Need College Help

[TheCowboy]

I have not started college yet, still only 5 months away, but I am looking at changing my major. My current major is Criminal Justice because I wanted to be a correctional officer but looking at it further there really is no point to go to college for it in Texas. I was not too excited at the level of pay for that profession either. I was looking at FBI jobs, CIA, DEA, ICE and they all just sound extremely strenuous. Their pay is not bad, but I don't like the idea of relocating very much.

I need some help regarding what has the best job market coming out of college. Good pay and benefits are also important. I have heard that I should stay away from business majors such as marketing, entrepreneurship, ect. Some majors that I have heard that are good are computer programming (which is difficult, yes I know but the pay is very good), social working, and technology.

I know as time changes, some need for workers may change as well. I am not sure as to what job has the best market right now. I am currently in the UNT class of 2017 but I think I can still change if a change in school is needed. I am not a big fan of medical fields, but I do have a 3.5 GPA right now. I would also like to stay somewhere in the DFW area for the job. Thank you all for your help!! Very much appreciated

 

[Duane]

Accountants and Engineers are always in demand.

 

[TheCowboy]

Accountants and Engineers are always in demand.

Accounting is also what I am looking at. I wouldn't mind the Statistics field but not sure how their demand is.

 

[Tabascocat]

Accounting, engineering, medical, computers just to name a few. It doesn't matter what your degree is in if you wanted to look into correctional/police work after you graduate. A criminal justice degree is not necessary and I had a few friends get into the academy with degrees in political science, biology and education. You only need 60 hours too and it doesn't matter which major it is.

As a side note.....after you graduate, it is more of a who you know and not what you know to get a good job. I have a close friend with a poly sci degree who got into medical equipment sales(Smiths Medical) through a friend and he knew nothing about medicine/science at all. A few years later, he is cleaning up financially.

I was confused myself through my junior year on what major to get. I changed from architecture to math to accounting and settled on biology/chemistry. I accumulated well over 220 hours in college because I was always changing my mind, so you are not alone.

IMO, get a degree of any kind, that is the most important piece of paper you will ever receive. Any degree mixed in with some street smarts and common sense, the world will be your oyster.

 

[TheCowboy]

Accounting, engineering, medical, computers just to name a few. It doesn't matter what your degree is in if you wanted to look into correctional/police work after you graduate. A criminal justice degree is not necessary and I had a few friends get into the academy with degrees in political science, biology and education. You only need 60 hours too and it doesn't matter which major it is.

As a side note.....after you graduate, it is more of a who you know and not what you know to get a good job. I have a close friend with a poly sci degree who got into medical equipment sales(Smiths Medical) through a friend and he knew nothing about medicine/science at all. A few years later, he is cleaning up financially.

I was confused myself through my junior year on what major to get. I changed from architecture to math to accounting and settled on biology/chemistry. I accumulated well over 220 hours in college because I was always changing my mind, so you are not alone.

IMO, get a degree of any kind, that is the most important piece of paper you will ever receive. Any degree mixed in with some street smarts and common sense, the world will be your oyster.

Thanks man. Advice will be taken. I might cancel UNT this fall to attend either Angelina college, Hill College, Kilgore College or Northeast Texas Community College for their 2+2 program. UNT is about $25,000 a year for me right now so the change would really help. Not sure about community colleges themselves but to save that much money I wouldn't mind. They all have dorms in them which is what I am looking for.

Also the accounting jobs I am looking at require experience. Mostly all of them. What would you do coming out of college with your 4-year degree and 0 experience?

 

[Tabascocat]

Also the accounting jobs I am looking at require experience. Mostly all of them. What would you do coming out of college with your 4-year degree and 0 experience?

The cattle call of the accounting world...HR Block
You could always look into a large restaurant or a small chain and do bookkeeping for them for a bit. You will have to deal with that for a couple of years, exp is needed often. This is where "who you know" comes into play.

