I actually posted this in the green room and haven't received any responses yet... and I just joined the blue room, BUT Does anyone have experience in these fields or have any advice? So far I've changed my major three times... to three very different things: 1. Music Business- my original major. I chose this because I was interested in songwriting and marketing myself. However, Music Business majors have just as much of a chance in the industry without a degree... and I felt that the egocentric attitudes of everyone else made me lose sight of the reason I fell in love with music in the first place (Basically, their music > my music, which is the attitude they gave me, making me feel like I wasn't unique) 2. Accounting- I decided to switch for a couple of reason. I was already taking the general requirements for a B.B.A., and accountants make a substantial amount of money starting off. Whereas, with a music business degree I might have made 30K a year starting off. Business has never been an interest of mine; actually, the mere thought of it makes me cringe. I suppose that business is just the direction I've been pushed towards. So... I had an "epiphany" moment today. Maybe I'm just watching too many House episodes or something, but something hit me. I decided I wanted to study medicine (or do something in that field). I would rather be helping people than sitting at a desk crunching numbers and putting money in the bank. Because, if I have to be trapped at a job for 40+ hours a week, it might as well be something I enjoy doing, right? 3. Psychology w/ emphasis in Pre-Med- I've always said that I wanted to help people, and I've always been interested in psychology. So, even if I don't end up going to medical school, at least I'll have a degree in something I enjoy doing. I want to do something meaningful with my life, and I don't feel like business is that for me. Music is somewhat meaningful, but it is sort of a self-indulgence for me... Becoming a doctor is unheard of in my family... it would be like starting over for me and taking myself outside of my comfort zone, but in a good way. Again, any advice would be sincerely appreciated!!!
And now that I've moved the thread . . . Music is a horrid, horrid field to break into. Of course, the rewards for being successful in it - even in the business side of it as opposed to the performance side - can be enormous. I'd keep my options open here, just not make it my primary emphasis. Accounting - there is money, money, and more money to be made here, assuming that's what you're after. There will always be a job market for accountants, and the better at it you are, the higher up the corporate ladder you can go. An excellent career field while you devote free time to music (if you're so inclined). Psychology - this depends on what sort of thing you get into. You can wind up seeing the most soul-crushing aspects of the human condition, or you can find the infinite rewards of helping those in need. Personally, I think anyone working in this field needs to be made of very stern stuff. It's an endlessly fascinating field, tho. Maybe not as upwardly-mobile as accounting, but it should certainly keep your brain engaged.
should consider nursing that way if you go to med shcool you understand what it is like to be a nurse.
Thought about it... but according to TKO, nursing never transfers to becoming a doctor... So, I'm unsure about that.
I can't believe this but I'm actually agreeing with babe. This way, you'd understand what the nurses go through.
Not in the least bit. Nursing majors are completely different from Pre-med "majors." Nurses take classes related to first aid, patient care, and hospital stuff like IV bags and giving people shots, setting bones and changing out bandages. They're in and out in four years. Pre-med people take science, science, and more science, and don't see a patient unless they volunteer at a hospital, in which case they'd be like any other volunteer and wouldn't get any special privileges because of their major. The first time they get to actually treat a patient is after med school graduation, IIRC, which only happens after 4 years of college and 4 years at med school. And then they take a residency. I looked up psychology because I did consider it for a bit. It's not a job where you have different "rungs." You start out making next-to-nothing, have to have at least a Masters, but you do eventually get to make about $70,000 - $100,000 a year through private practice. It's just based on experience, I guess, because people will trust older psychologists more.
These days, every degree is useless for getting into that field without at least a Master's. I say study what's interesting to you while you're in school; for a lot of entry-level jobs for recent college grads they're mostly looking for someone who is generally trainable and dependable and they'll teach you what they need you to know. So you might as well study something cool, and as far as interesting topics (and developing an eye for scientific bullshit - good for the field of medicine) you can't do much better than psychology.
Hey I'm currently in graduate school for counseling psych and work in a Psych hospital as a counselor so here are some tips: Note number one: You WILL have to go to graduate school if you want to be any of the following: counselor ( any kind individual therapy, school, etc.) psychologist medical doctor social worker The difference is time some take 2 years post grad, others 4 plus 2. Seriously consider your own emotional state and personality. Can you deal with other people's shit all day? 3. Prepare yourself for a huge financial commitment and poverty into your mid 30's. Also are you at Belmont?
Clinical or experimental psych? I only ask because people automatically assume that you want to be a psychiatrist, when in fact you may be interested in way more useful aspects of the science.
I think most undergrad psych programs have you do some sort of research, so you'll know by the time you graduate if you want research or not.
Also, internship can help you start getting connections. That said, charity work is another way of doing something meaningful with your life, regardless of major.
