What should I do with my life? (career suggestions?)

[Michiyo-Fir]

First, a little about me.

When I was in elementary school I wanted to be a vet up until the middle of high school. Parents said no, not allowed we'll kick you out.

In the last 2 yrs of high school I mainly did science courses, I was good at bio, not good at chem or physics. Oh I suck at math.

First year of college, in the first term I did science because parents told me to. Hated it so much I never went to class and ended up with a 51% average for the term and was almost put on probation. 2nd term I decided I liked Arts better and switched to arts. Started doing art history, ended up with 75% average.

2nd of college, I'm still doing art history and decided to do a major in it mainly because I don't know what else to do. Started looking into international relations, might do a double major in that but right now I can't seem to get in with my average especially since the first term in science totally screwed my average up. Our international relations program accepts only 125 ppl each year and the cut of average for all college level grades is 78-79% average. Might end up doing a minor in IR although a minor is pretty useless.

Working part time for a while now. First worked in Best Buy, sold cameras. Hated the atmosphere there, quit and switched to Black's Photography. Right now I basically sell cameras, give basic camera lessons, sell phones, do photofinishing stuff.

Currently I have absolutely no idea what to do after college...art history doesn't have many opportunities in Vancouver. I should probably relocate. Half my relatives live in London, so I could move there and work in Christie's or Sotheby's art auction but it's a pretty dull job I think and not very well paid.

I kind of want to work as a college prof but that would mean I need a MA and a PhD. Also I'm not all that keen on the research aspect of it.

I have no real interests or anything I aspire to be, that's the problem. I don't really want to do anything. Or at least I can't seem to think of anything I want to do/become.


If you managed to read through all of that you get a cookie. Now does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do/try or anything? I'm really stuck. I've been racking my brains for something I like for a few years now and nothing.

 

[Beanie]

Dunno but I'm in the same boat, really. There's stuff I've done/do that I love, but none of it gets me all super excited in the "this is what I want to do with my life!!!" kind of way. So you're not alone. X_X

 

[Laurelin]

Lol yep. Know the feeling. Right now I'm going for teachers certification. I really think I'd enjoy teaching and it's something I can see myself doing.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Lol yep. Know the feeling. Right now I'm going for teachers certification. I really think I'd enjoy teaching and it's something I can see myself doing.

Are you planning to teach high school? I don't think I can take teaching elementary school or even high school because there's not art history in high school and I really don't want to teach just history. Gah I have no idea what to do! I don't want to get out of college to be jobless *sob*

 

[CaliTerp07]

Have you gone to your school's career center? I'm almost certain that they'll have some sort of aptitude test you can take to point you towards careers you might enjoy or be good at.

I am someone who is firmly of the belief that a job is not meant to be "OMG EXCITING!" Jobs pay the bills. The purpose of college is to get you a piece of paper that enables you to make enough money to comfortably support yourself. I would probably pair an art history degree with something else that is more readily employable--business, economics, etc.

Another idea is to talk to your department. Somewhere, they probably keep record of what kind of jobs alumni are holding. It might give you an idea of where to look.

I only know two art history majors--one went to law school, and the other works at a children's center.

 

[Locke]

I went to see a career counsellor at my school last year, and it really helped give me some good ideas that were not just based on my interests, but also based on my strengths and skills.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Have you gone to your school's career center? I'm almost certain that they'll have some sort of aptitude test you can take to point you towards careers you might enjoy or be good at.

I have been to my career center, imo, they were pretty useless. They basically looked at my major and gave me a list of the things that I could be with this major as well as explained to me what each was.

 

[Renee750il]

The most important thing -- I believe -- to do while you're in college is to educate yourself -- not train for a certain job unless you're headed for something concrete like engineering, medicine, etc.

There are things out there that involve working with museums, galleries, collections . . . Jucos are more and more prevalent, as are private prep schools where art history is taught and the requirements aren't as grueling as those of professorship.

My sister got a double major in Art History/English from Oberlin and the one job she had that she really loved was right out of college, working in a smallish museum of arts and crafts in San Francisco before she decided she wasn't going to make the money she wanted or climb the social ladder there and got into law.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I could have written this post myself. I have been in community college for 3 years now but still no associates degree yet. I'm ALMOST there. I'm just majoring in business simply because. I figured it was versatile enough and I couldn't decide on anything else. I find business classes really boring. I love psychology and do well in the classes, however I really have no desire to go onto to grad school, and otherwise I've heard psych degrees suck. Soooo... I'm just going with the whole business thing.

I've always toyed with the idea of getting an associates degree in something in the medical field, but I'm terrible at math and so-so at science so, not sure how great that would work out. But everyone always tells me the opportunities are great, such as radiation therapy, etc. And our school is one of the top rated community colleges and offers really good programs. So it's still in the back of my mind, but then it'd be me having to do basically a whole 'nother 2yrs at the community college since half the credits I've taken wouldn't go towards a medical thing.

