Finishing High-School This year...

[eldorado99]

My career choice has been on my mind since they started pounding it into our heads that we needed to know exactly what it is we want to do by the end of high-school. I have never been able to make a diffinitive choice about what I want to do "for the rest of my life". I know that they are bs'ing me to a degree about having to knwo exactly what I want to do by the end of school, but it sure would be a nice thing to know when choosing what school/classes to do for post secondary. I know that to be an entrepreneur is probably one of the hardest things to do successfully, but honestly it is the only thing I can see myself doing career wise. I can't think of anything that suits me better. I have always just dismissed it as being far too risky, and probably not realistic because of the likelihood of failure. Obviously I have done some soul searching recently and I have decided that if I can't think of anything else I would rather do after a good 4 years of solid thought then, maybe I should give it a shot. Does anyone have any advice on the situation, and even more importantly, what classes do I take in college/university? How long does it usually take to get the necessary knowledge to start the first business? I wouldnt really want to start without some post secondary education... or would I?

 

[BigJ]

Do yourself a favor and go to a local community college for at least the first year. This way, it gives you time to take a variety of classes, and eventually find out what you'd like to go into. It also saves you a bunch of money.

Since you want to be an entrepreneur, I would definitely consider taking business classes.

Also, it's not as simple as just wanting to start a small business. There's an unbelievable amount of planning and work that has to go into just trying to get the business started. A 17 year old with no capital (and I'm not just talking about money) should probably not venture into a small busienss just yet.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

I'd second going to a community college if you haven't decided

 

[necine]

Go to a community college... I went to University and hated it. Now I go to a community college and absolutely love it. I am getting educated 10x better then at Uni. I have about a year left here and then I'm transferring to another Uni so I can finish up my bachelors. But yeah, community college is the way to go.

 

[chrisms]

First, if your state has a running start program (take community college classes that count towards high school credit)--do it now. I graduated high school with a year of college under my belt and was disappointed I didn't get two. I believe many states have this type of program and it is stupid not to look into it. Less time in class, more interesting work, much more free time.

As for deciding what you want to do, it will not happen in the next year. You will go back and forth on different ideas, maybe sticking with one for a few months before second guessing yourself again. I know because I was there last year. Only until you've really got into your college coursework can you know for sure what it is you're good at and want to do. Even then a different major will spark your interest every now and then.

Starting your own business is a great idea. But it seems to me the only obstacle keeping you from a college education is your own laziness. Nobody is going to loan an 18 year-old tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, so while you wait you could be getting a degree and learning a lot about the business world. My first economics class alone taught me the details of what I'd thought I already knew, and from there the courses got even more specific and valuable.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Not really necessary. So I wanted to do multivariable calculus in a JC and get it all out of the way. What's the point? Enjoy senior year. I got about 32 units or so from AP testing alone. I got another 12 from a JC. Relax man. Coming into college with 44 units is pretty insane. But what's the point? The only units that helped me are like Physics AP, Calc AP, and a few units from my JC.

I say take some fun courses if you want at a JC, but don't make life too difficult. You can wait till summer and do some fun classes with your friends. I took fall classes in my senior year, but I decided not to finish calculus until that summer. I wasn't going to waste second semester senior year. Hell, I had a full 7 classes in high school first semester senior year + 1 class at a JC + 20 colleges to apply to. Fun huh? Worse than second semester junior year I have to say.