I'm recently entering college, and my goal is to use what I learn in college to improve society (Civil Engineering Major). I want to know, for others who went to college to improve society, if they feel they are any closer to achieving their goal, and if so, how they are going about it.

For me, I chose civil engineering as a major because I want to help design a city. So I'm going to learn about the design of transportation layouts, buildings and resource systems. This year will be all the prerequisite courses, while my sophomore and junior years will really drill the engineering courses. My final year is supposed to be an all-out research and development project. I'm excited, but at the same time, nervous.

So, for you, what is your dream? Your major? And how do they combine?

This thread is immediately relevant to my interests.

As an upcoming undecided engineering major I have no idea what my dream is, really. It never really occurred to me.

I originally signed up for Biomedical because I was interested in working on prosthetics. The reason I'm undecided is I realistically don't think I can handle the amount of work ethic it requires, because I've been known to be lazy even when devoted to something. This may be a conscious or an unconscious thing, but either way, until I can break that habit I don't trust myself to go through with it... Biomed is arguably the hardest and most intensive engineering major. Frankly the idea of pursuing it is daunting.

More realistically I was considering Electrical Engineering, but I don't think I can immediately link that with a cause that betters society. I'll think about it harder.

For now I have to cope with college itself, going in with less of a plan and more of a general idea, but I'll be sure to get back to you if I have some sort of epiphany regarding my place in life and society.

Aw man, too bad i'm not taking engineering. :T although i could since i'm not going tu college....YET. rawrdeeharharhar :3

but still, thought i should bump this thread a little higher, it's interesting cuz it duz haf questions not concerning just those already in college and those going to college and even those not in college....YET :U

as for my dream? hm, das be a hard one, i really want to do everything cuz i just cunt no decide. Major? hm, mehbe business and social engineering. I think it could really help me since irl im a little....'shy' so i just want to bust out and force myself to be, well, THIS kaori. :D also it'd be nice to go into psychology and maybe, just maybe, politics. :T >2 you shulds invent stufffffff 8D

Unfortunately, I have one more year of High School left before i'm off to college. What better time to think about stuff like this, though?

I'll be majoring in International Affairs and Japanese, then minoring in another language I haven't decided on yet. I'm hoping to be a translator/interpreter/foreign ambassador or something along those lines, but I don't care which as long as I get to travel around the world. Traveling around the world is the only pretty solid dream I have, so I'd like to do my best to see as much of the world as possible.

>>2 I guess the only way you'll know if you want to do biomed for sure would be to sit down with someone from the field and get to really know the nature of the work. If you become motivated by what you'll be able to do, then I'm sure you'll have a renewed motivation in tackling that level of study. On another note, electrical engineering would be a good choice because you could get into something like the mass production of LEDs. As it stands, most countries are planning on phasing out incandescent lights in 2012, and LEDs are now being found in literally everything because of the massive amounts of energy they save. The downside is their expense, but if better methods of production can be outlined then that can really advance the distribution of LEDs, making them far more affordable. I think that could help society a lot.

>>3 That's a really cool idea. To me, it sounds like you'll be able to foster personal growth and then use it to rally others, and I like that idea. To me it sounds like you could easily go into social activism and maybe get into government and change something big. So I wish you all the best.

>>4 That's pretty cool. Translators are playing a big role in the global economy now, as foreign relations between Asian, North American and European powers continue to grow. I would recommend Indian or Chinese as your second, as a lot of growth is coming from India and China. :)

My major is Plant, Soil, and Environmental science. My goal with that degree is to teach underdeveloped countries how to properly grow food and use the resources they have wisely, or stay in the states to do research on various crops and how to make them more productive. I really haven't decided yet, but I already have some research experience due to a internship I had. I would really like to travel overseas, but it just depends on opportunities that are available at the time of my graduation (which will be in December).

