Old Dudes! I Need Help Choosing a Major!

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

hey old farts! i need help.. i've been going to college for a year now and am still undecided about my major //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif. im going to be transferring to state after another year or so and i need to think of a major i want to pursue because i need to set up some kind of education plan with my counselor for financial aid. i've been exploring different careers by reading up on the internet and i have to say the most persuasive resource was this article:TOP 50 JOBS by CNN.com .. i think i should ask myself what i want to do before i choose what i want to major in right? well, out of the top ten best jobs the three that really caught my eye and can see myself doing are these:

Software Engineer - number 1 on the list.. appeals to me because i've used computers since i was 10 and consider myself very very good with them (considering i never took any classes for computers and learned everything myself). the thing is, i'm not sure what a daily routine is for a software engineer and i know i definitely don't want to sit on a computer 9 to 5! this job really catches my eye cuz it's number one, pays extremely well, and i would say i have an advantage because of my somewhat extensive knowledge of computers.

Financial Advisor - this job is rated THIRD but what sold me is that cnn.com says if you're good with math this can be a good job for you, and i am pretty damn good at math.. always have been since i was a kid! i excelled all the time in my math classes. another huge plus is the pay!!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif it says the average annual is about 100k which is a damn lot to me... but i dont even know what a financial advisor does really so im not sure what i would be getting myself into.. but if it has to do with a LOT of money motivation won't be a problem for me!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif im also considering this because I've always wanted to learn about stocks because who knows, maybe i might be good at making investments with the right guidance, education, and knowledge!

Real Estate Appraiser - this job is ranked 8th on the list and appeals to me because I've been seriously considering Real Estate for the past 3 or so years. the reason ive been considering is because houses will always need to be sold so i think there will always be work.. and on top of that, i think learning about the real estate industry MIGHT teach me how to make good investments in real estate.. basically, i use to want to sell cars.. but then now im thinking bigger and asking myself, "why sell cars when u can sell houses and get more out of it!!" basically what im saying is i would probably start off as an appraiser and get by with the average 65k a year and hopefully learn how to make profits off houses. i never thought about becoming a appraiser until i read this article and now im thinkiing "hey i can see myself as an appraiser.. i come out to someone's house and appraise their house thats it!? and it's described to be a flexible job and the stress level is very low compared to other jobs supposedly. out of the top ten this job is the lowest paying but at the same time i would think that it is since it seems to be the most "chill". i'd love to have a job where i can go home between "customers" and hang out with family! is this one of those kinds of jobs?

sorry for all the reading but hopefully, you guys have a better understanding of what im looking for. im not familiar with these jobs at all im just a 22 year old student and i don't have many, if any, friends that have received their BA so i wouldn't know anyone with these kinds of jobs to ask about. if you could shed some light on ANYthing related to these jobs or some suggestions for some awesome jobs please let me know. thanks for your time i appreciate it! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

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[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

real estate appraiser takes ALOT ALOT ALOT of time. I looked into it, and it takes college then 4-6 years to get certified. Then, it takes a ton of work to make the bucks.

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

real estate appraiser takes ALOT ALOT ALOT of time. I looked into it, and it takes college then 4-6 years to get certified. Then, it takes a ton of work to make the bucks.

CRAP. you just dissuaded me to not got that route.. LOL thanks! as u can see i don't want to spend more than 5 years in college.. im hoping to do two years at my community colege now and then 2 more at state and get my BA with a degreee in something awesome.

 

[cpierce 5,000+ posts]

The three jobs you listed are by no means "easy" jobs. If possible I would try to find some people in your area that have these jobs and ask if you can shadow them for a week or a few days. Talk to people that are pursuing degrees that will get them these jobs and ask them everything question you can think of and so what. If you plan on getting a degree and doing this job almost everyday for the rest of your life...make sure it is something you want to do. Do you really want to sit infront of a comp 9-5 everyday? Now don't take this the wrong way because I am not bashing your choices or saying you aren't smart enough to achieve these positions.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

If you want to be a software engineer...learn Hindi...now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Although, if you're choosing your future from a CNN article, you're in for a tough time.

