Need help deciding on a major

C

Cyclone390GT

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What is a good field of study to get in to? I am considering going back to school but I dont have ANY IDEA what I want to do. The only thing I am really passionate about is classic cars. That is my only hobby and I am afraid that if I go to school in the automotive field that I will get burnt out on my hobby. What do you guys suggest? What is a good field to go into these days? I have been looking into a ton of different fields, from aerospace engineering to medical school and everything in between. If you were given the chance to start all over, what would you go to school for?? Thanx
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Well im only 16 aka I dont know jack but.....

Engineering = Field is overloaded, too many engineers, not enough jobs
Medical = Good field to go into at this time, more doctors/nurses is always a good thing. :)
Classic Cars = Well you could start your own restoration business, lots of $$ if you do it at the right place.

As for the school, just choose one that fits your needs the best.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

I had lots of trouble deciding what to do, so maybe this will help. I read a book called Rhinocerous Success. It is a little paper-back and really provides lots of insight and motivation. I think that book was such a hit there is a whole line of them, so look for the 1st one. This helped me alot.

I found myself going to school for finance and on track to be a stock broker. Prior to that I wanted to be an architectural engineer, spent all of high school and freshman year in college preparing, fell in love with that type of stuff. But now I am in the Information Technology field and happy as ever.


Let me know if you read the book!
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Accountant C.P.A. with Finance background!!!

My son's best buddy's sister graduated from Uni / Deleware with a Business degree in Accounting with Finance as a minor. Then she got a job and worked for a year (driving a used Saturn) for a company, and then took her CPA exam & passed it. Then switched to Verizon in Manhattan when they hired her for $70,000 a year! (Her 2nd job!). Now in a new BMW 330Ci Coupe she has a luxury condo and also does some accounting "on the side" privately from her home. She is flirting with $95,000 this year, by Christmas. She is 26 years old.
The field for good young CPAs is dying at your doorsteps as everyone wants computers & technology and teaching and accounting are sufferring!
My son is trying to follow the footsteps of his buddies sister. By next year (Jr. Yr.) Firms will be coming to his university interviewing them for potential jobs upon graduation. I predict that my son's first job will pay him more than I made in my last job as a car salesman, after 27 years of so doing.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

I'm in Engineering, and i have a job, and most of my friends aren't having trouble getting jobs. There've been layoffs, but remember, 5 years ago there were way more engineering jobs than there were engineers and they were coming out of school making $50,000-$60,000 per year with zero problems finding a job. I'm working for the feds, and they start at GS7 (37.7k) but i'll be GS9 (46.6k) after 6 months, and GS12 (59k) two years after that, garaunteed. I can do better if i do well at my job. My friend Brian just got hired at $50k a year working for a private company.

My dad is a CPA in private practice. He does quite well for himself, and has done extremely well at certain times in his career. Just watch out for "noncompetition" agreements if you ever sell your business. If you lose your new job and can't find another one, you can't open up another practice until the agreement is up. That is the only thing that led to "hard times" in his job. But now that the agreement is up, he's doing quite well.

If i had it to do over again? I don't know. The path i chose has been quite fruitful, but i'd almost rather just have become a mechanic and worked with my hands. I hate sitting behind a desk all day.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Not all engineering professions are overloaded. You can still find a job, but you may to relocate to get a really good one. It took me a long time to find a job, but I was pretty much limiting myself to St. Louis. Things are tough all around, but I think engineers have it better than most. I think the IT field was hit the hardest.

If you like cars and such things then Mechanical Engineering would be a good engineering degree to pursue. Or if you like working with your hands more then you could try out a technical school's auto tech program or machine shop program.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

When I sold cars, I did both! I sat at a desk much of the time AND worked with my hands, when I got fed up with the schmucks that walked thru the open doors, and punched them out, with my hands! he he he :) (Just kidding - but many times I wanted to!!)
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

I agree with Steve - you've got to see where your interests are or you'll be unhappy. I took some testing through my college which was offered free to see what types of fields I'd be best suited for. I think there are some online tests like that too - I think it'd be worth checking out.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major


Consider Doctor of Pharmacology. 95k straight out of school. but it sure isn't easy! No, I'm not one, just dated one for a while...

but it's an important question - should I make something that I love into my career, at the risk of coming to dislike it.

my thought on that is... no matter what career you choose, there will come a time when it sucks. When you hate it, and never want to do it again, no matter how much you once loved it. At that point, you either leave it, and go to something else, or you learn to like it again, and get on with your life.

