Most worthwhile university degree?

[Annoying Turd]

Greetings, and thanks for reading.

I'm planning on entering a 4 year uni program that earns me a bachelor's degree in foo.

However, I can't put my finger down on the perfect major, or even on my future career.

Now, here's my issue: I'm no expert in anything; I can't even flip burgers or mop floors, let alone perform cosmetic surgery or design perfect websites/software/graphics or art, engineer the most brilliant machines/electronics, or tackle the latest theorems in mathematics that would lead to minor breakthroughs in biochemistry. I can't even write well. I have no passion in anything, not even in video games like everyone else in this forum.

So, how do I fit in the world? I hope I don't end up careerless or unemployed.

PS. Should I go for a cheap school that gives me a great education including research/internship oppurtinties and a full scholarship, or a big brand name ivory tower expensive university populated with Nobel laureates?

 

[thedoclc]

Greetings, and thanks for reading.

I'm planning on entering a 4 year uni program that earns me a bachelor's degree in foo.

However, I can't put my finger down on the perfect major, or even on my future career.

Now, here's my issue: I'm no expert in anything; I can't even flip burgers or mop floors, let alone perform cosmetic surgery or design perfect websites/software/graphics or art, engineer the most brilliant machines/electronics, or tackle the latest theorems in mathematics that would lead to minor breakthroughs in biochemistry. I can't even write well. I have no passion in anything, not even in video games like everyone else in this forum.

So, how do I fit in the world? I hope I don't end up careerless or unemployed.

PS. Should I go for a cheap school that gives me a great education including research/internship oppurtinties and a full scholarship, or a big brand name ivory tower expensive university populated with Nobel laureates?

Well, first, as an Ivy alumn, you have to earn your way in and the Ivies do have some absurdly awesome and amazing internship opportunities, but don't expect any "job-training" sort of curriculum. It's academics. At that level, you really don't choose; you get chosen for the privilege in a field of very, very strong applicants. Job-training sorts of programs are much, much more affordable in community colleges and the like. If you want to be a cop, a paramedic, etc, go there.

Second, how can anyone give you career advice on the web when you neither say you want to do something nor do they know you well enough to even guess about your preferences? You're likely to hear some folks argue to follow in the path of their field here. Don't. What's a good fit for one is not a good fit for another. No one can advise you very well here, least of all us jokers on the web. As for skills, whether you're in college for skills, for a general academic education, or as a set-up for more advanced training in one field or another depends on the path you'll eventually settle into. When I was first attending college, I may have had high school chem and bio, but that was certainly not enough to understand what I needed to in order to get where I am now as a med student. The four years of college was absolutely necessary "pre-training."

Third, take everything I've said with the following caveat, "this is how it is in the US in one person's experience."

I'd only offer two bits of advice. First "not my field," as medicine's a ***** unless you are passionate about it and want to do it. Second, you can always consider using your freshmen year to knock out the core requirements of any Bachelor's degree and use that time to find something that does matter to you. This is actually what most people do during their freshman year, and some are still doing it well into their junior year.

Edit: Unless you're going for the arts, don't worry about actual ability right now. Aptitude and preference matter way more. For the four years in college, you're basically expected to produce nothing. Some people don't do anything except get a degree which signals they can go four years without messing up too badly. Others do pick up a degree related to a skill, like Comp-Sci. And finally, some just set-up grad level education, like the pre-law crowd. What you can do coming out of high school really means very, very little. What you want to do and can be trained to do matter more.

 

[CrashBang]

I had the same problem. I was very gifted at literature, though, and made the kinda silly mistake of choosing a degree in drama & theatre studies. I've nearly finished my degree now and while it would've been nice to do English instead, at least I get a degree
My point is, a degree is a degree, whether it be a BA or a BSc, it still shows life skills, dedication to work, research and learning and, if you get a good degree, companies etc will take that into account. So just take a course which interests you and make it worth your while. Then, at the end, figure out what job you want

 

[Da Joz]

Joining the military might help you sort things out.

