[Scottoant93Participant]

Hey guys I really need your help. Im 17 and I graduated from high school last year(graduated early, thats why im so young). Due to my high school not releasing my transcripts and diploma I couldn’t go to college right after graduation but plan on going in the fall.. The problem is im having a tough time deciding which major to choose.

My choices are either Auto Body Repair(brothers a mechanic and enjoyed working on my car with him), Finance(Im really good with money, low maintenance attitude) , or Sports Medicine(Like sports, and Physical therpist would be cool). Im one of those types of people that once I start something I have to finish it, even if I dont enjoy it.

Any Advice would be great. Sorry that this is not basketball related, but I’ve seen a few people ask questions and you guys seemed to give them good advice.

[TRC1991Participant]

i went the entrepreneurial route my dude so im no expert on college majors but i would say sleep on it and ask your parents and close friends. you got a few months if you dont start until september so dont stress. enjoy your summer sir.

[Scottoant93Participant]

I appreciate your response, Thats cool you went the entrepeneurial route, That might be a future plan for me If I plan on going the autobody repair route. The only reason im really stressing is because My parents aren’t much help, they just say i’ll make the right dicision, and my friends are all enrolling in the military. Im also goin to be paying for my own college(perhaps not even financial aid), and I don’t want to be a ton of debt when I finish and not have a good career.

[TRC1991Participant]

for sure man. keep your options open. hell you could be a triple-major and experience a lot of growth in your college years to make you a mighty fine professional in the corporate world once you’ve graduated

[kanyedabestParticipant]

be thankful you have a supporting cast and options man, id kill 2 be in ur shoes….. where im from you either deal crack rock or play ball, lets hope i can at least play a lil ball nxt yr in college

lucky 2 have parents thtll support u man

[Scottoant93Participant]

Trust me Im Thankful, but it doesn’t come without a price, See I was born in Italy but grew up in nj and nc, and i had to wait years before I even became a citizen in a country I grew up in. Feelin like you don’t belong somewhere is something I wish on no one. Do you  see arizona and how they hate immigrants, well imagine all that was directed towards you on a daily basis at some point in your life. I am thankful for everything I have because I know at any given point it could be takin away, Thats why I mentioned Im the type of person who when he starts something I finsh it no matter what. I wish you nothing but the best of luck, and hope you will have sucess playin ball in college, because you also seem like someone who wont take anything for granted

[NiceWithTheRockParticipant]

just a word of advice, make sure you take care of business. i was academically dismissed in my first semester because i goofed off and got caught up in the colege life( except studying). so have fun but don’t slack up like this fool!!

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

get your general ed. credits then decide after, you really dont need to declare for a major until somtime during your sophomore year..

depending on where you go, if you do a finance major, you can double major in finance and economics with just like 2 more classes… i did this, but i gotta warn you finance classes are really tough and you gotta know a lot of math…

[sideburn2goParticipant]

You really don’t need to decide right away and a ton of the people who do end up deciding that they hate what they first decided anyway and change to something else.  In the gen ed classes take anything that sounds interesting to you and fills the requirements and see what you are truly interested in.  My major ended up completely different from the time I first went to college to now.  Also finance classes are a lot of math like esperanza said but if you found math in high school ok then you should be able to figure most of them out.

[JoeWolf1]

I’d advise you to pick the major you would enjoy studying the most.  It’s difficult to stay motivated when your majoring in somthing you feel apathetic about, no matter how good of a student you are.  I say, do what makes you the happiest and all of the fields you are considering are marketable and you’d be able to make a decent living at all of them, so I say go with what you’re more passionate about.

[sheltwon3Participant]

You need to look into financial aid homie, pray on it, also you are still young so you can have multiple majors. Out of those 3 choices, it may be cool for you to go Physical therapist.  You can also take a few Auto mechanic classes since your brother are in that field and they could hook you up to some degree and that could be a fall back plan because there is a lot to Physical theraphy.  Nowadays it is good to have many options in careers because of the economy.

[Scottoant93Participant]

Thank you guys, im getting a lot of good feedback @sheltwon3 When I became a US citizen, I was told im was not allowed to seek government help that I didn’t have to pay back, I think it excludes scholarships and a few other things, but Financial aid was on the list, so thats not an option

[JoeWolf1]

 scottoant93, I believe that only includes federal grants.  Those are the loans that you do not have to pay back, while as far as I know you would still be eligable for scholarships and finacial aid that would be paid back after you’re done with school.

I am not 100% certain, but I do know that federal grants ( for example Pelle Grants) you do not pay back, so if those are the only types of aid you are not allowed to have you SHOULD still be able to get some financial aid and generally the school you choose is the one giving out scholarships, not the government.  I’d do some more research before you count out assitance.