>>6 That's really awesome. Have you heard of the Desert Rose Project? It's this idea to re-cultivate deserts. It may be something you want to look into.

http://www.claverton-energy.com/desert-rose-project-trees-water-and-food-and-fuel-maybe-from-the-desert.html

>>7 That's pretty cool o_o
Guys don't hate me, or anything, but i want to be a general surgeon so i could provide free services funded by donations to third world countries in need...how do you think i'll live?

I'm starting college this fall, so I don't have a major yet. But I'm very interested in History and Literature, so I'll probably double major in that. I'm still open to changes though, depending on how I find other subjects once I start college (I mean, I was so sure I'd do Biology and Forensics up until sophomore year of high school, so nothing is ever set in stone). I previously thought I would end up majoring in a language, like French (since I find it awesome, but know nothing of it yet since I was forced to take Latin in high school [learned nothing]), but I found out I could minor in as many languages as I wanted! Or, I could always just takes courses in languages and be considered proficient in it.

All in all, I seem to be leaning towards doing International Relations, which is something I'm seriously considering in the future. But as of now, I aim to be a teacher, probably of History or English. Luckily, there's a five-year teaching program at my school which will earn me a certificate to teach in my state and in as many subjects as I will take the tests for.

Basically, my dream is to be a teacher and maybe, later on, work internationally somehow (perhaps as a diplomat or some other U.N. job). Both goals are in my genes, so it makes sense that I really love teaching and even just seeing people learn. I want to help in spreading knowledge and helping people understand the different histories of the world and how it's shaped everything. I also love traveling, which works for me if I wanna take my profession to other countries. The only problem is that I know it'll be difficult to have a family if I'm always on the job. And being a mom, as weird as that may sound, has been the only thing I was always sure I wanted to become.

>>8 In doing that, you'll probably end up either with a Mission organization or with something like the Peace Corps. It's a lot of work, and you'll be living a frugal life for the most part. Your biggest challenge will be paying off your university bills. You could go through the Armed Forces first, or try to get a job in the states, pay off the bills, then go abroad. It's an admirable goal, but there will be challenges involved.

>>9 One option could be a government agency. That way you get to meet with political figures of other countries to aid in diplomacy, and you can still have a family. You'd probably have to live somewhere like New York though.

I'm undeclared and I don't have a dream. I'm blindly thrusting myself into college life and hoping I don't become a hobo.

>>12 Well, perhaps you just haven't found it yet. I mean, there has to be something you're really passionate about.

So I'm studying PR, which besides teaching me how to make politicians, rock stars and whatever company look good, I can use to get involved in humanitarian campaign type things, NGOs and organizing events for these kinds of things.

But at the moment I really don't know what I want to do. I'm just fumbling around without much purpose. Even when choosing this major (I guess that's what I'd call it even though the system's different over here) I wasn't really convinced about it. So I guess I'm one of those people who still hasn't found what she's looking for.

I'm going for poolice officer to help clean up the streets.

Interesting topic.
Anyway, I'm currently studying as a BS chemistry student because the subject had greatly interested me; though I still can't decide if after taking the licensure exam, I should continue it to masterals, or have myself take medicine... or maybe do it both. I have less than two years before I graduate to think about it but for now I just want to finish this. I think that's how my dream is probably is; to finish the course, get a stable job, help my parents, then help everyone else I could. Not much of a plan but heck, I'm as easy going as that.

>>13 There's nothing I'm passionate about. I don't have any strengths either. I'm mediocre at everything.

I used to enjoy writing, until I realized I wasn't good at it...plus there's no (reliable) work in it...

>>14 Even if you don't do humanitarian things, it might be interesting to see how working with rockstars and politicians could be used to change the world indirectly. Benefit concerts such as Live Earth (2007, 2008) are missive events and PR plays a major role. So it's something to look into if you want to dig deeper into the field. Of course, if this isn't what you're looking for, there is still some time to change it.

>>15 That's good! I wish you all the best.

