I'm planning on going to University in a few months and have come time to try and select what I should focus on.

Any recomendations of courses to take that would be good for future employment.

I have tryed selecting soething that intrest me but still am unable to narrow it down. I would like to hear what you believe are good areas to enter to help get the ball rolling

Thanks everyone in advance.

 

Just do whatever you're 'in' to. Regardless what it pays you'll spend the rest of your life doing what you want to do. How could you ask for anything more?

I'd much rather wake up every morning and look forwards to going to work then being drone # 417C working on project 3B in cubical 2A.

 

Ya I understand that I'm just lookin for options to look into. Who knows maybe being Drone 2 in Cubical 2CA is the right job for me I just don't know about it yet.

I'm just lookin for opinions of any good area to look at. I'm way to confused right know.

 

I say go into Engineering or computer related fields I've been thinking about going back to school so I can get out of this factory job I have I looked into a University and seen all the stuff I didn't want to take to get a degree one of the reasons I didn't go when I was younger all that english and classes like that I just sent off for some info on ITT-Tech as I may end up going that route to get a degree plus its 2 years there vs 4 years of college.

 

You could go into an automotive career. You have job security because people always will drive cars. Also mechanics are better paid and more respected than in the past. Instead of being "grease monkeys" they are highly trained technicians with good computer and electronics skills. You are a member of these message boards so you must have an interest in auto mechanics. And if you decide you want more money you could always go into automotive engineering.

-Jon

 

In one sense, the actual major you choose will be irrelevant unless you know for sure you wish to focus sharply in a certain discipline... electrical engineering, architecture, anthropologist, economist... you get the drift.

Many/most people who get degrees in specific fields often end up in something else completely different. In this case, its not the vocation specific experience that matters, it is the broad educational skills you get.

After interviewing thousands and hiring hundreds over the years, I suggest that no matter what you select as a major... and btw, there is nothing wrong with general studies... you should take the following for sure.

a) take as much math as you can get, at least 4 years worth. Not only is it the language of the technical world, it opens up a whole new way of thinking about problems that is simply unavailable to the non math person. Even if you find it difficult, you will also discover that it sharpens the mind. If you like applied math, then do it thru engineering. Physics almost always assumes that you got your math in the math class. One additional benefit: a strong math background almost always insures you get an least an interview.

b) take as much english as you can get. At a minimum, one full year of composition and writing. You cannot believe how many people I have interviewed that could not compose simple reports, and I guarantee that if you can't write and speak about your ideas effectively, you'll never be heard. You'll also be considered stupid, even if you aren't. Take at least one year of literature as well, preferably a semester of dead greeks and one semester of more modern literature. Learn about your humanity. Learn humility. Learn what makes people tick to be a better communicator.

c) take classes in the "soft sciences". One or two semesters of economics does wonders for understanding the bullsh#it that comes out of Washington... and to understand that it is bullsh#it. Take a semester of anthropology or sociology... learn what makes us tick as a society.

That would be the basics to come out with a well rounded education. If you really want to do it all, then also consider a semester each of a few more "extreme" subjects: philosophy or logic, art or art history, music, and what can be really useful to you... a foreign language.

My $0.02. Graduate, Rice University, BSEE, 97.

 

beastrider,
you are so right. most places just want to know that a person can go to college and stick it out long enough to get a degree. good advice, rich.

 

i work on new hydrogen fuel cell technoligies and this is going to happen in the near future. My advise is fuel cell Technology its going to be the rage. The cells i work with are going to be for home use, it a box 4x4x35h and it powers the whole house, water,heat and lights...... You do the math lol

 

Thanks everyone, This is a big help. I haven't decided yet what I'm going to focus on but I'm slowly starting to narrow it down to a smaller field. I will give everyone an update on what I end up doing.

Thanks again,

Paul.