So, if your carrer is based on something that you once loved, you may be able to re-discover what it was that made you love it in the first place, and then you can go on to new challenges and new successes, with a new level of satisfaction and achievment. Short of never being burned out at all, this is the best outcome.

If however your chosen career is not based on something you ever really cared about, then your chances of recuperating to it are very slim. You will, at that point, be forced to find a new career. You are young now, you see how difficult that can be. Yet at your age it is a hopeful process. I have seen 50 year old men go through it, and it is not the same. They look like they are staring death in the face.

So, I would recommend discovering what it is you love to do, and finding a way to do it to make your way. It may be something that you have never heard of, never tried. Go to a good University, be curious, and adventurous, find a vocation, save your money, make careful investments, take care of your health, and if you are lucky you could be happy, for a very long time. Oh yeah I forgot, find a good woman and do what it takes to make her happy, life will be so much better.

Have fun!
DC







94 Mark VIII, Black / Black
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

I highly recommend law school (but I'm biased.) :D

I'm 2/3 of the way through, and I have no regrets. (It's easy to survive, but extremely difficult to excel!) I traded an unsatisfying (but highly lucrative) career in business in the Midwest, for intense intellectual stimulation and a new future career in law in the Pacific Northwest. A job at a law firm won't be as lucrative for me in the short run, but it will surpass my prior earning capacity in about 3-5 years. Even so, there is SO much more to life than some extra digits in your bank account.

Starting pay varies by region, size of firm, and area of practice (from the high teens in a typical public defender's office, to the mid 120s in a patent law firm.) It's an incredibly diverse profession, and there truly is something for everyone.

Good luck with whichever path you take - I say take the one that you can love for life. Who doesn't love learning something new everyday? :)

-Scott

PS: The downside is that lots of bad jokes are told about you, people only like you when they need you, etc. :)
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Im in aviation. Talk about a field that took a hit!! Its cyclical so by the time i need to find a real job, hopefully the job market will be back up. Full well understanding the employment opportunities, I switched from being a Double Major Aerospace/electrical engineer at WPI (nearly guaranteed my choice of many private/gov't high paying jobs) transfered to a crappy school in NH to get a degree in business administration. Most Airlines want to see a 4 year degree anyways, so i figured I would make it usefull as something to fall back on, instead of a dregree in "Aviation Science" (What I would get if I went to Embry-Riddle or similar school). I'm flying out of a small field and having a good time. I love every second of it, so It was a worthwile switch for me. I will be broke, poor homeless and jobless by the time I get done, But i'll be happy, cause I didnt get stuck in some desk job, which is important to me!
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Yea, but you can make some serious cash as an electical engineer. And you're more likely to get hands-on jobs than in some other branches of engineering.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Have you every thought of a sales job?

Last time I checked the stats...less than 8% of university/college grads would even think of taking a sales job and less than 2% actually do.

Find a field you like: Engineering/Medical/Computers then get your degree and ..this is the part that only you can answer...

If you want variety..
You like to travel..
Have ever been told you have Attention Deficite Disorder (ADD) or Hyper Activety..
If you like to do 10 things at once...
If you can keep your self motivated..

think about sales..

Sales positions for degree holders typically pay more than non-sales positions. (Succesful sales people routinely make more than "Managers" in the corporate office)

Sales postions get car allowances!
Car expenses are tax deductable!

I am biased though, I have been in Sales and travelled for 20 years and would not want to do any other type of work.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

All I can say is if you have the opportunity and have the funds to support yourself, go to school while you can! Sometimes you have to actually be there to figure it out. I'm not as familiar with your system. In Canada, there are universities and colleges. Universities provide you with a recognized degree (BA, PHD, Masters and so on). I personally opted to take a short cut and got a certificate in IT way back when the earth was cooling in the mid 70's. Now I wish I had taken the time to go to university. Perhaps someday I may actually pursue it.

