I went into *blank, but I shoul've done *blank

[xwalka]

I got my Associates degree with a concentration in English and then got my bachelors in Theatre with a concentration in Acting (I know, crazy right? I never could have done it if I hadn't gone on a mission when I was religious). I have since decided that I do not want to be an actor anymore. I probably should have done Physics instead, perhaps Astronomy. Maybe someday I'll go back to school, but I'd like to get my debt paid off first. So what path did you take, and what path should you have?

[Tenacious B]

Aerospace engineering, BS and MS. I hated doing research. It was a combination of the nature of research (slow, too narrowly focused), academia (publishing is all that matters, whether the work is shit or not), my advisor (manipulator), and timing (went right in after BS, should have taken a break, sick of school).

If I could do it again I might do a non-thesis masters, have stayed with my advisor from undergrad whom I got along with, or maybe have gone straight to work. I'm really unsure though since, as much as I despised gradschool, it set me on a great path. So I guess it was just paying my dues, so to speak.

I always regretted missing out on the self-discovery, mind expansion experience of college that most people look for or at least expect. In engineering you have to keep your nose to the grindstone, there was little time for taking classes just for fun or traveling Europe and the like, not to mention that there is no interesting discussion in classes like you would get in philosophy and the like. For instance, I enjoy astronomy as well, but there is not much work available in that field. On the other hand, if you can analyze a structure you will always be able to put a good roof over your head and plenty of food in the belly, even if you are a little bored.

However, I do like that all the hard work I put into school has set me up for stable, well paying work. I would be really pissed if I had spent 6 years in school to have a hard time finding a job and making no more than the local highschool teacher (not a knock on teachers, I just want more money).

I figure I can pursue interests on my own, without the structure of school, so I chose to use school to prepare myself for a career. And turning my hobbies into work tends to degrade my enjoyment of the hobby, I'm vulnerable to burnout.

I try not to fuss about it too much since you can only live life once.

[xwalka]

College was an awesome experience for me. Theatre helped me with social skills which will benefit me for the entirety of my life. I wouldn't want to give up those years. However, my education did not set me up for a career. I'm not really sure what to do.

[geonerd]

I've switched fields (math to geology), but I have never thought that I should or shouldn't have done any of it. Everything I've learned has a purpose in The Master Plan. I went back to school while working full time - just a geology class here and there (I kinda stumbled into this whole thing) - until I was ready to apply to grad school (I'm quitting my job and going back to school full time in the fall). So this can be done! And it really is great, so go for it!

And I don't think that Bachelor's degrees set you up for a career, anyway (unless your degree is in engineering or something). Really, all you learn is time management, how to think, and yes, social skills.

[xwalka]

I've switched fields (math to geology), but I have never thought that I should or shouldn't have done any of it. Everything I've learned has a purpose in The Master Plan. I went back to school while working full time - just a geology class here and there (I kinda stumbled into this whole thing) - until I was ready to apply to grad school (I'm quitting my job and going back to school full time in the fall). So this can be done! And it really is great, so go for it!


I do have a hard time imagining giving up what I have learned and experienced in the ten years since I graduated high school, and I just can't get myself to regret my choices. Besides, I seem to get burned out of things after a couple of years and am scared that no matter what I choose to study I'll get sick of it and want to move on. It just seems that life is passing by too quickly. I feel like I have to figure out myself before I can attempt a permanent relationship, and I just keep getting older and less marketable in the meantime. It sounds like going back to school worked well for you. Maybe I should try doing a course or two and see how it goes. I do kind of need to settled a bit first. I think I'll wait until I get most of my debt paid off first though. Thanks for your words, I'll give serious consideration to just trying a bit at a time and seeing how it goes; I think I could feel really good about that. :)

[PRBori]

I've never gone to college so gratefully I have no debts except for a Technical School. Although I'm sure college is great, I planned my goals differently by first taking CERTIFICATIONS and then letting my employeers pay for the rest. It also depends on the type of work you wish to do, for me I'm in IT and if you get the right Certifications,well they tend to get you farther in life than a BA, or at least a step in the door.