Basically, UGH. I feel like you. Nothing has EVER popped out at me and been like, "THAT'S what I want to do!" Dog training is a passion of mine and I'd really love to pursue it but I know but I realize the opportunities may not be so great, hence why I want the bachelors degree to have.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Yeah a lot of people I know have psyc degrees and they haven't proven to be of much use. Most went to grad school or just started working somewhere not really related to psyc but required a bachelors degree.

I'm going to a giant college right now, UBC, and there are so many programs and courses I don't even know what else to try. I think last year UBC has 55000ish students.....

I so wish I was one of those people that had a goal in mind to motivate me and know exactly what I want to do

 

[CaliTerp07]

Jackson's Mom, have you thought about doing corporate training? I worked with a lot of psych majors who were involved in designing the courses and job aids and training materials (as well as defining the roles and tasks assigned with different positions within a company). The people in these positions were a good mix of psych and business majors, so that could be a good overlap. I know at my former company, they were known as "Human Performance" or "Knowledge, Transfer, and Training" positions.

 

[CaliTerp07]

I have been to my career center, imo, they were pretty useless. They basically looked at my major and gave me a list of the things that I could be with this major as well as explained to me what each was.

If your school is useless, there are private counselors who will give you the test and help you analyze the results--for a fee, of course. But if it gives you direction, it may be worth it.

In a school as large as yours, there are probably job fairs on campus, right? Especially in the spring, there should be employers all over the school doing recruiting events. Go to one of the job fairs and find out what companies or organizations are hiring art history majors. Or see if any of the companies or job descriptions are of interest to you. It might help you narrow your focus.

 

[GlassOnion]

When I was in elementary school I wanted to be a vet up until the middle of high school. Parents said no, not allowed we'll kick you out.

Wait, what? Why? Take all the pre-reqs for vet school under guise of a biology degree or something. Technically it doesn't even matter the degree, but a biology one (to teach HS bio? I dunno, make up an excuse) makes the classes not stand out if they demand to see your schedule. Also it only takes two years to knock out all the pre-reqs, so you could start pretty much whenever.

Then apply (they don't have to know) and if you get in, you don't *need* their support any more. You're guaranteed loans up to cost of attendance, which includes tuition, books, living expenses, yada yada. It even has a 'Miscellaneous' category which I"m pretty sure is legal speak for 'beer money'.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

I know of a private career counsellor who is outstanding. She is expensive, but really worth a session or two, imo. She is based in West Van but I believe she can also drive out if you are willing to pay a little extra,

If you can get your parents to pay, she would probably be helpful

 

[corgipower]

I kind of want to work as a college prof but that would mean I need a MA and a PhD.

Right now I'm going for teachers certification. I really think I'd enjoy teaching and it's something I can see myself doing.

I still believe you two were separated at birth...

 

[lyria]

Do something you love, and something flexible. Don't be a lawyer. Seriously. Not just for the long hours and stressful work life, but also because if you ever wanted to move across the country, or just to the next state, you would have to retake the bar exam (which is no mean feat). Do something you enjoy but which leaves room for life outside of work.

 

[Zoom]

You could always do I what I did: went to college for the experience (and degree to a point), then got out, spent two years doing the J.O.B. thing and then went into business for myself, starting first with Passion Parties and now I've added my pet photography to that.

BTW, I graduated with a BS in English.

 

[Crazy Dog]

Well, it's a fancy seeing you on this forum! That's awesome! LOL! I love little Nia!

Sorry..... back on topic. Since you like art and you are going for an Art History degree, how about you try something like a Media Arts degree. A good friend of mine is going for this degree along with a separate photography degree. The media arts encompass digital animation, digital photography, video, film and computer graphics. You can get jobs like Graphic designer, Web designer, Photographer, Illustrator, Multimedia designer, Advertiser, Marketing and the list goes on. I wish I would of went for this degree when I was in college, as this is everything I enjoy doing! Instead, I went for a business degree which I don't even use. Don't even know if it is something that may interest you but it's just a thought. Hope this helps! Good Luck!

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Thanks for the suggestion Crazy Dog! I haven't seen you on either forum for quite a while. We miss pics of Lula!

Our college, UBC doesn't offer a media arts degree or even photography because we have separate colleges for that I believe. We only have an Art History or Visual Arts degree

I had wanted to do Art history and visual arts at one point but the visual arts courses were all full since I only wanted to register in 2nd year and there's very limited spaces for 2nd years.

 

[Crazy Dog]

Well, that sucks! Maybe you can get into the visual art courses next semester or in the 3rd year?