I think, in England, ‘further’ means college (voluntary next stage after school, where you learn more complex subjects of your own choosing) and ‘higher’ means University voluntary stage after college where you learn one even more complex subject of your own choosing)
I am not sure which way round they are.
I know America and other places have different systems, but for the purposes of this thread, ‘further’ and ‘higher’ mean post-school voluntary education.
I did Software Engineering because I had a flair for programming and computer usage. I wish I did something else, probably a psychology degree. because my interest in that is deeper than any interest in computers.
I chose what I was good at, not what I would find fulfilling. I regrett so hastilly choosing SE at Uni, and Computing at college
When I went to college right after high school, I majored in communications for two reasons: 1) although I loved science, I had no confidence in my ability to make a career of it; and 2) I had always enjoyed writing, and was encouraged to pursue that by various high school teachers and counselors. Halfway through my time in college, I knew I didn’t have the interest to pursue a career in journalism or broadcasting (the two main emphases of my program), but I stuck with it figuring that I could always put my writing skills to use.
Two years out of college, I was bored out of my mind at a publishing company, and decided there was no way I was going to spend the rest of my working days feeling that way. I threw all caution to the wind and went back to school for the science I loved (specifically, geology). Everyone around me thought I was nuts. It was ten years of hard labor and sacrifices to get through an undergrad degree and then grad school, and even now there are trying and frustrating parts of this career… but I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.
If memory serves, you are pretty young and have no major responsibilities, e.g., family to support, mortgage to pay. If you regret the choices you made earlier, why not consider going back to school for something you will enjoy more (being realistic about post-grad job opportunities and the like)? You can always tell people you’re suffering from an early mid-life crisis, like I did.
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering: Yup, did the right thing. I knew what I wanted to study by eighth grade. I couldn’t really imagine myself doing anything else.
I thought I wanted to be a mechanical engineer in high school, but senior year I took a computer class, and loved it. This was 1968, so it was not that common, and I learned to program in machine language. (Not assembler.) So, when I went to college, I majored in computer science, and was one of very few of my friends who never switched majors.
Then my senior year of college I got turned on to computer architecture and microprogramming, specialized on that in graduate school, and never regretted it either. I switched fields again after I graduated, but that was more due to the field dying.
So, I’ve never regretted my choices. Programming is not quite as much fun as sex, but I can do it longer.
I started a computer science degree straight out of school. I loved programming until I did it at uni. It became a mind-numbing chore. I left in the middle of third year. I don’t regret doing that.
I found work in the IT field. It was mostly PC repair work, but grew into networking. I’m very good at it, and now I’m moving into IT management. I really like it! But it’s not a field that a computer science degree would’ve helped me with.
I’m doing a masters degree now, in networking/systems administration. I’m much happier doing this degree than the undergrad degree.
I think it’s a case of finding something you really want to spend a lot of time doing and working hard on. Sometimes the stuff you enjoy doing for fun isn’t the stuff you’d be good at studying.
History with Theology, Philosophy and Religious Studies
My Career:
Web Developer
I figured i’d much rather study something i was interested in than something i already had a good deal of proficiency in and was quite happy to teach myself.
Plus i figured that if i studied something career orientated like New Media or Computer Studies then i’d only regret it if i decided to change careers further down the line.
I’ve done two degrees (Bachelor & Masters) in music. And my career ‘plans’ are to do a PhD. I wouldn’t change anything about what I did - it was a fantastic place to meet open-minded people with a wide range of musical interests.
‘Higher’ means degree-level studies, either at University or at an accredited institution. ‘Further’ means all non-degree qualifications beyond school, covering HNDs, NVQs, etc.
Got my degree in Software Engineering later in life. Was halfway through the course when I suddenly realised that I just didn’t enjoy it. Oops.
I would probably have enjoyed a course in Archaeology or History more. I’m a compliance officer so none these actually helps me… Was a fun time tho
Started doing Business Studies - only to find that once I actually got a job that it was boring, boring, BORING!!
