Your undergraduate degree will not determine what you do for your career. I was an economics major and now work in finance. I use no econ at all. In fact, the only thing I took from undergrad was work ethic and that goes a long way. I work with English and history majors too. In the end your degree won't determine what you are. If you choose to pursue further education in the future, that will have a greater impact on your career. That is the path I am taking as I'm looking to change careers completely. Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
seriously? maybe you should have thought about this stuff before you started. Why back out now? you've already gone this far. Might as well keep going after the one that will be easiest to find a job
The standard for academic excellence known as Louisiana Tech University. My minors were GIS and chemistry.
Give the kid a break, it is somewhat of a difficult task deciding what you want to do with your life at the age of 18. I am the only person I know that did not change their major at least once. And how did I decide my major? My Dad asked me what area I was good in, and I had just placed 2nd in state literary rally in Environmental Science. I actually placed first in spelling, but since their was no major for spelling, I chose Environmental Science.
thanks for the replies and help guys, i wont bother quoting every comment from everyone. i'll just make a few comments about the replies i remember from reading. 1. no i will never consider an english major, but to stand up for myself some, i have gotten A's in all of my english/writing classes, i just simply dont try to write with proper grammar/ spelling on this forum. 2. I cant switch to a GIS major because again it is basically starting over, but i may consider adding it as a minor, if it doesnt add too much time/money to my college career. i realize it will help me in the long run, but at the same point i cant be paying for my college the rest of my life, especially if i am in college until i am 35 3. as for thinking about all of this before i started college, yes that would have been great, but if you guys have ever been in my situation you should know how hard it is to decide what you want to do the rest of your life. not to mention out of my 10 close friends i am 1 of 2 that are going to complete their college, the rest either quit to work thinking it was better, or didnt start because they didnt know what to do and thought they cold just get started in a few years. ( my experience is if you dont start fresh out of high school chances are you will never go to college) 4. the reason i am considering changing now, is i have 1-2 years left. but these years will be the toughest yet, and if i switch to just about any major it will be a lot easier. not to mention the fact that i am worried, that it will limit me to jobs. that are not available due to the economy. to end it all, im trying to keep my head in the game, and just stick with my major. since, i dont like to quit. and i have internship experience in this field, and with that have my foot in the door with the conservation dept. but even if i get my bachelors i am really not looking forward to getting a masters and dont think i can make myself do it. so at this point hopefll yi can get my head in the game and pass my last few classes. and then just hope for the best when i start job searching.
Don't sweat it too much. Make the switch if it feels right. I went to school for Graphic Design. Now I run a resort in northern MN with my wife. Before that I was the GM at a restaurant in Duluth... Options are good
Also take a look at the big picture. Right now you are trying to figure out a degree you can finish with the least amount of time and money, that means you are going to settle for something other than what you really want. That doesn't normally work out well because you will eventually get tired of working that field if it's something you really didn't want to do to begin with.
I'd go with the degree that has the hottest chicks. LMAO. J/K. I'm sure you'll do fine with any choice you make.
I think that Fitz's post is good advice. If you do your job well work up a good resume you will always have options. I have a degree in environmental science. I worked in that field for about 8 years before I really realized that it wasn't for me. I had made lots of contacts in the construction industry and was easily able to make a transition when I wanted to.
Best of luck to you Foster. Do as best as you can and make contacts with people in the right places prior to graduating. It is who you know as much as it is what you know. I was a stubborn independent guy in college. I didn't really ask anyone for anything. I really wish I would have branched out and networked/played the game prior to graduating. Many of my friends that interned and mingled with important people prior to graduating college launched into succesful careers. Also, be flexible when you graduate. Attack your dreams and do not hold back even if you are nervous. If a company asks you to pick up and move to San Diego in order for you to advance/cross train, then do it when you are young. And last but not least, money does not equal success.
The world ends next year any way so it doesn't really matter that much. You should probably take out a bunch of credit cards and get some loans and party for the year or so left of life.....You've never heard any say "Man, I wish I would've stayed home more when I was younger"
i have always had that thought in the back of my mind, I would never go that drastic, but i have thought about living my life a little more freely, not because the world is going to end, but because im young and this is the best time to have fun, and go places. before i start a family, and am too busy with other things.
I have a degree in Environmental Science. Lots of other state agencies out there other than just conservation officers. I work in Environmental protection and really enjoy it. Decent money, awesome benefits and lots of hunting time. If you're looking for more money though, go private. In my area, consulting/engineering firms all have a couple environmental people. Marcellus Shale is bringing lots of environmental jobs to the state. We loose a lot of people to the private industry.
I would second the Industrial Hygiene suggestion...there are alot of really good paying jobs in that field and there aren't may people with that background. Or at least there weren't alot of schoold offering that degree when I was in. I got my degree in a related and overlapping field and while I don't use it (better things came available) it is a very good direction to go....and the degree in not that hard to earn, relatively speaking.
