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Thread: Changing my major -to be...

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    Default Changing my major -to be...

    For years Ive been pursuing a nursing career, to become RN and specialize in OB. Well, went thru half a year of school, things got messed up with loans and being single mom working all night...bla bla bla so Ive been out for a year. I never stopped studying all my books though.
    So for the past few months, ive really been thinking. Is nursing what I have a real passion for? When I think bout the money, the passion sits at 100%. When I think about all the school-and my short attention span/memory skill with all the lil things we gotta know, the passion drops to about 50%. Helping others because I have a huge heart full of compassion, is what I want to do. But Im just not so sure about nursing.
    Something that I found myself over the years doing is helping/counseling women --my stripper friends- who are in abusive relationships. Ive been there when I was young, being a victim of abuse and watching my mother be a victim by the men in her life. I can relate. I have such a drive to be there for them...and one day I want to be the one that the whole city can come to for help. Maybe have my own shelter type thing...something. IDK. But this is what I want to do. How broad is this field? This means going to school for psychology? Social work? I have so many questions. Anybody doing anything like this?
    Input and advice, please! Thanks!

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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    Always follow your dream, even if it means the wrong path. When I started college, I decided I wanted to become a psychologist. Not so much because it's what I really wanted to do, but because my parents wanted me to do it. So I took it for a year and realized I didn't really like it. I was 19 and thought of what I really wanted to do, and that was be a radio DJ. So instead I switched my major to communications and got many radio jobs. However, my radio career didn't pan out as well as I thought it would so I ended up in other fields as well. In a strange irony, I've become the person people come to with their issues. The guy I like has been telling me things about his past because he needs me now. Same thing with other people. How I switched from psychology not being for me, to now is a strange irony.

    I'm not sure if you should major in psychology or social work, but I would suggest psychology likely. As I remember it (I faced the same dilemma) social work is for jobs such as case counselor at various organizations, whereas psychology is if you want to treat people on your own. To be a psychologist you would likely have to get a Ph.D, whereas with social work you might need a masters. I know social workers and none are allowed to work for themselves, whereas a psychologist is. I believe there are a few psychologists who can do some things with a masters, such as school counselors.

    Be advised though that social workers don't make much money at all, and sometimes make less than high school grads only. Psychology is a worthless undergrad degree unless you get a masters or Ph.D

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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    If youre thinking about the money, def stick to nursing lol. But if you want to be of direct help to someone and gain satisfication through life changing interactions, then change your major! My friend does this, she actually interns for a non profit that helps victims of domestic violence, she is majoring in sociology. They overall dont pay well, but if youre interested you should check some local internships out, i hear its pretty intense you get calls from girls reporting of a rape happened 10 minutes ago to 10 years ago. They train you what words to use when talking to a survivor and really get to helping people, really fulfilling work. Maybe you could ultimately establish your own non-profit!

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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    Have you tried volunteering in the fields you're interested in, to see if you genuinely ARE interested in them? (I know... volunteering is kinda the opposite of making money lol)

    But I felt like I really wanted to go into Social Work, so I started volunteering at a rape crisis center in my area. I started just working Wednesday afternoons helping with answering hotline calls, but I loved it and so I started putting in more hours whenever I wasn't in school/at the club, and I LOVED it. I got little promotions here and there, and by the time I graduated I could have walked into a management position, if they'd had one open. Right now my boss and I are looking for management postions I can transition right into thanks to all the hours of experience I already have, and I know for a fact its the job I want.


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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    Miss Mckenna..... thats a good idea, Ill do that.
    Im not so much looking for great pay.... I can make money other ways. I guess I just feel like I have so much to offer, being a victim myself and growing so much from that. So the fulfillment is it, I think.
    Thank you...
    Wow...i never thought of myself looking for a masters or Ph.d Thats hard as heck isnt it? Lots and lots and lots of school!

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    Veteran Member Sia's Avatar
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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    I took 3 years of Biology, moved to another city, took 2 years of Nursing, then realized that I really did not want to become a nurse. Now I'm going back to finish my final year of Biology, then continuing on to get a Master's and probably PhD.

    I've worked with a lot of grad students and done a research project in Biochem during my third year of my undergrad. I wouldn't say that grad school is really hard, it just requires dedication.

    If social work is really something you want to do, it might be worth it to look into grad school programs and opportunities in the field.

    We only live once, so go with something that'll make you happy!

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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    I'm a survivor too AudrinaN, which I think might be why I find it so fulfilling. Yes, it can be sad and depressing to work with kids who have been abused etc, but the rewarding feeling and knowing you helped is like, 98678603 times more. Also, the higher up the ladder you climb after you've got your Bachelors, the more chance you have of finding a position where your employer pays for some/all of the cost of you going back to school for your Masters. That's my plan... I want my Masters but I'm done paying for school, someone else can pay for me to get it


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    Default Re: Changing my major -to be...

    social work can be hard, but so worth it. look out for internships in that field...sometimes, they can lead to a full time job. A friend of mine recently completed an unpaid internship in social work and had 2 job offers at the end.

    i would say take it one step at a time, if you want to council women, you should be getting some sort of experience in that field. Volunteer, take classes, get involved. don't worry about those credits....the ones that will transfer will most likely be counted as electives outside of your major. more than likely, you have to have a certain number outside the major.

    your training in nursing may be beneficial somehow to doing this. if you really think this is the field for you, def pursue it!!

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