Went back to Uni. when I was 27 to do an Hons. Degree in History. This was more a fun thing, as I loved reading history - but I had to fight to get a grant, as the authorities said ‘The only thing you can do with a history degree is teach, and we do NOT employ people with epilepsy as teachers!’ This was also their excuse for not allowing me to do an MA ‘We don’t want you passing out all over the campus’.
So I worked as a research assistant and proof reader for a while … used to do lectures in Buddhism in my spare time … I don’t regret doing my History degree, even though it never got me any gainful employment.
I’m currently a writer. My answer to your question would be yes and no. Bad news first: of course, with many liberal arts majors, it’s difficult to find a job in that major that pays a living wage, particularly if you have no post-graduate degree. So, for that reason, I sort of wish I had done something more practical.
On the other hand, I feel that my degrees gave me some excellent research experience, which has greatly enhanced my professional life, as well as my personal life (you know - making big purchases, learning about what things like life insurance and health insurance offer me to make the most of what I have). Also, I had so many good experiences working as an archaeologist (obviously, I’m no longer an archaeologist), and working in the corporate world as a researcher/writer/content developer that I feel all have prepared me to become a good writer. Experience is always the best teacher.
I still don’t make much, but that’s because I recently began freelancing (recently being January this year), so I expect that to change gradually as I get additional clients. Regardless of how much I’m making now, I’m doing what I wanted to when I was a kid, and I never thought that would be possible. So, even though I’m not sure how practical my degrees were, I feel they’ve brought me here, which is a place I don’t think I would have reached with a more practical degree.
I did exactly what I needed to do for what I wanted to be (an architect), so my answer to your question would have to be “yes”.
A-levels in Art, History of Art & Architecture, Physics, Maths with Mechanics.
BSc. Hons in Architectural Studies.
PG Dip. in CABD (Computer Aided Building Design).
MSc. in Advanced Architectural Design.
Professional qualifications for ARB & RIBA membership.
Some other stuff…
Of course, whether this is what I really want to do NOW is a whole other matter altogether… (grass is always greener etc…)
B.A. in Spanish with minor in Russian, M.A. in Russian & East European Studies, Politics/Economics specialization.
I wish I’d majored in International Politics, with a double major either in Spanish or Russian. I’d always been an international politics junkie, since early childhood, but didn’t get to discover my love for languages until later. Declared my Spanish major the second semester of freshman year, but didn’t take my first political science class until my 3rd year – and since I graduated in 3 years, it was far too late to change my major. (I’d have loved to stay in school longer, and I had a full tuition grant, but was tired of dealing with the joys of divorced parents and financial aid, so I decided to stick with the original plan and graduate early.)
I thought I’d use the area studies M.A. as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. in Political Science, but well, things didn’t quite work out that way. But that’s a subject for another day. But I still don’t have any regrets about choosing the M.A. program – I had some really interesting experiences, even if they’re not directly related to what I do now.
Got a BS in Biology, but I do regret not minoring (or even double-majoring) in English or Art. But that still wouldn’t change the fact that I’m currently looking for a Master’s in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, followed eventually by a PhD in Paleontology. So, a little regret, but nothing life-altering. I’ll just squeeze in writing and drawing courses when I can to make up for it.
I have a BA in history. I have never used it. I really had no focus in college. I should have waited a few years between high school and college. I should have taken time off to decide what I wanted to do. Dude, I should have gone to Katherine Gibbs!
I’d say no. My older sister is an English teacher as well as a frustrated novelist, and when I graduated college she warned me up and down not to major in English. Well, when your a teenager you think you know everything, so I majored in English anyway. Now I’m running a store and studying graphic design. On the plus side, my English is impeccable! If I could do it all over again I would have majored in Journalism and/or Communications. I may still go back.
I did a BEc, majoring in actuarial studies, followed by the professional exams of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. It was certainly the right choice for my career as an actuary and I’ve enjoyed my work very much. Now I’ve decided to widen my skills a bit, which is why I’m doing an LLB.
