After College...

[woolybug25]

I think he was pointing out more of the general posts of people telling those in this thread that we will most likely fail, and not reach our goals.

He specifically used the term, "dream" several times.

 

[Bishop2b5]

THANK YOU.


Sorry ya'll didn't live up to your dreams or goals or whatever. But when I have multiple people in the industry that I want to go into telling me what to expect the first 1, 2, 5 years, and they are people I've know for 10+ years? I think I have a decent handle on it.

Or just work till the inheritance kicks in... lol

I don't think anyone was trying to step on his dreams or be discouraging. It was mostly tongue-in-cheek joking about how we all had huge dreams at 22, but life and reality tend to get in the way and we end up just working for a living and dealing with dirty diapers, mortgages, bosses, and etc. instead of changing the world, winning a Nobel, or becoming the next Bill Gates.

 

[In Lou I Trust]

I highly suggest some of you join the military after you graduate. Officer or enlisted, doesn't matter.

You will be able to use the GI Bill to pay for any post secondary education you want not to mention the job training you will get for whichever job you choose (I recommend intelligence; you get a great clearance).

I also believe the services offer Student Loan Repayment Plans but I would double check. You also can use tuition assistance during your active duty that doesn't come out of the 9/11 GI BIll.

Something I would think about for some of you that can't find anything.

+1... especially the intelligence part. TS/SCI = $$$ Thanks, Uncle Sam!

 

[peoriairish]

Graduating in May from physical therapy school with my doctorate. I have a job lined up in an outpatient ortho clinic down here in St. Louis, so that's pretty neat. Loans are going to be fisting me in the *** for the foreseeable future (20 yrs).

 

[Irish2015]

No idea what I want to do in two years. Majoring in Finance but that's about it.

 

[jimmymac]

No idea what I want to do in two years. Majoring in Finance but that's about it.

Yeah same. I'm majoring in accounting and trying to decide between law school and working for a big 4 firm.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

Congrats man Im also a senior at XU. Its a great school and I hope youv'e enjoyed it. I'm a senator here and have really enjoyed it as well.

Respect that dude!! X for life!!

 

[TheRealLynch51]

To all the people giving advice on our careers, thank you. I respect your opinions, but if I listen to all of the negativity that has been thrown my way in life, I wouldn't be where I am today. Again, thanks for the advice, but I prefer to live my dream than give up before I even try.

 

[phillyirish]

I have no idea. I'm a sophomore at Temple probably going to major in accounting or finance. To be honest I hate both but I don't know what to do and they both have decent job markets and pay outlooks. I get the whole 'wasting your time if you don't know what your doing' or "do something you love" arguments but its basically a free degree with my financial aid so that's why i'm here.

As Grahambo mentioned, I might even join the military when I graduate-- that was always my dream as a kid to be in the military.

 

[Emcee77]

To all the people giving advice on our careers, thank you. I respect your opinions, but if I listen to all of the negativity that has been thrown my way in life, I wouldn't be where I am today. Again, thanks for the advice, but I prefer to live my dream than give up before I even try.

Lol funny to see this post ... I was just reading this thread trying to think if there was any advice I could give to recent grads, and I realized that the answer is probably no (and that's not the point of this thread anyway). I wouldn't have listened to any advice when I was graduating college. I was going to do what I was going to do.

You know, I've had a couple Thursday night drinks so I believe I will get philosophical. I guess I'll stand by the "do what you love" line. That advice is not always easy to follow because doing what you love doesn't always translate into a career very easily. I love books, so I went to grad school in English, but I learned I didn't want to be a teacher. I love the law, so I went to law school, but being a lawyer in a big firm didn't agree with me. Now I'm trying being a government lawyer, and that is going great so far, but it's unfortunate that I had to try out certain career paths to learn that by following them I was dooming myself to an unhappy, unfulfilling life. Sometimes I want to try to tell young people about my experience in hopes that they will be able to chart a more direct course to their dreams, but I realize that it likely won't help. It wouldn't have helped me when I was 22 ... I had to try the thing to know whether I liked it enough to do it enough to make it my profession. I guess that's the way it is. The best you can do is to work hard and know that nothing comes easy, but also know that nothing is worthwhile if it makes you unhappy -- and I don't mean stressed-out-because-it-is-hard unhappy (that is healthy unhappiness; it will be fleeting compared with your general satisfaction); I mean deeply, spiritually unhappy. For example, I have a couple friends who have been pushed into Big 4 public accounting due to family pressure, and these people have the rage that comes from leading an unfulfilling life (by the way, that is NOT a dig at public accounting; for many people it is a very fulfilling career, or at least the start of one ... just using a couple friends who happen coincidentally to be accountants as an example). Little things make them furious now. They've forgotten how to live and aren't fun to be around. Don't let that be you. Be happy.

...

Honey, can I have another bourbon and some tylenol?

 

[chicago51]

When get out of college I hopefully I plan on settling as physical therapist for a while.

