College is coming up. I need help, big time. Please.

[J. Crawford]

Okay, get ready for a long thread, but this is a serious one and I need some help.

BACKGROUND:
Im a 17 year old junior going into my senior year of high school when I, obviously, finish up my junior year here in June. Now, when the time comes (Which is getting VERY close), I will need to start looking at colleges, and have a select few in mind that are known for their reputation in the field of study Im looking at. Now, this is where it gets tricky.

1. I am the "good" student. I will have lots of scholarships coming my way (I hope!), scored very high on my ACT, PSAT, and SAT. I received a 99% on my English portion of the ACT, and a 97% on my overall grade for my PSAT. Thats insane. They say they never see that... ever.

I dont know why that came off as conceited, but it definitely did. Im not an over confident person, nor narcissistic, I was just stating those facts to help with this thread. Sorry if I offened.

2. I thought I had it down, physical therapy all the way. Then I got to thinking, thats awesome now, but is that what I really want? So, I tried to make a list of things I want to do in life, and what I love enough to make then happen.

• Create a happy home for my family, and be able to support my kids in every way they can ever imagine.
• Have a life thats too big for me. The car, the house, the hobbies, etc. I seem to base success on how "big" things are. Go big, or go home.
• I dont want my kids to ever have to worry about money. Ever.
• Give me the ability to fulfill my hobbies. Im a hardcore adrenaline/physical junkie, and obiously, a serious musician. I want the kids to play sports, go to music lessons, etc.

Now, I may sound selfish and narcissistic, but those seem to be how I want things to pan out. NOW! I know they most likely wont, but Im going to do anything I can to make my life my life. Period. You only live once, I want to live a life I can die proud of.

3. I want to be able to change the world, both by my physical capabilities and mentality. I want to be able to help people, donate money to charities, etc.

To change the world, begin with one random act of kindness a day.

Im trying to live daily by that quote, and its a good feeling.



Okay, now back on topic of college. Here are things I have in mind. Im going to list them, and why, then ask for your ideas based on things I am good at, love, and would love to do someday.

Physical therapy: I love the human body. I have always excelled in biology, especially on things related to the body and how it works. I love the bones, muscles, etc. Plus, Ive grown up going to PT.
-Now, this would include personal trainer. I have read that along the way of graduating a Physical Therapist you can earn your personal trainer license.

Architecture: Math is my schizzle. I tear it up. Sure, I dont do it all right at first, but I do it no matter right, and figure it out to my best ability. I love designing things, changing things, modding things to make them more efficient.

Working for a biking or outdoors company I would love to work for a company I have grown up with. Outdoors is my natural place. I feel best when working, and living, outside.

Chiropractor: I have "spondololisthesis," and an extra vertabrae, so I know what its like. I could relate to the patients, use myself as an example, and it would be close to physical therapy.

Now, if you have bared to read all that, do you have anything in mind? I am open to all options, as this is very serious, and possibly the biggest decision I make my entire life. It will determine what I do for the rest of my life, how I spend it.

Thank you for your time guys.
J.

[FL Knifemaker]

Your the same age as my daughter with very similar scholastic goals and situations. That said, I'm going to take a Motrin and bow out You should consider the Paul Mitchell Cosmetology school in Tampa

[santucci218]

wait...wait...you have a tail?

[elgecko]

It'll probably take 2 years to knock out your general ed classes. You're 17...2 years is a long time. I would suggest not investing too much time in any major-related courses at first until you put some time in and get a better idea of what you want to do.

Don't sweat it too much, you'll make yourself crazy!

[jazzbo]

Slow your role. Enthusiasm is great, but as elgecko says, you've got time.

Patience.

