Thanks for the replys guys, I appreciate it.
Also, an economics degree and a masters in finance opens up a lot of avenues.
stockbrokers, Think Tanks, Federal Reserve, Govt Policy depts, Budget committee’s, restructuring and bankruptcy consultation, teaching.
I’ve looked into this a lot since I myself am a 3rd year business undergrad with a finance concentration and an economics minor.
I’m a senior in high school. I like History a lot and im going to a two year college (cheap) then state (free if you maintain a 3.0 in community college) then going on for masters probably.
I like to do a lot of abstract kind of things compared to normal thinking.Study the physical abilities of Roman soldiers for example.Research living conditions,diet,armor ect.My military history teacher gets a bit frustrated because I outgun him most of the time haha but hes excited about what im planning.
[quote]Westclock wrote:
zephead4747 wrote:
I’m at a crossroad in life. I’m a junior in highschool, and taking the ACT soon. I want to, and am capable of going to college. I just have no idea what I want to do though. My only passions other then lifting are history, and econ. Between lifting, history, politics, writing and econ I don’t see myself making much money to justify going to college for any of those things. I focus most of my papers (when I have a choice) on social issues, taxation, and various government activities. I have no idea what I want out of life, and because of that I’m considering 4 years in the corps for time to make up my mind.
and hell, I want to see the world.
Anyone got any stories to share, or advice to give?
Become a business major.
The classes are easy, and your GPA will be high enough to switch into anything else you decide you might want to try.
Business degrees are a jack of all trades, if your not sure what to major in, major in business.[/quote]
I would say the exact opposite. If you go to a good to great college, your major is pretty meaningless. Do well enough in schools/extracurrics/SATs/ACTs to go somewhere good, and then study something you’ll actually enjoy (history). There are way too many people going to college who have no interest in or use for a liberal arts education. Don’t be one of those.
As for the Corps, if you go that route, good luck to you. Only thing I’d caution is it might change your perspective in serious ways, and you might find readjusting to college tough. I had a buddy in that position, he was in the 10th Mountain Division, served in Afghanistan, came back to college, left after a few months. Maybe not the worst idea to get the fun frivolous stuff out of your system in your late teens and early twenties and enjoy college.
Go to college. Enroll in a major that appeals to you, but dabble in other subjects (anything that sounds appealing).
One great teacher in a subject you know nothing about could change your whole outlook and send you down a whole new path.
Just start somewhere and refine your process along the way… work jobs, take classes, consider careers, figure out what you want
“You are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life and your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live.”
-George Bernard Shaw
I was in a similar situation before I graduated HS(2007). I have buddies who enlisted in the Marines and I thought seriously about it, but decided to wait and get my degree first. I’m going to community college and transferring next fall to a school in the University of California system. I still plan on joining the military after I obtain my BA.
Alternatively, you could join the military and get your degree after a stint on the government’s dime(GI Bill).
[quote]cr1404 wrote:
AshyLarry wrote:
There is a lot good advice in this thread. But I am going to advise against blindly choosing “what you love”. In hindsight, I was a stupid fool for choosing “what I love”.
The reason is simple, you may be doing it for the next 40 years. And what you value in 10-15 years will be different than what you value today.
There is nothing like reaching the age of 35 and going…damn I have to spend 30 more years in this office…doing this. Ugh.
Yeah same for marriage too that sucks.
The best advice I ever got came from probably the most successful person I’ve ever been associated with. I was around 30 at the time and my second graduate degree when I said to a prof / business partner, “I still don’t know what I want to do with my life.” His reply, “Don’t ever decide.” While that probably sounds a bit hokey the point is that we live in a very dynamic world and things are changing more rapidly every day. The odds are very good that you’ll change careers serval times so you should concentrate on opening as many doors as possible early on. Find ways to become aware of the opportunities around you and pursue those you find interesting.
I wouldn’t get too wrapped up in the pursuit of a large paycheck. If you want to accumulate any real wealth you’ll need to be running your own business, not working as an employee of someone else’s. Choose something you love and pursue it to the best of your ability, if you really love it the money won’t matter. And if you pursue something you’re less than excited about based on the potential for a large paycheck you’ll never be happy.
The best advice I can give you is to not listen to anyone here and pick a path that you can see yourself enjoying in the long term.
I can’t count the amount of would-be Architects who dropped out as soon as they realized it’s not the “glamorous” job that it’s made out to be. The same goes for the medical students and law dropouts.
Never let anyone decide for you mate, this is YOUR future and only YOU know what will actually make you happy. If you want to pick a path, nobody has the right stop you.
I would say the exact opposite. If you go to a good to great college, your major is pretty meaningless. Do well enough in schools/extracurrics/SATs/ACTs to go somewhere good, and then study something you’ll actually enjoy (history). There are way too many people going to college who have no interest in or use for a liberal arts education. Don’t be one of those.
[/quote]
I see the exact opposite at my school happening much more commonly. A lot of kids go into history, political science, sociology, or some such field because people just tell them to “do what you love”. Then at graduation they complain that no one ever told them that jobs are scarce in those fields or that they don’t give you a lot of options.
The rules are definitely different though if you make it into a REALLY good school or are top of your class. Then you will probably be able to find a job since you can distinguish yourself from the rest of the liberal arts majors. Even so, one of my good friends has a liberal arts major and one of the more impressive resumes i’ve seen and she spent many many months bartending before finding a better job.
[quote]abcd1234 wrote:
I was in a similar situation before I graduated HS(2007). I have buddies who enlisted in the Marines and I thought seriously about it, but decided to wait and get my degree first. I’m going to community college and transferring next fall to a school in the University of California system. I still plan on joining the military after I obtain my BA.
Alternatively, you could join the military and get your degree after a stint on the government’s dime(GI Bill). [/quote]
Why does everyone want to join the marines?
i went to school and got my degree in mechanical engineering and i haven’t used more then regular mathematics since graduating.
its’ pissing me off. i feel like what i learned in class was a waste of my time. sure i had some great experiences and ended up with the girl i’m with b/c i went to school…but still.
if you can afford to take some time off, do it. i wish to hell that i did. travel…just get the hell out of where you are now. see if you can get little jobs along the way to keep food in your belly and a gym membership (natch) and you’ll be fine.
[quote]1porsche wrote:
abcd1234 wrote:
I was in a similar situation before I graduated HS(2007). I have buddies who enlisted in the Marines and I thought seriously about it, but decided to wait and get my degree first. I’m going to community college and transferring next fall to a school in the University of California system. I still plan on joining the military after I obtain my BA.
Alternatively, you could join the military and get your degree after a stint on the government’s dime(GI Bill).
Why does everyone want to join the marines? [/quote]
dey the best?
If you are going military, man—you should really dwell on this before you make an commitment. A “why” list should suffice. If you are intrinsically motivated–the Corps should be for you.
I recommend school first. If for nothing else, to allow time to gain the emotional maturity and intelligence necessary to excel in this organization.
[quote]1porsche wrote:
abcd1234 wrote:
I was in a similar situation before I graduated HS(2007). I have buddies who enlisted in the Marines and I thought seriously about it, but decided to wait and get my degree first. I’m going to community college and transferring next fall to a school in the University of California system. I still plan on joining the military after I obtain my BA.
Alternatively, you could join the military and get your degree after a stint on the government’s dime(GI Bill).
Why does everyone want to join the marines? [/quote]
I’ve actually been leaning Army lately. Still have a couple years to decide.
Just fuckin’ eat it by the spoonful.