[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Help me pick a major (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/9/2005 2:47:15 PM EDT
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Ok here is the story Im 19 years old a good shape and like firarms I LOVE going shooting, working out, being with friends, playing video games. Im currently attending coolege with a radiology major but was looking for some thing different. what are some jobs that would be good for me? I want a job thats gunna make around 20$ hour i was maybe thinking of Personal trainer (but I dont think they make enough money) FBI (really hard to get in I heard) Forest Ranger (whats do they do? how much do they get paid) LE ( how much do they get paid?) help me out guys :) |
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If you are looking at LE, Forest Ranger, or FBI you should be in it for the benefits of the job not the money. The money really isn't there. You make enough, but you'd definately make more doing something else. FBI's website has all sorts of college degrees they are specifically looking for. I'd start there. Many of those will apply to local LE also. Check the USDA Forest Service website for the job description of a Forest Ranger. Around here they pretty much babysit the hippies. Every once in a while they'll get to deal with an animal. They do other stuff too, but what I don't know. |
Forest rangers don't make shit, at least for quite a while. They expect you to donate a lot of time, then get paid 20-25k for a few years. Expect a lot of paper work also. I have a friend who is a trainer and he does quite well (45-60K best guesstimate). He is on the intelligent side though. He first got a masters in physiology. What the hell coolege offers a degree in radiology? 2 year, or IT...? |
Chemistry sucks. Unless you have a phd you are more than likely never going to get to do any worthwhile research. Probably end up watching a big ass ethanol plant in the middle of the night, or doing peon work so that the guy with the phd can get paid 5 times what you do. I am regretting it. |
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If you're going to college and only interested in making 20 dollars an hour when you graduate, find something you love doing. Otherwise take DzlBenzs advice. Don't sweat the FBI being hard, if that's what you want to do. If it wasn't hard, everybody would do it. You can go for the low hanging fruit and just float through life. Or, you can work hard and do something you find rewarding. The important thing to remember is that you are 19 and you still have time to figure out what you want to do. Get your gen ed out of the way. Get good grades and check out what your school has to offer. |
Which is why I'm not pursuing chemistry as a career. I think I'd rather shoot myself in the foot. If I end up in a lab it will probably be a crime lab. |
I know it does and it sucks that you can't get good jobs with that degree. I am a more Computer Science guy. I love science and being in a lab, but you can't make anything on it. ----  More a poison and burning agent, but can explode of course.  -- You also can't go wrong with business. |
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In the grand scheme of some degrees $20 an hour or so isn't THAT much cash (though it looks like it when you are making part timers wages. Engineering/compsci would be EASY to get that kind of cash. Accounting would to. PoliSci opens some doors (trust me on this, despite what some people say), like law school, law enforcement, politics, teaching (though you will be lucky to make any money), journalism, and MANY military officers have some version of PoliSci whether at the grad or undergrad level. Math/Stats opens some COOL doors, like the intelligence community, defense contractors (who also want natural scientists) If you want to avoid grad school skip the humanities or "liberal arts" majors, as many of them require an MA to further your career. Feel free to IM me, I spend a LOT of time talking to college students about this ;) shooter |
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Twenty dollars an hour is chump change. Kid, let me give you some well-meaning fatherly advice. Lose the idea that you should even expect to get a job at your age that provides lots of money, little intellectual effort, and plenty of spare time. You may find a job like that. But what is much more likely is that age 30 you will find yourself lucky to be making $20 an hour with a dated skill-set and a declining phisique. The best you can do is do some research and try to anticipate what the free market is going to be looking for in a couple or three years. Develop your innate talents and natural abilities in that direction. But more importantly, work like a sunnuvabitch to develop a strong work ethic and some real skills. Employers are looking for more than potential. They want to see real evidence of ability. The following is not meant to be an insult or a put down. Grow up. You are 19 but your interests sound more like a 13-year-old. Be done with the vid games. Spend some if not most of the time you are giving your