>>16 It works out just fine. :) I think it's a noble goal, wanting to start at just helping your family. As for whether or not you want to do materials or medicine, chemistry really lends itself to materials, but biochemistry lends itself to medicine. Personally I think Materials is better to get into since our physical resources are important, but it's up to you. I wish you all the best.

>>17 Just because there isn't much work in writing doesn't mean you can't become passionate about it. And if you feel like your writing is flawed, do what anyone does with a flaw: fix it. In my opinion, I think you should look into a communications major. Who knows? It may be just what you were looking for, or at least it will point you in a new direction. I wish you good luck. :)

>>18 Thanks.

>>18 Yeah, it's a very versatile field though it does have its bad sides. I just hope that I'll have the opportunity to find something I actually believe in to promote. I only just finished my first year so I'll figure it out as I go, it's not in my nature to make too many plans.

Just putting this out here: I really appreciate all the effort you're putting into giving everyone here advice, Mkoller. I'll be sure to take it into consideration, as it's especially helpful to those with less of a tangible focus on their career. For someone recently entering college, you sure have done your research on a lot of different topics.

Good luck to you and everyone else on their goals, whatever they may be.

>>7 Thanks, Ill be sure to check it out!

>>21 I feel like that's one thing The Dollars are here for: a sort of collaborative think-tank on what can be done. And I know that many of us here are here to change something, so I want to help be part of that collaborative effort. Plus, I know that there will be others like me who will give advice, and in turn, I will one day receive advice when I truly need it. Everything is interconnected, they say.

That said, I wholeheartedly welcome the advice of people who've already gone through college. That's kind of what this thread is about; I'm still something of a college newbie myself! XD

Currently in a Social Service Worker program. Think it speaks for itself. Not sure exactly what field I'd be most interested in, but I'm starting a placement in a few weeks at an organization called TransformNation.

http://www.transformnation-inc.com/

>>24 That's really admirable! Keep up the spectacular work and thanks for posting the link. Hopefully others, such as fellow Dollars, can join in your cause.

Bumping for others.

>>11 I love New York, though, so that works! My teaching license is going to be for New Jersey anyways :D

International relations! I'll be busy influencing the world.

Bump!

I can't wait till I go to collage! Currently im in the military so they can help pay for it. I wont be in collage for another 5-6 years but im planing to study nuclear medicine when I do; maby I can find a new inspiration through this topic.

I'm going into highschool this year, but I plan to be an accountant. Just because.

>>31 Good luck. xD The job market in accounting is really great, you'll make a good salary and the work's relatively easy. My sister does the accounting for the store she works at and she doesn't even have a degree in it. It's just really tedious is all. D:

>>32 - I PLAN TO BE AN ASIAN AND JUST DO MATH ALL DAY. ALL. DAY. AAAAALLLLLLLLL DAAAAAYYY /shot Anyways, yeah, I have to do better than my brother in exams during that time. At least 98% on exams. Geh.

I'm Asian, and I suck at math. T^T
I'm in college and taking BS in Medical Laboratory Science.

Nope, apparently my future has now been changed

I'm teaching a 17 year old how to use facebook.

>35 Did you know you can buy a book called Facebook for Dummies? iLol'd.

But really. HOW DO PEOPLE THAT AGE. 3 YEARS OLDER THAN ME. NOT KNOW HOW TO FUNCTION FACEBOOK. IN THIS SOCIETY. THIS. SHITTY. SOCIET- I'm raging in the wrong thread.

Not having a computer of their own?

>>8 Oh my gosh, you.
Have you heard of Mercy Ships? Volunteer healthcare providers giving free aid to people worldwide! :D I'd volunteer myself.. but then I remembered I hate science :V hurr.
http://www.mercyships.org/pages/about-us

Anywayz, Kanna will probably do something house-y like interior design. I've often wondered why people use so much space that they don't need.... I want to make everything more efficient for everyone~

>>38 - They have their own laptop and iphone

same here I look to aid anyone in need

use what we acquire in college to really kick some butt!

