3 answers
Ryleigh
Student
Montgomery, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Asked
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How does this college support students who are still figuring out who they are or what they want to do?
I want to know if even though I go to college not knowing what I want to do if I will be supported and helped in making decisions even though I really should have them made up already
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3 answers
Xiao-Lei Ma
3
Answers
Updated
Xiao-Lei’s Answer
I suggest you stay open and embrace everything. Most importantly, don't worry about whether people will support you. Try to make new friends and build relationships with everyone, including classmates, teachers, and others. It might take time, but after a few weeks or months, you'll figure out who can help you more and who can't, and who can become a close friend and who won't. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much, that ment a lot, this really will help me with my future decisions
Ryleigh
Ethel Casey
Product Builder
6
Answers
Galway
Updated
Ethel’s Answer
Hi Ryleigh - going to college without a clear decision made about your career path isn't unusual at all. In fact, many students begin their studies undecided, and colleges fully expect this. They have plenty of resources designed precisely to support students in finding their direction.
Firstly, let's talk about the kind of support you'll typically find:
Career guidance counsellors: They provide structured help to explore your interests, abilities, and goals. You'll have access to one-to-one sessions where you'll discuss what matters most to you, what you're good at, and the kind of impact you wish to have.
Introductory modules and electives: Many courses allow you to sample introductory modules across various disciplines, giving you first-hand experience to help you identify what genuinely interests or excites you.
Peer support and mentoring programmes: Most colleges have student ambassadors or mentors from higher years who offer insights into courses, workloads, and career outcomes, helping you understand where certain paths might lead.
Workshops, open days, and talks: These sessions expose you to professionals across various fields—lawyers, psychologists, scientists, engineers, medical professionals, nurses—helping you gain a realistic understanding of what each career path involves.
Now, let's look at a few angles based on your initial interests. Reflect on which of these areas resonate most with your personality, skills, and passions:
Humanities (Arts, Psychology, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Languages)
Consider this if:
You love exploring human culture, thought, and interactions.
You enjoy critical thinking, analysis, and communicating complex ideas.
You find yourself deeply curious about human behaviour, ethics, social justice, or the way societies function and evolve.
Possible career outcomes:
Counsellor, psychologist, educator, journalist, researcher, writer, or working in NGOs/social services.
Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science)
Consider this if:
You enjoy learning how the natural world works, from ecosystems to atomic particles.
You prefer clear methodologies, experiments, and evidence-based inquiry.
You have an analytical mind and enjoy solving puzzles or problems using scientific methods.
Possible career outcomes:
Research scientist, environmental officer, laboratory technician, science communicator, teacher, or roles in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology industries.
Law (Legal Studies, Criminal Justice)
Consider this if:
You're interested in justice, ethics, human rights, and advocacy.
You enjoy constructing logical arguments, debating ideas, or understanding complex texts.
You have a passion for societal fairness and want to effect change through structured processes.
Possible career outcomes:
Solicitor, barrister, legal researcher, policy advisor, advocacy roles, public sector legal roles, or human rights officer.
Engineering (Mechanical, Electronic, Software, Civil, Biomedical)
Consider this if:
You enjoy building things, creating solutions, or applying science practically.
You’re interested in design, innovation, technology, or sustainability.
You excel at maths, logical thinking, or problem-solving, and enjoy teamwork and project-based work.
Possible career outcomes:
Engineer (across many specialisations), product developer, technology consultant, researcher, software developer, infrastructure or energy sector roles.
Medicine and Nursing (Medical Sciences, Nursing, Midwifery, Health Care Professions)
Consider this if:
You feel fulfilled by directly helping others, caring for people’s health, or improving quality of life.
You thrive in structured environments, enjoy biological sciences, and can manage responsibility well.
You have strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and the resilience needed to manage challenging situations.
Possible career outcomes:
Doctor, nurse, midwife, paramedic, healthcare professional in various specialties, public health worker, healthcare administration or management roles.
