To want to save the world ;)

[Margo96]

Hi all

I'm Margo, 18 and I would like your help with my career/university choices.

My A-Levels are: Maths, Physics, Economics & History and I got all A's for my AS and I'm predicted A*s in Maths and History and A's in Economics and Physics.

I haven't applied for university this year as I will be traveling for a year after A-levels and will be working the year after that, so I'll be entering university at 20. Which gives me quite a lot of time to make a careful thought-out decision.

There are so many things I'd like to do and people I'd like to help that it is becoming difficult to choose what degree to do and what field to enter.

I'm interested in civil engineering - specifically water engineering, health policy, education, international law, environmental engineering, development studies and things that will have a positive impact on the lives of others

Please don't suggest the following options: Accounting, banking, actuarial science or anything to do with the financial industry.

Thank you

Oops, forgot to mention the reason I posted in MN, it's because I know there are a lot of women who work in the fields I stated above and I'd like their opinions.

Slice of for anyone who contributes

One step at a time? Just go and do an engineering degree and take it from there.

I think your problem is that you are seriously overthinking your future. Very few people plan everything at 17 and stick to that plan.

Do your degree first. Get work experience in as many of the areas you're interested in as possible.

You don't need to plan everything now.

Good luck!

Ditto work experience is your friend right now.

Those are ambitious plans, but I see no harm in having a goal to work for.
You mentioned you are travelling for a year - are you going to visit areas that may need the qualifications you hope to get? If so it would be better to plan your degree studies after you have gained the experience of what is most needed there. You could then be planning your course whilst doing the following year's work.
You sound very enterprising, and I'm sure you will do well. Good luck!

Geography? It opens up a number of careers, especially if you specialise in human geography.

Or Geography and Law dual honours at Keele (only uni in my eyes to allow you to do 2 subjects properly without feeling that both faculties are expecting too much of you).

I worked in international development for a number of years and I would suggest that if you're considering working in international development then try to spend some of your travelling time working overseas on an int dev project. Sometimes the reality is vastly different from your perception and it isn't the right career for everyone. I know people who were delighted to get their first int dev post and yet after their first trip overseas, they switched careers or made up excuses to come home early. It takes a certain type of personality.

Your interests seem to divide into practical and theoretical areas so it's probably a good idea to think about which area appeals to you most: visiting a remote region to work on the water infrastructure is quite different from defending rights in an international law court.

The best advice I was given, when trying to decide which degree course to choose, was: which will you enjoy most? which subject is your passion?

If you're the sort of person who gets caught up in 'wanting to save the world' (as I was at 18) then you can fall into the trap of choosing a path that you think more worthy rather than more enjoyable. Follow the path that is more enjoyable because any path has its challenges and your passion/love is what will carry you through and make you excel.

Geography? That's just colouring in.

Go with your first interest on your list, Civil Engineering. I did.

A year travelling and year working might lead you in a completely different direction to how you feel now. You're probably better waiting and seeing how you feel about things rather than trying to lock it all down now. You never know, in two years you might be money mad and all thoughts of world saving gone!

yes go with civil engineering if that's what interests you and where you see your future

maybe do some volunteering on your year out - www.vso.org.uk/?gclid=CLvB6OCs3bsCFQMYwwodnRAA8Q

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo
Geography? That's just colouring in.

As for work experience, I feel like I do nothing but. I have work experience in civil engineering, law, teaching, accounting & government (climate change department)

gordylovesheep That is what I'll be doing, 6 months international volunteering and 6 months of traveling.

BuffyxSummers I'm not money mad and I never will be, I've seen what obsession with money does to you and I am choosing to take a different path.

yeah, yeah - but you'll find that your long holiday needs money.

if the holiday is to add to your CV, make sure the volunteering is useful (Not two weeks somewhere and then move on) and that the holiday is not 'got drunk on a beach' which is what most your age do.

an engineering degree will stand you well for many things. most valuable advice ever is what I was given the day I left uni: 'NOW you start learning!'

You can't predict the future. All I was saying was in two years you could feel completely differently after you've experienced the real world. But thanks for reminding me why I usually ignore these teenage advice begging threads.

I'd agree with Buffy that you can't predict the future. You might decide, as one friend of mine did, that her way of saving the world would be to get an extremely high paying job in the financial industry, and to use it to fund large charitable donations to the cause she had been passionate ever since she was a child. It worked for her...

But meanwhile, why not think about studying engineering at University, and then volunteering with Engineers Without Borders during your studies?

I really like your suggestion ashInTheAttic thank you.

Thank you to all posters, I appreciate it

Goodbye, and have a lovely New Year's Day