<p>I’ve known for a long time, some decades now, that there’s a difference between studying a field and working in it. Take Public Policy, for example, or even (in my case) Engineering. </p>
<p>But my D, a recent grad, took this a step further with a recent observation that I think is bang on for the college student: hardly anyone, counselors or professors, ever talks about the temperamental fit suited to working in a particular field. </p>
<p>Thus students graduate with a degree with concentrations in X or Y, get a job in the field (or try to), and find that they can’t stand the actual work world of that field. They like the <em>idea</em> of the field, but not the day-to-day reality.</p>
<p>E.g., someone likes books and like NYC but can stand the reality of publishing houses. Or the life of a gypsy Ph.D. Or the career in International Relations that is deadly to a conventional domestic home life. Or…insert other examples here.</p>
<p>Disclosure: I was passionate about NASA and the space program. Would have done a hell of a lot better writing about it than enduring the (to me) day-to-day tedium of the aerospace engineering world. Of course, this was back in the days of mainframe computers that had less power than today’s hand-held calculators, but I think the same people and mindsets would still drive me nuts if I had to live with them. But at least I discovered this via work-study during college and changed majors, albeit at the invitation of the dean. The idea that I could have graduated with no clue still horrifies me to this day.</p>
<p>i agree there is nothing like getting your feet wet (internship etc) to show you whether you could do the job for years to come. if you proceed, at least you jump in with your eyes open!!
there was a big difference for me in reading about anesthesia and doing it… and it was intimidating at first…</p>
<p>everything has tedious bits- but one of the fields with the biggest differences in reality and public perception IMO is filmmaking.
When my D was little and I was looking for excitement a movie was made in our neighborhood starring Ann-Margaret and Gene Hackman- whose trailer was parked at the end of our block.
I think I watched one day for about 8 minutes but it seemed like hours.
;)</p>
<p>I worked with a fellow who achieved his dream, working for Rockwell on the Space Shuttle (NASA). He left after 3 years to work on similar engineering projects in terms of technical requirements, but of much shorter duration - smaller projects that one could see results sooner, where one could make more of an individual contribution.</p>
<p>I agree, though - one should be exposed to the real world as soon as possible, remembering that there are big variations.</p>
<p>TheDad, that it so true – some people thrive under pressure, or live to wheel and deal, or quickly get the hang of corporate politics, or adapt to working billable hours…</p>
<p>What’s that classic line? “I’d love to be a doctor but I can’t stand being around sick people.” I agree, fit is critical for working in a field.</p>