Did anyone else dramatically change careers while in university or college?

[Always *]

When I was a kid / teenager I wanted to be a vet. This dramatically changed when I got to university because I like the humanities so much (sociology, religion, political science, history and even economics to a certain extent) so I decided that maybe being a vet wasn't the right thing. I turned my sights on careers that would help people - policing, social work, and international relations.... Then I dramatically changed my mind again to do marketing, PR or advertising, which is what I am doing now. I settled here because I can still work for the same places, still make a difference and in a position that's better for my skills.

Did anyone else change their minds a lot like this?

Do you ever worry that you'll get bored of your latest choice and be "stuck" or something?

[Lionheart]

Jupp. I changed my mind a lot. When I was a kid I wanted to be a teacher or author. Then I wanted to go to the police. Once we had physics I was aiming to study this until about 11th grade. Then I wanted to study literatur ans psychologie as it would be the most usefull as author. Then my head got the better of me and I searched for something 'more usefull and reasonable. Nearly became a teacher and in a last minute decision decided to become an engineer as its the most reasonable choice considering my skills and chances in the futur.
So thats what I'm doing now. Studying electrical engineering.

And no I'm not afraid of feeling stuck. I already am cause honestly, electrical engineering is ok but I can't imagine myself doing this for the rest of my life. I can't even imagine doing it for the next 5 years and the problem is that I am bound. I signed a contract and won't be able to get out of it for the next 6 years. So I am stuck and I hate it and the only reason is that I tried to be reasonable with my choice....

[Celyn]

Hey there,

I think it’s normal to change your mind about careers during university. I know my experience is not the same as yours, but thought I would share anyway.

I (still) want to be a teacher and did an education degree, but the psychology module really opened my eyes to the world of psychology and I did another module on learning difficulties, so I have also considered being a teacher for those with learning difficulties. When I was younger, I did want to be a vet for ages, but I knew I just wouldn’t be able to handle it.

However, my friend who was on the same course as me, never wanted to be a teacher. She didn’t really know what to do with her life. She wanted to take a history course, but she now works with young children in a pre-school environment. But I think her real passion is with cooking and baking.

Neither me nor my friend, are afraid of getting ‘stuck’ with our choices. I think that, whatever you choose, even if you decide against it later on, there are ways of going down a different career path. My old maths teacher actually helped design bridges before he had even considered being a teacher!

All the best!

[Astrophile.]

Yeup. I changed my mind from psychology half way through my associate's degree to an education degree, then it was special education, now it's behavioral health and human services (almost like social work). It's normal to change your mind. It's okay to get multiple degrees if you wanted to, too. Like for me, I kind of want to get a degree in youth work/childhood studies so that I can continue working at the preschool I work at. But I also want to do social work of some sort. Confusing.

You're not alone in this.

[Lelola]

I did and I think it is very common. I went from pilot to military to psychologist to RN.

[Coffee.]

In high school I wanted to be a writer. Then I thought I wanted to be a counselor or therapist. And now I'm going into public health.

[Magmagan]

I had a friend that wanted to do International Relations

In lack of students, the course wasn't available, and he went to Mechanical Engineering

And, after his first class, already in Administration

He's a fun friend

[ThisWillDestroyYou]

I used to be religious several years ago and intended on becoming a Pastor. My major was geared toward Biblical Studies and Biblical Counseling, and eventually a Masters in Theology. Since then, I've become an atheist, and currently deist (I say that intellectually I am a atheist, while based on intuition I am a deist -- I can't shake those intuitive feelings from the picture).

Anyways, I am now attending UT-Austin double majoring in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

[Mahray]

I started off in an engineering degree, finished with an arts degree majoring in communications studies five years later. Then I became a teacher. End of this year I'll be graduating again and qualified as a guidance counsellor.

I have.

I never studied to be a vet, but I wanted to be one. Then I realized I'd have to see the sick and injured animals, among other things. I knew I couldn't handle that.

But I have studied early childhood education and communications (separate times). Now I'm working as a social media coordinator, which is somewhat what I was studying for last (this spring) because I wanted to work in that field.

It's normal to change your mind about what you want to do with your life.

[Always *]

Wow, I can't believe how many people change their minds!

My biggest concern is my tendency to get very very bored very very easily... It's so horrible. So while I am interested in something it's great, but I could wake up in January and be like "fuck, this sucks"... So I am hoping my interest in communications won't fizzle