 

[Annoying Turd]

My OP

Well, first, as an Ivy alumn, you have to earn your way in and the Ivies do have some absurdly awesome and amazing internship opportunities, but don't expect any "job-training" sort of curriculum. It's academics. At that level, you really don't choose; you get chosen for the privilege in a field of very, very strong applicants. Job-training sorts of programs are much, much more affordable in community colleges and the like. If you want to be a cop, a paramedic, etc, go there.

Second, how can anyone give you career advice on the web when you neither say you want to do something nor do they know you well enough to even guess about your preferences? You're likely to hear some folks argue to follow in the path of their field here. Don't. What's a good fit for one is not a good fit for another. No one can advise you very well here, least of all us jokers on the web. As for skills, whether you're in college for skills, for a general academic education, or as a set-up for more advanced training in one field or another depends on the path you'll eventually settle into. When I was first attending college, I may have had high school chem and bio, but that was certainly not enough to understand what I needed to in order to get where I am now as a med student. The four years of college was absolutely necessary "pre-training."

Third, take everything I've said with the following caveat, "this is how it is in the US in one person's experience."

I'd only offer two bits of advice. First "not my field," as medicine's a ***** unless you are passionate about it and want to do it. Second, you can always consider using your freshmen year to knock out the core requirements of any Bachelor's degree and use that time to find something that does matter to you. This is actually what most people do during their freshman year, and some are still doing it well into their junior year.

Great points, especially the last paragraph. It was probably a mistake posting this in a gaming forum.

I figured that schools like those in the ivy league would grant me the best opportunities for whatever academic or scientific discipline I would pursue if I ever had the honor of matriculating at such schools. Same with the vocational schools that are everywhere these days. I just have trouble deciding what to pursue, since I've got no real passion or talent in anything. I envy your passion and aptitude for medicine and I hope I find my own passion or aptitude real soon, whether it be bean counting or coding or engineering.

About my own preferences? I don't feel inclined towards anything really. They all seem great and prestigious, even the useless ones people make fun of like the more academically hardcore subjects of philosophy and linguistics or history etc. I feel I can tackle anything I put my mind into. Problem is, I don't know what to put my focus in at university. Which engineering discipline is worth specializing into? What aspect of IT/Computer science/whatever they call the subject should I focus in? What part of business? OB/GYN or Psychiatry or Anesthesiology? Electrician, Plumber or Welder? What kind of professor? What kind of legal expert? Who should I work for? Is there ever an ultimate goal? I have absolutely no idea what to settle into, since I know absolutely nothing about any of those things. I know that I can obtain third hand experience into those things, but I'll never have the first-hand honor of being a judge in a court of law, so I can't settle into that. Same thing with everything else; I'm not a licensed electrician, so how am I supposed to know that being an electrician is the best thing since sliced bread?

People acknowledge that freedom would lead to happiness partly thanks to unlimited choice, but on the contrary, unlimited choice may overwhelm individuals such that individuals would never know what is best for them, or they would regret their present choice over another one they could have made. I know that the key to happiness is altruism, philanthropy, friendship, and having as much knowledge as you can get, but I still face trouble picking the perfect university/major/career.

Joining the military might help you sort things out.

I'm myopic, so I will never be the best soldier or military officer in the world. You've got a good point however; maybe I should take some sort of a break to sort things out before I dive into school.

 

[Danny Ocean]

I'm quite similar to you, I think. I'm good at everything I really try my hand to, but never as good as the specialists. Not a jack-of-all-trades, more of a queen; that sounds kinda gay, but you get the idea.

Try taking a gap year to sort yourself out. That's what I'm doing. Gonna go teach English in the Far East.

However, if you're genuinely a jack-of-all-trades, then perhaps management or politics would be a good choice for you.

Or perhaps you could look for something else in life besides money? Become a great poet or musician or humanitarian or whatever.

I'm looking into Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. With a focus on International relations, Ethics, and development; or something of that sort.

 

[Commander Jack Rankin]

Double Major in Bending and Robo-American studies. You can then write your own ticket.

 

[SturmDolch]

In my university, people that don't know what to do go Arts, then depending on marks, go into Business or Education. After, people that were in Business act like they're the bee's knees while fetching Starbucks for their manager, people that were Education complain that they can't get jobs as soon as they graduate, and people that were in Arts make the Starbucks for Business people to fetch.

