Because the response was so great and exactly what I thought I needed to hear on my last thread I decided to come back with another serious thread:

I have 5 days to make up my mind on what to go to college for. Now here's the fun part:

Everything I would like to go for isn't any good.

At first I wanted a career in Physics; until I discovered it's a very competitive field and to get anywhere in it can take thirty some years. (all the course work plus getting noticed in the career.)

Second was being a Medical Doctor; until I discovered that ten years of schooling and ten more of internship/residency is almost twenty years; and I plan on retiring around 60 (savings permitting). Being 20 9/12 now that only leaves ten years before I retire; which doesn't seem worth it when ten years are gone in a flash. Obviously I am no longer enthusiastic about this choice.

Third was Music; we all love it, and I feel as though being a Concert Pianist would be great. Travel the world maybe, be one with an Orchestra; ect.
Though there are allot of great Pianist out there; and are being outnumbered by musicians that can play many different kinds of instruments.
I wasn't very enthusiastic about this choice; but it was def something I was considering maybe.

Fourth being the run of the mill Heating and Cooling scene. Everyone needs a handy man. But it lacks so much it's almost agonizing for me to consider.
So I never really considered it.

I need a way to make money that's more then $10 an hour. Truckdriving is something my parents would like; I'd rather take my chances at the casino though.

Idea's and thoughts o' thoughtful df?

Nobody here can tell you what you can do. Only you know that.

College is there to EXPAND your skills. Not teach you new ones.

Whatever it is you want to do make sure its what yo WANT to do. I know a lot of people with degrees in a field the hate but did it because it was the "smart move".

I would recommend going in for the first year and doing just a general Bachelor of Arts, if you can... take 4 or 5 random courses, and by the end of the first semester even you should have a much stronger idea of what it is you want to do.

Or, work backwards in your head... this is how I figured out what I wanted to take, to reach my goals.

1) When you're on your deathbed, contemplating life... what do you most want to be able to say that you've accomplished with your life?
2) How can you accomplish that one thing?
What would you need to study, to reach your goals?
4) Go take those courses.

go to college, i'm going to go back myself next year, your young and whining?

try being thirty five and the biggest thing you've achieved besides mother hood is bragging rights you spent over six years in the video store industry...and confident that you can get any job in minimum wage customer service.

you'd be dumb to waste the opportunity, i screwed off several opportunities, art design, computers, and even a second chance for art therapy...at thirty five this is my last chance or die with a dollar above minimum wage as my claim to fame...

physics and music, look into high school education, medical field, a lot of therapeutic fields don't require as many years as an md, can be more fun and just as helpful.

Am also sick of being a "minnie" too. Although for some reason since breaking up from my 8 year relationship and my recent disaster relationship, I seem to have more money staying in my account.
Strange that. I wonder where that money was going?

I've thought about school again too, but I'm not good with schooling. I'm essentially a troublemaker, you know, the guy up the back, destroying the classroom.

So I'm saving to travel. Having a duel passport British/Aussie means I can get overseas and work my way around a holiday of sorts.
I'm so over waiting around for things to "get better" as people keep telling me. I'm going walkabout, see whats out there. I know it's the same shit as here, but at least I'm moving around keeping depression at bay.

I've never left Australia, so it should be an interesting adventure.

What I'm saying is, YOU make the decisions, not others, sure listen to them, but if you don't listen to yourself as well, you'll end up regretting it.

I went to college with a desire to obtain a degree in psychology or music. Instead, I came out with a degree in philosophy and english. Just go and have fun. They always say you should try new things, take classes you never heard of, etc. etc. I had a blast in college. You're on your own, you meet some rather interesting people, and there's a lot to learn. I think it's bad thing for someone to go to college with a set criteria. Thay say that most people who attend college will ultimately earn a degree in a field they originally were not set on studying. But above all, just remember, with an apple and some foil, you can make a killer bowl!

AC and Heating is a good career. It is also one of those things that will always be around. I will not be going back to college right now due to the fact that I am accomplishing everything I want without the degree. Plus I see some folks with Bachelors working in a McDonalds making barely above Min.

dont do social sciences...not unless you want to work in mc donalds.. *is doomed to work in mc donalds*

rofl "mc donalds".
is that like "DJ mickey"?

(sorry, but looks weird to just woken eyes)

Up in Canada Social Sciences is the route to choose if you want a good career, especially in criminal justice. I'm doing a four year honor's degree in Criminology/Sociology/Psychogy to become a parole officer, depending on your tolerance it's a pretty sweet gig.

As Sin said, you'll go into college/university wanting one thing and probably leaving with something completely different, the first year typically guides you into what you want and what you enjoy.

Definitely I would have to say that my single BIGGEST piece of advice regarding university courses is that you absolutely should NOT judge what you "will" or "will not" like, based on what you did or didn't like in High School, I learned very fast that University is SO far different from High School that courses I had previously hated, I now absolutely loved (ie, History)

So yeah, take a variety of courses in your first year, is my tip. You'll be surprised.

College = Bueno

most north american kids don't know that you call it "maccas."


either way, the food still sucks.

Don't be my dad. He decided, albeit under a lot of family pressure, to give up his budding writing career and go the family route of lawyer. Safe choice, right? Guy's still just peddling above water at an age when most people are thinking about retiring. The irony is that he was a fantastic writer and probably would've made a lot of money doing it, at least enough to be comfortable into his old age.

The world and the economy are changing. I don't think there's a ton of really safe options anyway. I'd go with something that you enjoy and that gives you skills that you can translate into something else if you have to make a career jump. Stay limber.

not having any children, travel would be my second choice...with an a.a.s degree in jewelery/goldsmithing i can apprentice anywhere in the world, right now i'm pretty useless.

I've more or less decided to skip out for another year and see where my job gets me. If I don't have a chance of becoming Assistant/Store Manager (where as I would just quite and go to a better restaurant that's not fast food) then I'll go for something in the college field; which I'm thinking English or somthing.

That's a good move for you. You type like you have a touch of the Down.

I'm going back to school too......and I'm excited. I'm finally going for my Associate in Science Degree (Criminal Justice) and, if I can, go on to my Bachelor's. You're never too old to make smart choices. I just wish I'd had done it sooner.......but hey, as my Dad says, "those are the brakes."