Reflecting on Your Interests: Questions to Ask Yourself
To help pinpoint your preferences, reflect deeply on these questions:
1. What are you naturally curious about?
What kinds of books, podcasts, documentaries, or conversations are you drawn to without prompting?
2. What subjects in secondary/ high school did you find easier or more enjoyable?
Often, enjoyment is closely linked with both aptitude and interest.
3. What type of work environment feels appealing?
A lab, an office, working outdoors, travelling, or interacting directly with people daily?
4. Do you prefer collaborative teamwork or independent projects?
Humanities and healthcare professions often have collaborative roles, whereas some scientific or engineering roles can lean towards independent research or smaller teams.
5. What values do you wish your future career to align with?
For instance, do you value creativity, stability, helping others, intellectual challenge, or having a tangible impact on society?
No matter your choice (or lack thereof at this stage), you'll absolutely find support within your college environment. You’re not expected to have your whole future mapped out on day one - colleges are equipped precisely because many students don’t.
Give yourself permission to explore different fields early on. Be open to unexpected discoveries; it's very common for initial uncertainty to lead to fulfilling and surprising career paths.
College is the perfect time to embrace curiosity, test your boundaries, and allow yourself the space to find what resonates deeply with who you are and who you'd like to become.
Firstly, let's talk about the kind of support you'll typically find:
Career guidance counsellors: They provide structured help to explore your interests, abilities, and goals. You'll have access to one-to-one sessions where you'll discuss what matters most to you, what you're good at, and the kind of impact you wish to have.
Introductory modules and electives: Many courses allow you to sample introductory modules across various disciplines, giving you first-hand experience to help you identify what genuinely interests or excites you.
Peer support and mentoring programmes: Most colleges have student ambassadors or mentors from higher years who offer insights into courses, workloads, and career outcomes, helping you understand where certain paths might lead.
Workshops, open days, and talks: These sessions expose you to professionals across various fields—lawyers, psychologists, scientists, engineers, medical professionals, nurses—helping you gain a realistic understanding of what each career path involves.
Now, let's look at a few angles based on your initial interests. Reflect on which of these areas resonate most with your personality, skills, and passions:
Humanities (Arts, Psychology, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Languages)
Consider this if:
You love exploring human culture, thought, and interactions.
You enjoy critical thinking, analysis, and communicating complex ideas.
You find yourself deeply curious about human behaviour, ethics, social justice, or the way societies function and evolve.
Possible career outcomes:
Counsellor, psychologist, educator, journalist, researcher, writer, or working in NGOs/social services.
Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science)
Consider this if:
You enjoy learning how the natural world works, from ecosystems to atomic particles.
You prefer clear methodologies, experiments, and evidence-based inquiry.
You have an analytical mind and enjoy solving puzzles or problems using scientific methods.
Possible career outcomes:
Research scientist, environmental officer, laboratory technician, science communicator, teacher, or roles in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology industries.
Law (Legal Studies, Criminal Justice)
Consider this if:
You're interested in justice, ethics, human rights, and advocacy.
You enjoy constructing logical arguments, debating ideas, or understanding complex texts.
You have a passion for societal fairness and want to effect change through structured processes.
Possible career outcomes:
Solicitor, barrister, legal researcher, policy advisor, advocacy roles, public sector legal roles, or human rights officer.
Engineering (Mechanical, Electronic, Software, Civil, Biomedical)
Consider this if:
You enjoy building things, creating solutions, or applying science practically.
You’re interested in design, innovation, technology, or sustainability.
You excel at maths, logical thinking, or problem-solving, and enjoy teamwork and project-based work.
Possible career outcomes:
Engineer (across many specialisations), product developer, technology consultant, researcher, software developer, infrastructure or energy sector roles.
Medicine and Nursing (Medical Sciences, Nursing, Midwifery, Health Care Professions)
Consider this if:
You feel fulfilled by directly helping others, caring for people’s health, or improving quality of life.
You thrive in structured environments, enjoy biological sciences, and can manage responsibility well.
You have strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and the resilience needed to manage challenging situations.
