College Dilema - Which major?

Your right, college isn't meant for everybody, but you obviously don't have any

if you say something so general and encompassing as that. Maybe you should have taken some time off and thought about what you really wanted to then. Trade schools are a great option to those who don't feel college is right for them. Your right in that for many jobs, college doesn't teach you exactly what you need to know for a given job/career. However, college is designed to teach you how to learn. Imagine how many majors there would be if it was designed to teach how to perform a specific job. I don't think most people look down on people who haven't attended or graduated college, but it is a reality that a college degree in anything is favored and preferred when applying and interviewing for most any job. If you want to do any sort of professional career (doctor, lawyer, professor etc.) you need a college degree.

I do understand that everybody has their opinions, and if you think college is a waste that's fine. But by stating what you said so declaratively as if it's a fact, seems to indicate that you may be a bit immature and lost as to the reasons and purposes people actually attend college.

 

Get a degree that actually means something.. like engineering. Most people aren't using their degree anyway. When you're job hunting employers will respect an engineering degree vs. something like an aeronautical science B.S. .. which is pretty much a basketweaving degree. A lot of people in my trade have that goofy degree which is a degree for airline pilot wannabees. It doesn't mean jack $#^& in the real world.

 

im sorry, this subject just heats me up. I dont like spending 8K a semester to be told to read a textbook for an exam that only tests how well you can recite information, and not how well you have an aptitude for the ability to think. Its just not my way of learning.
You are correct though, It was wrong of me to make such declarative statements and to word my thoughts as such. It is hard to understand emotion through text and can easily be interpreted or perceived incorrectly.

 

i know people in their 40s that still don't know what they want to do. usually what we want to do isn't what makes the money. I got three years under my belt, but couldn't take anymore. same thing here, was going for an electrical engineering degree. why? because i have an uncle that's one and he makes the jack, but then come all the math which gets old. wouldn't have been happy doing that anyway just looking at the money. it's not all about money, but it is nice. point is, you'll be happier doing something you love and getting by than something you don't like that makes more money. know people that hate going to work each day and that must suck.

 

I have tried 2 years at community college and I HATED every second of it. I knew the traditional college wasn't for me and I felt like I was waisting my time and dropped out. So now I am taking classes online to get a certificate as a court reporter for my career. And in the long run I can make a very good amount of money and have an interesting career. So that's the route I've taken.

 

I agree with most of Dingo's views. The only point for me even going to college is because it's unofficially required to get a good job. If it wasn't for that, I'd be attempting to join the work force right now. Plus, I hate the idea of corporations and "climbing the corporate ladder". I don't see how anyone can stand that.

That's why I want to do something useful in life, such as design parts or buildings, or save lives, which is what you can view managing a resort to be like. I'd be saving those poor souls climbing the corporate ladder. They want to kill themselves, so they take a vacation, and I'd be providing them with that well run vacation spot if I had a job involving Business: General Management with a minor in Leisure studies or outdoor recreation or something.

Plus, I'm only a first semester freshman and I'm already not liking parts of Engineering. How do you think I feel when I consider I have to suffer through 4.5 more years of that crap? Bleah. Looking at the formal math part of Engineering, there's no way I'd want to do that for the rest of my life. The only thing that would motivate me in my job would be the high pay check. Some people may work like that, but I don't. The best job I've had were at minimum wage, and sometimes I didn't even feel like I was working, even though it was work.

It looks like I'll be trying to visit my college's career advice office (if they have one). And, for now, I'll pound through 2 years of General Ed courses that I'd need for either major. I'm thinking about transferring to Auburn in 2 years anyways, so I could general ed for 2 years, possibly take a semester or year break during the transfer (if I transfer), and hopefully by then I'll know what to do with myself.

 

=Jwin=

Being the recipient of 3 college degrees (none of which I use), I'll be the first to tell you from personal life experience that it's better to have something and not need it--than to need it and not have it.

Here's my point: from more than one I've met, I've heard of an engineering degree as simply a license to make money. There used to be an old weight loss commercial with Cher (of all people) in her 30 year old buff body, saying, "If it was easy, everyone would have a great body," or, "If it was easy, a great body would come in a bottle." I don't remember what the tag line was. Her point was, she had the ability to get buff because she had natural affinity towards that end. Not everyone can say that.

Likewise, not everybody can become an engineer.

Why not make the money, get comfortable in your respective station in life; and THEN branch out? Put bluntly--here are your two choices. You can either make enough money that will afford you options; or simply chance it, and do something that while at the moment requires less work, but is a gamble as to whether or not it will provide you with financial gain. Why on earth would you chance transient happiness for less work, when you could just put your nose to the grindstone for a short few years and end up very financially stable?

I don't think your mother would approve of you living at home for another 20 years.

Being young and smart, the world is your oyster. Nowadays, it seems the younger generation puts idealistic views before practicality--but this is par for the course. With experience comes practicality, while conversely with inexperience comes the notion that anything is possible. While young, the potential for lofty and idealistic aspirations can hinder rather than help in the grand scheme of things. I've been there and done that. Ask any doctor, laywer, entrepeneur, or anyone else who has been there and did it--and they'd probably tell you to temporarily put off grand aspirations for now, and build wealth.

From what I read of your posts here--you come across as a very smart young man. For god's sakes, man--put in the hard work now, land yourself in a position where you'll be well-off; and if you still feel the need to do something else in life--at least you'll be in a position where you have the option to do so without being burdensome on your poor mother who has other children to worry about! LOL.

My dearly departed father, was fond of the expression, "It's nice to have options."

Nowadays, so few of us do. Call it a sign of the times, or whatever you will. You're in a position to give yourself options.

Better to have those options and not utilize them, than to need them and not have them.

Good luck!!

 

more and more jobs now either require or are looked on more favorably if one has a degree\certificate of post secondary education. alot different than when i started. i only knew technical things, woodworking,welding,automotive etc. but have been able to have a good career in something i couldnt even of dream of now without a bunch of letters after my name. education is a definite bonus. im also a proponent of courses that also have co-ops incorporated in them. allowing prospective future employees to get hands on training in whatever field it is.

 

;DI was in General studies for 5 years then they told me I can't just start out as a General.. evidently you have to start out as a lieutenant or something like that.