As for "future fields" The population is aging, and fast I might add. Studies in the medical field where aging is concerned (Pharma) might be the way to go. Also, biological / eco studies while not in vogue currently will be in demand over the long term as the planet continues to heat up. These fields might even allow you to travel if you get into any kind of serious research.

These are long term views from an old fart.

Seeing as you are passionate about cars, alternative fuels is a related field. Maybe you'll be the one who can figure out how to get a solar powered car to do 0 - 60 in five seconds flat!!!!

Good luck with your choices....
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Sandy -- Your son's friend's sister may be making good money like that, but you have to watch out for the CPA field. True, it IS possible to make $90,000 almost at the beginning, but you're also working 60, 70, 80+ hours per week. If it is worth NEVER having a family, friends, or any playtime, become a CPA.

My mom has a background in Health Care Finance and worked throughout her career 70+ hours per week.

I had a professor in college, Dr. Ira Greenberg (I went to a Catholic school, haha) who was a CPA. His boss lived in a 15,000 square foot home, drove a $100,000 Benz, had a yacht, a summer home (only 4,000 square feet), and a Ferrari. THe man worked 100+ hours per week -- my prof quit the business to become a professor because of the long hours, and he had a wife and kid he NEVER saw.

Just watch out. :)

Scott
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

Thanks for all of your replies so far...Keep em comin. They are exactly what I was looking for. You have all left me some great thought provoking questions to lose sleep over.

My dad has been a Linc/Merc tech for 30 years and has always pushed me to do something greater. He has always told me to work with my head not my back. For some reason, that has always stuck with me. That is one reason why I don't want to pursue a future in the automotive field. I have a hard enough time getting out from under a dash now and I am only 21@185lbs. I cant imagine how it would be after doing it day in-day out for 30 years and I don't want to be 30years old and too stiff and sore or at the very least to tired to play ball with my son after work.

On one hand, my ideal job would be to restore classic cars. I can't think of anything I would enjoy more although I am concerned about the health risks that come along with body work and painting. I have never met a body man that could sit still for five minutes. Most of the ones that I have met seem strung out. All things considered, This is what I would love to do as long as I still had the time and passion for my own projects.

On the other hand, I don't think the income from the above mentioned field would be enough to provide all that I want for my family. My wife and son are wonderful and I want the very best for them. Maybe I am too optimistic or just plain naive, but I don't see one reason why I shouldn't be able to give them anything/everything they could ever want/need. Which leads me back medical school, law school, etc. I am starting to lean to the chiropractic field. Nice doctors hours and doctors pay without the whole life and death thing and malpractice lawsuits. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Anyway, I have requested admissions info from TU, OU, and OSU. As soon as I decide on one, I will enroll and then have a few years to iron out the details.

Thanks again for the advice, keep it comin!
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

I graduated 3 years ago with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. Nearly everyone in my class who was not continuing on to grad school had multiple job offers by graduation (the Air Force was offering jobs based soley on our resumes and hadn't interviewed any of us). The only real downside for me is the lack of hand-on work available. If you choose engineering be prepared to wade through minute details all day.
 
RE: Need help deciding on a major

I ended up with a Business degree after going undecided pretty much the whole time. My reasoning for that major was that I could use the knowledge in general no matter what road my life takes. I have been out for 5 years and am not "setting the world on fire" yet, but have a decent job and am learning a lot about the financial field where I am. I work at a well known investment company as a phone rep basically. I do have my series 7 & 63 licenses, but it is not really a sales oriented position and I am not the slickster broker type at all. I have been here two years but sometimes wish for more challenge and as most people always have my ear out for a better opportunity. My recommendation to you would be: enjoy college, set aside time for work and time for play, you may only have one go at it so make it a good one. As for your interest in automobiles, some make a good career at it but I feel that you could quench that thirst adequately by tinkering on one or two of your own classic machines once you start making some flow. When you do finish college, don't restrict your search to your local area. Look at metropolitan centers, big cities, and the coasts. That is where you will find good opportunity for a young person with zero experience. I moved to Dallas from Wichita solely to start this job.

Good luck man.
 
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