 

[Pr0d1gy 10+ year member]

Go with Financial Advisor. I went to UGA for Comp Sci and let me tell you it IS BORING AS HELL writing code, or just dealing with computers, all day every day. There's good money in it, but if you're a people person it will burn you out quick because most of the people in that field are NOT. You will be looked upon as the lazy, stupid guy who wants to walk around the office chatting with everyone. Seriously though, it depends on where you work but I can tell you writing code all day sucks. The FA's I have met are all intelligent, engaging people and that says a lot to me. I would go that route if I had it to do over again. As it is I just moved into sales //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

The three jobs you listed are by no means "easy" jobs. If possible I would try to find some people in your area that have these jobs and ask if you can shadow them for a week or a few days. Talk to people that are pursuing degrees that will get them these jobs and ask them everything question you can think of and so what. If you plan on getting a degree and doing this job almost everyday for the rest of your life...make sure it is something you want to do. Do you really want to sit infront of a comp 9-5 everyday? Now don't take this the wrong way because I am not bashing your choices or saying you aren't smart enough to achieve these positions.

i understand exactly where you're coming from which is why i made this thread. i mentioned earlier that i don't want to sit in front of a comp everyday 9-5.. so if you older experienced folk know something that i should know about certain jobs please let me know.. im asking because as i mentioned earlier, i dont have any friends who have gotten their BA and cant say i know many people that do. my goal with this thread is just what u said : to make sure i pursue something i want to do!

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

The question you have to ask yourself is...what do I like doing? And is there a field I can get into where I can make good money doing something related to that?

 

[cpierce 5,000+ posts]

i understand exactly where you're coming from which is why i made this thread. i mentioned earlier that i don't want to sit in front of a comp everyday 9-5.. so if you older experienced folk know something that i should know about certain jobs please let me know.. im asking because as i mentioned earlier, i dont have any friends who have gotten their BA and cant say i know many people that do. my goal with this thread is just what u said : to make sure i pursue something i want to do!

Sorry I misread about the computer thing. Even if you don't have friends in the business some people are still willing to help a kid out by letting them shadow and what not, usually best to hit up the smaller people.

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

Go with Financial Advisor. I went to UGA for Comp Sci and let me tell you it IS BORING AS HELL writing code, or just dealing with computers, all day every day. There's good money in it, but if you're a people person it will burn you out quick because most of the people in that field are NOT. You will be looked upon as the lazy, stupid guy who wants to walk around the office chatting with everyone. Seriously though, it depends on where you work but I can tell you writing code all day sucks. The FA's I have met are all intelligent, engaging people and that says a lot to me. I would go that route if I had it to do over again. As it is I just moved into sales //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

but loudcrownvic says schooling to become a finan advisor is about 6 years.. if im going to go to school for six years i think im going to decide with becoming a pharmacist. not only is the pay great, but i dont mind learning how to cook up medicine for people!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

If I were you, go engineering, of any kind. If you are good at math and have dipped into calc or precalc you should have an easy time of getting a degree.

I have about a 6th grade math level but a Bachelor's level writing skill, so I need to take like 5 years of math to catch up with the pack just to BEGIN engineering. If you are good at mechanical things you are also +1. I think you should look into that. The financial and real estate world is stress all of the time, engineering is creation, refinement and stress only at deadlines. If you have a high stress engineeringjob with say R&D at Toyota like the guy I talked to, you will make ALOT of money, the stress is almost worth the cash.

 

[zthumper 10+ year member]

I think im gonna go pre-med then become a surgeon or somethin along those lines. We'll see when i get there still got a few years of hs left.

 

[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

but loudcrownvic says schooling to become a finan advisor is about 6 years.. if im going to go to school for six years i think im going to decide with becoming a pharmacist. not only is the pay great, but i dont mind learning how to cook up medicine for people!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Depends on your state...

But schooling is about two years, and experience hours takes about 2 years... If you are BALLS TO THE WALL doing this and your parents pay for everything because you will make little/no money, like 12k a year as an intern or whatever.

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

The question you have to ask yourself is...what do I like doing? And is there a field I can get into where I can make good money doing something related to that?

i knew i would get an answer like this.. but the thing is the things i like doing are... should i say.. exotic? for instance, my hobbies consist of playing on my turntables scratching (which i **** at), making beats on the computer (which i **** at), playing counter-strike (which im leet at //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif.. but not leet enough to make thousands off of), working on cars (which really doesn't require a BA .. and i'm not a GREAT experienced tuner..). my ultimate dream has and probably always will be to become the next Alchemist, scott storch or kanye west but let's get real LOL.. anyway im gona head home from work.. hope to get hundreds of replies! thanks for the input so far peeeepo!

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

If I were you, go engineering, of any kind. If you are good at math and have dipped into calc or precalc you should have an easy time of getting a degree.
I have about a 6th grade math level but a Bachelor's level writing skill, so I need to take like 5 years of math to catch up with the pack just to BEGIN engineering. If you are good at mechanical things you are also +1. I think you should look into that. The financial and real estate world is stress all of the time, engineering is creation, refinement and stress only at deadlines. If you have a high stress engineeringjob with say R&D at Toyota like the guy I talked to, you will make ALOT of money, the stress is almost worth the cash.

Engineering is actually one of my other top choices.. it is actually one of my for-sure choices.. engineering is in my blood my dad was a mechanic all his life. im going to think hard about this one.