[TOOL460002]

its quite obvious that money is something important to you. i mean, i think everyone wants their family to be comfortable. depending on whether or not you want to be cruising in a ferari, thats one thing, but if you want to be able to pay your kids(') tuition and retire at a reasonably young age, then you have other options. perhaps you should think of that and then research what you need to do to get there. i would think you will need 2+ degrees. maybe not.

i am currently a student, and my major and what i have planned for the next 5-10 years is also to better the world, and to help myself a bit too. ive also got a bad back, and the biotech industry seems to be the best way to do that.

be more specific as far as how you would like to change the world, or how you think you can best do your part to make a change. then you can sort of map it out. things change. people change. at least figure out where to start, because a lot of us change majors.

once you know the answer to that, you start down the path toward a bachelors degree of some sort, and then youre off.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by elgecko

It'll probably take 2 years to knock out your general ed classes. You're 17...2 years is a long time. I would suggest not investing too much time in any major-related courses at first until you put some time in and get a better idea of what you want to do.

Don't sweat it too much, you'll make yourself crazy!

Believe me, itll be hard to get much crazier than I already am about the subject.

Originally Posted by santucci218

wait...wait...you have a tail?

Right over my head Paul, Im lost.

Originally Posted by jazzbo

Slow your role. Enthusiasm is great, but as elgecko says, you've got time.

Patience.

Mr. Miyagi? I know man.. its just hard with the high expectations I have from what seems like everyone, including myself.

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

You should consider the Paul Mitchell Cosmetology school in Tampa

Been there, done that.

[santucci218]

extra vertebrae.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

its quite obvious that money is something important to you. i mean, i think everyone wants their family to be comfortable. depending on whether or not you want to be cruising in a ferari, thats one thing, but if you want to be able to pay your kids(') tuition and retire at a reasonably young age, then you have other options. perhaps you should think of that and then research what you need to do to get there. i would think you will need 2+ degrees. maybe not.

i am currently a student, and my major and what i have planned for the next 5-10 years is also to better the world, and to help myself a bit too. ive also got a bad back, and the biotech industry seems to be the best way to do that.

be more specific as far as how you would like to change the world, or how you think you can best do your part to make a change. then you can sort of map it out. things change. people change. at least figure out where to start, because a lot of us change majors.

once you know the answer to that, you start down the path toward a bachelors degree of some sort, and then youre off.

Very good, and powerful post, man.

How would I like to change the world? I would like to make someone's life better than it was when they woke up. Whether thats by giving them the money it takes for their kids to take buy a bike to get to school, give a kid in Africa clean water, or simply a hug to someone in need.

I guess Im cliche..

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by santucci218

extra vertebrae.

Ohh! Got it, right over my head. Not quite, though they say it adds about a half inch to my already 6'3'' body!

[Colledge123]

i'm in the same boat as you, 17 making big choices (well made a few months ago) about university next year. and i know how daunting is is. but ive just jumped head first in to it. i made my choices without even visiting the universities or properly reading up on the courses. but luckily, since i chose ive done both of them things and i love what i see. i'm now going to be doing a masters degree in mechanical engineering. i'll be designing all the stuff that makes things work in a few years.... so look out :P

[santucci218]

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Ohh! Got it, right over my head. Not quite, though they say it adds about a half inch to my already 6'3'' body!

man, i was hoping for a cool tail. anyways, i read your whole post. I cant say much, as your life ambitions are total opposite of mine, but i wish you luck!

[jazzbo]

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Mr. Miyagi? I know man.. its just hard with the high expectations I have from what seems like everyone, including myself.

And there's nothing wrong with having high expectations for yourself. There's nothing wrong with hard work and wanting to excel.

However, you're finishing your junior year in high school and you're planning your house and children. That's awesome, but also intense. You know what you want, but the best decisions are the decisions that are made through patience. Apply to colleges where you like the program. Visit several, talk to current students, do your research. You don't necessarily have to pick the college with the best x program right now. You need to find a place that speaks to you and where you think you will be happy. This will lead to greater success and more networking. You still may have graduate school down the line. But you don't need to stress too much about choosing a major and deciding what your lifelong career will be. You don't need to choose that tonight. In fact, you have several years.

