What should I study?

naknakkus

naknakkus

naknakkus

Associate
Joined
15 Nov 2008
Posts
737
Location
Aberdeen
Introductory facts:

-I'm 22, 23 in a few months.

-I currently work as a 2D draughtsman (just AutoCAD LT) at an engineering consultancy.

-I left school at 16 with Standard Grades (kicked out for skiving, really) and I've been working ever since, so I have some experience at least.

-My other jobs included being an office gopher/scribe and doing some web design.

-I write as a hobby, however, I'm under no illusion that I could make a living from this.

-My understanding of computing is decent (probably about average here on OCUK - I've built and tweaked my own machines, fixed other people's systems) but it isn't something that I have passion for.

-My knowledge of useless things is vast - I can tell you all about Themistocles, the Monomyth, wacky Antediluvian civilisation hypotheses, Gene Wolfe, the origins of idioms, etc, but I don't know how to drive or understand electrical systems. In other words, I've never been terribly good at practical stuff. I am willing to learn something if I need to, however.

What I want:

I want an actual career path or avenue of education that could lead to both intellectual stimulation and monetary compensation. I'm tired of just letting myself drift and accepting what comes my way. I want to take control of my own prospects.

My current job is one I landed through chance and I've stuck at it for convenience, but draughting is something I'll never be truly excellent at and I've never seen it as more than an exchange of time for cash. That said, I'd be happy to continue with the occupation while studying something else part-time. Unlike the guy who is desperate to leave IT, I'm not desperately unhappy and the work environment is good. This might be a danger as job-unpleasantness hasn't spurred me into action sooner.

The soft subjects that fascinate me - sociology, anthropology, psychology, English - are out because I don't think I'd shine brightly enough in those fields to fulfil the monetary renumeration requirement, and I don't think I'd make a good teacher.

That leaves me with options that can lead to jobs in the private sector. Unfortunately, I have no idea what these might be. My wife suggests Environmental Studies as it seems to cover a wide variety of disciplines, but I doubt my CV would meet the requirements for entry to any course: I didn't even take biology at school.

I'd love to have a skill that is transferable, one that would help me find a job if we were to move back to the States.

I've been looking at syllabuses and I honestly can't see anything that jumps out. There are plenty of things that interest me - I'm an inquisitive person and I like to learn - and I just need to pick something and get on with it.

Sorry for the long winded post. I've been thinking of asking this for a while and felt it'd be better to lay out as much info as possible in the first post. What I'd really appreciate is for people to relate their own experiences. Thanks.
 
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Just looking for suggestions. I'm not asking for directions through my whole life. Reading about what real people think about certain careers is worth much more to me than a course guide.
 
Not law.
+1 for a lion tamer. To put up with Aberderdonians, you must have half of the qualities required already! :D
 
Computer Science would be the obvious one.

A less obvious avenue would be something Engineering related (always good for finding work).

In terms of wanting a job which encompasses Environmental Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Politics, History, etc. which you've explained do interest you, I would suggest that you take a careful look at Geography as a subject. The environmental side would fall more into Physical Geography whereas the 'softer' social subjects would fall under Human Geography. However, you are usually able to mix and match relevent modules to your interest. I for example was studying Global Environmental Change whilst also studying Third World Development.

Only bit of advice I'll like to give is, whatever your hobby/secret desire is. Don't write it off completely, still chase it. If you love writing, finish that novel and get the ball rolling, or create a website with your own material so as you can push to get into niche careers such as journalism, etc. Extra-curricular counts for a lot.
 
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naknakkus said:
I want to take control of my own prospects.
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Then do it!
You cant ask other people what you want to be, only you know or may know that. Take a look online and look at jobs that you find interesting, see what qualifications they require and go from there.
 
From what I've just read I think you should study Mechanical Engineering. You'll be familiar with it since you're a 2D draughtsman at an engineering consultancy. The skills you learn are vastly transferrable, from going into aeronautics, civil, energy, banking, economics...it's literally vast.

It's intellectually stimulating and if you play your cards right you can end up on a handsome paypacket with Chartered Engineering status - a protected status which is recognised worldwide. Most grads generally land a job upon completing the course and there are oppertunities to move around the world, and seeing amazing things in engineering not many people would ever see. It's a rewarding career too as you can help shape communities.

One of the most rewarding careers I've seen is a Medical Engineer.
 
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A lot universities have Science foundation year which allows you to gain entry to the full time degrees in Science based subjects.
 