Possible career outcomes:
Doctor, nurse, midwife, paramedic, healthcare professional in various specialties, public health worker, healthcare administration or management roles.
Reflecting on Your Interests: Questions to Ask Yourself
To help pinpoint your preferences, reflect deeply on these questions:
1. What are you naturally curious about?
What kinds of books, podcasts, documentaries, or conversations are you drawn to without prompting?
2. What subjects in secondary/ high school did you find easier or more enjoyable?
Often, enjoyment is closely linked with both aptitude and interest.
3. What type of work environment feels appealing?
A lab, an office, working outdoors, travelling, or interacting directly with people daily?
4. Do you prefer collaborative teamwork or independent projects?
Humanities and healthcare professions often have collaborative roles, whereas some scientific or engineering roles can lean towards independent research or smaller teams.
5. What values do you wish your future career to align with?
For instance, do you value creativity, stability, helping others, intellectual challenge, or having a tangible impact on society?
No matter your choice (or lack thereof at this stage), you'll absolutely find support within your college environment. You’re not expected to have your whole future mapped out on day one - colleges are equipped precisely because many students don’t.
Give yourself permission to explore different fields early on. Be open to unexpected discoveries; it's very common for initial uncertainty to lead to fulfilling and surprising career paths.
College is the perfect time to embrace curiosity, test your boundaries, and allow yourself the space to find what resonates deeply with who you are and who you'd like to become.
Oh wow, thank you so much Ethel, I thank you alot for that, everything you mentioned will definitely go into consideration thank you so much for the advice
Ryleigh
Michelle M.
Actress
2646
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ryleigh !
One of the important purposes of college is that it teaches students how to make their own decisions. You will gain enormous personal, social and intellectual growth through being a college student. You will even be someone who helps and gives support to others.
Always know that you are a very special and unique person in the moment. We go through a lot of growth during life and even when older, we learn something new every day. Making decisions can be difficult for some people, and it depends on what the decisions are about. Reaching out to others - especially on a college campus - can be very important.
I can't address a random college, don't know which one you'd be attending, and colleges are not all the same. Most colleges do have lots of supports in different departments. Some of these are the Financial Aid Office to help with college costs. a physical Health Clinic which may include counseling or mental health services, a Career Center that helps with education and career matters and information, an Academic Counseling Office which explains courses and college paths, some colleges offer an Office for Services for Students with Disabilities. I'm sure there are more, it depends on the college. Registering for an orientation at colleges you're interested in will give you the insight you need.
You will begin to assess your professors and know which ones are approachable and supportive. Students that have little social interaction or hear too many conflicting opinions often find it difficult to make decisions, so you're not alone. Always remember, what you choose for your life today will greatly affect your life ten years from now. I figured that out when I was 16, but life experience goes differently for everyone.
I hope this is something to reflect on and I wish you all the best no matter what journey you set out on !
One of the important purposes of college is that it teaches students how to make their own decisions. You will gain enormous personal, social and intellectual growth through being a college student. You will even be someone who helps and gives support to others.
Always know that you are a very special and unique person in the moment. We go through a lot of growth during life and even when older, we learn something new every day. Making decisions can be difficult for some people, and it depends on what the decisions are about. Reaching out to others - especially on a college campus - can be very important.
I can't address a random college, don't know which one you'd be attending, and colleges are not all the same. Most colleges do have lots of supports in different departments. Some of these are the Financial Aid Office to help with college costs. a physical Health Clinic which may include counseling or mental health services, a Career Center that helps with education and career matters and information, an Academic Counseling Office which explains courses and college paths, some colleges offer an Office for Services for Students with Disabilities. I'm sure there are more, it depends on the college. Registering for an orientation at colleges you're interested in will give you the insight you need.
You will begin to assess your professors and know which ones are approachable and supportive. Students that have little social interaction or hear too many conflicting opinions often find it difficult to make decisions, so you're not alone. Always remember, what you choose for your life today will greatly affect your life ten years from now. I figured that out when I was 16, but life experience goes differently for everyone.
I hope this is something to reflect on and I wish you all the best no matter what journey you set out on !