Question: Please help me with college major/career ideas.?
Please bear with the length…this is the much shorter, edited version, haha.
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So I’m considering changing my major (Geology) and career plan (paleontology), but I’m not sure to what because I have far too many interests. One career idea that I’m [very tentatively] considering right now is costume (or set) design. It’s actually a career I considered back in high school, but at the time I thought it was way too unrealistic. That’s why I was originally majoring in Geology (which I still love, but I’m just not as sure about it as a career choice now). I excel at anything artistic, and for me, art (drawing, acting, dancing, music, writing, etc.) is a way to tell stories. I love stories, and therefore I love books, history, plays, television shows, ballets, operas, musicals, and movies. Even prehistory (reason I was majoring in Geology) is a story to me. When I was younger I used to write a lot of stories and plays, and I also liked to draw illustrated “books.” The reason I’m interested in costume design is because I love clothes and fabric, picking out clothes for other people, learning about traditional clothing from all over the world, creating designs for clothing, designing characters, and sewing.
I’m planning on registering for an introductory fashion design course this fall to see if I really am interested in such a career (costume design), but I would like to look into other potential careers so that I can be as confident as possible about my choice. I’m wondering if anyone is able to suggest some other ideas to explore. If it helps, I’ll list a few strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths: I tend to do very well in environments where I’m given a lot of responsibility (for myself and other people) and creative independence. In one-on-one interactions I can be shy and quiet until I get to know someone, but put me on a stage and I won’t feel any inhibitions. In group settings I usually become the leader and I end up doing most of the work (and if I don’t take up the leadership role I do hardly any work—that’s one of my weaknesses). I’m really good at coming up with ideas and solving difficult situations with results that will please the most amount of people. I really enjoy performing and talking in front of large groups of people, and if I’m put in a leadership position I am very hardworking, friendly, and outgoing. For example, I was drum major of the marching band in high school and I was always the first student to arrive (I often arrived even before the band director) and the last to leave (by like, an hour). I wrote schedules for every practice, typed up leadership packets for all the student leaders, planned and led all student leader meetings, helped the band director with office work, came in early and during lunch to help students with music and marching, etc etc. I also never showed anger or had any kind of emotional breakdown in front of the band or staff, despite often being stressed and exhausted.
Weaknesses: I have a tendency to shrink into the shadows when I’m not in the limelight—I’ll blow the crowd away if I’m the main character of the play, but if I’m given a supporting role I’ll barely act. If I’m on my own, I can meet new people very easilly; but if I’m with friends, I tend to be the quiet, awkward girl when meeting new people. I love to start projects but I never finish any (unless I have a deadline). I can’t sit still very long (I’ll fall asleep). If I can’t pick something up immediately, I let it stress me out a lot (for example, math). When I’m working I’m very focused and I get really irritated when people interrupt my work. I hate it when people try to tell me what to do at work (especially if I already know what to do). I can’t take confrontation (causing me to often be a people-pleaser unless in a leadership role) or critiscism—and I also hate it when people compliment me. I’m really uncomfortable with showing emotion because I have trust issues, and I also have a really bad temper that caused me a lot of grief pre-high school. This often results in me coming off cold with strangers.

Answer:

Answer by Blue Steel
You sound like me! Haha I’m majoring in architecture and love it, so I suggest you look into that, or interior design since you like materials and whatnot:) both require project managing, which you sound very good at, and it is 90% individual work yet you’re around people all the time (in a studio). Also it allows for so much creativity, you won’t know what to do with yourself, and you can work at your own pace…as long as you meet due dates. Both are hard, I’m not gonna lie, but they’re also very rewarding. It’s not like you turn in an essay and don’t get it back for a month, then when you do, there’s one comment on it from the prof – everything is hands on, all the time, always something new and never boring. Ever. It involves history, art, problem solving, and intuition. If you’re truly interested in set design, I definitely suggest looking into architecture, because it is one of many paths you can take with a B.Arch. Not to discourage you from your current thoughts on costume design, but both architecture and interior design have better job outlooks and pay range.