Mavisgibbons considers life options part IV: the (anti)climax.

[simpak]

You may have been following my path to self destruction over the past two or so months, when I first decided that I hated my course.
Well, not much has changed.

However, I do have to decide what to do with my life by the end of next week so I can at least give my tutors warning about potentially writing reference letters for my exchange stuff.  There's also re-enrollment and subject choice, the ever increasing VTAC late application fee, what to focus the most attention on in the exam period.
After spending last night in tears for two hours because I couldn't find any tinned tomatoes in the pantry, I again return to my trusty VCE Notes people for help/to rant to.

Option 1: Continue with the initial pathway in a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) Enriched Major degree!  This means that I will take only Media and Communications subjects next year, and in third year.  I would do a research project and an internship in my final year.  Next year, I would exchange to the USA - preferably to be at UPenn.  After this degree, employment opportunities are unlikely because it's very hard to get hired without doing freelance journalism for some extensive amount of time (I would rather jump off a tall building than find myself with this profession).  Following this, if you do get employed, opportunities do not look appealing.  Basically, I would have a degree, but unattractive employment opportunities.  So let's change that.

Option 2: Continue with the initial pathway in a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) degree, but modify to a double major degree!  I would do at least two media subjects per year in second and third years, and then choose a second major.  Which would be the only science major I am allowed to take - Psychology!  Having done MBB1 and MBB2 this year, not a problem, it appears!  Can still apply to UPenn and go on exchange same time next year.  After this, I could (presumably?) do Psych honours as would a normal BA person (somebody please confirm this) and then potentially could do a Masters in Psychology or something similar with the ultimate goal of studying neuropsychologically related things, clinically or otherwise.  Possibility of what employment?

Option 3: Continue with the initial pathway in a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications ) degree, either the double major or the enriched major, but then add on a fun little JD at the end of this process to escape into a career with actual employment opportunities and an Arts based life.  As I was considering this when I chose Melbourne, it's not so far-fetched or a last minute decision - just one I haven't considered seriously in a while.  Possibility of stable employment.

Option 4: Apply for a Bachelor of Biomedicine (first preference) or Bachelor of Science (second preference) through VTAC and get the hell away from the Arts department!  Could then aim for GAMSAT and medicine, or major in neuropsychology, or major in other biologically relevant fields which I might enjoy because I do love biology.  Potentially still have JD open to me at the end of this - all Arts is not lost.  Have already completed all breadth requirements.  Harder to do exchange.  Possibility of stable employment.

THERE ARE HIDDEN QUESTIONS IN THE STATEMENTS ABOVE.  Hint: Option 2.  Someone please clear these up for me.
Given that I have been pondering this question for two months and still have no idea if I want to give up on Arts entirely, do miss science a lot, and do not particularly wish to be a journalist when I am older which of these options looks the best from where you stand?  If it helps, I hate all other career paths Media and Comm will lead to - PR is boring and so is marketing/advertising.
Is it better to have an internship if I stick with this degree, or is it better to broaden my horizons?
Is it farfetched to still be considering a law degree given the above information (even if i double majored in psychology, I would possibly still go into law).
I rate exchange as a high priority - it was one of the major reasons I chose Melbourne Uni and something I have always wanted to do.

Given my muddled life and my mixed interests (which have pretty much been 50% love of arts 50% love of science my whole life, see VCE subjects) which option do you think is the most reasonable?

I honestly don't care if you don't know me at all and feel you can't answer that question, I am running out of time, am stuck in a rut and can't afford to keep losing two hours of my day when I lose an ingredient I needed to make dinner.

Edit: if you also know where I can find a non-specific to a course or field adviser to help me with my decisions, this would be good, or if the advisers at the Arts and Music student center are actually appropriate for my questions (because they seem to deal with major choice and etc more than this) then let me know and I will contact them).

[RainerWolfram]

On a scale of 1 - 10, of what importance does job prospects/opportunities mean to you? 10 being really important.

[simpak]

Ten.
I am at Uni for two reasons - to learn new things and to get a job.
And the learning is meant to lead in to the latter.

[Chavi]

If you just want to earn lots and lots of money (usually in peril of your conscience or your soul), you should quit uni, and apply for something that requires less deliberation, but higher pay offs.
Stockbroking, Real Estate, Ponzi schemes, Horse betting, Prostitution, Internet scams (Phishing) or Law. Actually Law requires effort. The other options provide a viable short-term alternative to Uni, and will give you the proper life and work experience that you seek.

[simpak]

Hahaha I am not against uni as a whole - I like uni, I would prefer to stay in it.
Money isn't what I'm after - just stable employment.  I don't want any get rich quick schemes but there is no stable employment in journalism today.