>>39 I agree that efficiency is very important. I had a design I made as part of my high school Senior Project. I'll post it here so that if I fail to realize, someone else can continue the idea. There's some other components so if anyone's interested email me at mkollersms@gmail.com

I would also recommend if you haven't already, try learning how to use Google Sketchup and/or AutoCAD

Bump.

I'm actually entering college in about 3 weeks as a freshman Art major.

>>1

enjoy never having a job and making under 100k a year.

bump. btw 'anonymous' i know who u are. ur ID is the only one with 'wuk' at the front. stop trolling everwhere.

Bump.

I'm going to college tomorrow. D: I'm so nervous. I hope my roommates don't show up cause I want first dibs on the bed. xD

bump

>>45 Niggaplz. Starting salary is $50K, tops at around 80K for B.S. recipients, and over 100K for M.S. recipients. And the demand for engineers is outpacing the supply of engineers. Times could not be better.

>>48 Leave at 4AM?

bump

Bumpage.

Bump~

I'm in my third quarter of culinary school right now.
Oh question does anyone know how to write a two page paper on the history of one food item, because to me you can only write so much about the history of a single piece of food.

Going to an Art College currently.
I'm in my first year still. I'm not sure on what I want to major in though.
If all goes according to plan, I'll get a Bachelor of Fine Arts when I'm done.

I don't know about careers either. I'm thinking maybe tattoo artist.
I don't really care about bettering society through my career though. Too much work.

>>55 One food item? If it were a dish, that'd be easier. But if it's just an item, then the potato would be good. You could go in the different cultures that don't eat potatoes because they're related to a poisonous plant, and how people came to eat potatoes and the types of dishes they're used in.

I'm going into linguistics - ever since I was really little I've been playing with words and languages. Which is kind of odd for me now because I seem to be unable to explain things and put sentences together aloud in English without completely messing up or forgetting what I was going to say. But when I'm writing, things come out much better. Go figure. But I love languages, and I'd love to find a way to bring the people of the world together through language, studying what language can say about a culture, that sort of thing.

>>58 I'm kind of the same way. On paper everything seems to flow but when speaking it's hard to lock onto one single train of thought. Perhaps it's because we speak slowly and that impedes our minds, while we write or type much faster and our brain doesn't have to slow down to keep pace, or something. I dunno, really. When I write it feels like I'm rambling but whatever.

It's definitely an interesting field you're going into. Perhaps you'll be able to travel a lot, in which case it would serve you well.

TO THE FUTURE! Yaaaay

Oh, this thread, there you are.

I took my first classes this past week and I've been living on campus. It's not as nerve-wracking as I originally thought it would be, and I dare say it's fun. I also live right across the street from our nice new dining hall, so that may have relieved some of the tension.

As an update to my first post in this thread (>>2), I decided in the end to go with Electrical Engineering, and I can't wait for these circuit diagrams to start making sense.

>>58 >>59 I agree with you there. I speak similarly to how I type, that is, unnecessarily verbosely, but I do it with much less fluidity. I naturally stumble over words because one simply can't form them as fast as one can think them. I come out sounding like a typical nerdy kid who's had too much time alone in a room with a dictionary ; ~;
...In hindsight to typing that though, I don't think I sound that nerdy, just somewhat awkward when speaking for long periods of time.

Because you get free reign over what you say, how you say it, and in what order when you're writing (unlike speaking, which is quite unforgivable temporally), I'd say it's justified how much some people rant in text form. It's liberating.

I like linguistics, though I can't say I consider it a passion like you do, Kiwi. But even though I find pleasure in word flow and vocabulary, however, I somewhat dislike poetry. Go figure.