There was a young man in China that wanted desperately to train with the best martial arts instructor in all the land. This young man wanted to be the best martial artist in the world. When he had an audience with the instructor he said, "Master. How long will it take for me to be the best martial artist?" The teacher replied, "If you work very hard, 20 years." The student was discouraged and said, "What if I train twice as hard as everybody else?" The teacher responded, "40 years." The student was even more discouraged and asked again, saying that he would work even harder. The teacher this time said 80 years. The student said, "Why is it master that every time I say I'll work twice as hard, you say that it will take twice as long to reach my goal?" The teacher responded, "Because, when you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the task."

[ugly_bassplayer]

So you want:

-The perfect job
-Help people in need
-Change the world with your mind
-Change the world with your physical abilities
(that's alot of world changing my friend)
-Have a ?&* load of $$
-Have kids
-Have a family
-Don't want family to worry about $$
-Have enough time to fullfil all you hobbies
-Have a life that's to big for you.
-Go big or go home.
-Donate $$ to charity

......and you want that to pan out exactly like that NOW!!

Is that all??

You say your test scores are insane.
You say you could relate to patients ? You need A LOT more life experience for that kid, not just an extra bone.

Yes , IMO , as you said ,come off as a little pretentious & narcissistic,.

Kid , life is going to deal you some surprises I promise you.

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear. IMO just slow down, take some time to think.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

So you want:

-The perfect job
-Help people in need
-Change the world with your mind
-Change the world with your physical abilities
(that's alot of world changing my friend)
-Have a ?&* load of $$
-Have kids
-Have a family
-Don't want family to worry about $$
-Have enough time to fullfil all you hobbies
-Have a life that's to big for you.
-Go big or go home.
-Donate $$ to charity

......and you want that to pan out exactly like that NOW!!

Is that all??

You say your test scores are insane.
You say you could relate to patients ? You need A LOT more life experience for that kid, not just an extra bone.

Yes , IMO , as you said ,come off as a little pretentious & narcissistic,.

Kid , life is going to deal you some surprises I promise you.

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear. IMO just slow down, take some time to think.

Good post, I wondered when someone would slap me in the face and put things in reality. Thank you for that. I dont want it now, I just want to plan and do everything I can to make those things over the course of my life.

I wont lie, Im 17, there are lots, if not most things, I havent had to deal with. Im not perfect, no where near it.

Just remember, you dont know me off of Talkbass. Dont take that wrong, please! Its just hard to get myself off across the computer, if you know what I mean? Emotions, aspirations, character, etc.

Heck, for all I know, Ill be a bum.

[The Last Rebel]

I'm the same age and in pretty much the same position as you. I'm not really sure what I want to do, but I do think I've got a better idea than a lot of my friends. I'm seriosuly considering trying to get into the US Naval Academy (which I don't consider likely) or get into the Corps at Texas A&M and go to OCS.

[Colledge123]

just my $0.02,
your looking at things much too strictly, do you really want to come out of college, get a decent job and start a family, just like that? personally i want to live life a bit more than that. theres much much more to life than making a good life for your family-to-be. you should be your own main priority, do something you love instead of trying to cater for the needs of something that may or may not happen in the future.

[J. Crawford]

Good points, Colledge.

[L-A]

When you say you want it "NOW", I think you want to get the ball rolling (NOW) towards these goals, which are in your future (not NOW), as it will draw a general direction you want to go into. This thread is a good start

As far as your choices go, I have one warning. I'm surrounded by students in architecture. 10% of the students are picked by 90% of the employers. Architecture is not lead by a lot of straight-thinkers. Most innovations have the whole world thinking "that guys is gone ape****" until the idea sinks in. What I'm saying is that unless you already have a head that sprouts crazy, different ideas, you will have a hard time making the big numbers in the architecture world. If money is a goal you have at heart.

[UncleFluffy]

Engineering. You've got the math aptitude. Employment prospects are still good (relatively speaking), pay is pretty good, and if you want to change the world you can build a machine to change it for you.

edit: Having said that, it's still better to do what you love. Better to enjoy life and have to cut a few luxuries than do a job you hate. Your kids would rather have a happy father than an extra vacation.