[RainerWolfram]

Ten.
I am at Uni for two reasons - to learn new things and to get a job.
And the learning is meant to lead in to the latter.

Now close your eyes and make sure there is no music turned on. Picture yourself and reminisce... the past and your favourite memories. When I say, "dream job", what do you instantly think of?

[simpak]

I honestly don't have one anymore

[Chavi]

Hahaha I am not against uni as a whole - I like uni, I would prefer to stay in it.
Money isn't what I'm after - just stable employment.  I don't want any get rich quick schemes but there is no stable employment in journalism today.

Once upon a time Journalism was an honorable job - journalists were the exposers of the truth; the vanguards of democracy. Today the profession is too seeped in bias, moneyed, elaborate and driven by corporate profits and interest groups - rather than doing what they're supposed to: provide citizens with objective evidence/report the news.

Besides, with the death of newspapers, you don't need to be a "professional journo". You'll be surprised to know that bloggers hold more influence today than opinion journalists ever have.
How about part time blogging - first a hobby, and then get recognized - dream job?

[simpak]

Hahaha I am not against uni as a whole - I like uni, I would prefer to stay in it.
Money isn't what I'm after - just stable employment.  I don't want any get rich quick schemes but there is no stable employment in journalism today.

Once upon a time Journalism was an honorable job - journalists were the exposers of the truth; the vanguards of democracy. Today the profession is too seeped in bias, moneyed, elaborate and driven by corporate profits and interest groups - rather than doing what they're supposed to: provide citizens with objective evidence/report the news.

Besides, with the death of newspapers, you don't need to be a "professional journo". You'll be surprised to know that bloggers hold more influence today than opinion journalists ever have.
How about part time blogging - first a hobby, and then get recognized - dream job?

I don't want to work for myself ever.  And I'm unsure if any of my dream jobs are centered around journalism.

[RainerWolfram]

On a scale of 1-10, you answered 10 which means that job prospects are very important to you. So I would rule out option 1 because "employment opportunities are unlikely because it's very hard to get hired without doing freelance journalism for some extensive amount of time."

How keen do you want to do JD? Just be honest with yourself, do you want to do law for the sheer passion or just to fulfill your appetite? The meaning of 'passion' is not the same as 'appetite'. There's a clear difference.

[Gloamglozer]

A little tip:

1.  Register yourself on VTAC.
2.  Randomly put courses.
3.  Pay the "ever increasing late fee".


Why?  Because then it won't be "ever increasing" and if you are adamant on a transfer, at least you can change them later on without penalty.  If you don't want a transfer, at least you won't kick yourself in the backside thinking why you waited so long and wasted all that money.

[simpak]

A little tip:

1.  Register yourself on VTAC.
2.  Randomly put courses.
3.  Pay the "ever increasing late fee".


Why?  Because then it won't be "ever increasing" and if you are adamant on a transfer, at least you can change them later on without penalty.  If you don't want a transfer, at least you won't kick yourself in the backside thinking why you waited so long and wasted all that money.

You are quite the genius.

[simpak]

On a scale of 1-10, you answered 10 which means that job prospects are very important to you. So I would rule out option 1 because "employment opportunities are unlikely because it's very hard to get hired without doing freelance journalism for some extensive amount of time."

How keen do you want to do JD? Just be honest with yourself, do you want to do law for the sheer passion or just to fulfill your appetite? The meaning of 'passion' is not the same as 'appetite'. There's a clear difference.

Well, in high school I wanted to do law for sheer passion.  Then I became interested in journalism and half canned the idea.
But it never really died.
Being in the position I am, where anything looks better than this, I can't really give you an honest answer because all of them are 'to get away from journalistic death' but I am passionate about both arguing and clerical/paperwork things (call me insane, go ahead) so I guess you could say half for the passion and half for the appetite.

My dilemma in life is that I like too many things.

[RainerWolfram]

If you're keen about law then I'd recommend you to do option 4 as you "potentially still have JD open to [you]" and to get "get the hell away from the Arts department!"

If the student exchange is hindering you from picking option 4, then you should [un]hinder it and omit the student exchange from your brain. I just feel it's not that important as doing a course you might seem to enjoy a little better and having the same(?) opportunity to do JD.
Do you know who James Matthew Barrie is? He is the creator of Peter Pan, if you didn't know. He once said, "You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.”

[simpak]

Such a depressing quote, but it is true...

I am considering your thoughts.  I was/still am/will always be dead set on exchange though.
I've always wanted to study in the US although couldn't afford to do it entirely.  Exchange was my only option.