Choosing a Career Path in College

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One of the most difficult decisions I made is choosing what course to take in College. I asked my highschool teachers, I asked my parents and I asked my friends but they all have the same answer - whatever you want. It's a basic answer to a question that only you can answer. Choosing a career path is a great personal decision that you don't want to pass on to others because you will be the one who will bear the weight of your decision in the years to come. It can either motivate or break you in dire times that you are facing difficulties in studies. So before you jump on the bandwagon, make sure that you know what you are putting yourself into. 

The trick in making college major choice is narrow things down as you go along. When choosing a college you should consider the following:

Assess yourself

What are your interests?

What are the things that you really enjoy doing, something that you will not mind doing in 4 years? What are the subjects and topics in high school that catches your attention? It is fundamental for you to know what motivates you to read on a topic and excites you every time you discusses that topic. This may give you a clue on what field or what general area you would like to be in. If you are interested in numbers and analysis, then you may be inclined to be in engineering or accountancy fields. I'm not saying that these are your final choices but it may give you a general idea on where to start. After you settle with that, then narrow it down to specific courses.

Consider your abilities

It is good to assess what you can do. What are the subjects that I am good in and have really high grades? You will most likely succeed in a field that you are good in. What are your strong points as well as your weak ones? It is necessary for you to check this as it will show you the areas in which you might encounter problems in the future or where you will find success. It's one thing for you to be interested in something but once you get into that, you really don't excel or you have nearly passing grades then it's worth looking in to. Try to widen your scope and consider all the possibilities and all scenarios. If I am interested in the Table of Elements but my grades in Chemistry is below average then I think I should have a second thought or I should think it over.

Look forward for a Career

If you are eyeing on a certain career, know more about it. What are the chances that you will succeed in this course? Will I have a good job after I graduate? Will I enjoy being called a Engineer, or an Attorney or a Biologist? It will be good to do some research about it. Check out some forums in which people vent out their experiences. Ask some people who are already there. If some people in your community practicing what you are eyeing, then take some time to have an appointment and ask your minds out. Ask them of their difficulties, their successes, what makes them happy doing their job or what are the pros and cons of the field. All the while, assess if these responses and experiences meet your expectation of the course and job.

Know the Essentials

It is good to know what you want but it's another thing to coincide reality from plans and aspirations. Consider your family's finances. This may be a skirmish but it is vital in pursuing a career. For example, a course in Nursing  doesn't come cheap. There are many things to buy, many fees to pay and many resources to spend. So it's good to know if your family can support you on what you want to pursue. It's one thing to have the books to read in school while also having the necessary foods to eat than having the books to read but your stomach is grumbling for nourishment because you spent your money buying the book.

Of course this is not the end of it, if your family cannot support you and you really want to pursue the course, then find other options. Scholarships and grants are available with the proper grades and qualifications. Search out some opportunities for studies. Some universities offer free ranging scholarships from free tuition only to free overall expenses and some scholarships even offer allowances. So it's not really a hindrance but more of an obstacle on your course. Are you willing to go through a difficult path or you would go to a course where your family can give you the necessary support you will need like school expenses, allowances and buying of materials and books. There are also people who exchange work for free study. But of course this will take additional toll on you. 

Some people think only of the future: they think that having a lucrative career in the future will be the way to get them out of poverty. Nevermind that they will be buried in debt while getting there.This is one sticking point.

Overall, it is necessary to weigh all your options. Consider everything. Don't leave a stone unturned. Assess what you feel, weigh your choices and once you get a lock on it pursue it like your life depends on it.