Maybe pledge a fraternity, I did and a lot of connections are formed this way. Just don't go crazy and lose a baseball scholarship like I did early on, heh. Started at UT and had to finish at UH

 

[Supercowboy1986]

Thanks man. Advice will be taken. I might cancel UNT this fall to attend either Angelina college, Hill College, Kilgore College or Northeast Texas Community College for their 2+2 program. UNT is about $25,000 a year for me right now so the change would really help. Not sure about community colleges themselves but to save that much money I wouldn't mind. They all have dorms in them which is what I am looking for.

Also the accounting jobs I am looking at require experience. Mostly all of them. What would you do coming out of college with your 4-year degree and 0 experience?

as much as i wish i planned better for the future (did my 4 years of college at the University of Texas @ Austin) i do NOT regret getting a few student loans to finish up at a big university. going to a big university was by far the best decision i ever made. you can not put a price tag on the college experience, life lessons, and really learning about yourself and the world around you. yeah you need to pass your classes and study but attending college at a major university really molded me to the person i am today. I began as a EE (electrical engineering) major and i changed numerous times while still being able to graduate in 4 years! I ended finishing with a degree in sociology with a minor in business and i currently work for the federal government. I make a really nice living, I am in the best shape in my life, I drive a really nice car, and I have a very attractive long term girlfriend soon to be finace.


What I am trying to say is do not let finances be the sole reason that you do not go to a major university and end up at a community/junior college. I promise you going to a CC/JC is not the college experience, and you only have one life to live. Do your work, seek advice, and always keep your ego in check and everything else will fall into place.

 

[Tabascocat]

What I am trying to say is do not let finances be the sole reason that you do not go to a major university and end up at a community/junior college. I promise you going to a CC/JC is not the college experience, and you only have one life to live. Do your work, seek advice, and always keep your ego in check and everything else will fall into place.

Great advice too but a lot of ppl attend JC for two years and head on to a major university. Some don't have the finances to pay for four years and some do not meet the requirements to get financial aid. Some of those students, who do not meet the req's, also have bad credit and can't get loans. It really is a tricky situation these days, tuition is ridiculous. Sacrifices will need to be made to get that degree(Bachelors) and it will be well worth it in the end.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Business or nursing are always up there in demand. And yeah, you really don't need a degree to be a corrections officer. I wouldn't waste your education on criminal justice. It's big business. But if you want to thrive in that, become a criminal defense lawyer.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

as much as i wish i planned better for the future (did my 4 years of college at the University of Texas @ Austin) i do NOT regret getting a few student loans to finish up at a big university. going to a big university was by far the best decision i ever made. you can not put a price tag on the college experience, life lessons, and really learning about yourself and the world around you. yeah you need to pass your classes and study but attending college at a major university really molded me to the person i am today. I began as a EE (electrical engineering) major and i changed numerous times while still being able to graduate in 4 years! I ended finishing with a degree in sociology with a minor in business and i currently work for the federal government. I make a really nice living, I am in the best shape in my life, I drive a really nice car, and I have a very attractive long term girlfriend soon to be finace.


What I am trying to say is do not let finances be the sole reason that you do not go to a major university and end up at a community/junior college. I promise you going to a CC/JC is not the college experience, and you only have one life to live. Do your work, seek advice, and always keep your ego in check and everything else will fall into place.

UT was a great experience for me too. I wouldn't trade my education from there either. It shaped my perspective on a lot of things.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

Great advice too but a lot of ppl attend JC for two years and head on to a major university. Some don't have the finances to pay for four years and some do not meet the requirements to get financial aid. Some of those students, who do not meet the req's, also have bad credit and can't get loans. It really is a tricky situation these days, tuition is ridiculous. Sacrifices will need to be made to get that degree(Bachelors) and it will be well worth it in the end.

True, but from my experience everyone I know who wanted to do the 2 year then transfer route only one person actually did it. All the others I knew just did a few semesters and stopped going. I am not sure how you comitted you are (you mentioned having a 3.5 so you must be somewhat of a good student) but if you are okay with grinding out the first two years then good luck sir

 

[Supercowboy1986]

as much as i wish i planned better for the future (did my 4 years of college at the University of Texas @ Austin) i do NOT regret getting a few student loans to finish up at a big university. going to a big university was by far the best decision i ever made. you can not put a price tag on the college experience, life lessons, and really learning about yourself and the world around you. yeah you need to pass your classes and study but attending college at a major university really molded me to the person i am today. I began as a EE (electrical engineering) major and i changed numerous times while still being able to graduate in 4 years! I ended finishing with a degree in sociology with a minor in business and i currently work for the federal government. I make a really nice living, I am in the best shape in my life, I drive a really nice car, and I have a very attractive long term girlfriend soon to be finace.