>>61 First off, I'm jelly. I still have 20 days. Congrats on your decision to major in EE, though.

le gasp. electric engineer? :U dus that mean u'll be deh man who goes outside my house and fixes dem telefono poles? Or dus dat mean u'll be deh man who goes wid deh architecture and plans out hao deh elect-uh-ter-isity goes through mah house? :O Well, good luck in bigger big kid skewl o/

>>63 EE can be anything from transmission lines to communications to nuclear sciences. Circuit diagrams can be used for computer instrumentation, signal processing, or distribution of electric power in a system.

>>63 >>64
I'd like to actually take a route that's closely tied with computer science aspects, at least for now. CS is what I've been accustomed to, and what was my major choice until I considered engineering at all. I chose EE because that would still be an option when applying for jobs. Companies tend to make assumptions about people based on their degree, albeit sometimes incorrectly - and EE majors tend to have a background in coding.

This way, I'll have the option to be someone who fixes "telefono poles" AND the option to be the one to code the software that goes with the hardware. But that's thinking way far ahead. For all I know, by the end I'll want to be a nuclear scientist as MKOLLER says. That's what the first classes are for - testing the waters.

>>65 so can you still makeh deh ice cream wid a EE majour, sir?
o-o

Well, if peepoh jist make dem assumptions all deh time, aint that mean any'un could jist do possibleh any job dat would be fit in a certain field? .o. wait dus 'at make senses? :/ im gunna major everything nao. IM GUNS RULE DEH COSTA RICA.

>>66 The good thing about most engineering fields is they intertwine not only with other engineering fields, but with non-engineering related fields. Electrical, Mechanical and Civil engineers, for example, all take many similar classes in college, and are placed on similar design teams in the field. Meanwhile, engineers can also get into business, economics, law, medicine, teaching, etc. with their degrees and minor certifications under their belts.

im current trying to get a doctors in electrical engineering, but i have no goals. I`m just trying to get through to live as soon as possible.

You mean a doctorate?
Wow, you have to be what, 28?

At the moment I'm almost finished with my AA in Psychology and I plan to take this as far as I can go, my PhD is the ultimate goal. I want to use it to do what I can to help people figure out why they are the way they are and to accept others and themselves as individuals. I'm so sick of generalization and stereotypes as the answer as to how to deal with people. This shouldn't be allowed since everyone is different and each situation should be treated as such. (Sorry, got all ranty and friendship speechy here.)

>>67 That's exactly why I decided on it in lieu of straight CS. I like to keep my options open to all those things, just in case I decide to change my mind. It won't make me lose years of school that way.

>>68 You're what
Don't take it the wrong way when I say I didn't expect that from you.
I'm shooting for a masters degree myself, not going all the way to a phd. Masters is all I really need for a decent job in my field - it's not like I'm going to be a professor. I'm interested in the subject but not enraptured by it.

>>70 Psychology major? That's an admirable goal you have, it would be interesting to see it put into application.
You could always get your practice in the rage and expression threads :P

Misuto, maybe if an advice board gets made I can camp there. XD

As far as I can tell, the only real fields that require a Ph.D are major research facilities and college professors. Yes, it's possible to get stipends that pay you to attend college for those extra years, but I dunno if it's really worth it.

That said, I'll only go for an M.S. in Civil if I absolutely positively need it.

I've always been an artist and a storyteller since i could talk or pick up a pencil. I'm going to be majoring in Game Art and Design most likely, perhaps illustration or something similar. I want to start my own game company someday and write webcomics before/during that :)

(i've also always wanted to write a manga >.> maybe that'll be the webcomic)

Starting a company is a lot of work, but the efforts can be well worth it. And who knows? Maybe you can find members of the Dollars on here who would join you in partnership to make something amazing. Also, the internet is a good medium to get your work out, so just find your niche and use what works. :)

Ghost: I write in my free time, I wish I could draw though. The best I might be able to do there is copying art for manga or something like that. When only a little tweek is needed, other than that I can't draw my own things. I love to write story line though it's another passion of mine. XD

Bumpin'

it's nice to have a goal as in improving society. But sadly that;s not really what's going to happen MKOLLER. It's just human nature. Mankind is born selfish, that's alll there is to it. But still, knowing there are people like you out there is a nice change of pace too. hope more people will be like you.

