How did you choose.. ?
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Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37193
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Topic: How did you choose.. ?
Posted By: Bubie
Subject: How did you choose.. ?
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 2:38pm
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Im trying to plan ahead for when DS is at school so i can study something. Im only 19, but cant seem to make up my mind what i want to study...id love to be a primary teacher, but after going through pregnancy with DS and all that im also thinking being a midwife would be good aswell, i just dont know how to decide, also since i cant properly study atm im wanting to do some by distance learning at night when DS is in bed. So how did u guys work out what u wanted to be ? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 2:48pm
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did you get level 2 ncea, or university entrance?
if you didnt i would suggest trying to do a bridging course that gets you the equivalent to allow you to get into uni/polytech. im doing occupational therapy and i love it. when i graduate i can work in so many places and with so many people. |
Posted By: kiwikt
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 3:02pm
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The best way to decide is to do a general course for a while and get some experience in a few different areas.
Although, I always knew what I wanted to be so I went straight to university to get my degree. 10 years later I have my perfect job! But it is not the job I thought I would have at 19 - similar, but I have gone a very round about way to get it. But I taught at Uni for a while and I saw so many students like you - not sure what they wanted to 'be' and put all sorts of pressure on themselves to decide straight away. Sometimes doing a general course for a while, which gives you generalised, transferable skills, is a better option than something specific. Choose papers that might be able to be transferred around after your first year. So if you think you might like teaching or midwife - focus on biology courses in your first year, with some general teaching courses. That way you can go either way in the second year depending on what you like and you dont have a lot of courses on your records that you cant apply to future study. And remember, just because you study to be a teacher, it does not mean you have to be a teacher! You can apply your degree in other areas without ever stepping foot in a classroom. I was telling an accountant the other day that they did not need to be an accountant if they didnt like it - they can apply for all sorts of different jobs in the financial sector. ------------- Due 14/10/11 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 3:04pm
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I'm 30, did a polytech course after school, did my degree while working, have a pretty decent office based job...... have no idea what I want to "be".
I think some people have a strong calling to a particular profession and others just kind of fall into their careers. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 5:18pm
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I was lucky that before I had DD, I did some papers of interest at uni which gave me some insight into what I might want to be. Before that my options were nursing, architecture, teacher, anthropologist (probably a lecturer teaching it though/researching) or a psychologist or something in forensics.
One good idea is to speak to someone in one of the fields you are interested in and see how they like it, the pros/cons of it all. What it's REALLY like... So far I've spoken too a draftsman, a anthropologist, a teacher, mw, nurse... And each have things that appeal etc. Next year I am doing pre health science papers, am planning to study full time and DD will be looked after by her nana and poppa. But another option for me is SIT offer the paper by extramural/correspondence but it's 2 separate courses (beginner and intermediate). So still deciding... I am currently leaning towards nursing and midwifery, but more nursing at this stage as midwifery isn't offered in Wellington, plus you have to be able to make a life and death decision 'like that' should something happen during labour... If anything goes wrong, unfortunately - it's on your hands! etc. But I have found out Otago offer midwifery by correspondence, just have to go down to Dunedin a couple of times a year for some stuff. Hope that sorta helps. Also, not sure if you have Ncea level 1, 2 or 3 or UE, or any other quals... Midwifery normally only take people on who have had life experience, so even if you have awesome grades in the right subjects, you may not get in. Plus it's always a bonus to have studied the right subjects too. I did do science and maths, english, graphics etc at school but I haven't studied now for 2+ years so doing the pre health stuff to ease myself back in to study + I missed the cut off dates for midwifery and nursing! (Bugger!) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 5:26pm
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I agree with the others, just because you do one degree doesn't mean you can't do something else.
For me I want to do a degree that guarantees a job at the end of the day BUT you also have to think beyond the degree, like how many jobs are available usually, pay (if that bothers you), will you be happy, are their opportunities to do other things with that degree/to move up the career ladder... Check out the NZ career services website, just browse through it, you can do surverys which give you a lst of careers/study options that might interest you plus it has info on pretty much all the jobs out there inc pay, how to get into the degree, what people doing that job think about it, where in NZ there is a demand for it... Another thing is when you do your degree/whatever, will you be able to stay living where you are to do it or will you have to move to another part of the country to do the degree or find a job. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 6:16pm
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if you can, see if you can do some free work experience in a few fields (like they do at high school). there are things that you will either love or hate.
Otherwise pick a degree i.e., arts, business, science as there are often core papers that you have to take so at first you have no choice, so do those first and decide on a major later. |
Posted By: Bubie
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 6:59pm
Ive got NCEA 1 + 2, Unfortunately i dont really live in a town where i can study. I either have Invercargill or Dunedin which is closer to me, or even further to move. But it's something i really want to do, Thanks for the great advice  Ill go check out that website and hopefully get some good information about each interest  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 7:37pm
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you should be able to get what you need for uni through correspondence courses. I know massey does extramural papers if you want to study from home and not move. If you are careful what papers you take you also can transfer them. The bonus of invercargill is that I think study is still basically free then. Also note that a lot of of the universities have just changed their admittance criteria to make it harder to get in due to drop offs in government funding.
eta: I went into uni taking my best subjects from school. |
Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 20 December 2010 at 8:35pm
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I wish when you were born someone would just hand you an envelope with your perfect career in it because i have a huge issue in finding something!
My two cents is to listen to everyones advice, do trials/work experience where you can before you commit to a course. I have a diploma in journalism, a diploma in culinary arts, a bachelor in education (primary), and a bachelor of arts (english major french minor) and a student loan that i will never pay off......and i am not working in any of those fields. |
Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 21 December 2010 at 7:17pm
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I would love to be a midwife but one thing you have to consider when you have young kids is it is a job that requires you to be on call almost constantly. You would need to be able to run out of the house at the drop of the hat so unless you live with someone else that is constantly available to watch your wee one it could make things tricky Unless of course you work shifts in a hospital. Not 100% on how that works. But I know if I was going to be a midwife I think I would prefer to be more independant. -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 21 December 2010 at 8:30pm
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Your earn more as an independent mw although all midwifery pay is experience based. It's 40-70k as a hospital mw (shifts) and 70-120k for an independent. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 21 December 2010 at 8:30pm
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Oh and just because you study to be a mw doesn't mean you have to be one, you could teach it, or do research etc. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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