loverainx33

Right now, I'm totally lost. I feel like my high school career has been centered around science but I'm not sure if I'm good enough/ willing to go to medical school. The cost, competitiveness, and extremely hard work is a bit daunting. But i've never really explored any other career option. I've thought about doing business because it sounds easier but I really have no experience to know if I would like doing it or not. As of right now, I'd say i'm interested in/pretty good at chemistry, economics, psychology, and statistics. What career can I make out of those? I want something that's high paying and I'm willing to work hard.

itgeek

First of all, do not look at the money factor. Ask one question to yourself, what is that the one thing I like doing everyday? Job isn't always about money, it's about how much fun you would have doing the job.

plscatamacchia

^^What silly advice. I like to ride my bike, watch some movies, etc everyday but don't plan on making a career out of it. The important thing to do is find a career that matches your skill set and personality. After that it is your job to separate personal life from work. The people that can do that are often more happy than people who chase dreams their whole lives.

The fact that you say you like science but don't want to do medical school because of the work and competitiveness is a bit silly IMO. It'd be different if you said "I hate science and my parents are trying to shove med school down my throat." but you say that's it's the work. Then you say in your last line your willing to work hard, so which is it? You say the difficulty of med school turns you off from it but you're willing to work hard? Kinda confusing.

HRMaster

So this is not something that many people generally think of but hear me out. HR as a career actually has a lot to offer if you are even remotely interested in business.

Many people immediately think of Toby and "The Office" when they think of HR, but this is a terribly antiquated perception. I'm currently completing the two year Master's of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell, and my career prospects are looking good.

A career in HR gives you a chance to play a strategic role in the business strategy and future of the company, stay young by continually recruiting new young talent, get your fix with numbers in a compensation role, and the list goes on and on. As far as the money goes, I plan on making six figures within the first one or two years after I graduate. Just a little food for thought, if you would like more info, feel free to ask.

Christian2

I agree HR can be a very good career. However, most people will not make six figures in this field within the first one or two years after one graduate. It can happen but is going to be an extreme rare case with other factors involved.

HRMaster

Christian, perhaps that estimate is a little high, but I don't think that it's an extreme rare case. Obviously it will depend on your experience previous to getting your Masters, the school that you obtain your Masters from, as well as your performance on the job, but I'm currently a grad student completing the MILR degree at Cornell, and the vast majority of the people that just graduated last summer were getting salaries starting mid $80K with others even starting over 6 figures, and when you factor in sign on bonuses plus other performance based bonuses it's not an unreal expectation at all. But I suppose my peer group is probably not the common denominator.

Christian2

HRMaster, your peer group is definitely not the common denominator. I do not doubt most of your peers are doing well. However, that is not what most college grads can expect from an entry level HR career. HR is like many other fields in business, good but not like IB as far as earning potential is concern.

HRMaster

Christian, I guess I can agree with your point about most college grads not starting out that high. I would actually suggest to someone interested in a career in HR completing a Masters. When it comes down to it, a Masters degree is becoming the new bachelor's degree, and so it would be wise in most fields to do some post-grad studies.

As far as IB I will also agree that the earnings potential are pretty near the highest you can get without being a professional athlete, celebrity, or some other career that is ridiculously high-paying. However, going in to IB is extremely high stress, and having any kind of social or family life becomes quite difficult. Is it worth it to sacrifice those things for money? As far as I'm concerned making anything over $200K/year is just gravy.

jen2005

This is a suggestion for you ....
If you're not sure what to study transfer to a two year college and take general education classes. While you're taking those classes research more about what you like to study. Career centers in colleges have useful information about all majors.

drizzl

^what kind of advice is that lol.

IB/Sales&Trading/Consulting. Everything else is a waste of time if you plan on having a career.

Polo08816

^ What does this even mean?