 

[Annoying Turd]

I'm quite similar to you, I think. I'm good at everything I really try my hand to, but never as good as the specialists. Not a jack-of-all-trades, more of a queen; that sounds kinda gay, but you get the idea.

Try taking a gap year to sort yourself out. That's what I'm doing. Gonna go teach English in the Far East.

However, if you're genuinely a jack-of-all-trades, then perhaps management or politics would be a good choice for you.

Or perhaps you could look for something else in life besides money? Become a great poet or musician or humanitarian or whatever.

I'm looking into Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. With a focus on International relations, Ethics, and development; or something of that sort.

Haven't dabbled into those yet, must be worth trying those out. I hate politics though :-( but I'm open minded and willing to have a look at anything whether I dislike it or not.

I'm no gifted musician or poet, and I have no useful skills that would serve humanity in anyway, and I'm no sugar daddy who can donate billions to the third world like real philanthropists.

Double Major in Bending and Robo-American studies. You can then write your own ticket.

Double majoring might not be a good idea for me. I want to ideally focus my energy in one major. It might be worth the pain if I ever decide that 2 majors would definitely be valuable enough to get me ahead in life. But I suppose that in real-life no one cares about your major (unless its a masters/professional degree or a PhD). A PhD might as well mean Pizza hut Delivery boy.

In my university, people that don't know what to do go Arts, then depending on marks, go into Business or Education. After, people that were in Business act like they're the bee's knees while fetching Starbucks for their manager, people that were Education complain that they can't get jobs as soon as they graduate, and people that were in Arts make the Starbucks for Business people to fetch.

Precisely why I seek whatever advice I can get. I don't want to end up like those losers.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Just fill your schedule with lots of intro-level sciences. One of them will excite you. I never knew how fucking AWESOME geology was until I was thrown into a 300 level college class.

 

[Corpse XxX]

What is foo??

anyways, if you dont know what you want to do.. i would not recommend starting a long education if it turns out you hate it..

Go for a fast education, get a job, make some money.. Often by working with something for a while you can find out certain things you like and dislike, and educate yourself to something else that suits you better.

Unless you are rich and can do whatever you want, then just stay in school, cause that can be a blast!

 

[Danny Ocean]

I'm no gifted musician or poet, and I have no useful skills that would serve humanity in any way,

That you know about yet. Can you really look at the massive list of courses available at some of the top universities and say you know even a little about all of them?

I never even knew the field of information design existed, and on the surface it seems incredibly dull, but now I've looked into it a bit with things like this [http://crisisofcredit.com/]. I know want to learn more.

What about semantics? What about pragmatics? What about Humanism? What about logistics? And so on and so on.

Whatever happens I wouldn't recommend skipping out on education. You need it in this world, and now isn't exactly the best time to go looking for jobs.

 

[Talshere]

snip

I now how you feel. I have always progressed through school and college (Im from the UK so college is 16-18 education) really not knowing what I wanted. My college courses were largely picked on what I scored well in in school, and when the time came to start applying I had no idea what to look for, or even if uni was what I wanted. By this point on several occasions Id been a hairs width from joining the forces, Id been to information sessions and been to the online careers office, the works. Let me tell you your not alone in this feeling.

Following the advice of my mum I started looking for course generally around the 2 areas I had enjoyed most at college. This being Physical Geography and Geology. I looked at unis, on the web, then started visiting them. I cannot stress to you how much this step means. While visiting the uni, and talking to its students, you get a real feel for what it might be like, and if it might be for you. Visit as many as you can (I appreciate this will be somewhat harder in a country with 9.83 million km2 as oppose to 0.245 km2). As well as giving you a great taste of what its like, you will see a vast array of courses. In my first year at college, I was looking at civil & structural engineering, its what I did for my work experience, I enjoyed it so I thought what the hell, I lost interest in this and at the advice of my mum started looking at geology, and these were the uni's we visited. While visiting unis, completely by accident and at 2 separate times, I found out about 2 very obscure courses, Mining Engineering and Geological Oceanography. In the end, these 2 ended up being my first and second choices respectively, and I hadn't even heard of them when I started looking!

