Advice Wanted

[camisadelgolf]

After I graduated high school back in 2001, I started studying accounting. Accounting was a logical choice for me because I pay attention to detail, enjoy numbers, and hey, every company needs an accountant, right? However, within a couple years of college, I realized that accounting wasn't something I wanted to do professionally. Although I'm good with details, my attention span is just a bit too short for me to maintain interest in something that can be so tedious.

After some years of traveling and doing a lot of soul searching, I've decided that I want to return to college and study something else. The problem is, I don't know what I want to study. That's where the advice request comes in.

Like I said, I'm good with numbers, but I just don't want to do anything that involves math. It's more like a hobby for me. I want to avoid science, too, despite how interesting I find it. I thought about history, but I just don't think I have enough passion for it to make it a big part of my life. As for physical labor, I'm 150 lbs., and it's just not my thing.

I also want to avoid philosophy/religion (I have some interest but not enough), health care, engineering, law, management, sales (although I made a killing when I used to do it), business, mechanics, computers (again, I have some interest but not enough), and many of the other, typical options.

Anyway, I'm hoping to do something involving creativity. I always sucked at drawing, painting, etc., and I'm not interested in that anyway unless I could do something similar to http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/ .

Here's what does interest me. I like other cultures. I worry that any culture could get boring after I spend a lot of time with it, though, so I don't want to specialize in any one culture like Russian Studies, for example.

I like languages a lot. I'm not sure why, but I just do. I studies Spanish in high school and really enjoyed it, and I enjoyed speaking Spanish with Mexican cooks that I used to work with. I've been studying German for almost a year, and everyone compliments me on how well I speak. "That's the best I've ever heard from an American!" is pretty faint praise, though. I've also had compliments on my French, even though I've never studied it in a school.

I like writing a lot, too, which is odd because I hated it more than anything when I was younger. I could see myself doing it on a regular basis, but I'm not a big fan of reading, so I don't see myself ever getting any sort of writing degree.

I love music. I'm decent when it comes to playing instruments, but I'm not good enough at any instrument to carry me through anything. I do consider myself to be a pretty good song writer, but I might be better off if that stays as a hobby. As for music engineering or something like that, I could do it and be satisfied because I would always be around music, but working in a studio isn't a passion of mine.

I also enjoy cooking. I have almost no experience with it even though my family has a long history with it. I guess I didn't get the gene or whatever, but I'd be interested in learning more about it.

Finally, I enjoy acting (but I don't have enough energy to be good), comedy (but I just don't like doing standup because I hate people expecting me to be funny all the time), and broadcasting (I have some experience with it and have done very well, but the available opportunities are so slim, and I'm neither clean-cut nor distinguished).

Anyway, I was just wondering if someone could give any general advice. In other words, is there a field that I'm not considering that I should? If I'm interested in doing something that I mentioned, where would be a good place to start? Please keep in mind that I have pretty much the world's worst grades and would have difficulty being accepted into just about any school.

[pahster]

You might be interested in anthropology.

[WMR]

John Fay needs an editor. Desperately.

[freestyle55]

what about Political Science? Lots of opportunities to learn about other cultures, languages, lots of options to go from there...

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by camisadelgolf

After I graduated high school back in 2001, I started studying accounting. Accounting was a logical choice for me because I pay attention to detail, enjoy numbers, and hey, every company needs an accountant, right? However, within a couple years of college, I realized that accounting wasn't something I wanted to do professionally. Although I'm good with details, my attention span is just a bit too short for me to maintain interest in something that can be so tedious.

After some years of traveling and doing a lot of soul searching, I've decided that I want to return to college and study something else. The problem is, I don't know what I want to study. That's where the advice request comes in.

Like I said, I'm good with numbers, but I just don't want to do anything that involves math. It's more like a hobby for me. I want to avoid science, too, despite how interesting I find it. I thought about history, but I just don't think I have enough passion for it to make it a big part of my life. As for physical labor, I'm 150 lbs., and it's just not my thing.

I also want to avoid philosophy/religion (I have some interest but not enough), health care, engineering, law, management, sales (although I made a killing when I used to do it), business, mechanics, computers (again, I have some interest but not enough), and many of the other, typical options.

Anyway, I'm hoping to do something involving creativity. I always sucked at drawing, painting, etc., and I'm not interested in that anyway unless I could do something similar to http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/ .

Here's what does interest me. I like other cultures. I worry that any culture could get boring after I spend a lot of time with it, though, so I don't want to specialize in any one culture like Russian Studies, for example.

