2 answers
Arianna
Student
San Miguel, California
2
Questions
Asked
359 views
How do I know if this is the right path for me?
I’ve often been unsure of what I wanted to pursue, with switching around career prep pathways in high school, and often jumped from career to career about what I wanted to do.
For a while recently, I’ve looked into going into the legal profession. I found myself interested in reading since childhood, and writing. My strengths and interests tend to lean towards advanced English and Social Science classes, than STEM related courses, which I struggled in. I find myself as well engrossed in political topics.
I may intend on majoring in Political Science with a minor in Literature or Journalism, on a pre-law track, but am not definitely certain yet.
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2 answers
Vianne Phan
Youth Development Teacher
89
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Vianne’s Answer
What you're going through is quite normal, especially if you're someone who likes to think things through and follow your interests instead of rushing into a decision. It's great that you've noticed what really grabs your attention, even if you haven't figured everything out yet.
Instead of looking for one "right" answer, try to find common themes in what you enjoy. Your love for reading and writing, your skills in English and social sciences, and your interest in politics all suggest fields where critical thinking and communication are key, like law, political science, journalism, or policy work. Not being strong in STEM subjects doesn't mean you can't succeed, especially when your strengths are elsewhere.
Remember, you don't need absolute certainty to move forward. Majoring in political science with a minor in literature or journalism can open many doors, such as law, public policy, advocacy, communications, and research. A pre-law track is just a way to build useful skills, even if you decide not to go to law school later.
Also, notice how you feel when you're doing the work. Do you enjoy reading closely, writing arguments, debating, and analyzing social systems, even when it's tough? If it feels rewarding, that's a good sign you're on the right path. You can grow and change as you learn more about yourself, and choosing a path that matches your interests is a smart way to do that.
Instead of looking for one "right" answer, try to find common themes in what you enjoy. Your love for reading and writing, your skills in English and social sciences, and your interest in politics all suggest fields where critical thinking and communication are key, like law, political science, journalism, or policy work. Not being strong in STEM subjects doesn't mean you can't succeed, especially when your strengths are elsewhere.
Remember, you don't need absolute certainty to move forward. Majoring in political science with a minor in literature or journalism can open many doors, such as law, public policy, advocacy, communications, and research. A pre-law track is just a way to build useful skills, even if you decide not to go to law school later.
Also, notice how you feel when you're doing the work. Do you enjoy reading closely, writing arguments, debating, and analyzing social systems, even when it's tough? If it feels rewarding, that's a good sign you're on the right path. You can grow and change as you learn more about yourself, and choosing a path that matches your interests is a smart way to do that.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1092
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Arianna,
It's good (and perfectly normal) that you are worried about career choices and your future path. You identified your strengths and interests as being in English and social sciences (rather than STEM) as well as politics, literature and journalism. That's a great starting point! Studying political science, literature and/or journalism would fit this profile well. Please don't cram too many majors and minors into your time at university. Most of the time it's not necessary and not helpful but just prolongs your studies and increases cost. You'll need time to read/write, do projects and internships. Instead of double majoring/minoring, you can round out your profile by picking interesting electives to go along with your major and getting practical experiences.
It's important to understand yourself and your talents and interests. But also understand that there is more than just ONE perfect career for you. Your major does not lock you into one specific career and you don't stop learning and developing when you graduate from university. In careers like political science, literature and even journalism, you are more likely to have to carve out your own path anyway. You can follow different paths and you might also have different jobs/careers during your lifetime.
Law school is a graduate degree, so you would first get your bachelors in something you enjoy, e.g. political science, literature or journalism. There is no particular major required, but something that is reading and writing intensive and develops your critical thinking skills would prepare you well. Then you take the LSAT to get into law school if that's still your goal. If your goals and interests have changed, you can develop a career as e.g. a journalist, a writer, a diplomat, or a political analyst. You can also decide to go to graduate school for a masters in something you want to specialize in.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's good (and perfectly normal) that you are worried about career choices and your future path. You identified your strengths and interests as being in English and social sciences (rather than STEM) as well as politics, literature and journalism. That's a great starting point! Studying political science, literature and/or journalism would fit this profile well. Please don't cram too many majors and minors into your time at university. Most of the time it's not necessary and not helpful but just prolongs your studies and increases cost. You'll need time to read/write, do projects and internships. Instead of double majoring/minoring, you can round out your profile by picking interesting electives to go along with your major and getting practical experiences.
It's important to understand yourself and your talents and interests. But also understand that there is more than just ONE perfect career for you. Your major does not lock you into one specific career and you don't stop learning and developing when you graduate from university. In careers like political science, literature and even journalism, you are more likely to have to carve out your own path anyway. You can follow different paths and you might also have different jobs/careers during your lifetime.
Law school is a graduate degree, so you would first get your bachelors in something you enjoy, e.g. political science, literature or journalism. There is no particular major required, but something that is reading and writing intensive and develops your critical thinking skills would prepare you well. Then you take the LSAT to get into law school if that's still your goal. If your goals and interests have changed, you can develop a career as e.g. a journalist, a writer, a diplomat, or a political analyst. You can also decide to go to graduate school for a masters in something you want to specialize in.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP