Are you working in the field of your college degree?

[ua_guy]

Yes. Business Administration and Psychology. I function in a dual role now as a business and systems analyst within the healthcare industry. Is it what I want to do when I grow up? I'm not sure.

I'm jealous of a friend of mine that's changing course at age 30. He's a middle school teacher. This last year he and his wife moved to Florida so he could attend dental school. Strangely, that's a profession I think I could be good at and have interest in, although I feel like going back to school is impossible. I've invested so much in my current life that I don't think it's something I could just leave behind.

[feh]

Yes: BS Math (CS minor), working as software developer.

[jIM_Ohio]

My undergrad (and only) degree is in Mechanical Engineering. I currently work in the field and own small businesses which are well outside the field.

I think the most important skills to recognize coming out of high school are what makes a person happy...

for example- is being around people a happiness, or a challenge?
is working as a group satisfying, or is depending on other people a challenge?
is a rigid 8 to 6 schedule OK, or is a flexible schedule needed?
is working weekends OK, is being on call OK, or is free time highly valued?

Is a certain location (close to skiing or hobbies) important, or is being close to family and friends important?


For example if someone is interested in being a doctor, but does not like giving up weekends or being on call, then they need to realize what makes them happy, and shift to something like Physical Therapy or a doctor specialty which is not on call.

If someone does not like being around people, or working on a team and depending on team members, then a position where they can do the whole project (like repairing cars, remodeling houses, programming computers) might be more to their liking.

Too often the school system focuses on aptitude when it should focus on attitude. Passion can get you quite far if you harness it correctly.

[LuckyRobin]

Mine is in accounting and I hated working in that field. Absolutely hated it. It was a bad match even though I like numbers, but I took it because it was practical and employable, not because it was what I wanted (parental pressure). I had more fun and got more enjoyment out of being a cook/manager and running the kitchen of a restaurant. But I don't do either of those things now.

[Diavel_guy]

My degree is in marketing and technically that is my job. But I'm in marketing for a medical device company, which is far from the P&G type consumer marketing I learned. I have to keep up on my field, help spec out medical devices and lead teams that make them, and a host of other things that are not really marketing per se. I do downstream marketing as well, but its a far cry from what I learned in college.

So, technically yes. But in reality I do a job that I consider far more fascinating than marketing consumer products (not that there is anything less difficult or fun about those jobs, just not up my alley).

[bjl584]

No. My undergrad is in environmental science. My MBA is in business management.

I currently work in supply chain management, so I sort of use my MBA but definitely not the undergrad.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No I don't work. And if I did I don't want to go back into being a scientist. BS - Microbiology, phd - molecular biology.

[moneybags]

BS-Accounting, working as an accountant.

My DD is a sophomore in college. The college application process is stressful. She was (still is) undecided on a major. Most of her friends picked their majors while still in high school. This freaked her out. I told her that many of them will change their minds. DD is most likely going on for a masters or phd in something, so I am not overly concerned about her undergrad degree, but I am a big fan of STEM degrees .

There are some schools that don't make it easy to come in undecided. If you want to study engineering at our top state school, you have to be admitted into the program as an incoming freshman based on your specific engineering degree choice. There is a process to get in later, but it is not easy. I've heard the same about many nursing programs.

Have your daughter use the career center/office when she gets to college. Most colleges have them, they will do testing to see what skills/interests you have and suggest careers based on that info.

[Thrif-t]

BS in Marketing work as Credit Analyst. Its still a business field. Never was able to get a marketing job and got in a large company as in their credit department. That's where all my experience is so the only jobs I could ever get. It worked out ok, I like what I do.

[skruggie]

Well, I work in digital media and the field did not exist when I was in college...so no

[J.Apple902]

great post. engineer, working as an engineer. I think the chances or working in your field are much higher in math/science/engineering.

[bigdaddybus]

BS in IT, minor in business administration. Working in data center management for the largest insurance company in the US.

[Fizgig]

B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 12 years later I still love being an aerospace engineer. So yep, I use it.

[dczech09]

B.S. in Finance
Working as an auditor for an insurance company
So yes, in my major

[greenskeeper]

16 years working in my field of study.

last 2 years working outside of my field of study

compensation has increased by 70% with the job change

however, without the degree I would not have been qualified for my new career