I plan on continuing my volunteer work and continue to coach 7th and 8th graders. Try to make our program the best youth program on the North side both on and off the field.

When I get out of college, i'm gonna run for President... no back up plan... I plan on winning.

I also if should I win the powerball and get rich at some point I am going to run for Congress. Maybe I'll run against Wooley in the democrat primary for president and apparently lose because Wooley said he isn't losing. Maybe he will pick me to be his running mate.

 

[ND NYC]

"Re: Advice: Smart people dont need it...and fools never heed it"

 

[chubler]

I'm just gonna pretend that the real world isn't a thing and enjoy my 3.5 remaining years of undergrad...

As far as law school, my family/friends (the "old" ones) are all of the opinion that you're in for a long grind once you get out unless you either get lucky or have personal connections... on the other hand, I have a young uncle who graduated from law school 4 years ago and is now an extremely successful (in terms of results) worker's comp lawyer at a small firm in Minneapolis. He says if he wasn't "fighting for the common man" every day, he couldn't stand the work required to practice law... interesting way to look at it, no?

And as long as we're on the topic, anyone got advice on what to do during undergrad to maximize chances of getting into Med School? I realize I'm a 2nd-semester freshman, but I'm gonna be in enough debt coming out of ND that I need to have my sh*t together.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

Lol funny to see this post ... I was just reading this thread trying to think if there was any advice I could give to recent grads, and I realized that the answer is probably no (and that's not the point of this thread anyway). I wouldn't have listened to any advice when I was graduating college. I was going to do what I was going to do.

You know, I've had a couple Thursday night drinks so I believe I will get philosophical. I guess I'll stand by the "do what you love" line. That advice is not always easy to follow because doing what you love doesn't always translate into a career very easily. I love books, so I went to grad school in English, but I learned I didn't want to be a teacher. I love the law, so I went to law school, but being a lawyer in a big firm didn't agree with me. Now I'm trying being a government lawyer, and that is going great so far, but it's unfortunate that I had to try out certain career paths to learn that by following them I was dooming myself to an unhappy, unfulfilling life. Sometimes I want to try to tell young people about my experience in hopes that they will be able to chart a more direct course to their dreams, but I realize that it likely won't help. It wouldn't have helped me when I was 22 ... I had to try the thing to know whether I liked it enough to do it enough to make it my profession. I guess that's the way it is. The best you can do is to work hard and know that nothing comes easy, but also know that nothing is worthwhile if it makes you unhappy -- and I don't mean stressed-out-because-it-is-hard unhappy (that is healthy unhappiness; it will be fleeting compared with your general satisfaction); I mean deeply, spiritually unhappy. For example, I have a couple friends who have been pushed into Big 4 public accounting due to family pressure, and these people have the rage that comes from leading an unfulfilling life (by the way, that is NOT a dig at public accounting; for many people it is a very fulfilling career, or at least the start of one ... just using a couple friends who happen coincidentally to be accountants as an example). Little things make them furious now. They've forgotten how to live and aren't fun to be around. Don't let that be you. Be happy.

...

Honey, can I have another bourbon and some tylenol?

Great advice. Some of the only constructive advice on here.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

This sight is somewhat depressing with not good job prospects. But, as far as being a lawyer, I have planned on being a lawyer for about 5 years now. I have studied latin and greek and am currently a philosophy major. I read boring documents for dinner and spend my nights in a library (which I plan on doing next year as well. I know its a really good way to meet a woman). I rewrote a constitution for my SGA at school as well. I have also been on high importance disciplinary cases where I have kicked people out of Xavier based on evidence. I know what it takes to be a lawyer. I am going for two state schools so it wont be too expensive. I have also told friends that an inkling about being a lawyer not to do it if they even had a doubt. I completely get what you are saying. But I also generally know the pain I am getting myself into.

There's nothing wrong with being a lawyer man. You just have to factor in that, at the moment, the odds are that your first job out will pay you about $30k. You could make a lot more, or less, but that's the state of the profession. If that's ok, then God speed.

If there's one piece of advice it's this -- dont try and do anything sports related. Seriously. Everybody. Every year you see all these people trying to be sports agents, or broadcasters, or GM's or whatever. It ain't gonna happen. The industry is too small. You might as well want to be in porn or something.

You have to pick a real industry if you want the best chance of not living in your mom's basement.

 

[Grahambo]

I have no idea. I'm a sophomore at Temple probably going to major in accounting or finance. To be honest I hate both but I don't know what to do and they both have decent job markets and pay outlooks. I get the whole 'wasting your time if you don't know what your doing' or "do something you love" arguments but its basically a free degree with my financial aid so that's why i'm here.

As Grahambo mentioned, I might even join the military when I graduate-- that was always my dream as a kid to be in the military.

Best 5 years of my life and wouldn't trade it for anything. Your resume looks so much better too.

