Thinking of going back to school, need advice about a major

[Sephiroth]

Yeah, I feel kind of weird asking a forum full of mostly strangers about this one. To be honest I never finished college; I was going to a two year community school right out of high school and was studying journalism, planning to get a two year degree then transfer to another school to mop up a four year. But somewhere along the way I got muddled down, lost motivation, and dropped out. After a long period of bouncing from one dead end job to the next I finally have landed a very solid gig at a cable company. But the cable industry is very much in a state of flux right now, with no one being very sure of where things are going-and the company I work for has been mentioned as a potential future victim of the increasing consolidation in the industry, with the likelihood being that one of our larger competitors or another mass media company might swallow us up. So I have decided to return to school part time and use what I have leftover from back then to help me mop up at least a two year, and maybe move on to a four year as a way of increasing my value within the company and industry overall so I will be better prepared if some big changes occur. As a first step I intend to change my old major from journalism to something a bit more applicable for the cable industry, and the communications/media industry as a whole. That is where I need some advice; what would be a good major to pursue? I've considered communications and web design, but those are rather broad fields and I am not sure how much they benefit me in the industry I am now working in. Anyone got any suggestions?

[Rican]

Depending on the school you choose you could do a concentration within the communication field that might be beneficial. I'd also do some research on what some people in your field or in your company who are at a level you want to get to studied and look at those options as well.

[nate5054]

Don't go to college. It's a giant waste of money. God knows I wouldn't go again if I had the choice over.

But if you're hell bent on going an engineering degree is about the only one worth it's salt. Finance if you'd prefer to focus in business is semi worth it's salt.

[Red Impact]

Dec 16, 2013 9:34:52 GMT -5 nate5054 said:

Don't go to college. It's a giant waste of money. God knows I wouldn't go again if I had the choice over.

But if you're hell bent on going an engineering degree is about the only one worth it's salt. Finance if you'd prefer to focus in business is semi worth it's salt.

I wouldn't go that far, there are plenty of degrees that are worth it. It's only a giant waste of money if you try to go into something that college isn't really required for.

Any medical related degrees are worth it.
Hard science degrees are worth it.
Finance-related degrees, like you said, are worth it.
Programming is worth it if you want a more concrete job and not just something on the side, since most major companies want to see that piece of paper.

There are plenty of degrees of other that are worth it, colleges have just become bogged with degrees which don't offer any real job prospects and aren't keen on telling their students that, and American society has started to look down on technical schools unfairly and convinced themselves that they need to be rolled into 4 year degrees.

As for the OP, you just need to ask yourself what jobs within the field are truly going to offer you the best future opportunities, and then determine of you need a degree and what degree would be better suited. You probably know your field better than anyone else, but from the sound of it, something like electrical engineering might be worth it.

[shaker]

I'll second electrical engineering - seems like it would assist you in your field AND let you branch out to a LOT of other high paying jobs if need be.

College is a mixed bag, you need to pick a good major and put a lot of work into it nowadays. Red listed most of the good majors, but keep in mind a lot of people end up with jobs that have very little to do with their original major. It's the skills they pick up that help.

A former co-worker of mine had a degree in history. Took a few classes on supply chain. Ended up in entry level customer service work after college because of those classes and eventually became a high-level manager.

[Sephiroth]

Worthwhile considerations, thanks. To elaborate a bit-I am a dispatcher for this cable company, not a technician. I route the jobs to the technicians as they come in and tell them where to go. I have ridden along with our tech's a couple of times and have asked to sit in on some of their training, but unfortunately have not been able to arrange such yet. I think for the position I am in programming is probably a better alternative because it suits the manner of work I do better.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Good idea about changing from journalism. I have a journalism degree (two in fact including one from an ivy league school) and it honestly only helps so much. Sure, it can make you stand out a little, but it's nowhere near as good as having rich parents. Than again I guess that's true with a lot of degrees haha.

I'd say if you really want a degree along the lines of communications and web design get a degree in information technologies. Sure, it may not be the funnest degree to work towards, but everyone I've known who has gotten one has never had trouble finding work, and well paying work at that. Plus, everyone needs a tech guy so it can get your foot in the door in a variety of industries.