College for me will take place when I have reach a more stable financial level which I hope to attain by next year, and the company I'm with pays for at least 50% of it. The current company will pay in full my certifications, that said I have 2 in mind and not having to pay off my pocket is a good thing...

Those of you who choose college, great... I'm glad for you, but in the long run there are work-around to avoid being in high debts and I personally prefer to do such. Is all about what you want in life and knowing how to reach it. Nevertheless, good luck on all your endevours... you may want to look in fields where you can be a consultant rather than an employee, for those will certainly change.. you will have a new assignment all the time and will not get bored since they are only temporary assignment until you know for sure what you want to do.

That's just my view...

[Fej]

I'm planning of majoring in finance, hopefully I won't regret it afterwards.

[geonerd]

I do have a hard time imagining giving up what I have learned and experienced in the ten years since I graduated high school, and I just can't get myself to regret my choices. Besides, I seem to get burned out of things after a couple of years and am scared that no matter what I choose to study I'll get sick of it and want to move on. It just seems that life is passing by too quickly. I feel like I have to figure out myself before I can attempt a permanent relationship, and I just keep getting older and less marketable in the meantime. It sounds like going back to school worked well for you. Maybe I should try doing a course or two and see how it goes. I do kind of need to settled a bit first. I think I'll wait until I get most of my debt paid off first though. Thanks for your words, I'll give serious consideration to just trying a bit at a time and seeing how it goes; I think I could feel really good about that. :)

Couple of things here:

1) Re: getting burned out - for me, it was actually the opposite. I ended up pulling math into everything I'm doing with geology, and it has enabled me to see things in a different and very interesting light. You might very well make all sorts of connections between theater and physics, or whatever subject you tackle next.

2) marketability - If you go into physics with a theater background, I think that will make you even more attractive to future employers. Companies look for well-rounded people who can think outside the box. And this is definitely the M.O. of an INTJ.

3) Companies paying for stuff - PRBori has an excellent point here. And this is actually what I did. Found the field I wanted to study next, found a job in that field, had company pay for classes here and there. Now I'm bolting - this actually was not part of the plan - but it turns out that furthering my education elsewhere is going to be better for me (and it's all about me lol). Just don't sign a contract :)

4) Debt - it's always going to be there. As long as you can make your monthly payments, do whatever you want to do.

5) permanent relationship - yeah. i have no advice for you here :P

[capricornintj]

I went into business, but I should've designed roller coasters

[xwalka]

Good advice. I was actually referring to marketability as a boyfriend/husband (it feels like time is running out while I figure myself out), but what you addressed was a concern too and made me feel better. I've never been particularly ambitious, but it gets awkward when the girlfriends parents start wondering what exactly you bring to the table. We shall see what the future holds. At least libraries are always free. :)

[sneakers]

This is actually kind of what I was hoping to find on a forum like this. I've been out of school for a year now [BFA fine arts, minors in art history, poli-sci]. While I'm glad I went to school for what I went for - getting a "real job" seems almost impossible.

I almost wish I had had an interest in business or finance or engineering or gone into something like computer science or something like that. Unless I move to New York - finding a job "in my field" is slim. I figured I would be okay - since what do all those people who get Liberal Arts degrees do? I still haven't found out. I don't know if it's the economy or if the area I'm in is just not a good place to be right now. I don't think I would have a problem getting a job that would be crunching numbers or anything like - i think I could do those things just fine - i just had no desire to go to school for that. But now I'm wondering if I should try and pick something else up at a community college - or go for some sort of technical training or certification in something. But I know there are no magic arrows so I don't really know. I just need a "job". I don't need to love it - i just need to make a decent wage and have reasonable hours. I'm lucky if I can find things for $10/hr around here. I mean....I could probably make more bartending or something. I just want a job that affords me the free time to do the things I really want to do. Right after graduating I had a job as a welder but it paid peanuts and was like working in a sweatshop - i'd get home and be so exhausted I'd go right to bed. Something more mentally challenging would be better. I don't know. I just can't really find anything. I guess I don't really know what I'm qualified for....I think I could do just about anything...but there's nothing that I've really seen that I think if for me. Heck - even admin assistant jobs are asking for three years experience.