What I am trying to say is do not let finances be the sole reason that you do not go to a major university and end up at a community/junior college. I promise you going to a CC/JC is not the college experience, and you only have one life to live. Do your work, seek advice, and always keep your ego in check and everything else will fall into place.

p.s pardon the spelling and grammar errors. I am still at work and wrote this quickly

 

[Tabascocat]

True, but from my experience everyone I know who wanted to do the 2 year then transfer route only one person actually did it. All the others I knew just did a few semesters and stopped going. I am not sure how you comitted you are (you mentioned having a 3.5 so you must be somewhat of a good student) but if you are okay with grinding out the first two years then good luck sir

I finished, The Cowboy has the 3.5 GPA

But, you are correct. A lot of students end up not finishing after leaving Junior College but that is specific to the individual and how committed they are. The Cowboy sounds level-headed and is inquiring about his options, sounds like he is committed to me and I wish him well.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

I finished, The Cowboy has the 3.5 GPA

But, you are correct. A lot of students end up not finishing after leaving Junior College but that is specific to the individual and how committed they are. The Cowboy sounds level-headed and is inquiring about his options, sounds like he is committed to me and I wish him well.

haha my mistake there !

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

If you are interested in a career in criminal justice and are seriously considering Accounting, you might want to look into Forensic Accounting. Back when I lived in DC, the FBI was always on the recruiting trail trying to bring Auditors over to their Forensic group. Good options there and if you ever decide you would prefer to go after the big dollars you can still jump into Auditing.

Stay away from Tax Accounting. Boring as all get out.

 

[danielofthesaints]

How do you have a 3.5 GPA if you haven't even started college yet?

 

[TheCowboy]

How do you have a 3.5 GPA if you haven't even started college yet?

High school GPA.

 

[jobberone]

I agree that living at a major university gives you a life experience you can get no where else. A couple years at least would be wonderful. A fraternity may give you life long friends and connections. There's a lot of support there.

If I had to do it all over again I'd be a vet, dentist or engineer. Auditing is a fun and well paid job. And you certainly can combine that with police work.

Some states have lottery money. With your GPA you could get most of the money you needed without having to resort to loans. I don't know TX but SC has Life and Palmetto fellowships which will cover most expenses. I don't know about residency requirements etc. And there are a lot of scholarships; I didn't seek that avenue and regret that. You have the grades to help you there but you have to work at finding them. A lot of small schools go after young people like you and give them a pretty good ride with grants etc.

Do what you like to read about and enjoy. Think outside the box. People make careers out of hobbies like sailing yada. Best of luck to you.

 

[baj1dallas]

Make sure to pick something that suits you. Don't pick a career that you'll hate just because the prospects look good on paper.

Figure out what you're good at. Is it math and science? Reading or writing? Helping people?

Find jobs and fields that lean on the strengths that you have and like to use regularly. Also, imo there's nothing wrong with junior or community college even if it's just for a year. Take basic classes like e comp, algebra/calculus, chemistry, and do a couple of survey classes. Get exposed to different things and people and try to think about how you'd like to be spending your days for the rest of your life.

 

[danielofthesaints]

Make sure to pick something that suits you. Don't pick a career that you'll hate just because the prospects look good on paper.

Figure out what you're good at. Is it math and science? Reading or writing? Helping people?

Find jobs and fields that lean on the strengths that you have and like to use regularly. Also, imo there's nothing wrong with junior or community college even if it's just for a year. Take basic classes like e comp, algebra/calculus, chemistry, and do a couple of survey classes. Get exposed to different things and people and try to think about how you'd like to be spending your days for the rest of your life.