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Did you change your career path to something completely opposite of what you were planning to at first? What made you realize that your first choice was not for you?
I am about enter my fist year of college to become a RN, however I am aware of the prerequisites that I need to complete starting my first year before I can choose my nursing major. I am worried because I'm not completely sure if I would like to become a nurse. And by the third year of college, I would have already spent most of my time working on my prerequisites rather than finding another suitable career choice. What advice can you give me when it comes to finding a career that i would not have thought of entering before?
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Cristina’s Answer
Hi, Halle-Anna,
Your question has some very deep thought out into it, but it’s great that you’re asking now. I am a nurse and I changed my majors many before I started nursing school.
I think asking yourself what about nursing makes you think it may not be for you. What were you originally thinking when you wanted to become a nurse? Can you use any of the nursing pre-requisites for another major that’s within the health sciences or science realm? That’s something to consider.
Think of something that you do or want to do that would bring you joy each time you did it, but will also make you a realistic salary for you to be a productive member of society. Do you see yourself doing this thing for 10, 20, maybe even 30 years?
For me, I took one semester of “teacher classes” and I hated every moment of it. Yes, you can call it a wasted semester, but that semester taught me how to stick through something I didn’t like, I learned tolerance, and definitely learned that becoming a teacher wasn’t for me.
If you’re looking to stay in healthcare, there are Speech & Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Labratory Science, respiratory therapists, or Physician Assistant, to name a few. The other great benefit we have these days is Google! Try searching for information on the things you have interest in or have wondered about; maybe even take a “career assessment” to help you find other options.
Good luck and many well wishes to you!
Your question has some very deep thought out into it, but it’s great that you’re asking now. I am a nurse and I changed my majors many before I started nursing school.
I think asking yourself what about nursing makes you think it may not be for you. What were you originally thinking when you wanted to become a nurse? Can you use any of the nursing pre-requisites for another major that’s within the health sciences or science realm? That’s something to consider.
Think of something that you do or want to do that would bring you joy each time you did it, but will also make you a realistic salary for you to be a productive member of society. Do you see yourself doing this thing for 10, 20, maybe even 30 years?
For me, I took one semester of “teacher classes” and I hated every moment of it. Yes, you can call it a wasted semester, but that semester taught me how to stick through something I didn’t like, I learned tolerance, and definitely learned that becoming a teacher wasn’t for me.
If you’re looking to stay in healthcare, there are Speech & Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Labratory Science, respiratory therapists, or Physician Assistant, to name a few. The other great benefit we have these days is Google! Try searching for information on the things you have interest in or have wondered about; maybe even take a “career assessment” to help you find other options.
Good luck and many well wishes to you!
Updated
Gus’s Answer
The biggest thing I would tell you is that you do not have to make a decision right away. Most colleges and universities do not require a major declaration in your first year, which can give you flexibility. If you decide to pursue nursing, trying to add some of those prerequisites would be helpful (but it would not lock you in to that for your full career). Follow what interests you and if you end up changing your mind, rely on your support at your school to help you best move forward down your new path.
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Eileen’s Answer
Don't worry - sit with your advisor and see what path all those prerequisites count against for another major for which you may be suited. They may apply to other health care or science fields - and you may need to take 18 credits a semester to balance out (usually FT is 12-18 credits). Get with your advisor STAT - and do not worry - most like things will carry over.
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Tierney’s Answer
Hi there! Great question. I was in your spot too! I'm not here to tell you the "right" path, but I can provide my story that maybe you can pull from. I was a graphic design major when I first started college. I ended up transferring schools right after sophomore year because I didn't feel like I was getting the best experience. It turns out I was right. When I got to the second school, they advised that based on the classes I have already taken and the ones that I still needed to take, that I wouldn't graduate for another 3.5 years instead of just 2. This was due to pre-requisites for art classes (can't take painting 1 until you take painting 2, and they are offered X semester and Y semester). I was so lost and OVER school at that point. Plus art is something I enjoy and turning it into a full-time job was starting to sound unappealing. Fast forward 14 years, no joke. I'm working at a company that offers free tuition assistance. I've worked at this company for a long time and had no desire to return to school. I started working with my company's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as a volunteer role. I felt a ZING when I started this work. I knew right then, that I needed to pursue this work. So I started pointing my career arrow towards DE&I as a full time job. I landed in HR supporting Military & Diversity recruiting last year. After about 6 months, I had another ZING moment that told me that I think I was finally ready to go back to learn more about HR. Now I'm enrolled in college again and I am doing it for the right reasons. All that to say, it's really hard to pick a job that you will do for the rest of your life. Nursing is very specific but there are different ways you can use your degree. I would explore all the ways you can leverage your degree. I've enjoyed wearing a bunch of different hats in my career, it keeps me sharp. Good luck! Hope this was helpful! -TB
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ANDI’s Answer
I'd start with a Career Aptitude Test... a test that helps you hone in on your areas of skill and/or interest. A test like this can show you which fields may best suit you and may begin to steer you in the right direction.
A second step would be to take the "year off" after graduation to explore a few entry level jobs before deciding which field to jump into college or trade school for, or before going straight into the "real" work force or military.
If you are truly lost, a third option may to be to speak with a military recruiter and/or to take the ASVAB which is just a Career Aptitude Test for the military that helps them decide which jobs you qualify for before enlistment. The military has a plethora of options ranging from aircraft and vehicle maintenance, to dental hygenists, to cooks, to cryptologists, to xray techs. A simple 4-yr contract may give you the aid you need to attend college afterwards or drive you towards a career field you choose.
A second step would be to take the "year off" after graduation to explore a few entry level jobs before deciding which field to jump into college or trade school for, or before going straight into the "real" work force or military.
If you are truly lost, a third option may to be to speak with a military recruiter and/or to take the ASVAB which is just a Career Aptitude Test for the military that helps them decide which jobs you qualify for before enlistment. The military has a plethora of options ranging from aircraft and vehicle maintenance, to dental hygenists, to cooks, to cryptologists, to xray techs. A simple 4-yr contract may give you the aid you need to attend college afterwards or drive you towards a career field you choose.