The Big C Word...

[Savingsupertokyo]

I'm approaching the end of my junior year in high school, and I've got some serious decisions to start making in terms of my future... But like most kids my age, I'm completely undecided on what I want to do, much less which college I'd like to go to. I'm coming here because I've at least partially figured out what part of my problem is: what can you *do* with a certain degree?

My parents have always told me that they think I'd be a good engineer, but there are more kinds of engineers than I'd care to count, and each degree means something different, and different kinds of jobs?

I've also always been interested in Computer Science, and I've taken a programming class at my HS. I have, however, yet to see anything that clearly defines Computer Sci as something that I'd be truly interested in as anything more than a hobby, similar to gaming.

On the other side of the spectrum, I participate in Forensics (not THAT kind of forensics! The public addressterature interpretation type of forensics) in the Extemporaneous category. Being involved in this category requires a great deal of knowledge about politics, domestic as well as foreign policy, plus a good amount of current affairs knowledge. As such, it has crossed my mind on more than one occasion that I might be more suited for something along the lines of Poli Sci.... But again, I'm not truly aware of what careers are really open to a poli sci major, which is a major stumbling block for deciding whether or not that might be an avenue I'd like to pursue.

So I guess what I'm really sort of asking is - how did you decide what profession/college to go into? What helped you make your decision? I'm obviously going to be doing a lot of thinking/considering in the next six months or so before I send out my applications, but I figure its better to start thinking about it now than in August. My guidance counseler has at this time been of little help, we can't ever seem to get together long enough to have a decent conversation about this, which is part of why I'm coming here. Guess I'm also half curious what the average Lurker thinks.

Baylan
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As someone spending my fifth year in college, and propbably another year and a half after that here is my advice. I was very bright coming out of highschool (I suppose I still am very bright) and I had good grades and excellent test scores. I headed off to Texas A&M to be an engineer. All I have to say about that is what a mistake. If you are not 100% absolutely positive about being an engineer, comp sci major or any other difficult math/science major then don't do it. Out of the thirteen credit hours I earned in my first semester, three of them count towards my current degree plan. All the other engineering classes are simply electives now. If you arent sure go into general studies and take the classes everyone has to take. Everyone needs a history, english, government (if you live in Texas) and basic math and science courses. Take something that you are interested in but have never taken. Maybe an economics class, maybe an exotic humanity.

Just don't decide to do something that you may not be committed to, it will come back to bite your ass when you want to graduate and you still have a year to go (like me).