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kaylee
Student
Morganton, North Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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What should I do if I don't like the career I end up studying, or I don't like the college I go too?
I am the first person in my family to go to college, its made it difficult for me to figure out how to apply to schools, scholarships, etc. I don't wanna make the wrong decision for my future career and be stuck.
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1 answer
Victor R
Business Transformation Director
11
Answers
Millbury, Massachusetts
Updated
Victor’s Answer
Hi Kaylee!
First, I want to say congratulations. Being the first person in your family to go to college is a massive, incredible accomplishment. It is also completely normal that it feels overwhelming. You are navigating a complicated system without a map, so please give yourself a lot of grace! The fear of making the "wrong" decision and being stuck forever is one of the most common worries students have, but I want to let you in on a big secret: you are never permanently stuck.
Did you know that nearly a third of all college students change their major at least once? Many change it two or three times! Furthermore, thousands of students transfer to different colleges every single year because their first choice wasn't the right fit. The college system is actually built to allow for changes. If you get to a school or start studying a major and realize it is not for you, you pivot. It happens every single day.
Instead of feeling pressured to pick the "perfect" career right now before you even step on campus, treat your first year of college as an exploration phase.
*You can declare an "Undeclared" or "Exploratory" major: Many colleges have a specific program just for students who haven't picked a major yet. This connects you with academic advisors whose specific job is to help you figure out what you like and what you are good at.
*You should focus on your General Education (Gen Ed) classes first: Almost every college degree requires basic math, English, science, and humanities courses. By focusing heavily on these during your first year, you are making progress toward graduation and earning credits without locking yourself into a specific major yet.
*You can take one "wildcard" class a semester: Use your elective credits to test the waters! If you think you might like psychology, take an Intro to Psychology class. If you think business sounds cool, take a basic marketing class. Trying things out is the best way to see if they fit.
Here are some fantastic, free tools you can use right now to start figuring out what careers actually interest you, as well as finding scholarships as a first-generation student:
O*NET OnLine's Interest Profiler: You can take this free, quick quiz sponsored by the US government. It asks you what kinds of tasks you enjoy and matches you with real-world careers, showing you exactly what those jobs pay and what degrees they require.
Roadtrip Nation: You can watch an incredible free documentary series and use their interactive tools to explore careers based on your core interests and passions. It shows how real people found their unique paths—many of whom changed their minds along the way!
BigFuture by College Board: You can use this free tool to search for scholarships specifically meant for first-generation college students, and it also has a highly visual career exploration section to help you browse different industries.
Your College Career Center: Once you are enrolled, you can (and absolutely should!) visit your college's career center. They offer free personality tests, career counseling, and resume help. You do not have to wait until you are a senior to use them!
First, I want to say congratulations. Being the first person in your family to go to college is a massive, incredible accomplishment. It is also completely normal that it feels overwhelming. You are navigating a complicated system without a map, so please give yourself a lot of grace! The fear of making the "wrong" decision and being stuck forever is one of the most common worries students have, but I want to let you in on a big secret: you are never permanently stuck.
Did you know that nearly a third of all college students change their major at least once? Many change it two or three times! Furthermore, thousands of students transfer to different colleges every single year because their first choice wasn't the right fit. The college system is actually built to allow for changes. If you get to a school or start studying a major and realize it is not for you, you pivot. It happens every single day.
Instead of feeling pressured to pick the "perfect" career right now before you even step on campus, treat your first year of college as an exploration phase.
*You can declare an "Undeclared" or "Exploratory" major: Many colleges have a specific program just for students who haven't picked a major yet. This connects you with academic advisors whose specific job is to help you figure out what you like and what you are good at.
*You should focus on your General Education (Gen Ed) classes first: Almost every college degree requires basic math, English, science, and humanities courses. By focusing heavily on these during your first year, you are making progress toward graduation and earning credits without locking yourself into a specific major yet.
*You can take one "wildcard" class a semester: Use your elective credits to test the waters! If you think you might like psychology, take an Intro to Psychology class. If you think business sounds cool, take a basic marketing class. Trying things out is the best way to see if they fit.
Here are some fantastic, free tools you can use right now to start figuring out what careers actually interest you, as well as finding scholarships as a first-generation student:
Victor recommends the following next steps: