[avonchick89]

I think it's way harder for us to decide on anything because we're hyper-aware of all the different things we could be doing, the potential consequences of whatever decision we make, and all the different ways it could not work out. Others who might be equally aware possess the magic ability to shrug it all off and make a decision anyway.

It seems to me that college was pretty useless in terms of giving me marketable skills that employers actually look for. Unless you choose something fairly technical like engineering or architecture, I don't think it matters much what you end up studying in college. I had the best time exploring and figuring things out during my undergraduate years..college really provides you with the space and resources to develop your INTP-ness..an academic setting is the only one where it's socially acceptable to spend hours researching stuff lol. So, definitely pick something you think you'll like learning about. You can always supplement your courses with internships if later on you find you're particularly interested in something.



this was in response to luxurieux..I'm not sure yet how this reply thing works

[Signify]

Just do what I plan on doing. Find a job that pays well, use your money for a hobby you want to do, save up a bit, and after you get enough, say 'screw it' and go do your thing for a while until money runs out. Then get the same/different job and restart. It allows you to have really long vacations. I'm most likely doing IT or Network Penetration as a career, getting a degree in Computer Science, and psychology as a hobby.

All a job really is is something to pay the bills. It is not like you are looking for your perfect match. Grab whatever pays the best and use the money for what you like. If I ever learn the basics (after college application and finishing of high school) of building robots, I can add that I will have completely animated my future house/apartment. Lasers, moving doors, a giant projector connected to multiple computers running virtual machines for coding, servers, gaming, TV, a good sound system, and most likely have various other robots/gadgets around it. Seriously, if I had that, I could live off of raman.

[Alto]

Since graduating from college about a year ago and coming into the "real world," I have had a ridiculously horrendous and difficult time finding a job. Yes, the job market sucks, but I seem to suck at finding a job, too. Every once in a while I'll land an interview, get excited, and then within about 20 minutes of being notified, I'll proceed to freak out and get anxious about the possibility of me hating the job and potentially being miserable and then go to bed thinking meh..I don't really want the job anyway. Seems like all of the interviewers can smell half-heartedness from miles away and then-whaddaya know-I am passed over in favor of Mr./Ms. ENTJ. I have spent the last year and a half second-guessing all of my career moves (I have spent most of the last year in my room, on my computer, agonizing about making a decision)..

Econ consultant..econ professor? Professor....of something. No, screw that. PhD Philosophy! Well..then I'll just end up with mounds of debt..but that's ok, I can just bartend in the meantime. Bartend? LOL. no way. Ok, lawyer..I can probably kill the LSATs..language, logic and words FTW! On second thought, ew..I'd have to deal with people all day, every day. Statistician..yes, that'll work..I can just sit at my desk and analyze data all day, thereby minimizing awkward workplace interaction, avoid trying to "be a leader," etc. Then again...I'm not that good at math.

I think it's way harder for us to decide on anything because we're hyper-aware of all the different things we could be doing, the potential consequences of whatever decision we make, and all the different ways it could not work out. Others who might be equally aware possess the magic ability to shrug it all off and make a decision anyway.

Translation: I'm lazy.

[avonchick89]

Aw come on, Alto..I'm not lazy..just reluctant when it comes to making a career move. As much as I would love to spend ALL of my time reading wikipedia articles, I have bills to pay..so I do what I can to get by. It's not much..but it is depressing.

[wandai]

I just follow the logical flow, in a sense. My highschool focuses on science, which I don't particularly dislike or sucks at. This leads me to getting a degree in biotechnology. I like medical stuffs and performs well in molecular biology and labs. Thus I applied to be a research assistant in medical molecular biology institute, thanks to a friend of mine who suggested the place. Six month later I've become a student in said institute. In a year I'm expected to finish my labworks and start on my thesis. The weird thing is, I didn't plan all of these.

Too many what-ifs leads me to depression, I've learnt the hard way.

[anarchitektur]

Very few people in life have jobs they truly enjoy. Part of growing up is learning to deal with being miserable.

Hope that helps.

[nadjasix]

Aw come on, Alto..I'm not lazy..just reluctant when it comes to making a career move. As much as I would love to spend ALL of my time reading wikipedia articles, I have bills to pay..so I do what I can to get by. It's not much..but it is depressing.

INTPs need to branch out. There are so many better things to read than Wikipedia articles.

[whytiger]

It seems to me that college was pretty useless in terms of giving me marketable skills that employers actually look for. Unless you choose something fairly technical like engineering or architecture, I don't think it matters much what you end up studying in college. I had the best time exploring and figuring things out during my undergraduate years..college really provides you with the space and resources to develop your INTP-ness..an academic setting is the only one where it's socially acceptable to spend hours researching stuff lol. So, definitely pick something you think you'll like learning about. You can always supplement your courses with internships if later on you find you're particularly interested in something.

Grad school for you. Sometimes it's not worth it stepping outside the ivory tower.

[this is my username]

No, I know what I'm doing and I have a plan to get there. One day I decided to stop fooling around and to stop waiting for the future to come to me. I picked a graduate degree that will lead me directly to work in a field expected to grow. The population I chose to work with will provide plenty of income. I also have an exciting back up plan.

[avonchick89]

Very few people in life have jobs they truly enjoy. Part of growing up is learning to deal with being miserable.

Hope that helps.

Yes, I have slowly been coming to that realization..I've been fighting it for so long though. I guess what's best is getting a job that's sort of intellectually stimulating that doesn't suck the life out of you, so you can go home in the evening and do what you like.