possibly unambitious friends improving yourself through independent study. Develop real computer skills. Find a place to take a class on MS Office and learn how to do spreadsheets, word processing, etc. If you don't know how to produce a perfect business letter, go learn. Develop a resume' that is an honest reflection of your experiences and skills and then give it to some no-bullshit business person and ask them to give their honest, nothing-held-back opinion. Find where you are lacking and fix it. Dress like an adult. Get a neat haircut and lose the facial hair if you have any. Buy some good business casual. If you have facial piercings, get rid of anything more than modest earrings. When on an interview, cover any tats. Improve your speaking skills. If you sound like a truck driver or a country and western singer, stop it. Employers are looking for people who reflect well on their hiring choices. Get serious about your future. Thirty years ago I was 19. Trust me, decades fly by. I turn 50 this year. I have little money and professionally I have nothing to brag about. Why? Well, the number one reason has to be a lack is discipline. I thought everything would turn out well and didn't take the steps to make sure (as well as humanly possible) it did turn out well. I wish you the very best. If (and that is the largest word in the English language) I had asked the same question you have wisely asked, well......what might have been. Again, I intend no disrespect toward you. You are at the beginning of life and have great potential and time to fullfill it. |
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...Electrical Engineering with strong emphasis on software, or a Software/Electrical Engineering double-major. You'll write your own ticket and you'll be envied by your peers. You won't need to get involved in the politcs of business (management) to make lots of money. It'll be fun. You'll work on the most interesting programs-- secret military programs if you want--of our time. You won't want to retire. ...If you want to make a--the--machine and teach it to...be... |
Actually im very good with computers, and i play halo with my friends about once every 2-3 weeks and thats all the games I play( but i do enjoy destroying my friends ) I am very immuture some thimes thoughthat nursing gig sounds good how much school is involved? dont they get sued alot? |
YEAH no shit if you only want to make 20 bucks an hour you can forget college and start plumbing or find another trade. If your good with tools and building + work hard you can make some good cash. |
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Ryu, I am going to assume your last post was serious. I understand you are at a stage in which you can accomplish good grades with little effort. That is a bad habit. After a while, coasting will only lead you to sitting dead on the side of the road while younger people pass you by. Find something at which you have to work hard at to learn and accomplish. You will likely be in the work force for about 40 - 50 years. You will need to be able to work hard for years to have a decent life. |
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I have struggled with this exact same question my entire adult life (I'm 36 and am only now sure I'm even in the right career field for me!!! Some things I've learned/considered/realized over the years. 1) Some people work solely for a paycheck. Some work for self-fulfillment/enjoyment. Decide which type person you are. If you are a paycheck person your decision will be much easier. If you are a self-fulfillment person you may have to make compromises between satisfaction and making a reasonable living. Some are fortunate enough to get both but most of us make do with less. 2) You will spend more of your life working than anything else other than maybe sleeping. Best to choose something you at least somewhat enjoy. 3) Geographically, some fields leave you at the mercy of the market. My friend who is an engineer lives where he can find a job. My friends in education and the medical field live where they choose because those jobs are literally everywhere. 4) The future world of work requires credentials. Whether it's a journyman's license for blue-collar work or a state license as a psychologist, if you don't have training, skills, and credentials you will have a tough time. 5) There is a tremendous labor shortage coming for people who are educated. If you choose the medical field there will always be jobs, but you better enjoy working with sick and possibly dying people. If you choose education there will always be jobs but you better like kids/teenagers. The labor market is extremely hard to predict accurately but some fields are a sure thing. 6) Different types of people are suited for different types of work. Google John Holland and "RIASEC" for six broad personality/occupational areas. 7) No matter what you choose, chances are VERY good that you'll change. Even if you get a degree in a specific field you'll likely change at some point in your life. My best advice is to explore what your college has to offer through coursework, clubs, career center/career counseling, etc... and to learn more about what's important to you. Once you know what you want/need in a career and are aware of what's available out there you can start trying to make a match. Be patient. It takes time (but hopefully not as long as I've taken  )
