The Future, Filled with Questions

Postby oZombiex5 » Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:20 am

As the title suggests I am having trouble planning my future. I am currently 17 and in my last year of school. So obviously that means I need to plan for my future. The problem with that though is I am not sure of what I want to do.

I've applied for four courses at University which are Business Management, International Business, Business and Psychology and Computing Science. I used to be interested in Computing but not any more so is more of a back up option. I do enjoy Business in fact it is the only subject at school I enjoy. I still absolutely hate school though and am completely fed up with it but I am unsure of what to do. I enjoy business but I don't know what I would get out of a degree in it. The only thing I can really see myself doing and enjoying is Music.

I have picked it up quite late though as I started playing guitar start of last year and have been hooked ever since. I play whenever I get a chance and have probably got bad grades because I play away when I should be revising and I am trying to get a band together which is proving difficult. Anyway I have looked at collage courses and if I studied it it would need to be at a very low level since I have not taking it at school. Does anyone have experience with a music course and know what sort of job I could get and whether it would actually be worth taking. The only thing I can properly see myself doing as I said before is something to do with music probably being in a band but obviously a music degree won't get you into a band.

Re: The Future, Filled with Questions

Postby drawscore » Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:42 pm

The same advice I gave Solidsnickerdoodle, cut and pasted for you here, with a few additions:

First, there are courses that are required for all degrees, such as, what is lovingly referred to, as "Freshman Comp," otherwise known as Composition 101, or Creative Writing 101. It's a bear. Take it, and get it out of the way. For that matter, take all the courses that are required. You can decide what you want to do later, and you'll have all the required courses out of the way, so you can concentrate on courses that pertain to what you want to do,

An alternative, is to take the CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests. CLEP is available in the US. Outside the US, I have no clue. If they are available to you, your high school guidance counselor should be able to tell you where you can take them, and how much they will cost.

One thing is certain, and that is that it will cost a lot less to take the first five CLEP tests, both in money, and in time, than to sit through those 15 credit hours in a classroom. Pass all five of the tests, and you will have earned 15 credit hours in a week, instead of three months. And most US colleges and universities will accept CLEP credits. (15 credit hours is 25% of an Associates degree. and 12.5% of a bachelors degree.

Trade school is another option. I saw a cartoon once, where two students were talking. One said he was going to trade school to learn welding, with a starting salary of $50k a year. The other, embarking on a four year college degree, would come out with a starting salary of $25k a year, and yet, was calling the applicant to trade school, a "loser." "White collar" jobs do not always indicate a big paycheck.

Of course, you will be happier doing something you want to do, or like doing. That should go without saying.

Another consideration might be (US) military service. Some people shudder at this idea, since the primary purpose of the military is "to kill people and break things." But there is more to it than that. The military needs paralegals, paramedics, journalists, broadcasters, clerks, cooks, mechanics, drivers, and a whole flock or other jobs besides the combat arms. If you write for the school newspaper, you can get a 12 week "crash course" in military journalism. Well, it was a thought. And the CLEP tests are available for free at the base/post education center. And, of course, there are veterans benefits from the VA after you leave active service. Many courses taught in military training schools, are good for college credits, too.

Drawscore

Re: The Future, Filled with Questions

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun Jan 24, 2016 6:37 am

A lot depends on what is more important to you... being in a band or making a decent living. Though it's possible to do both, the odds are not very good. Its the same with sports; for every professional player in a sport (football, baseball, basketball, whatever), there are a hundred others who tried but couldn't make the cut. I personally can tell you that this is also true for would-be writers, of which i was one. Maybe 10% of all professional writers make a decent living at it, and fewer than 10% of those make better money doing it than they could have made doing something else.
If you're willing to be what has been known as a 'starving artist' or have resources you can count on indefinitely even without a job, then go for it. If not, you may want to concentrate on a job first and work on the band in your free time. Just realize that you likely will not make a lo of money at it.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: The Future, Filled with Questions

Postby Jay Feely » Sun Jan 24, 2016 6:56 am

I did not know what I wanted to do until after my 1st semester of college when I was drawn into criminal justice. It may not work first time, but you'll figure it out.
You will have to subdue me to restrain me. I been a bad boy so make sure you torture me too with anything but pain.