I like languages a lot. I'm not sure why, but I just do. I studies Spanish in high school and really enjoyed it, and I enjoyed speaking Spanish with Mexican cooks that I used to work with. I've been studying German for almost a year, and everyone compliments me on how well I speak. "That's the best I've ever heard from an American!" is pretty faint praise, though. I've also had compliments on my French, even though I've never studied it in a school.

I like writing a lot, too, which is odd because I hated it more than anything when I was younger. I could see myself doing it on a regular basis, but I'm not a big fan of reading, so I don't see myself ever getting any sort of writing degree.

I love music. I'm decent when it comes to playing instruments, but I'm not good enough at any instrument to carry me through anything. I do consider myself to be a pretty good song writer, but I might be better off if that stays as a hobby. As for music engineering or something like that, I could do it and be satisfied because I would always be around music, but working in a studio isn't a passion of mine.

I also enjoy cooking. I have almost no experience with it even though my family has a long history with it. I guess I didn't get the gene or whatever, but I'd be interested in learning more about it.

Finally, I enjoy acting (but I don't have enough energy to be good), comedy (but I just don't like doing standup because I hate people expecting me to be funny all the time), and broadcasting (I have some experience with it and have done very well, but the available opportunities are so slim, and I'm neither clean-cut nor distinguished).

Anyway, I was just wondering if someone could give any general advice. In other words, is there a field that I'm not considering that I should? If I'm interested in doing something that I mentioned, where would be a good place to start? Please keep in mind that I have pretty much the world's worst grades and would have difficulty being accepted into just about any school.

Linguistics, maybe?

[SunDeck]

Originally Posted by freestyle55

what about Political Science? Lots of opportunities to learn about other cultures, languages, lots of options to go from there...

I'll second that. Then go into the Foreign Service. After that, you can become the next Rick Steves.

[bucksfan2]

I look at college degrees differently. The way I look at it is pick something in which there are job openings. A career in anthropology or linguistics may be something that appeals to you but does it appeal to the real world? If you are good at languages I would look into something in international business. I would look at either Spanish or Mandarin. If you are good with numbers Finance may be an idea but it has some similarities to accounting. Also Engineers are in demand where ever you go.

You may also want to look into architecture or city planning.

[durl]

Sometimes you just have to find a job that you think you'd like and go from there. You never know what doors will open for you and perhaps you'll learn what you really want to do.

I don't recall the numbers but I believe the percentage is small of college grads that actually work in their field of study. And a good number of people will change careers (not jobs) 5-10 times over their lifetime.

I indirectly use my field of study in my current job but it didn't help me land the job. It was experience from previous jobs that opened the door. I'm not saying to avoid college. I'm just suggesting that practical experience may help you decide what studies you'd like to pursue.

[paintmered]

If you want to be employed for the rest of your life, learn Chinese, Arabic or Farsi.

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by pahster

You might be interested in anthropology.

I just read some online articles about it, and it looks like it's not for me. I have a heavy interest in psychology, for what it's worth, but once again, it's not something I want to base a career on.

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by WilyMoROCKS

John Fay needs an editor. Desperately.

That would be my dream job. I'd love to be a Reds writer who is known for his accuracy and grammar.

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by freestyle55

what about Political Science? Lots of opportunities to learn about other cultures, languages, lots of options to go from there...

This intrigues me a little. I'll look into it more. Do you have any experiences with it?

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by Yachtzee

Linguistics, maybe?

I'm skeptical of it, but I'd consider it. Could you shed some light on it or recommend something for me to read?

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

I look at college degrees differently. The way I look at it is pick something in which there are job openings. A career in anthropology or linguistics may be something that appeals to you but does it appeal to the real world? If you are good at languages I would look into something in international business. I would look at either Spanish or Mandarin. If you are good with numbers Finance may be an idea but it has some similarities to accounting. Also Engineers are in demand where ever you go.

You may also want to look into architecture or city planning.

That's very practical, but it didn't work for me. Even if it means not having much job security, I'm looking to explore other options. As for architecture, I don't think it's for me.

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by durl

Sometimes you just have to find a job that you think you'd like and go from there. You never know what doors will open for you and perhaps you'll learn what you really want to do.

I don't recall the numbers but I believe the percentage is small of college grads that actually work in their field of study. And a good number of people will change careers (not jobs) 5-10 times over their lifetime.

I indirectly use my field of study in my current job but it didn't help me land the job. It was experience from previous jobs that opened the door. I'm not saying to avoid college. I'm just suggesting that practical experience may help you decide what studies you'd like to pursue.

That's pretty useful, but that's what I've been doing for the past seven years, and I'm not much closer to figuring it out as I was right after I graduated high school.