[llperez]

Regardless of what you do I think college in general is a positive
Experience. My advice would be instead of just thinking about a major, find a specific job you would like. Look Online at different jobs or in help wanted ads or wherever, then find out what exactly what it is you need to do to get that job or one like it.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

scottoant93,

 

Good luck to you!  Make sure you make good grades and keep your options open.  Get as much experience you can in auto body repair and take courses in that if that might be one of your career paths.  With finance, you just need to make awesome grades and probably still go get an MBA (but that is pretty much how it is with business majors).  Sports medicine sounds interesting.  I would start off by taking some classes in finance and sports medicine then deciding which one you are better at.  You can always get a minor in the other.  It looks like you might open your own business one day so I would take a look at sales classes and marketing classes.  Might not have to major in it, but business is basically all about sales and marketing.  … I think that accounting is a better degree than finance.  Lots of finance majors just go into insurance sales and stock brokerage (basically sales).  Accounting is a good major.  Just be sure to get the best grades you can and plenty of work experience and internships.  Who knows what business field will be the best in 3 or 4 or 5 years.  I think that the majority of jobs for college grads are basically sales (insurance sales, stock broker, plus most marketing majors go into sales, such as advertising sales), so I would pick up some sales and marketing classes.  Economics is a good background, but the major sounds way too ivory tower to me.  The accounting degree is probably the most presitgious.  Plus, a CPA is very valuable.  Other than that, your first job is going to depend on who you know, your grades, and your work experience/academic back ground. 

Plus, do your own research.  Read up on stuff that interests you.  There are some great financial websites out there.  If you want the name of some sites, let me know.  If you want to learn about business then start an internet company and try to get viewers, a loyal following, and maybe sell some items or some ad space.  You can start an auto body website that will basically be an advertisement for your work in auto body repair.

Accounting and finance are solid business majors.  Taking a class or two in sales, marketing, economics, and management will also be beneficial.  The medicine/medical field is really hot right now, but I am not sure about its future.  Could be very competitve in a few years.  If you want to get into sports and stuff then just try to find some stuff to do with the sports teams at college, or in your area.  You could start a sports blog, concentrating on local teams or your favorite pro team.  Then you can offer your own take on prospects and make predictions.  I have been following basketball for years, and I feel I have a good understanding of the game and of player talent.  Sports management might be a good thing, where you provide business, accounting, and financial advice to athletes.  If you study sports long enough, and read up on it enough then you can become your OWN expert.  Then hopefully you can capitalize it. 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 If you don’t know what you want to do, start with buisness, until you figure it out,

any buisness skills will help you with what ever profession you decide on later.

 

[Scottoant93Participant]

@JoeWolf  Thanks for the information I will look more into it

@llperez  Thanks. I did research a couple jobs before I posted this thread Autobody(collision repair,auto painter, Open own shop eventually after years of experience), Financing(financial planner, analyst), Sports medicine(athletic trainer, Physical Therapist)

@Memphis Madness Thanks. I pretty focused lately, I dont really do things a typical teenager would do(party,smoke,drink.etc) I more focused on making something of himself. My grades are not bad I had a 3.0 and if I didn’t graduate early I could of raised it a little more. Like you said whatever major I pick I will work extremely hard to master it.

After reading some of the comments on, I think im leaning towards Autobody repair, its a one year program and the tution is affordable. Besides that im really starting to like the idea of possibly opening up a shop with my bro, who was a full mechanic, in the future after getting some experience under my belt.

I would like to thank you all for your advice and support. If I could I would divide all my points evenly among you guys.Thanks again

 

[Scottoant93Participant]

Thanks thats a good idea and I apreciate your advice

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Few words of advice…

1.  Look into community college.  Not as sexy, but it will save u a ton of money, esp. if you don’t know what your preferred major is at this point.  You will find out what you enjoy in time.  But, if you go to community college for the 1st 2 years, you go for a much cheaper rate and can just take all of your general eds.  Then you can transfer to a major college and still get that namesake on your resume.  I wish I had done that before spending all this time at PITT and finally finding out what I truly am interested in too late in the process.

2.  Put yourself around people who take their studies seriously.  I came out to college and started to hang out with the wrong crew.  My grades started to drop, but then I realized what is important at this time isn’t always getting drunk and high every weekend, just select ones. 

3.  Join organizations, employers love it.  Attempt to gain leadership positions in the organization you join.

4.  Stay single (can date but dont enter a long term relationship) for atleast the 1st year.  Keep your options open with the ladies in college.  You don’t wanna be tied down to one woman your whole experience.  Plus she could draw you away from your studies. 

[Scottoant93Participant]

I already planned on goin to community college my first 2 years, or 1 year if I choose Autobody. 2-4 are very nice tips, That will keep in mind. Thank you

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