do you regret your college major choices?

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infilove
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22 Aug 2012, 11:14 pm

I've been in college for at least six years and in a way feel like it's done more harm to me then good. I went into an Engineering School to try to become an electrical engineer and I worked my butt off. I went there for three years and everyday was a nightmare! I was overwhelmed to the max studying almost four hours everynight not really having time to do anything else. I eventually dropped out and now have over 30,000 dollars in debt in student loans. I then went back to school for another major in a associates degree in mulitmedia. It took me four years to complete and finally finished. I'm happy to finally finish it but I cannot find any jobs in that field because it's A) very competitive B) not very many jobs in that field in the area i live C) i'm naturally not as good in this field as I thought i would be. I'm finding it almost impossible to find a job in this field and now regret this too. im trying to find any job right now and having a hard time because i feel like i don't have a useful skill. I'm feel like im at square one again. I'm feeling like if I didn't go to college and tried to find work right away or got some kind of training instead of going into a university which my parents suggested I would have not only not been 40,000 dollars in debt but would probably be better of skillwise because I would have used all that studying time to learn something that I probably should have learn that was useful. I'm upset. Do you feel like you've been in a similar situation?


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JesseCat
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23 Aug 2012, 1:12 am

Every single day.
Heck I took my diploma down cant even look at it.
Want to go back to school for computer science or engineering but jobs in any field are so scarce I wonder if I'm wasting more years of my life and money.
You're not alone. I never thought I would say this but I regret going to college. I should have worked and waited until I was older and more mature and knew what I wanted to study and do with my life and THEN go to college. But I didn't.
Can't offer words of wisdom as I myself am quite lost, but you're not the only one. :(
Hope that brings you some comfort



GoldenPoint
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23 Aug 2012, 2:02 am

I regret not taking subjects that were more interesting to me. My main interests growing up were computing and music, and I ended up studying pure Mathematics. When I'd speak to Computer Science students they'd say it was ridiculous I wasn't doing it, but I just carried on with Maths.

I did pretty much zero research before picking courses and I didn't talk to anyone about it. I had a guidance teacher meeting, but they suggested music and I spouted something I'd heard mum say about there not being any jobs (even though my dad and a cousin are both successful musicians) and they didn't have anything to say after that. I didn't even consider Computing, because when I'd spoken to my teacher about taking classes at school he'd said there was no point because I wouldn't learn much (paraphrasing). I assumed it would be the same for uni, and didn't think to check that out... I can be a real idiot sometimes :)

I've been taking Open University (distance learning) computing courses, but that's turned into a nightmare this year with the project course. Now I'm not sure if any course would be right for me :).



VIDEODROME
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23 Aug 2012, 2:18 am

I was pressured into college. Eventually, me and my mom compromised and I went to a broadcasting trade school. I liked the idea because it was hands on learning. I didn't like the radio class but working with the video equipment was interesting.

Unfortunately, broadcasting is a lousy business that doesn't pay anything close to what you would expect. The only way to make good money is a major market like Chicago, New York City, or Dallas.


So after getting tired of random jobs I'm back for college round 2 going for computers this time. Will see what happens when I get through this program.



Mirror21
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23 Aug 2012, 3:07 am

Yeap. I took an A.A In business and i am almost done with a bachelor in small business management. I feel wasted.



Glorifel
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23 Aug 2012, 5:20 pm

My story is very similar to yours. I was in University for six years before getting a degree. I started in biology, then switched to Chemical Engineering, where I also couldn't handle the 80-hour class/study week that came along with it. Withdrawing from the Engineering School was one of the saddest moments for me. My father and ex convinced me to go into Business and that is the degree I have now. I hate Business. It's not for me. I feel like I wasted so much time (it's not really a waste, though) and Inhate where I am at in life. It's like a nightmare.

I finally decided to go back and finish my Biology degree since I am already halfway done. From now on, I will stick with what I love and not listen to anyone else.

I have an accounting job, but can barely handle the "office" culture. It's rough for an Aspie. However, I feel like I won the lottery in a way because a female with whom I work very closely has an Autistic son and so she totally gets me. LUCKY for me.

Sigh. I am right there with you. Even with the student loan debt....

G.



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23 Aug 2012, 5:53 pm

Yes it was difficult to know what I wanted to do with my life. I did change majors and was happier with the new major. Now since I have advanced career wise and the job requires more socializing and knowing how to play politics I am starting at square one again. I will be looking for a new job, but I am happy since I want to find something I really like and that fits my personality. It seems like there should be career counselors that help persons in their first or second year of college and really find out what job would fit their personality. Also the career counselor could help people find a major that would lead to obtaining a job after graduation. I think I would like the job of career counselor 8)


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GiantHockeyFan
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23 Aug 2012, 8:17 pm

Yes, it was definitely a mistake to say the least (Economics). Essentially, I was lied to and misled about employment prospects (almost zero locally and almost zero without a Masters). As well, most of my professors were ivory tower intellectuals who never worked a real job in their lives. On top of that, most of what you learn is BS not has little relation to reality but at least I can understand why so many laughed at my evangelical Libertarianism. It wasn't a total waste but I could have done MUCH better if I had my time back and I should have followed my childhood dreams. Oh well.



OddDuckNash99
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24 Aug 2012, 10:18 pm

Not at all. Instead, I feel my degree is being wasted in a different way- by how disgustingly "mainstream" graduate-level education has become. I was made for grad school. So, why haven't I been accepted yet? It's becoming all about status, money, and who has the social adeptness to partake in equally disgusting "university politics," not about people whose life's passion is academia. I saw this coming when I was in college, when I began seeing how everybody and their brother is going to college nowadays, just to get a "good career" and make money. College is no longer a special institution of higher learning, and grad school is slowly becoming like college. I am thoroughly disgusted at how academia is focusing on grades and impressive CVs instead of LEARNING, which is what the whole point USED to be. And for science research in general, everything now focuses on funding for grants and publishing the most papers (even if the studies are useless nonsense), rather than focusing on figuring out the mysteries of nature. I really grew up in the wrong era, that's what it comes down to...


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Merculangelo
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25 Aug 2012, 1:19 am

If four hours of studying a day is painful to you...that's a big problem, to put it most gently.



blue_bean
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25 Aug 2012, 9:29 am

Merculangelo wrote:
If four hours of studying a day is painful to you...that's a big problem, to put it most gently.


He said 4 hours/night in addition to full days of lectures and tutorials.



ComposerGal1928
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30 Aug 2012, 2:01 pm

Not at all. I just changed my major from Media Production to Anthropology, and I don't think I've ever been happier with my major choice. My specialty will be Cultural Anthropology. The thing is, I've always been interested in cultures, past and present, and I think having a career in something I'm really interested in would be really cool. Plus, I'll also be able to travel the world, which is another thing I've always wanted to do.