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How relevant was your college education to your career choice?

post #1 of 34
11/27/12 at 7:50pm
Thread Starter 

It seems to me that what many people major in during college differs greatly from the career path they eventually choose. I’d like to hear your stories – what you majored in, what you do now, and what caused you to deviate from your major. I’m a Marketing major currently, but I feel that I could end up doing a number of different things after I graduate.

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post #2 of 34
11/27/12 at 9:03pm
Pretty relevant. My current position correlates to what I majored in in undergrad and grad. Keep in mind that it is not uncommon for an individual to have 4-5 careers throughout the work life so chances are, you will deviate from what you learned in college sooner than later. I know a lot of people who never worked a day in the field they majored in as well.
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post #3 of 34
11/27/12 at 9:08pm
My undergrad is not revelant at all but grad is somewhat revelant.
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post #4 of 34
11/27/12 at 9:28pm
Very, very relevant. I am in technology.
Edited by Fraiche - 11/27/12 at 9:59pm
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post #5 of 34
11/27/12 at 9:44pm
My undergrad degree (Chinese) was not relevant at all to what I ended up doing with my life (State-side corporate attorney.)
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post #6 of 34
11/28/12 at 8:01am

Majoring in finance at the moment, would like to work with retail fashion...I know right :( 

Being a sales associate is pretty fun at the moment, probably because I'm young but it may change. Might look at financial positions for a fashion retail.

Gonna continue running my family's investment portfolio, so I don't cry and sweat as much at night ffffuuuu.gif

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post #7 of 34
11/28/12 at 8:31am
Majored in accounting in undergrad and got an MS in accounting for grad school. Currently work as an audit manager in a big 4 accounting firm so I haven't deviated at all.
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post #8 of 34
11/28/12 at 1:03pm

I studied psychology and anthropology for two years as an undergrad. Then I transferred to a small seminar-based creative writing program within the same school. 

 

As a graduate, I studied journalism.

 

Now, I'm in advertising.

 

Do what you love to do at the moment. Take whatever you learn forward with you. Don't be afraid to change your course. Don't be afraid to break the rules and make your own.

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post #9 of 34
11/28/12 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kai View Post

My undergrad degree (Chinese) was not relevant at all to what I ended up doing with my life (State-side corporate attorney.)

LOL that's a pretty big difference. How did that happen?

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post #10 of 34
11/28/12 at 2:24pm
Pretty directly relevant so far, but I'm still moving along and it wouldn't surprise me to have a big change at some point.

Majored in chemistry, went to grad school for physical chemistry, now I'm a research scientist doing instrument design and method development.
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post #11 of 34
11/28/12 at 3:02pm
bahahaha. majored in Physics. Currently in Accounting. Had I switched to business / accounting as a Freshman like one of my incoming cohort did, things might be a tad different.

Well, I did get an MBA and CPA-filelr courses between then and now.
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post #12 of 34
11/28/12 at 3:37pm
my undergrad tech degree helped me get my first job and also helped me switch careers to tech product mgmt.
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post #13 of 34
11/28/12 at 6:32pm
Very relevant. My graduate degree is even more so.

Undergrad: Economics and Intl Studies (concentrated in IPE)
Grad School: MA in INtl Affairs concentrating in Intl Economic Relations

Career: Policy Analyst with US Govt.

Career Track: move to private sector
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post #14 of 34
11/28/12 at 7:50pm
I thought I might become a lawyer that specialized in business with China. Then the Tian An Mun massacre happened (1st year in law school) and most of the law firms either pulled out of China altogether or downsized their China operations. That, and the realization that I didn't want to live in China for the rest of my life (which is kind of what you have to commit to if you'e serious about specializing in China law) made me decide to pursue intellectual property law instead. Worked at a big firm for a couple of years, then left to join a biotech start-up, and the rest is history.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Kai View Post

My undergrad degree (Chinese) was not relevant at all to what I ended up doing with my life (State-side corporate attorney.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WellGroomedMale View Post

LOL that's a pretty big difference. How did that happen?
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post #15 of 34
11/29/12 at 8:56am

Undergrad was math and political science, and grad was applied mathematics. Now, I'm working as a statistician at a marketing company.

 

With that said, I'm considering looking for a 'online marketing' or 'ppc marketing' position. That or something more oriented towards policy, such as

a 'policy analyst.' I like stats, but it's just overwhelming sometimes.

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