AboutStan Dura Expertise I can help answer questions of parents and students about many of the "out of the classroom" aspects of learning and American college life, including relationships (with peers, parents, faculty, and staff), campus living, getting involved, first year issues and concerns, alcohol and drug use, career development, utilizing campus resources, leadership development, etc. I am not qualified to answer specific questions about homework topics (other than above), financial aid eligibility, or questions of a personal nature that may deserve the attention of a licensed counselor.
Experience I have over 10 years of professional experience working at private and public institutions, a Masters Degree in Student Development, and a BA in Psychology. I am currently working towards my PhD in Educational Psychology.
Organizations belong to American College Personnel Association<
Publications Various campus publications/newsletters
Education/Credentials MA Student Development from Appalachian State University, NC
BA Psychology from Huntingdon College, AL
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Hello. I am a 25 year old male with 2 years to go until I graduate college. I started out directly after high school at a community college and was a Computer info systems major and after 1 1/2 years found it wasn't for me. I changed majors to business and 2 years after that I got my associates in that. I was thinking of going for my bachelors in it, but as it would turn out the school I wanted to go to had a really good business school and I wasn't good enough for it so I eventually choose to be a psych major. My question to you is, is it your perception that college is designed mostly to give people a higher (overall) education, and is not setup to be more like a trade school whereby what one majors in is what one hopes to become? I still don't know what I want to do in life. I'd love to be a writer or massage therapist or web designer but for at least the first two I am not sure there is much money in it unless one is wildly successful. The minority of people in this country actually go to college so it should be seen as a great accomplishment to graduate at all whether or not one persues a career in their major? I don't wish to become a psychologist. If anything related I'd considered social work, or within the cognitive sciences being a philosopher had a nice ring to it. lol. Do you think most people who go to college have determined what they want to do for life as related to their major? (My question after much rambling.lol)
P.S. I have already determines psych to be the major I hope to gratuate with.
Answer -
Hey James!
I want to congratulate you on what appears to be a successful, albeit confusing, journey! I think you will find the answer to your questions right there...in your story!
Colleges and Universities are rarely established to rigidly confine students to one area of study. That is why you will find so many with some kind of General Education or Core classes...these, whild not always obvious in their intent, are to help expose students to a broad range of disciplines, different ways of approaching and interpreting knowledge within those fields, and different potential careers in them.
While there are trade schools and some governmental influences, like standardized testing and whatnot, that do tend to nudge schools to be a little more rigid and trade oriented, and that might confound my answer to your first question, your second question is a resounding NO! Most traditional aged students are not ready to determine what they want to do in life, nor what they can do and do well, nor what work makes them happy at the same time! In fact, current research shows that students today are LESS mature and aware of themselves and their skills today than 15 or so years ago...thus you could say students today are even less able to know what they want to do in life.
Many students have ideas of what they want to do, but those are usually based on how they imagine the job to be, and is usually influenced by the glamour of TV shows, high salaries, etc. Sometimes, when they discover the reality, it still is a good fit for them, but most of the time - as you discovered, it is not. The average student changes majors 6 times in their college career, and the average adult now will change their career 3-5 times in their lifetime. That should tell you something.
You have not asked for advice on how you might explore the different career paths available to pscychology majors, but I would like to offer some suggestions. Please do not be offended that I am offering advice you haven't asked for. The college you are going to, most likely has a career services department of some kind. They will probably have LOTS of resources to help you identify what careers best fit your values, interests, skills, lifestyle, etc. I would highly encourage you to go there and meet with a career counselor.
If by chance you find they do not have a department or did not help you much, write me back, and I will explore some things online that you can take advantage of. Ok?
Best of luck James...and even if you do find the Career Services helpful, I would love to hear how it turns out.
Take care!
Sincerely
Stan
I've actually already been to the careers office. Their assessment test basicially says that I'm more about objects and event then people which would be in contrast to being a psych major, however psych is very interesting to me. And I enjoy being part of experiments on campus knowing that I am helping humanity in some small way (it is a large research university). I have been depribed of many science courses in high school so I certainly lacked the sense of scientific methodology. I was actually very scared of being in front of a computer my whole life, however I am very handy at them. In fact I'd love to start an online store along with do some hosting for other sites. But besides that I'd love to have a full-time job doing something else unless the amount of money and responsibility of my home business ideas becomes too overwelming. Psych was suggested to me because it is very flexible as it pertains to nearly everything, and also requires fewer credits (I already have over 100+ credits). The idea of changing careers through life does not bother me so much, but rather how is it possible for people to change majors 6 times? These people don't go to school for 8 years like me to attain a 4 year degree I don't imagine? lol. Students are less "mature?" I have of late had trouble defining that word. I don't know how I am expected to act for someone my own age, and I get the sense that many people don't. Perhaps societies expectations are far too varied at this point. It doesn't seem that maturity is linked with intelligence though because based on a constant IQ test people over the last 15 or so years have been doing better while still in high school. Getting back to my origional question though, basically college majors are trivial unless one hopes to go to grad school? Basically whatever disapline they enjoy using and will help their GPA is most ideal for a major assuming that ones interest is only to graduate, and go no farther?
Answer Hey James!
I am not familiar with that particular career assessment, speaking of events vs objects. I would recommend a combination of Discovery, MBTI and the book "What color is your parachute." The Holland type inventory and the Kiersey Temperment sorter are also very helpful.
Majors are not necessarily trivial, but they are also not completely definitive of someone's future options. Majors provide a broad and basic foundation in a field of work, many of which will not accept majors not in their field. Graduate degrees are becoming more and more expected for entry level positions, and do accept applicants from disciplines related to, but not always grounded in their field. The tend not to accept applicants from unrelated majors, with some notable exceptions, particularly law, public administration, and some education programs.
There is always a "further", for life and learning never end. It is very much a misnomer that we are done with our education when we graduate college or anything for that matter. So consider what you want to have the knowledge, experience and skills for in the future, make sure that is based on your talents, interests, joys, lifestyle and family goals, etc. And then get that knowledge, experience and skills over your next two years. That is the spring board for your next phase in life. The danger in succumbing to a "it's meaningless" or "it's trivial" perspective now, is that you'll tend to take that perspective at future turning points in your life, and you'll find exactly what you expect, no meaning.
It's up to you to make that which is just beyond your horizon meaningful and non-trivial.
James, I'm going to be unavailable for a few days, so if you write back, please be patient with my response, ok?
