Is it More Important to Go into College Knowing What You Want to Be or Figure It Out as You Go?

The most crucial piece of your question is your intention to enter college. If you have a clear idea of what you wish to pursue, that's a significant advantage. However, if you are unsure, don't worry; choosing a college with a diverse range of degree programs might be the best step. Most colleges require you to declare a major before you start, but you can change it later if you find it isn't a good fit. You may find that several career paths align with your interests, some of which you might not have imagined existed.

Everyone Has Their Own Path

Every person’s educational journey is unique. Some know exactly what they want to study right from the start, while others make decisions based on their experiences during college. This was true for me when I attended college. There are two primary approaches – knowing what you want to pursue from the beginning or figuring it out as you go. Both work, but it's essential to understand the nuances of each and the timeline involved.

Researching Your Path

I believe it doesn’t matter if you know your career path or not; however, I would recommend taking a personality profile test at the end of your first year to see which career paths align with your personality type. I know a few individuals who changed their majors after completing clinical or internship experiences because they realized the field wasn't right for them.

For a four- or five-year degree, having a definitive idea of what you want to study is a bonus. However, unless you enter college with a significant number of advanced high school credits, you may need between one and a half to two years to determine your path. If you're aiming for a two-year degree, knowing what you want to do beforehand is even more important.

Personal Experience

As an example, I began my college journey in the Fall of 2001. High schools nowadays offer a higher number of advanced placement opportunities, allowing some students to enter university as juniors. This was not my case.

I entered college with credits earned from summer and winter mini-mesters at local community colleges. While these courses were required and not particularly exciting, one was a fascinating introductory entrepreneurship class that helped me transfer to a more advanced course. I also took two Advanced Placement (AP) tests for English and History. The English test earned me my freshman-level 6 credit hours in English language and literature, while the History test didn't have as significant an impact due to my grade level and pre-existing honors classes.

In retrospect, taking The Human Situation course at the Honors College of the University of Houston was a great choice, although it was a waste of time for the English AP test. My mediocre History score resulted in me only earning 1.5 credit hours in freshman-level history classes. Consequently, I ended up having to select a junior-level history class, which added 3 credit hours but hindered my ability to obtain some credits for free. I had to work harder in the long run.

Additionally, I was a required freshman, even though I took a challenging course of study in the honors college. It wasn't until my sophomore year that I started taking classes that contributed to a major. By this time, I had realized that I would never make a living as a poet and had shifted to a creative writing path. If you enter college with no advanced preparation, you still have about a year and a half to figure out what you want to do.

Strategic Planning in Education

If you are entering college without significant advanced credits, it is particularly important to use your time wisely. Advanced placement tests like AP exams and credit placement tests can help you streamline your academic journey.

Placement exams can be a double-edged sword. I strategically avoided taking calculus in my senior year, which led to me placing into second-semester sophomore-level in Spanish on my math placement exam. While this gave me credit for 3 credit hours, it prevented me from advancing faster in other areas. Placement exams are designed to prevent you from getting bored, but they aren't always effective. More advanced students may enter as juniors and have more time to explore different fields.

Ultimately, the key is to be flexible and open to change. Your career path might not be entirely clear at the beginning of your college journey, but staying curious and adaptable will help you make the most of your time and achieve your goals.