Graduating college soon...what should I do?

[guava_wrench]

Figure out what you like and what level of income you feel you need. Only you know how much drive you have and what makes you happy. I am wary of considering to many options since they make it harder for me to commit to one.

I would be cautious about getting additional degrees. Employers are aware of the reality that there are plenty of institutions happy to sell an MBA or another grad diploma.

I would especially avoid going for a PhD in a field you aren't passionate about since this would likely greatly reduce your lifetime income -- unless you are going into a hard science. Biotech related PhD = good idea. Literature PhD = lots of debt and job as unskilled labor. Tenure positions are usually pipe dreams and PhDs typically cannot even get jobs teaching H.S. because their degree makes them too expensive based on union rules.

I personally have a problem with the current college racket where they continue to drive up tuition and professors encourage you to take worthless majors so that their department retains a reason for existing. I love learning for the sake of learning as much as anyone, but I also majored in a field that pays and has a lot of jobs for those who are good.

Colleges need to start letting students know when they declare majors what kinds of jobs are out their and what the market is like in that field. Let students know that they will likely end up jobless with certain majors. For those who disagree since universities aren't trade schools, my question is why are they charging so much? Families are willing to pay ridiculous amounts because they think it will lead to sufficient careers. Colleges are happy to accept loan money that students typically need to start paying 6 months after graduation. This system assumes that the degree will result in work.

[Moranis]

On another note, how can you be graduating college and have no idea what you want to do?  That just seems really strange to me.

It is really not that strange at all.   At the young age of 22 even after earning your degree you still may be not completely sold on the career of your major especially without any work/co-op experience.   It happens all the time and in fact people on average change careers 4 times in their lifetime.   There are careers that you may have never thought of at this point that you would consider in the future.   People decide to go back to school at any age so I would say there is no need to rush that if you aren't ready.

Again I would look towards the larger companies and possibly closer to a city.  It will allow you to explore different things either within a company, or networking outside with people in the area.    It also wouldn't hurt to be close to a city like Boston where there are many schools if you decide to go back.   I would also keep in touch with as many collegues as possible from college to see what they are up to, and maybe they are doing something that catches your eye. 

A lot of people change careers, but most of them still thought they knew what they wanted to do when they graduated.  It just turns out they didn't like it after actually doing it.  It just seems odd to me that after 4 years of college he has absolutely no idea what he wants to do. 

[Curley]

One of my good friends did the "Teach for America" program after graduation.  His very first question he got from a student was "Hey Mr. _______, have you ever been hit by a student before?"

He was there for two years, it was not easy, but ultimately it was a good experience that he enjoyed.  Good luck in whatever you decide.