mindset of some employers (especially in the fields you are talking about) is experience over university study. They don't care what age you are when you finish university, but are more concerned with how much time in the field you have.

If you are serious about this, I would locate someone in your area that you think might be of great help. Locate someone who can be your mentor. Then you will have a better idea of what will be required of you and if it will give you the financial and emotional payoff that you seek.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Nah. People aren't going to be worried about your age, unless you dress like a teenager and act like one.

My brother-in-law rakes in the $$ and has so much business he has to give most of it to other people in his company. He is an environmental consultant. He sends people to sites that may have been contaminated, has the soil tested, determines what kind of contamination has occurred, whether it got into the source of water and models on the computer how the land is now and what it'll look like in the future. He then goes to court and is hired to testify as to the results of his study.

Sounds right up your alley, engineering and ecology, etc.

P.S. This guy went to MIT when he was 16, too. His Ph.D. was in Geology. His other degrees were in planetary science.

If you're interested in this, you can e-mail me and I'll give you a name and e-mail address.

TX mom
Debbie

Answer 4

instead of asking it on yahoo answer, u should go talk to a counselor (career, college, life)