Just WTF am I going to do with myself?

[shorinji]

H all. Been posting for a bit now, but just decided this would be a good place to vent, rant and or gain valuable PO aware advice. I graduated from HS this past spring. Will be going to UW-Madison for college. I've been interested in the sciences, engineering, and the like for a long time. I do have other interests though, like Philosophy, mathematics, blah blah blah. I'll also be taking Russian.

So, I mean, does anybody have any insight as to the job outlooks for these particular fields?
I would like to go into business for myself in these fields, not sure if I am up to it though. I'd like to go into research? Then I tack on PO, and things get even more complicated. Should I get into a Community College prog. for welding while I'm up there? I'd really appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice right now, sorry for the near incomprehensible mess of this post, my mind is just really scrambled.

[BlueOwl]

Science?  Engineering?  And a job?

How about energy.  Biofuels, solar, wind, hydro, and any and all of the infrastructure related to it.

If civilization crashes and burns completely, it doesn't matter either way.  If it continues to exist, energy will be an extremely high priority.

[shorinji]

Thanks for your response.

Energy seems interesting. Although of the ones you mentioned, Hydro seems to me to be the one has a future. I don't know. I guess I'd like to go into development or research. Are there any forseeable opportunities for those post-PO? I plan on doing things is truly enjoy anyway, but It'd be so damn nice if I got paid enough to support a family, and buy a house with a backyard big enough for a greenhouse and a garden

[Chickengirl]

I'd be looking at skills that are portable, and don't require huge amounts of technology (or at least are easily converted to low tech methods).

If you have to up and move, you want to be able to do what you do no matter where you end up. So highly specialised stuff might be interesting, pay well, etc, but if you had to move away from a city, or from an area known for that particular industry, would you still be able to use those skills?

Engineering - what type of eningeering are you thinking of? Can you see a use for it if TSHTF, or if society slowly goes low tech?

Science - Ditto?

Philosophy - always a handy thing in my opinion, portable, requires only memory and brain power Useful for teaching, not so practical in the survival rates though (unless combined with many other skills)

Mathematics - ditto for philisophy. Has the added benefit of combining well with engineering and certain types of engineering could come in damn handy.

Languages are always good. Even if some of today's countries are isolated for a little while, eventually trade will happen again, and there are plenty of Russian books/tapes/people that may need translating 

(DP is part german, he will be helping us all learn german, and I intend to pick up some french as well. I also need to refresh my very poor latin  languages are VERY portable, and quite handy)

[Tabo]

Take a deep breath.

Smile.

Study things that interest you.

None of us are ready for the true consequences of peak oil. So enjoy living in the best place  and time in the history of humanity. Youre more aware of almost all your peers and you will know what to do when the time comes. Or you wont-either way enjoy it.

Oh and learn to do something useful with your hands that you enjoy.

[Unconventional Ideas]

These will prepare your mind for anything that comes:

math: to think methodically and logically
writing: to communicate well
languages: for understanding of other people, ultimately better communication, awareness of the human condition
natural sciences: chemistry, physics, biology, zoology, botany, geology-all are always vital in any scenario

avoid:

systems analyst
supply chain management
any management for that matter
marketing
e-commerce
communications
engineering
and a whole host of other corporate teamplayerish careers

Those are soon to vanish forever

[speaksoftly]

Wow! You are already poised for success just by taking such an aware and realistic view of the future! I'm impressed not only that you are PO aware, but that you are preparing to educate yourself on multiple levels.

You could try the http://www.bls.gov/OCO/ Occupational outlook handbook, but I personally think you have it covered with the math and eningeering, and then welding as a possible practical application.

[Chickengirl]

These will prepare your mind for anything that comes:

math: to think methodically and logically
writing: to communicate well
languages: for understanding of other people, ultimately better communication, awareness of the human condition
natural sciences: chemistry, physics, biology, zoology, botany, geology-all are always vital in any scenario

avoid:

systems analyst
supply chain management
any management for that matter
marketing
e-commerce
communications
engineering
and a whole host of other corporate teamplayerish careers

Those are soon to vanish forever

I will agree with all bar the ditching of engineering  and management- there will still be contruction, bridges will still need building, etc etc. The Romans had lots of engineers. So did many pre-oil civilisations. And knowing how to manage resources (inc people) well may come in right handy once the dust settles and people are trying to rebuild...

So not every type of engineering or management will be needed, but some forms will still be useful. Just be mindful of which ones you look at - and esp in the case of management, combine it with other skills.

[Recovering Cornucopian]

H all. Been posting for a bit now, but just decided this would be a good place to vent, rant and or gain valuable PO aware advice. I graduated from HS this past spring. Will be going to UW-Madison for college.

You're from Wisconsin? Man, are you lucky.  You get to live in a place that's going to be ideal in the future.  A place home to "organic and sustainable farming practices," a place that will see an "influx of many people seeking a simpler life in harmony with the land."

Forget the brick-and-mortar diploma mill.  Go here:

http://www.driftlessfolkschool.org/

I am not affiliated with the school.  I am just a guy from Jersey who knows that the life he has lived is coming to a close, a guy who found out about Driftless and thinks it is really cool.

[Ranger]

Everyone I know who went to Madison loved it!!! Go Badgers!!!  Enjoy your time there and make the most of it in all areas not just academic. There are wonderful, intelligent people there you will learn from and make contacts for life. Obviously, you are quite intelligent to be accepted there. I would go back in a heartbeat if I could, some of the best times of my life. ( I was down 94 at Marquette in Milwaukee) Go with an open mind and an open heart......you will find your niche, and the guidance in your career path.

[Unconventional Ideas]

While some people will still get hired, a better choice would be to focus on learning practical skills you can provide to your community.

And by "skills," I don't mean teamplayerish ones that were "valued" during America's second Gilded Age (1981-2008).  You know things like Powerpoint, spreadsheets, programming, etc.

I'm talking real skills like farming, sewing, construction of earthen shelters, animal husbandry, etc.

And, breathe a sigh of relief as the resume mentality is going to die.

[Tadsmiley]

Go with what you like but... STAY OUT OF DEBT, ESPECIALLY STUDENT LOAD DEBT!  If you can't go to school without getting into debt, save up money until you can.  Student Loan debt is non-dischargeable in a bankruptsy.

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

Go with what you like but... STAY OUT OF DEBT, ESPECIALLY STUDENT LOAD DEBT!  If you can't go to school without getting into debt, save up money until you can.  Student Loan debt is non-dischargeable in a bankruptsy.

Your school likely has  "job board".  Mine did.  I went down there every Saturday and found some kind of job to do to avoid going into debt.  Also lived VERY simply.  Goodwill often has pretty good clothes.  Hell, you're in college!  Why spend money to look "grundge"?  You don't need a car - rent when you need one or take the bus.  You meet all kinds of interesting people in a Grayhound bus depot, seriously.  You might want to thinka about spending your first 2 years, which are basic courses at your local junior college and transferring for the last 2 years.  That is a huge savings.  I mean, freshman English is the same everywhere.

Learn how to actually use your hands and your brain in creating something real.  There will be no room in the PO world for pencil pushers.

[StrangeFire]

Take Mandarin...

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

Take Mandarin...

Yeah, since they already own 50% of the US probably.....