I'm about to finish up my 3rd year in university and am soon to start my final year. The only problem is that I have no idea yet what I want to do as my career. My degree is pretty much open ended and I will be doing some kind of post graduate degree, but I have no idea what I will/can choose yet. All of my friends more or less have it figured out at this point but I am completely clueless. I kind of feel weird that I'm 20 now and still haven't really got it sorted out. I think part of the problem is that I don't really like my degree, but it's too late to do anything about that now. Is anybody else in the same boat with being at an age where they should have a pretty good grasp on these things but don't yet?
I don't think its all that abnormal. I mean I'm 21 and just about to go back to school to basically start all over again. It really depends on your degree. You could maybe try talking to someone at your school to try and figure out what you might be interested in? Edit: Also, I wouldn't fret too much about changing degrees if that's what you want to do. Most people change their major several times throughout university. And with some graduate degrees it doesn't really make any difference what you took previously.
Thanks, I think I'll definitely make an appointment with the careers advice office next year. I'm on a foreign exchange this year at another university so I have to wait until then. Unfortunately, it works a little bit different in Ireland and I don't think it's possible to change courses after the first semester of 1st year, so I definitely can't change my course now as I'm in my third of four years. I would have to start from the beginning so I have to make do with what I have.
Yeah, I should have probably noted that my post was based entirely on how things work here in America. xD It may not be all that helpful for schools in other countries.
I'm at said point in life. I used to know, but not anymore. I guess I'm kind of lost, and more than anything else, driven to leave home. You could do what I did, and just pick something at random that won't conflict with your ethics.
I used to know what I wanted to do too, I was adamant that I was going to do law. But for some ridiculously stupid reason that to this day baffles me, I didn't put law down as one of my choices on my application :eusa_doh: I don't think there are too many things that conflict with my ethics necessarily, but picking something at random would terrify me, I'd hate to be stuck in a career that I really don't like.
That reminds me, I first started college in Social Sciences thinking I'd to Law when I reached University. I enjoyed Psychology and Sociology too much though, that I dropped Law and thought of pursuing further into Social Sciences, but then I had a change of heart and decided to go into Computer Sciences instead, dropped because of health complications, and now I'm hopefully going back to college this year at 22 years old (turning 23 this year) in Computer Sciences again.
Perhaps you could find a list of possible careers and remove all the ones you'd hate/dislike? The pick on at random?
When I was in that sort of position, I talked to an admissions tutor at another university and he offered to let me start his degree course (normally four years long) from the second year, although it was a less prestigious university than the one I was at. And British degree courses are fairly specialised as I assume Irish ones are. I don't know if I should have done that or if I should recommend it, but you might just be able to do it yourself. And obviously you'd have to have made some rather specific choices to get to that stage. And if you have still have time, it's probably worth doing an internship or studentship in something, even if you're not really interested in that field. I know a pharmaceutical internship would look lovely on my CV now, even if I'd only take a job in the sector if that's all I was offered. But perhaps you're doing that anyway. Normally the master's course I've seen (in Britain and some of Scandinavia at least) expand on topics introduced in undergraduate courses rather than converting to something new. However, I do recall seeing a postgraduate diploma in Limerick as it happens, specifically for science graduates who want to be process engineers. I don't know if employers would take that as seriously as BEng, but maybe there are other conversion courses like that which you could look into if you stick do what you're doing. Not that you rest on your laurels outside your studies now. No pressure.
Thanks everyone for the input and advice. @Hefiel. Good luck with going back to college! @Hexagon. I just tried what you suggested. Granted the list wasn't very long, but I did narrow it down to teaching, which I could imagine myself doing. The only problem is that teaching jobs are like gold dust in Ireland at the moment, they're next to impossible to find. But it is definitely an option. @Willjarvis. You're right, Irish degrees are quite specialised and I did sort of pigeon hole myself because of my choices. And now it's incredibly difficult to change from one course to another, practically impossible at my stage in my degree. But it is quite a prestigious university and I had to work pretty hard to get my place, so even if I don't really use my degree it will look fairly impressive on my CV. I will be doing an MA anyway so I guess that might give me a bit more freedom and could make a career choice a little easier. I really like the idea of doing an internship as well, thanks for the suggestion, it's definitely something that I'll look in to.
In today's world, there is very little correlation between what you are studying and what you will actually end up doing. If you look at the biographies of some pretty significant contributors to science, the arts or whatever, you would be amazed at where they've come from. For example, check out the guy who decoded the human genome (Ventner), a very checkered career to say the least. Ultimately, take your courses and excel at them, it's the excellence and not necessarily the topic that will get you places! My 3 cents...(inflation)
That's kind of where I'm at on it now, I don't necessarily have to use my degree, just have it. That in itself shows a certain level of dedication, hard work and abiltiy I suppose. Even though I probably have plenty of time, I just feel that there's an urgency about making a decision, like I'm at a point where I need to have it all figured out.
Don't sweat that part of it, life is one very unpredictable game. Focus on doing well, and maybe, just maybe, you may find some twist or point of view with regard to what you're studying that may just excite you just a little more than usual. You don't have plenty of time (sorry, life is just too damn short), but you do have time to sort things out. For now, enjoy the ride, be mindful of what you are doing every day, and be alert for those unexpected events that can turn your whole life around!
I'm pretty sure that career confusion is a part of everyone's life. For the longest time, I thought it was biology that interests me. Now I know that what I really like is psychology. I second Hexagon's idea of listing all possible careers. It may sound silly, but it is actually quite helpful!
My obsessive interests made it pretty obvious what I should go into, but I know plenty of people who've had a lot more trouble deciding. In fact, my impression is that you guys are the norm, and people like me who knew exactly what we wanted to do for years are the odd ones.
You sound like me, except that I haven't gone to university. I want to figure out what I want to do, first. It's hard to decide!
