What to do after Undergraduate study?

TheWhiteSwan

Hi everyone,

I'm new to boards.ie and I apologise in advance for the length of this post but it's basically about me looking for help on what to do after completion of my undergraduate programme. So here goes!

I’m an undergraduate student studying in Dublin, Ireland and I just finished my penultimate year of my undergraduate Science degree with my subject specialising in Physiology. Next year is my 4th and final year of my undergraduate degree where I have to conduct a research project. Without complementing myself I suppose I’d be reasonably good at my studies. I won a scholarship for the highest results in my class last year but I’ve always felt I lack the initiative needed for original research and I feel I’m only good at performing work assigned to me in which I’m instructed what to do.

I’m going to be 20 in August and I don’t know where my life is going at this point. I was very good at school too I suppose. I attended the primary and secondary school in my local town and my parents sorted out all the enrolling for me. In my final year of leaving cert, it became clear to me that I’ll eventually have to get a job to earn money and it’s important to enjoy your job. Some people leave school and are lucky enough to find a job straight away but I don’t know if that route is for me.

I’ve always been a bit of a social nerd or retard (apologies if that term causes offense to anyone, that's just what everyone used to call me!) but I understood that most people at leaving cert look up courses that they’re interested in and then apply for them through the CAO. To be honest I’ve never been sure what I’m really interested in and what I’ll get a job from. I like animals, anatomy, boxing, tennis, a bit of football and bits of chemistry and physics. I didn’t really know of any universities in Ireland but I had heard of UCD because that’s where my dad studied, where my older sister was studying and where my other sister was planning on going. I didn’t want to be the odd one out and I always wanted to get to know the capital city so I chose Science at UCD with the intention of doing Zoology and my parents sorting out the accommodation for me.

I really didn’t like the first two years of college and I’m only beginning to enjoy it now. First year was just general science, second year was when you chose 3 subjects and focused on your favourite one in third year. After being incredibly disappointed with Zoology, I decided to do physiology and I really enjoy it although I can’t say there’s one particular organ system I enjoy studying over another.

So I don’t know what to do after college, there’s just so much to choose from and I don’t really know what there is to do. I come from a farming background and I don’t know what a master’s and PhD involves. I have a fair idea but are those qualifications the ‘norm’ or traditional things that people do after completing an undergraduate degree and even if I get those qualifications, where do I go from there? And where do I get a job? I’m just really scared and confused at the moment and not sure where I’m going. Coming to college and moving out of home was a big enough step for me. I feel I'm well over that now but now I see how simple it was in comparison to what my future will involve! I don’t mind staying in Dublin but I suppose I haven’t been abroad before and I’d like to get to know a bit of London and I heard something that you don’t have to pay too many fees for postgraduate courses in Germany. I studied German at school and a lot of German people speak English so I think I’d have no trouble overcoming the language barrier.

It’s just everyone says that there’s so many jobs from Science but I don’t know where to make a start. My dad studied Irish & French as an arts degree and was intent on being a teacher and my sisters studied veterinary medicine and physiotherapy and there’s load of jobs for those professions. I suppose I'm really interested in anatomy of the upper limb and shoulder but I don't know if I'd be good enough to be a surgeon. Many thanks to all who read through this post! Hope you are enjoying the summer!

Gadfly Girl

You are young, you have worked hard to get to where you are, why not consider getting some life experience now to add to your degree once you finish. From what you've posted travel sounds like a good idea for personal growth? I'm sure you'd never regret going but may regret not going?

Have some time to explore who you are whether that is with further studies or new employment, but I think spread your wings and go

Hope that helps, I don't have specific knowledge in the academic science area I'm afraid.

djpbarry

TheWhiteSwan wrote: »

…I’ve always felt I lack the initiative needed for original research and I feel I’m only good at performing work assigned to me in which I’m instructed what to do.

That’s what a PhD is for – it’s about learning how to do research.

TheWhiteSwan wrote: »

I’m going to be 20 in August and I don’t know where my life is going at this point.

Jaysus, relax – I’m 33 and I don’t have a bloody clue what I’m going to be doing this time next year!

TheWhiteSwan wrote: »

I come from a farming background and I don’t know what a master’s and PhD involves. I have a fair idea but are those qualifications the ‘norm’ or traditional things that people do after completing an undergraduate degree…

I wouldn’t say they’re the norm, exactly, no. There’s absolutely no reason why you should feel like you have to embark on postgraduate studies – it’s really only something you should do if you feel it’s right for you.

TheWhiteSwan wrote: »

…and even if I get those qualifications, where do I go from there? And where do I get a job?

Who knows?!? The world is your oyster!

Seriously, stop worrying about what’s going to happen next and, instead, embrace the possibilities! Right now, just focus on getting your degree and then, well, you can literally do whatever you want!

TheWhiteSwan wrote: »

It’s just everyone says that there’s so many jobs from Science but I don’t know where to make a start.

Science is definitely not a bad foundation on which to build. You should find that it leaves you with plenty of options.

Ann-Marie

You're far too young to be worrying about your Future. I'm 32, have a Masters and several years experience working in a company. This year I decided that I wanted to change my profession so I'm going back to do a 2 year postgrad in an unrelated course.
Maybe you should do a few online courses to see what suits you. I did a few via Cousera.com, which are free. If you would like to sit the exam and become accredited for the course, you just have to pay at the end.


Best of luck