Auburn University

Date: Sep 18 2018
Major: Zoology (This Major's Salary over time)
College for me was the next step in growing up. My brother was 5 years older and attended AU when in was in H.S., so I got the chance to experience the campus, dorms, apartments, parties, freedom, etc prior to attending. I was very prepared emotionally and socially to go away to school and start my path to becoming independent.

1. College helped me to set academic goals and work toward completing a degree.

I wanted to go to Vet school, but about 1 year in, when you make a few C's, the opportunity to get into AU Vet school starting waning, so I changed my Major to Wildlife Science (Zoology). I wanted to stay within the COSAM college. I had to go (2) extra quarters (before the school changed over to semesters) and graduated in Fall '94.

2. I would have done spent more time researching the job market. There was a hiring freeze for 1-2 years on Federal and State jobs when I got out of school and it was difficult to find a Parks/Fisheries/Wildlife Research position.

3. For H.S Sophomores/Juniors, I would recommend reaching out to a private company, hospital, school, firm, etc, where you have an interest in, and volunteer, work after school, intern, etc with that business/company for 1-2 months at minimum, to see if you still are interested in that type of work. It will make you aware of the to day-to-day activities, issues, management style, pressures, responsibility and tasks it would take for you to work in that specific environment. If the 30-60 day trial period proves beneficial, then looking at colleges that support a Major in this field would be a smart choice.