 

[gkautz10]

I also majored in accounting. My advice is to check into public accounting to make sure that is for you. The life sucks for about 50% of the year as I know first hand with my roommate just passing his CPA exam and working from 8-9 everyday right now. The public accounting like is not for everyone. It really puts a strain on your relationships. The Big 4 firms could care less about you and your life. It looks great on a resume but you are selling your sole to the devil.
As far as those saying that we will all most likely fail, sorry that you never achieved your goals. There are plenty of people that are living their dreams, making great money doing it, and love the work. It is called persistence and hard work. Don't give up on your dreams because some prick on here told us all how much his life sucks.

 

[ND NYC]

to you "youngins"...the 2 most important decisions you will make in your life in terms of your happiness (what else really matters?) are:

-career path you choose
-who you marry

and not necessarily in that order

 

[Irish Houstonian]

to you "youngins"...the [3] most important decisions you will make in your life in terms of your happiness (what else really matters?) are:

-career path you choose
-who you marry
-[whether you commit a felony]

and not necessarily in that order

Might throw that one in there. Results may vary.

 

[Emcee77]

to you "youngins"...the 2 most important decisions you will make in your life in terms of your happiness (what else really matters?) are:

-career path you choose
-who you marry

and not necessarily in that order

this is a great point ... and the two may be related. Not that you would choose who you marry based on your career path (LOL) but you will probably make career decisions based in part on input from your spouse. And if you pick the right lady, career doesn't matter so much anyway.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

I graduate in May form the University of Tennessee, with a Logistics Major.

No idea what I want to do with my life besides go on a bunch of cool adventures. I have an interview tomorrow with a 3PL in Chicago, so something might come out of that.

Who knows what the future holds.

what 3pl?

 

[BeauBenken]

For talks of joining the military, it's not bad idea. My brother just got his Master's last spring, but has now decided to go into the Navy and possibly do even more schooling. It's not going to be that bad of a gig for him once he's finally in.

 

[Walter White]

what 3pl?

ATG. You work for a 3pl?

 

[Emcee77]

There's nothing wrong with being a lawyer man. You just have to factor in that, at the moment, the odds are that your first job out will pay you about $30k. You could make a lot more, or less, but that's the state of the profession. If that's ok, then God speed.

If there's one piece of advice it's this -- dont try and do anything sports related. Seriously. Everybody. Every year you see all these people trying to be sports agents, or broadcasters, or GM's or whatever. It ain't gonna happen. The industry is too small. You might as well want to be in porn or something.

You have to pick a real industry if you want the best chance of not living in your mom's basement.

Lol this post is spot-on. Being a lawyer isn't bad at all ... you just have to find your niche. Admittedly, this can be hard to do. As Houstonian says, a lot of the really sexy specialties are super-small and difficult to get into. I was around a bunch of people who wanted to do entertainment law/"soft IP" (trademarks and copyrights) and there's just not much growth in that field, so jobs are pretty limited, and the jobs there are aren't the ones these people wanted (It's really hard to become one of Jay-Z's lawyers, lol.) This is why I always say keep your debt load low ... it may turn out that your niche is in something that doesn't pay very well, and if so, you'll be glad you aren't under a mountain of debt. But even if you have to sell out for a fat paycheck for a few years to pay down some debt, it's not the end of the world. In fact, you may end up liking the thing you sell out to do! I had one friend who graduated from ND law and really wanted to do sports law (Houstonian is laughing), but couldn't find the right gig, so she took a BigLaw job doing employee benefits law--and she freaking loves it, and is still doing it like 8 years later. Also, the job market seems to be turning around at least a tiny bit. I wouldn't advise people to go into law, but I wouldn't discourage them either if they felt called to the profession, as long as they know what they are getting into, and Houstonian said it all.

 

[Grahambo]

For talks of joining the military, it's not bad idea. My brother just got his Master's last spring, but has now decided to go into the Navy and possibly do even more schooling. It's not going to be that bad of a gig for him once he's finally in.

He will be able to use military tuition assistance while he's in to complete schooling, have access to the post 9/11 GI Bill which is amazing, and get training in a career of his choosing which also adds professional experience to his resume.

Any idea what job he wants to get?

EDIT: For all you lawyers...J.A.G.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

To everyone trying to work in TV/Sports: Alex Flanagan actually has a good post about this on her blog.

So you want my job, first be my runner…and take it seriously. < Blog | Alex Flanagan

I'm in law school right now, halfway done. My recommendation is go to the absolute best law school you possibly can, OR take money from a worse-ranked law school. I did the latter, and will be nearly debt free coming out of law school.

The first year is toughest. But if you get good grades for literally one year, it opens up a ton of doors and you have swag. That's why there is pressure, b/c if you struggle your first/second semester you are already way behind in the game.

 

[ACamp1900]

My goal was to land a job that paid the most money that allowed for the largest amount of video gaming time... funny how things don't change that much.....