I've thought about what kind of things I like - I've thought about like...vet tech - but you have to go for some training and even then it's lousy hours for not much money....I mean - it would be rewarding but it's not something I'd want to be my life....if I was that into it i would just be a vet.

[geonerd]

Good advice. I was actually referring to marketability as a boyfriend/husband (it feels like time is running out while I figure myself out), but what you addressed was a concern too and made me feel better. I've never been particularly ambitious, but it gets awkward when the girlfriends parents start wondering what exactly you bring to the table. We shall see what the future holds. At least libraries are always free. :)

oops...my bad. You can see where my priorities lie :P

sneakers - are there any advertising agencies in your area? they might be able to hire you on as an artist if you have experience in either quark, adobe, coreldraw, etc. Also, local newspaper?

[fonmaneal]

I am an automotive service technician, not a mechanic( everyone with a hammer is a mechanic).
It can be rewarding, but if you dont have an associates or certifications it is hard to get in to.
The biggest thing is to keep your training and tools current. I spend on average $5000US on tools and $1200 on training per year. But I earn 68000 per year on average plus side jobs when I feel like it.
Another advantage is I can go almost any where and find a good paying job, or work from my home.
The worst thing is if you tell someone what you do they want to look at there car, usualy for free. They learn that won't be the case very Quickly.Lol:)

[Szarra]

I graduated with a BA in Theatre (emphasis in scene design). I enjoyed it immensely but I really wish now that I had kept it a hobby and majored in a more marketable field. You might not want to wait to go back for something new. It took me 10 years to pay off my student loans. Now that I'm older I'm worried about trying something new because I've forgotten so many things and so much has changed. I probably will go back but it's going to take quite a bit of mental kicking for me to do so.

If you don't mind sales, alot of places will hire you because of your acting background. I once applied to be a delivery driver and they said "You've had acting classes and you have a face people will trust! We want you in sales!" I hate selling things and didn't take the job.

[Tenacious B]

I've thought about what kind of things I like - I've thought about like...vet tech - but you have to go for some training and even then it's lousy hours for not much money....I mean - it would be rewarding but it's not something I'd want to be my life....if I was that into it i would just be a vet.
Have you thought about teaching? The pay isn't great, but the hours are (summers off!).

[sneakers]

I have thought about teaching....I wanted to go to grad school for an MFA - which gives you the option to teach art classes at the college level - but is highly competitive unless you want to move to say....Iowa or some other midwestern zone. At a high school or elementary level i wouldn't mind either but i don't have an education degree. i also live in pa which is notorious for the hoops that people have to go through to teach. maybe if i moved to jersey or staten island maybe? i thought about doing those Teaching Fellows, or Teach for America programs. however when i looked at the sites for those programs, it seemed difficult to get into the program. at least - in my case i have lackluster grades [grades don't count when you're an art major - only your portfolio] from a state school that no one has heard of. i also hate all the red tape with getting recommendations and whatnot.

[Linza]

I went into theatre, but I should've gone into engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, and business. Note the 'and.'

Szarra, I understand your frustrations about the markettability of a theatre degree; my technical emphasis in audio and projection allowed me to specialize in RF and radio communications, which is considerably more interesting than sales... but scenic design can put you to work for groups like Habitat for Humanity, as well as be a good emphasis to getting a masters in either Architecture or Interior Design (that's right... they give MAs in Interior Design). Also, if you're heart-set on working in theatre, you might get some painting experience in fields other than theatre, then market the hell out of yourself to small theatres in large cities. Get yourself put on overhire lists for larger theatres in nearby cities-- that's how I got my RF tech job. So yeah... jobs exist. They don't pay 80K + benefits, but they exist, and that's a start. And it's easier after grad school.