College: Choosing what you want to do...

[Skidmark]

I guess i'll start this post giving a few details about me.

In 2003 I was picking up trash at a local park in order to make up hours to graduate. I did not take school very seriously at all then, truthfully I barely went. I passed with B and Cs without doing any homework or studying, mainly relying on common sense to answer test questions.

By the time I graduated I had already been working a couple years in the food industry and was making decent money, most of which went to funding car mods. Anyways, my parents made me sign up for college courses and I barely went. In my first semester while taking finals, ended up getting arrested in class for warrants I had.

Throughout the next couple years I had got all my shit together, but never did end up going back to school. Though a friend did end up recommending me for a job within IT and i've been here since.

I've got about 4 years of experience so far with this company, but my worry is that if I did get let go, what would I do? I understand it's hard to get a job and especially in this economy, competition is fierce. Even with the experience, i'd be competing with folks who have more experience and college degrees.

With all that said, I've tinkered with classes here and there, while actually trying, did well, though never consecutively taking courses.

Being in the field a while and taking care of myself, I understand the value of a dollar much more since I graduated high school. I'd like to get back into school and take at least 3 classes while working full time. My current manager is a big believer in school and she will help me by letting my schedule be fluid. If I need to be in a class during my normal hours she will let me do that and make up my hours later. My company does reimburse my courses as long as I pass, so that is definitely a good thing.

Anyways, in my opinion, it's much easier to work towards a goal if you know exactly what you want to do. For example, I am envious of those in high school that decided they wanted to do something for a living and went for it. For me, if I make up my mind on wanting to purchase something, I make it happen. So I know if I did know I absolutely wanted to do something I could. When it comes to a major and a long term career choice, I never had the idea of, "this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."

In the end, I'd appreciate any opinions in regards to picking a major and where might I go to help determine a career path? I don't mind sticking with IT since I've a bit of experience, but for me I don't really enjoy sitting in front of a computer all day and in meetings.

Thanks for reading

[exlude]

I'd recommend getting into a 4 year university and just knocking out some of the basic, common-to-all-degrees courses. That way you at least get into the rhythm of it all and can feel out what you want to do. You won't be required to declare a major right away.

[jdgregory84]

What interests you? That's all I can really say. Basics of course are boring, and basically just like taking advanced HS classes. Find a major that might actually interest you that way you'll at least enjoy some of your classes and make school not seem like 100% shit you don't care about. I'd at least start there. You can always change your major if you start feeling like you made a mistake. Good luck!

[Raskal]

Brien I have been wondering the same thing recently, everyone asking what I'm in school for. I say hell i don't really know yet just hammering out the basics till i get an idea. I have to go to Randi's(my little sister of three years) graduation on thursday and i have very few credits myself.. DOH

[Skidmark]

I'd recommend getting into a 4 year university and just knocking out some of the basic, common-to-all-degrees courses. That way you at least get into the rhythm of it all and can feel out what you want to do. You won't be required to declare a major right away.

Right, I agree that this would be the best route. Once I'm done with the basics I can move on where I need to go.

I'd like to know what i'd be majoring in beforehand, so I can set the goal, but perhaps I just need to set a milestone of completing basics.

What interests you? That's all I can really say. Basics of course are boring, and basically just like taking advanced HS classes. Find a major that might actually interest you that way you'll at least enjoy some of your classes and make school not seem like 100% shit you don't care about. I'd at least start there. You can always change your major if you start feeling like you made a mistake. Good luck!

See, that's tough right there. What interests me is making decent money.

I've always gravitated to computers, so a computer science degree would not hurt. I know there is money in this field, but good god, how many hours a day do they expect people to sit in meetings. So many meetings you can't even get your work done.

Brien I have been wondering the same thing recently, everyone asking what I'm in school for. I say hell i don't really know yet just hammering out the basics till i get an idea. I have to go to Randi's(my little sister of three years) graduation on thursday and i have very few credits myself.. DOH

You started going and that is a major feat in it's own. Like exlude mentioned above, it's good to just go ahead and get the basics done, then figure it out.

It's just deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life is what's tough.

[exlude]

Right, I agree that this would be the best route. Once I'm done with the basics I can move on where I need to go.

I'd like to know what i'd be majoring in beforehand, so I can set the goal, but perhaps I just need to set a milestone of completing basics.

I took it to an extreme and not only changed majors a couple of times, but changed colleges and career paths several times.

