2 answers
monica
Student
Gibsonton, Florida
1
Question
Updated
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How did you choose your career?
I've always been very indecisive about what I wanted to do when I was younger, and it still troubles me till this day. Not because I lose interest in a job but because I want to do all of them. I want to be a doctor, an accountant, surgeon, novelist dancer. All subjects feel like a free for all for me with a limited-time limit. #Spring2025
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1221
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Monica,
It's great that you have lots of different interests! But it can also make it difficult to choose. That's completely normal.
I would recommend that you get more information about each career path. Consider your interests, your natural talent, the job market, earning potential, length of education and your willingness and ability to commit and pay for a lengthy education.
Sometimes it's possible to combine interests into one career path or have different interesting careers at different times in your life. Sometimes you even have to switch careers during your lifetime so it's useful to have a backup plan. But not everything that sounds interesting needs to be a professional career. Some interests better remain a hobby that provides some balance in your life and doesn't become "work".
Looking at your list I see two viable career paths with high earning potential: physician (of some flavor) or accountant.
To become a doctor in the US, you need to earn a bachelors in any field (4 years) before you apply to medical school (4 years). You specialize to become a surgeon or any other type of doctor during your residency (3 to 8 years). So, you are looking at 12+ years of education and training.
It would be possible to get a bachelors in accounting. If you want to subsequently apply to medical school, you'd also have to pass the pre-requisite courses for medical school, get medical experience and volunteer hours and get a great score on the MCAT.
Alternatively, you could decide after your bachelors in accounting to do a masters in accounting to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). That's a solid backup if you decide that medical school is not for you after all or if you don't get in.
You can be a novelist on the side as a hobby. If your writing takes off, that's great, and you can make it a full-time job at that time. Being a professional dancer is a very competitive career and you need to be very good at it. For most, it's not a career they can pursue all their life. So, unless dance is your total all-consuming passion, I would also put it in the hobby category. It's great exercise and you can find a group to perform.
Given your varied interests, a liberal arts college might be a good choice for undergraduate to nurture your passions.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's great that you have lots of different interests! But it can also make it difficult to choose. That's completely normal.
I would recommend that you get more information about each career path. Consider your interests, your natural talent, the job market, earning potential, length of education and your willingness and ability to commit and pay for a lengthy education.
Sometimes it's possible to combine interests into one career path or have different interesting careers at different times in your life. Sometimes you even have to switch careers during your lifetime so it's useful to have a backup plan. But not everything that sounds interesting needs to be a professional career. Some interests better remain a hobby that provides some balance in your life and doesn't become "work".
Looking at your list I see two viable career paths with high earning potential: physician (of some flavor) or accountant.
To become a doctor in the US, you need to earn a bachelors in any field (4 years) before you apply to medical school (4 years). You specialize to become a surgeon or any other type of doctor during your residency (3 to 8 years). So, you are looking at 12+ years of education and training.
It would be possible to get a bachelors in accounting. If you want to subsequently apply to medical school, you'd also have to pass the pre-requisite courses for medical school, get medical experience and volunteer hours and get a great score on the MCAT.
Alternatively, you could decide after your bachelors in accounting to do a masters in accounting to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). That's a solid backup if you decide that medical school is not for you after all or if you don't get in.
You can be a novelist on the side as a hobby. If your writing takes off, that's great, and you can make it a full-time job at that time. Being a professional dancer is a very competitive career and you need to be very good at it. For most, it's not a career they can pursue all their life. So, unless dance is your total all-consuming passion, I would also put it in the hobby category. It's great exercise and you can find a group to perform.
Given your varied interests, a liberal arts college might be a good choice for undergraduate to nurture your passions.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Milla Pañella
Artistic Director
25
Answers
São Paulo, Brazil
Updated
Milla’s Answer
Hello Monica,
It’s completely normal to feel unsure when you have many interests and don’t know which path to choose.
One helpful step is taking a career or vocational test, which can give you direction by showing your strengths, interests, and personality. It won’t give you a final answer, but it’s a great starting point.
Another practical approach is to choose 3–4 areas you are interested in and start exploring them more deeply. You can read about them, watch videos, talk to people in those fields, or even try short courses,to make a better decision.
As you learn more, you’ll start to notice what really attracts you and what doesn’t. This process helps you make a more confident decision.
Warm greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷
It’s completely normal to feel unsure when you have many interests and don’t know which path to choose.
One helpful step is taking a career or vocational test, which can give you direction by showing your strengths, interests, and personality. It won’t give you a final answer, but it’s a great starting point.
Another practical approach is to choose 3–4 areas you are interested in and start exploring them more deeply. You can read about them, watch videos, talk to people in those fields, or even try short courses,to make a better decision.
As you learn more, you’ll start to notice what really attracts you and what doesn’t. This process helps you make a more confident decision.
Warm greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