Sometimes its hard to find your niche. I failed to get on the Mining Engineering course, in no small part due to lack of direction nearly up until the day I made my final choices in march April time. But don't give up. Just because you haven't found direction for your academic interests doesn't mean there is nothing in academia for you. You don't need to have the inspiration for changing the world now, if you find your subject, it will come to you in time. Take a good look around and see what you can find before you head for industry or a second rate course you have no interest in. It may be you find your inspiration in the most unlikely of places

 

[Annoying Turd]

Just fill your schedule with lots of intro-level sciences. One of them will excite you. I never knew how fucking AWESOME geology was until I was thrown into a 300 level college class.

There's a top tip right there, play with basic stuff until one holds your interest and takes you in, and just dive there. I plan on taking whatever my time and money can afford.

What is foo??

anyways, if you dont know what you want to do.. i would not recommend starting a long education if it turns out you hate it..

Go for a fast education, get a job, make some money.. Often by working with something for a while you can find out certain things you like and dislike, and educate yourself to something else that suits you better.

Unless you are rich and can do whatever you want, then just stay in school, cause that can be a blast!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo

Great idea. Might work if I am fortunate enough in this recession. I wonder what fast education opportunities I have. 'Getting a job' and 'making some money' is much easier said than done in reality.

 

[Annoying Turd]

snip

That you know about yet. Can you really look at the massive list of courses available at some of the top universities and say you know even a little about all of them?

I never even knew the field of information design existed, and on the surface it seems incredibly dull, but now I've looked into it a bit with things like this [http://crisisofcredit.com/]. I know want to learn more.

What about semantics? What about pragmatics? What about Humanism? What about logistics? And so on and so on.

Whatever happens I wouldn't recommend skipping out on education. You need it in this world, and now isn't exactly the best time to go looking for jobs.

Right on. Education does make us all wealthier and I should try not to miss any of it, and you're absolutely right about the situation with the jobs. It would be worth every while to explore what's available to me.

snip

I now how you feel. I have always progressed through school and college (Im from the UK so college is 16-18 education) really not knowing what I wanted. My college courses were largely picked on what I scored well in in school, and when the time came to start applying I had no idea what to look for, or even if uni was what I wanted. By this point on several occasions Id been a hairs width from joining the forces, Id been to information sessions and been to the online careers office, the works. Let me tell you your not alone in this feeling.

Following the advice of my mum I started looking for course generally around the 2 areas I had enjoyed most at college. This being Physical Geography and Geology. I looked at unis, on the web, then started visiting them. I cannot stress to you how much this step means. While visiting the uni, and talking to its students, you get a real feel for what it might be like, and if it might be for you. Visit as many as you can (I appreciate this will be somewhat harder in a country with 9.83 million km2 as oppose to 0.245 km2). As well as giving you a great taste of what its like, you will see a vast array of courses. In my first year at college, I was looking at civil & structural engineering, its what I did for my work experience, I enjoyed it so I thought what the hell, I lost interest in this and at the advice of my mum started looking at geology, and these were the uni's we visited. While visiting unis, completely by accident and at 2 separate times, I found out about 2 very obscure courses, Mining Engineering and Geological Oceanography. In the end, these 2 ended up being my first and second choices respectively, and I hadn't even heard of them when I started looking!

Sometimes its hard to find your niche. I failed to get on the Mining Engineering course, in no small part due to lack of direction nearly up until the day I made my final choices in march April time. But don't give up. Just because you haven't found direction for your academic interests doesn't mean there is nothing in academia for you. You don't need to have the inspiration for changing the world now, if you find your subject, it will come to you in time. Take a good look around and see what you can find before you head for industry or a second rate course you have no interest in. It may be you find your inspiration in the most unlikely of places

Right.

Maybe I should just relax and take it easy. Maybe my niche will come to me if I don't sweat it and just look around.

 

[Annoying Turd]

I'm no gifted musician or poet, and I have no useful skills that would serve humanity in any way,

That you know about yet. Can you really look at the massive list of courses available at some of the top universities and say you know even a little about all of them?

