Future Advice

[C-MayheM]

Hey guys, this is my first post here. From what I have seen these forums look really nice.

Anyway, I am starting college in fall to get my MBA. When I chose my career path I had planned to go into IT sales, thats what my parents do and they make a great deal of money. But as I have taken classes in networking, comp science, etc etc I can tell its not my thing. Over the past few years I have fallen in love with fitness and health so I would like to find something I can do in this field. Starting a gym, health food stores, websites, small business related to fitness.

So here is what I need some advice on, my MBA is not going anywhere, thats something I am set on, but is there anything helpful for my minor? Also what does it take to become a trainer? Also is there anything I can do at my age (18) to prepare myself more for this goal?

[richarddoughtyfitness]

so you havent started college at all yet ?
i changed my major 3 times before i knew what i wanted to do with my life

i dont know what you should minor in , but i will tell you as someone whose friends have all recently graduated college that you shouldnt rush into the desicsion because getting a degree in something you want nothing to do with doesnt do you very well

i know alot of people who owe 100k in college loans (700 a month for the next 30 years ) but want nothing to do with what they got their degree in
so now they have retail jobs they could of got without the degree but they have a student loan so big they cant move out of their parents home

[JerseyGirl]

Originally Posted by richarddoughtyfitness

i know alot of people who owe 100k in college loans (700 a month for the next 30 years ) but want nothing to do with what they got their degree in

I'm one of those people--not quite $100k in debt but still owe over $20k. I have an MBA in Human Resources but work for the Air Force as a civil service employee and make well below what my degree should demand. Doing nothing related to my education. My college had a really crappy career development department & did nothing to help me find a job in my field.

BUT I make a decent salary & can support myself. And most importantly I love the people I work with & my job (on most days). I wouldn't trade it for the world & know that you can't make enough money to make up for working with people you don't like & doing a job you hate.

Take your time--don't wast money on a 4-year school. Go to community college & get your basics (English, math, sciences, social studies) out of the way.

If you think you want to be a fitness professional, major in something that will help you--physical fitness, health & exercise science. Minor in business. You can still get an MBA if that is a goal you feel you must achieve (& good for you by the way--that's very admirable). It doesn't matter what your major is for undergrad studies. Anyone can get an MBA. What matters is where you want to get that degree from & what your GMAT or GRE scores are when you apply for your MBA program. Unless of course you are looking at business schools & a 5 year MBA.

Best of luck to you as you finish high school & begin your college education.

[RobLL]

My standard advice: take some of the hard science courses, or at least as hard as you can and get a B or an A. Obviously anatomy, chemistry plus organic chem (or whatever is the appr. one in health sciences, and a physics class will give you some clout in knowing what's going on in the world, and in the body. And Good luck with your chosen major.

[bipennate]

Originally Posted by RobLL

My standard advice: take some of the hard science courses, or at least as hard as you can and get a B or an A. Obviously anatomy, chemistry plus organic chem (or whatever is the appr. one in health sciences, and a physics class will give you some clout in knowing what's going on in the world, and in the body. And Good luck with your chosen major.

Excellent advice...C-MayheM, for the record, I basically did exactly what you're going through, except rather than figuring out that I didn't enjoy corporate business before college, I figured it out after I had graduated...you have a great opportunity to explore the different majors and disciplines, and find out what interests you the most. Best of luck

[bryanc]

I think all of the advice above has been great. And I don't have an MBA or anything close to it, but I've been in school longer than anyone here (I'm pretty sure) :P.

When I read your post, I see a very determined, ambitious, goal-oriented kind of guy. And that will take you very far. And I would never try to dissuade someone who has that kind of purpose to not pursue their dream of an MBA (although, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why you think you need one to do any of the things you're suggesting--but I'm sure you have your reasons, and I don't need to know them)

But my one piece of overwhelming advice is to find something that you love doing so much, that you would do it for free.

The biggest mistake I see with university students is that they get SO goal-oriented, that they fixate on making sure every course they take brings them closer to their goal (which, for most, is to have _A_ job that provides a cushy income). And if you think pre-MBA's are goal-directed and ambitious, you have obvious never met a "pre-med" student (trust me, it's exponentially worse). But what ends up happening is that they graduate and find themselves making pretty good money (or even excellent money) in a job that they don't love.

You will work for more than 1/3 of your day until you're 65. Falling in love with fitness and health is one thing; falling in love with _working_ in fitness is another.

If you're interested in fitness-related jobs, my advice is to get off this board and get out there and talk with the people that actually HAVE the jobs you think you want (or variations thereof). Go and see if you LOVE their jobs. Because if you can't even see yourself doing their job, I can almost guarantee that you won't love it.