After having problems with (and subsequently dropping) a chemistry course, I had been rethinking whether I should continue majoring in geology.
I went to see a counselor a few weeks ago for career guidance, and to discuss other things going on. Last week, I took a career test that measured interests and personality.
The career paths that most closely matched my interests and personality were:
Graphic arts, visual arts, architecture (both buildings and landscape), IT, and finance.
Tim
Your not interested in geology and science then? based on your test results?
I'd go with your interests if you think that's an interest you could sustain for long enough to graduate and get a job... but you do need to consider your strengths and weaknesses as well.
I'm a graphic designers, technically. But all the office politics and dealing with clients is too much for me, though its expected of traditional designers. I'm managing okay by going freelance and having my hubby deal with the people side for me.
Its easy to believe what others tell you that you should do, but you really need to figure out what you really love and do that. (Not that that's easy!)
Why did you originally choose geography? I know you've posted about it before, but I can't remember.
Uh oh, sounds like the test is "keying in" on Math skills and using that to generate a list of "suggested occupations". I would not put alot of faith in a test. Question: What is your "counselor"'s specialty? Is he/she in a placement office, where the counselor actually gets students interviews, or is the counselor's task to find you a major with a given class set?
If you're talking to a placement expert, another question to ask if what experence they have other than working for your university. That may affect the answers that they give you.
Quite frankly, I put very little faith in the counselors I had, because they gave people incorrect classes, and had absolutely no knowledge of most fields.
I don't think I got terribly good advice in some ways because they said with the things I really liked there would be no jobs. That is a valid concern up to point but if you end up doing something you hate, you probably won't stay the course and then would have to try something else anyway.
Chemistry is like a different language. It takes patience and interest to learn, I think. If you're really interested in geology, then don't give up. You might want to explore how necessary it is to know chemistry for the kind of work you'll ultimately do.
(For example, I had to take 3 semesters of calculus and I can't recall ever having to use it in subsequent work, which is good, cuz I never understood what it was about.)
Tim, I asked my boyfriend ( a college professor) about your experience with the chemistry class. He said that on his first Physics test at UC Berkeley, he got a 40%. He now has a PhD. In physics.
He says many professors use the first test just to blast as many students out of the class as possible.
Max, that tallies with what happened to the 1st year Engineering students when I was studying. I think the entrance level requirements should have been made a bit stricter so that the class wasn't so big to start out with.
I suppose the professors thought some of the students had hitherto coasted along and that some of them needed a bit of a wake-up call. Maybe that's why the engineers had the reputation as being the biggest drinkers on campus - the demands of the course must have been really steep.
I was advised to do an arts course because of not knowing what career to follow. Mum now thinks I should have been steered towards podiatry or chiropody because there's plenty of demand for such occupations now. I don't think I would have had the social skills to organise placements for myself though.
Your not interested in geology and science then? based on your test results?
I'd go with your interests if you think that's an interest you could sustain for long enough to graduate and get a job... but you do need to consider your strengths and weaknesses as well.
I'm a graphic designers, technically. But all the office politics and dealing with clients is too much for me, though its expected of traditional designers. I'm managing okay by going freelance and having my hubby deal with the people side for me.
Its easy to believe what others tell you that you should do, but you really need to figure out what you really love and do that. (Not that that's easy!)
Why did you originally choose geography? I know you've posted about it before, but I can't remember.
I chose geology because I would be outdoors a lot, which I like.
Tim
You have to listen to your heart Tim - what do you want to do - what interests you and what is likely to lead to a job that you will enjoy?
You have to listen to your heart Tim - what do you want to do - what interests you and what is likely to lead to a job that you will enjoy?
I did like the mapmaking job I had for 4 years. We use GIS and GPS in mapmaking now.
Architecture and landscape architecture sound somewhat interesting as well.
Tim
I have also looked into urban planning.
Tim
He says many professors use the first test just to blast as many students out of the class as possible.
That is what happened when I started in computer programming at college. Several students had to stand in the class because there were not enough chairs. The teacher said with a wry smile that things would thin out considerably the first week or two.
Sure enough, after a week many students transferred to easier majors. Snide remarks were made that those students who bailed had found out it a real class that would require hard work. The first week was seen as a time to sort out who was "serious".
I imagine it also had something to do with the time limit given on changing classes before losing the money.
I'm a graphic designers, technically. But all the office politics and dealing with clients is too much for me, though its expected of traditional designers. I'm managing okay by going freelance and having my hubby deal with the people side for me.
Same here. I didn't get the knowledge that I had asperger's till recently, but being that graphic design is so wrapped up in communication (from the verbal to visual) I found myself severly disadvantaged between workmates and clients, and spiraled and crashed from that job. It was sad and difficult. Thankfully I'm freelance too, but its probobly the only thing I can thrive at.
I plan to retake Chemistry in the spring.
Tim
Same here. I didn't get the knowledge that I had asperger's till recently, but being that graphic design is so wrapped up in communication (from the verbal to visual) I found myself severly disadvantaged between workmates and clients, and spiraled and crashed from that job. It was sad and difficult. Thankfully I'm freelance too, but its probobly the only thing I can thrive at.
Yippee! Someone that works like me! Yea, I had major problems in an office full of social girls and lots of underhanded workings. Yikes. I also kept focusing on small things and when told not to I would be too generalized. Pfff. And the whole talking to people in a professional way, I just barely manage in a no-pressure social situation. 
Congrats on the AS discovery, I found AS myself last February.
I have also looked into urban planning.
Tim
Also, extremely political. I tried something along a similar line and it didn't work out at all. I then bungled around for many years before finding myself exactly where I had started.
Only, this time the educational level that I sought was much higher. Where I had once only found boredom in an alien world I know find order and structure, as well as pleasure in the details of all that I now know.
I would recommend plotting a course toward licensure in a specific area such as law, engineering, finance, meteorology, etc.
If you get an undergraduate in the social sciences you will likely find yourself headed toward subjects such as law and finance should you continue to the graduate level. If you choose the hard sciences at the undergraduate level, you will likely be headed toward a career in in a science related field.
Incidentally, we were having a discussion about Galaxy Quest on another forum.
Tim