This thread hasn't been active for almost a year, wow.
Seems like a lot of people would be interested in knowing more about colleges, given the respective age thread.
Time for a bump.

As for myself, I'm going for an Arts and Technology major at the University of Texas at Dallas. The major involves Animation and Gaming, and my particular field is in level design for video games. I'm particularly used to using Autodesk products to achieve this, considering that it's available at home and on campus.

I'm applying to colleges right now. I have my dream school, George Washington University in DC and then all the others I don't care much about. Anyway, in answer to the original question, my dream changes on a daily basis, but I'll go with the medical version for the purpose of this thread. I went to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in California for NYLF last year and fell in love. I want to work in an ER. Or possibly in research (like I said, can't decide). Anyway, I plan on majoring in biology and then going into med school. I don't think I have to explain how those combine.

I have been in college for over a month now and wish to major in computer science and make games.

I'm currently on my third year of computer engineering. Lots of (in)decisions on how I decided that.
Throughout high school, I had no real idea of what to study come university. My first idea was to be an auto mechanic. While that obviously wasn't a firm plans, taking a class in grade 11 made me realize that taking apart stuff is really fun. So my university applications say that I'm applying for civil engineering, because that's where the jobs are at. at the same time, my hobby was computers. Not so much with doing full on projects, but mostly tinkering with a whole lot of devices. It got to a point that I accidentally locked out the school network for just over 24 hours. When I had to review my case with the vice principal, the first thing he said to my university plans was that he expected me to be in software engineering. By first semester in my first year, I did find that software engineering was for me, so I switched over by the end of the year. Two years later, and here I am.

So... yah its me again I know I said I wanted to major in computer science, but im not really sure anymore I entered as an undecided student and still am. For those in college who were undecided how did you decide what to major in?

^im deciding by taking classes related to subjects i find interesting, like psychology, astronomy(mightve been astrology), etc. It isnt the best method, seeing as some professors teach different than others, giving a different expperience, blah blah blah, but it gives a initial feel to how that subject is, making it slightly easier in deciding whether or not you want to follow that path.

I'm already in my first year of college and my major is Japanese. What I want to do next? Honestly, I have no idea. I mean, I've always loved foreign languages and this is what I do best. So my guess is I could work in an embassy as a translator or something related and, I really hope, that I can fulfill my dream of becoming a writer. Maybe it sounds lame to some, but this is what I really wish for. So yeah, that's the idea...

My dream is pretty simple - I want to see lots of different places, do new things & meet new people. Right now I'm studying Photography at college; I want to be a photographer for a specific magazine but I'm not sure how I'll live off that, journalism is a possibility. Or that may become secondary to something else.

I want to be a photographer as well. but i need to apply to a college. Most likly Pikes Peak Community College.

does anyone know any good Scholorships out there?

>>88 i go on fastweb.com and cappex.com.

>>88 There's a blogging scholarship.

http://www.collegescholarships.org/our-scholarships/blogging.htm

>>89 >>90 Thank guys for the help and I dont have a blog unless you count this.

>>91
Depends on your income, you might qualify for FAFSA.

I know this thread is long dead, but I'm a history major right now. I plan on using the degree to join the Officer's Training school of the U.S. Marines. That's the goal, now for the work.

Bio major here. I'm also getting a government minor for shits and giggles.

Was wondering about people's colleges and majors the other day, so I'm doing to take the liberty to necro this. It's still a very viable topic and I'm sure I'm not the only one interested.

What college do you attend, or for the few who are still in HS, what college would you like to attend? Majors of interest?