Nix said:
it's not as 'practical' in terms of employment as other traditional degrees (i.e. Engineering, Maths, Chemistry, etc.).
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As a student of Epistemology I can say your Proposition is false! :p

Master_X said:
Take a look online and look at jobs that you find interesting, see what qualifications they require and go from there.
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I would think you got that the wrong way around, one should not look for career in a paper or such like but instead look within oneself to search the reasons you are here on earth . . i.e your true calling! :)

Most people wait until their midlife crisis (40+) before doing this! . . . don't waste your life, find out what your wanna "really" do then go do it! :cool:
 
Milkybk said:
Two of my flat mates just finished that course at Uni. One has just got a job with a disgustingly large salary for his age :(!
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Can I have his old text books? Serious request, I'm trying to get a trainee course sorted at the moment, and I want to get back into the momentum of studying again before a return to uni shocks my system.
 
Efour2 said:
Lion tamer
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Ahleckz said:
Not law.
+1 for a lion tamer. To put up with Aberderdonians, you must have half of the qualities required already! :D
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It's true. I needs fast reflexes and infinite patience to dodge the average crowd on Union St. at night. The days of the travelling animal circus are over, unfortunately, so while this may have interested me in the 1920s, it's a no go now.

Nix said:
Computer Science would be the obvious one.

A less obvious avenue would be something Engineering related (always good for finding work).

In terms of wanting a job which encompasses Environmental Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Politics, History, etc. which you've explained do interest you, I would suggest that you take a careful look at Geography as a subject. The environmental side would fall more into Physical Geography whereas the 'softer' social subjects would fall under Human Geography. However, you are usually able to mix and match relevent modules to your interest. I for example was studying Global Environmental Change whilst also studying Third World Development.

Only bit of advice I'll like to give is, whatever your hobby/secret desire is. Don't write it off completely, still chase it. If you love writing, finish that novel and get the ball rolling, or create a website with your own material so as you can push to get into niche careers such as journalism, etc. Extra-curricular counts for a lot.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the considered response.

I hadn't considered Geography in any of its forms. Both types sound interesting, though Human Geography seems like my kind of thing, especially if it can be mixed with more practical modules. I'll definitely put that on my list of things to research.

As for the writing: Yes, I'm going to stick with it no matter where my life takes me. It would be a bonus if anything comes from it in a practical sense, but I won't make the mistake of relying on it as a career choice. I've almost finished a short novel and I've got stuff up on various sites, so I'm keeping fairly active. Most of my favourite writers had rather eclectic lives in terms of employment.

Master_X said:
Then do it!
You cant ask other people what you want to be, only you know or may know that. Take a look online and look at jobs that you find interesting, see what qualifications they require and go from there.
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Oh, I know. I've looked. This is just another way of finding options.

coldfused said:
become a biochemist....?
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Not sure that's within my abilities, though my dad is a regular chemist. Like I said - didn't even do biology at school!

Ricochet J said:
From what I've just read I think you should study Mechanical Engineering. You'll be familiar with it since you're a 2D draughtsman at an engineering consultancy. The skills you learn are vastly transferrable, from going into aeronautics, civil, energy, banking, economics...it's literally vast.

It's intellectually stimulating and if you play your cards right you can end up on a handsome paypacket with Chartered Engineering status - a protected status which is recognised worldwide. Most grads generally land a job upon completing the course and there are oppertunities to move around the world, and seeing amazing things in engineering not many people would ever see. It's a rewarding career too as you can help shape communities.

One of the most rewarding careers I've seen is a Medical Engineer.
Click to expand...

I really wish I had the intelligence and determination to do something like this, but I've been mystified too many times by explanations of supposedly simple concepts at work. The consultancy is more geared toward process engineering than the other disciplines and my output has reflected that: predominantly P&IDs (process and instrumentation diagrams - basically glorified flowcharts) and layouts (overheads and elevations of platforms). I don't have much confidence in my ability with complex equations and so on.

Almost everyone in my family is a professional (doctor, dentist, chemist, programmer, teacher, physicist), some high up in their fields, and I feel like a retarded changeling in comparison.

eatcustard said:
Gigolo?
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Master_X said:
I dont think he wants to be a Monk :D
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Both potentially tempting for different reasons. (Un?)Fortunately I have a loving relationship with my wife that precludes both promiscuity and solitude.

Thanks for all the responses, by the way. There are some new things for me to consider.
 
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