I never even knew the field of information design existed, and on the surface it seems incredibly dull, but now I've looked into it a bit with things like this [http://crisisofcredit.com/]. I know want to learn more.

What about semantics? What about pragmatics? What about Humanism? What about logistics? And so on and so on.

Whatever happens I wouldn't recommend skipping out on education. You need it in this world, and now isn't exactly the best time to go looking for jobs.

True dat. I acknowledge the fact that education makes us all wealthier, as well as the fact that the job market isn't the place for a loser like me.

snip

I now how you feel. I have always progressed through school and college (Im from the UK so college is 16-18 education) really not knowing what I wanted. My college courses were largely picked on what I scored well in in school, and when the time came to start applying I had no idea what to look for, or even if uni was what I wanted. By this point on several occasions Id been a hairs width from joining the forces, Id been to information sessions and been to the online careers office, the works. Let me tell you your not alone in this feeling.

Following the advice of my mum I started looking for course generally around the 2 areas I had enjoyed most at college. This being Physical Geography and Geology. I looked at unis, on the web, then started visiting them. I cannot stress to you how much this step means. While visiting the uni, and talking to its students, you get a real feel for what it might be like, and if it might be for you. Visit as many as you can (I appreciate this will be somewhat harder in a country with 9.83 million km2 as oppose to 0.245 km2). As well as giving you a great taste of what its like, you will see a vast array of courses. In my first year at college, I was looking at civil & structural engineering, its what I did for my work experience, I enjoyed it so I thought what the hell, I lost interest in this and at the advice of my mum started looking at geology, and these were the uni's we visited. While visiting unis, completely by accident and at 2 separate times, I found out about 2 very obscure courses, Mining Engineering and Geological Oceanography. In the end, these 2 ended up being my first and second choices respectively, and I hadn't even heard of them when I started looking!

Sometimes its hard to find your niche. I failed to get on the Mining Engineering course, in no small part due to lack of direction nearly up until the day I made my final choices in march April time. But don't give up. Just because you haven't found direction for your academic interests doesn't mean there is nothing in academia for you. You don't need to have the inspiration for changing the world now, if you find your subject, it will come to you in time. Take a good look around and see what you can find before you head for industry or a second rate course you have no interest in. It may be you find your inspiration in the most unlikely of places

True. I suppose everyone has had the same experience I'm having right now.

Maybe I should just take it easy and relax. If I don't sweat, surely my niche would show up from nowhere. However, the clock is ticking and my impatience grows with every passing second. If I don't assemble the perfect road to the perfect career, I'm going to end up regretting my entire life.

EDIT: Holy mumbo jumbo triple post. Can someone delete the one preceding this one?

 

[Danny Ocean]

Maybe I should just take it easy and relax. If I don't sweat, surely my niche would show up from nowhere. However, the clock is ticking and my impatience grows with every passing second. If I don't assemble the perfect road to the perfect career, I'm going to end up regretting my entire life.

How old are you, again?

 

[Annoying Turd]

Maybe I should just take it easy and relax. If I don't sweat, surely my niche would show up from nowhere. However, the clock is ticking and my impatience grows with every passing second. If I don't assemble the perfect road to the perfect career, I'm going to end up regretting my entire life.

How old are you, again?

I'm sixteen years old. I feel pretty green and pretty old at the same time. My age itself won't get me anywhere in life.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Maybe I should just take it easy and relax. If I don't sweat, surely my niche would show up from nowhere. However, the clock is ticking and my impatience grows with every passing second. If I don't assemble the perfect road to the perfect career, I'm going to end up regretting my entire life.

How old are you, again?

I'm sixteen years old. I feel pretty green and pretty old at the same time. My age itself won't get me anywhere in life.

A Master's Degree normally takes four years.

Your average life span is probably around 80. Let's say that twenty years is the amount of time needed to do something with something you know. That leaves you about 50 years, including the time most people get crippled by age.

Point is: don't worry, you've got bags of time.

Just be sure that, whatever you're doing, you don't waste it.

 

[Jark212]

I think that a degree in communications, broadcasting, or Telecommunications could really help you out to get a solid career...