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To do over again I would have double majored in Optical Science and Mechanical. I have a BS in Optical Science but it is somewhat limiting for what I would like to do. I had the opposite problem that you do. I did not have the best grades but I was always working...worked 4 1/2 years at a computer/tech store to pay for tuition and insurance etc. The work experience actually helped me as much as the degree, if they see you can work and you're not an asshole in the interview then the job interview is 90% done. I do technical sales for laser, optics, and fiber optics components so I use my retail and degree experience everyday. Anyway ideal job would be designing weapons lights, laser mount systems. Get the ME to cover the mounting and packaging and the Optics to cover the light part. Get an EE friend and now you have your own company. If you do this you get to play with guns all day, make money and do something cool. Personally I would rather work with someone who had mediocre grades and a good work ethic than a smart lazy person. Good luck and I'll make sure I don't hire you. |
Not a bad idea; the $160K is pushing it a little but CRNA's get their BSN, then 2 more years in CRNA school and can make very good money doing shift work. You can't be lazy doing that though- it is serious business! |
| Take the classes you enjoy, have FUN, get laid. take a class in every subject, two or three classes per subject if you can. Pass your classes with a good GPA, travel abroad and take a foreign language. Figure out what you want to do with your life, and THEN go to gradschool. Its expensive, but it opens many doors and is a blast. You will make a ton more money when you finally settle down and not want to kill yourself for growing up too fast. |
Seestats.bls.gov/oco/ocos030.htm |
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Well I went to school and got a B.S. in Computer Engineering. It is basically EE with a bigemphisis on component architecture. I am currently a Software Engineer going for a Masters in EE. That is all fine and dandy, but my GF will be making just as much as mee in a little bit for putting in two years at a tech school to be a nurse. silly world. Though I'm not complaining. she can make a 100 times more than me if she wants. Iwill behappy with that. |
| Give any thought to joining the military? I was pretty clueless like yourself at 18. I did 6 years in the service, and then started college. It gave me a chance to grow up some, learn a very valueable skill, as well as alot of time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I am a full time pre-vet student and other than getting payed to play with guns all day, I couldnt imagine doing anything else. |
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I would recommend construction management. You could begin your career in construction scheduling or estimating. It is not as hard as it sounds. No one wants to crunch number all their life but that is the beginning stage for all construction professionals. Once you get your degree you can expect to make about $45K starting out. After a few years you will be making $60-70K. After 15 years you will be making $90-100K. You will have to travel a good bit. But nothing is easy unless you work for the park service or something like that. Construction is challenging, every job is different, and is in high demand. Right now, every graduate in a construction related field is hired right away. Remember, dont expect big bucks until you have a little grey hair. but you can do better than $20/hr. Construction is the oldest profession after prostitution. |
I think you would make more $ as a radioligist that these other items. Forest Rangers don't make shit and Cops make okay money but have a pretty stressful job. Personal trainers that I know don't make shit either. I suspect it is a high satisfaction job though. If I were you, I'd go the FBI route if you want a long term job stability and decent pay. Find out where your cities federal office is and see about opportunities. Who you know definately helps here...  |
I am a Civil Engr. It is great field that is very broad. you can do design (which is boring IMO), or many things related to construction. A Civil Engineer with a PE license with 15 yrs exp. can command $95K without even managing people. I would recommend construction management, scheduling or estimating to start with, learn the fundamentals, take Dale Carnegie or Toastmasters to improve your interpersonal skills and work hard. In no time you will be making a nice living. |
| Wildlife biology allows you to go the Game Warden path, if you want. Seems like pretty interesting stuff, each officer has their own 'territory' to be covered. Also, you can become a field technician and get to backpack for your job. Not to mention opportunities for jobs in really distant, beautiful terrain. |