I started at DCCCD just knocking out basics because I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do. Got into UTD and started pursuing a business degree, but hated UTD. So I moved down to Austin and went to ACC on an honors program that would guarantee admission into UT if I completed it with Bs or higher. Ended up getting accepted to UT before that, but dumped the business degree and went for human biology, pre-med. Then I joined the Army. lol

I really like where I ended up, but it was a clusterfuck getting there. But I think that's okay, that's partially what college is for. Figuring out what the fuck you want to do with your life.

Now I've got quite a few options when my contract comes up. I can stay Army, I've got contacts with DEA, ATF, and ICE all of which I could shoot for, or I could always take the MCAT and apply to med school. None of that would be possible with the bare minimum of my degree.

[32vfromhell]

tons of board members encountered that very thing you are worried about. I remember several smug people who told me a degree was a waste of time, and crowing about how much money they made. Of course, they got let go from their long-standing positions, and were fucked.

I really find it encouraging that so many friends here have taken classes, seeing what happened to others, and most of which are getting close to graduation.

[TENGRAM]

if you're still in Bedford, you're pretty close to UTA. Get in there for your basics and then figure it out. UTA is a well respected school for engineering... hint, hint

[Skidmark]

if you're still in Bedford, you're pretty close to UTA. Get in there for your basics and then figure it out. UTA is a well respected school for engineering... hint, hint

Yes I am. Are there any benefits of taking basics at UTA vs TCC. I figured a county college would be fine for basics as long as they transferred.

I have seen where petroleum engineers make some serious cash. Electrical would be another option that interests me.

[TENGRAM]

Yes I am. Are there any benefits of taking basics at UTA vs TCC. I figured a county college would be fine for basics as long as they transferred.

I have seen where petroleum engineers make some serious cash. Electrical would be another option that interests me.

yeah, no, it probably is best to start at a community college*. If you intend to finish up at UTA though, get with them first to determine exactly which courses you need that will transfer. I took a handful of classes at DCCCD that did not transfer.

UTA doesn't have a petroleum program as far as I know, but they have nearly every other engineering field covered: mechanical, aerospace, electrical, computer science, civil, industrial, bio-med, ... probably some more that I'm leaving out.



*edit: community college is cheaper and easier but, at least for my DCCCD credits, they simply transfer as "T"s so they do not help your final GPA.

[Sean88gt]

How many hours do you have? I would take as many basics as you can at a community college for cost reasons. A 3hr class at Collin runs me about $180 and the same at UNT is nearly 4x more. I believe I'm on the right course for me but it is tough, presents a lot of challenges, a lot of opportunities to doubt as well. Yet, I find myself very committed to finishing.

[The King]

I have the utmost respect for anyone who can go back to school after having been out for 4-5 years or more. The alternative is to let the market dictate what you'll do, which is what happened in my case, and although everything worked out fine it probably could just as easily have not.

I know what O.P. means by abhoring having to attend excessive numbers of meetings.....no real work is being done during many/most of them.

[Boondock Saint]

Please make sure that college is the route you want to take! I work with so many people that have gone to college and dont use their degrees. They went to college because it was expected of them by the parents, or for whatever other reason it may be. But in the end it was not what they wanted. So they graduate and stick that Degree in their back pocket and go off and do something else. So where is all that money now???? Parents worked their ass off to send their kids to college. Just my 2 cents!

Do what makes you happy!! I always had an hard on for aviation! So I went to A&P school graduated and recieved my license. The industry has been very good to me. yea it has its up and downs but overall I was happy with what I was doing. And make damn good money too and the tuition was less than most brand new compact cars on the road today.

[LS1Goat]

I can certainly understand where you are coming from. I've been in IT for 8 years now and it's becoming quite mundane. However, it pays the bills and if you work at it you can move up the ladder into sales or management. It's a career that is still in demand, regardless of outsourcing. Lots of IT jobs available in the D/FW market.

However, you have to decide what you want to do with your life in the long term. Choose a vocation, get the necessary training, and go for it and don't look back. I admire people who are willing to make a career change when they are in a relatively stable position. Especially, if it's in pursuit of the they really want to do. Sometimes that requires relocating. At any rate....Good luck.

[Bad Religion]

Really look for a degree where you learn a skill. I know so many people with economics, psychology, marketing, management, university studies, and even finance degrees that are all either bartenders or waiting tables. When you take these classes you'll see why, lol. Engineering and accounting would definitely land you a job in the field you went to school for. Like Boondock said, a lot of kids are just expected to go, have no idea what they want to do and get degrees in areas they don't even care about. I graduated in 2008 from UTA with a BBA in accounting. I wasn't interested in it, classes were hard, but I got a great job right after I graduated. I agree you should do something that interests you but if you're unclear it's best to pick something that will secure you financially.