[Welfare Willis]

Dec 16, 2013 9:16:25 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Yeah, I feel kind of weird asking a forum full of mostly strangers about this one. To be honest I never finished college; I was going to a two year community school right out of high school and was studying journalism, planning to get a two year degree then transfer to another school to mop up a four year. But somewhere along the way I got muddled down, lost motivation, and dropped out. After a long period of bouncing from one dead end job to the next I finally have landed a very solid gig at a cable company. But the cable industry is very much in a state of flux right now, with no one being very sure of where things are going-and the company I work for has been mentioned as a potential future victim of the increasing consolidation in the industry, with the likelihood being that one of our larger competitors or another mass media company might swallow us up. So I have decided to return to school part time and use what I have leftover from back then to help me mop up at least a two year, and maybe move on to a four year as a way of increasing my value within the company and industry overall so I will be better prepared if some big changes occur. As a first step I intend to change my old major from journalism to something a bit more applicable for the cable industry, and the communications/media industry as a whole. That is where I need some advice; what would be a good major to pursue? I've considered communications and web design, but those are rather broad fields and I am not sure how much they benefit me in the industry I am now working in. Anyone got any suggestions?

www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/19/5-ways-to-pick-the-right-college-major?page=2


First off, good for you deciding to go back. I'm going to school, at the age of 32, double majoring in Political Science and Economics. It's not because poli. sci. is thought of as the pre-law degree. I decided to major in those two because I love Political Science and Economics because I won't lie to you, I'm hedging my bets with the business world. I enjoy it because there's some symmetry between the two. After all, politics affects markets and markets affect politics. I'd say don't worry about the job market and go with your passion. Because in the long run you don't want to be in a major you hate or worse ten years down the road in a job you hate. The nice thing is most schools allow you to experiment with different classes outside your major so you can get a taste for what you may like. Just a couple tips I've learned:

1) Go to class - this seems simple, right? But the younger students don't get this.

2) Go to your professor's office hours and build a rapport with them- Another thing students don't get. They want to see students engaged with the material and you're showing a commitment by taking time out of your day to see them. Plus professors make the rules of the class and they're more likely to help you out in the long run. Show them you care about what you're learning.

3) Read the book! I actually had a fellow classmate who was flunking a class tell me he didn't like to read. Hello? Granted, textbooks are expensive and some professors draw from them more than others, but how do you take a course and not read the textbook? I set aside some time of the week to just read.

4) Don't give up. As someone like you dropped out of school before don't give up when times get rough. The fact of the matter is a college degree is a piece of paper, but it's an important piece of paper. It shows companies you're dedicated and you'll make more money in the long run.

If I can recommend a book to you, check out Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students by Carole Fungaroli. It's got helpful tips and inspirational stories to read about going back to school.

[Sephiroth]

Dec 16, 2013 11:31:46 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Good idea about changing from journalism. I have a journalism degree (two in fact including one from an ivy league school) and it honestly only helps so much. Sure, it can make you stand out a little, but it's nowhere near as good as having rich parents. Than again I guess that's true with a lot of degrees haha.

I'd say if you really want a degree along the lines of communications and web design get a degree in information technologies. Sure, it may not be the funnest degree to work towards, but everyone I've known who has gotten one has never had trouble finding work, and well paying work at that. Plus, everyone needs a tech guy so it can get your foot in the door in a variety of industries.

Also a worthwhile idea, thanks. The annoying part is going back to school will render totally unable to pursue any acting on the side.

[thegame415]

What are you passionate about? Go to school for that, and you'll make it work.

[Urethra Franklin]

Dec 16, 2013 11:31:46 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Good idea about changing from journalism. I have a journalism degree (two in fact including one from an ivy league school) and it honestly only helps so much. Sure, it can make you stand out a little, but it's nowhere near as good as having rich parents. Than again I guess that's true with a lot of degrees haha.

I'd say if you really want a degree along the lines of communications and web design get a degree in information technologies. Sure, it may not be the funnest degree to work towards, but everyone I've known who has gotten one has never had trouble finding work, and well paying work at that. Plus, everyone needs a tech guy so it can get your foot in the door in a variety of industries.

Speaking as a journalist, as well, I wholeheartedly concur with your assessment. The industry (and most others, I guess) is more about who you know than what you know.

To be completely honest, if you're even considering a liberal arts major, you're going to need to go to grad school and likely pursue a PhD after that in order to find decent-paying work and that will likely be in the field of academia and jobs are not exactly plentiful.

That being said, I think you should pursue what you love. I love sports and I love to write. I do that for a living now. I might not make nearly as much as my friends who are doctors and lawyers and in finance, but I'm far from poor and love what I do.

[Red Impact]

I was a journalist in a previous life. I got out of it when the paper I worked at began to collapse from under me. It was the paper of a medium sized metropolis, and was basically more money for better hours than any of my other options. I knew times would only get tougher from there, so I decided to go back to school for an industry that was a little better off. Some people can make it work, but I wouldn't really recommend the field right now.

As for college, network network network. Like Urethra said, who you know is more important than what you know, and getting connections can do far more for your career than graduating with a good major. If your heart is set on programming, it's a good one to have, just make sure you take every opportunity to meet with the business community that you can. Getting your foot in the door in the hardest part.

[Sephiroth]

Dec 19, 2013 3:59:14 GMT -5 thegame415 said:

What are you passionate about? Go to school for that, and you'll make it work.

There is a major for Kaitlyn's thighs?