Get a job or internship

While it’s true that you have the rest of your life to work, getting a part-time job in the summer is a great way to get some work experience, make some professional connections, and earn some cash.
Working in high school also allows you to get a feel for what you like to do. Try to find a job or internship that will help you figure out what you’d like to do in the future.

• Interested in business? Work as a sales associate at your favorite clothing store or as an administrative assistant at a local company.
• Think you like teaching? Apply for positions at a daycare center or as a teacher’s aide.
• Love ministry? Ask your pastor if you can be an intern at the church or work as a counselor at a Christian summer camp.

Volunteer or serve in ministry

Similar to working at a job or internship, volunteering is a great way to figure out what you may want to do in the future, learn technical skills, and meet passionate professionals in the field. It’s also a great way to devote some time to something you truly care about.
You can make a difference in your community by cleaning up highways or distributing food at a soup kitchen. You can build houses with, take care of animals at an animal shelter, v, go on a missions trip, or serve as a Vacation Bible School (VBS) teacher. The possibilities are endless!
Develop perspective, character, and maturity while providing valuable service to those who need it. Check out for more creative ideas on how to make a difference.

Take a class

If you love learning, consider taking a summer class at your community college. You’ll get a feel for what a college course is like and explore subjects that you’re interested in. For example, if English is your favorite subject in high school, see if you can take a British English or Children’s Literature course at your community college.
If you take courses in English, history, science, or math, you may be able to transfer your credits to your college, which can save you hundreds of dollars later down the road.

Study for the SATs

While you may have already taken your SATs, many students take it one final time during the fall of their senior year. Make the last time count by dedicating the summer to studying. Although the last thing you may want to do is study during the summer, setting aside a couple of hours a day is a small price to pay for the opportunity to attend your dream school.

Visit colleges

Summer is a great time to go on a road trip with your family and visit all of the colleges you’re interested in attending. While you may be able to take a virtual tour or learn about the programs on the college’s website, a college visit is the best way to get a feel for the school and to see if you can imagine yourself there. Not sure what to look for when visiting a college campus? Check out our blogpost “” and “.”
Summer is a great time to gain some professional skills, get ahead in your schoolwork, or experience something new, so make the most of it!
 

 

1. Psychology

If you’re interested in the human mind and human behavior, you may want to major in psychology. As a psychology major, you’ll develop both quantitative and qualitative skills. You’ll learn how to research and analyze data, as well as develop interpersonal, critical thinking, and writing skills.
Many psychology majors find careers as…

• Social workers
• Mental health counselors
• Human resource generalists
• Research assistants
• Caseworkers

2. Liberal Arts/Interdisciplinary Studies

If you have no idea what you want to do after graduation, a liberal arts or interdisciplinary studies major may be right for you. In these types of majors, there tends to be a lot more flexibility in your choice of classes, and you can take classes on race, gender, sexuality, foreign language, culture, and more.
While there is an ongoing argument that the liberal arts don’t prepare students for the workforce, liberal arts majors develop interpersonal, research, communication, analytic reasoning, and critical thinking skills. Still not convinced? once published a popular article on the trend of liberal arts majors getting jobs in America’s hubs for technology and innovation (i.e. Silicon Valley).
Liberal arts majors can pursue further studies or get trained on the job to become…

• Lobbyists
• Economists
• Museum managers
• Salespersons
• Teachers

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Communications is another broad field, and as a communications major, you can choose from a number of different careers. You can choose a specific focus in communications:

• Journalism, media, and broadcasting
• Public relations
• Marketing and advertising
• Business and industrial relations
• Government and politics

By majoring in communications, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively in order to form business relationships, plan campaigns, change policy, promote events, write news articles and press releases, and report on major issues on broadcast television. Communications majors develop skills in public speaking, writing, interpreting, and problem solving which are skills necessary for every field.
Communications majors may go on to become…

• Investigative reporters
• Digital marketing specialists
• Press secretaries
• Accounts executives
• Market research analysts

4. Business

If you’re not sure what you want to do after college, but want to gain practical skills for the workplace, major in business. There are a ton of career options for business majors! Whether you end up working in higher education, a nonprofit, or even venture out as an entrepreneur, every organization functions as a business and requires people who are business-minded for their daily operations to run smoothly.
With a degree in business, you may pursue a career as a…

• Financial analyst
• Benefits and compensation manager
• Real estate agent
• Business operations specialist
• Sales manager

5.ĚýEnglish

There are many people who rag on English majors, but a degree in English prepares you for a variety of contexts. You’ll learn how to think critically, analyze texts, and write clearly. Critical thinking skills and the ability to write well are skills that you can take with you to any job in any industry.
Many English majors go on to become…

• Editors
• Copywriters
• Teachers
• Marketing associates
• Lawyers

6.ĚýBiology

A biology degree isn’t just for future doctors. If you liked biology in high school, considering majoring in biology in college. You’ll study living organisms and the environment, test hypotheses, interpret scientific data, and synthesize research into lab reports. Biology majors, like many liberal arts majors, learn how to think critically and analyze their research.
With a biology degree, you can work as a…

• Conservation scientist
• Occupational therapist
• Forensic scientist
• Cellular biologist
• Disease researcher

7. Computer Science

There is an ever-increasing need for people with computer science degrees. If you’re not sure what you want to do after college, but want to make sure that you’ll find a job, computer science is one of the best degrees out there in terms of employment rates according to . Check out our article on the security of computer technology jobs in the midst of uncertainty.
Computer science majors also have a variety of opportunities as they work in scientific and technical fields, as well as in education, business, healthcare, and more.
Many computer science majors go on to become…

• Software developers
• Business intelligence analysts
• IT and support staff members
• Web developers
• Network systems administrators

Choosing your major can be difficult, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t know what you want to do after graduation. Take classes that sound interesting, find an internship or part-time job, and talk to professors to get a better idea of what you would like to do in the future and what you should major in.

To Go or Not To Go?

Our argument went a little like this:
“I’m not going to college. I don’t need to go,” he said simply.
“No one’s going to hire you without a college degree,” I argued. “And college graduates make more money, you know.”
“That’s debatable. There are lots of good jobs out there that you don’t need a degree for,” he fought back.
“But college will help you become more well-rounded,” I argued relentlessly. “You’ll learn so much about yourself.”
“I’m smart. I’ll be fine. And college is so expensive. I can learn skills now and I can always go to college later.”
And in some ways, he was right. While I had never considered any other option other than going straight to college after my high school graduation, my younger brother, as well as his friends, found themselves wondering, “Is college worth the cost?”

Important Factors

The more research I do on the topic, the more I am convinced that it’s a question without a clear answer. There are many factors that go into making the decision to attend college:

• The high costs of college: Can I afford it? Will I be able to pay off my debt?
• Job security: Even with a college degree, will I be able to secure a job?
• Salary: Will I really earn a higher salary with a college degree than a high school diploma?
• Skills: Will I learn valuable skills in college? Can I just go to trade school?

These are questions I didn’t ask as a high school student. And while they are difficult and frustrating questions, they’re important ones, considering the amount of money and time that goes into a college education.

Resources

If you’re a high school student struggling to make a decision of whether you should attend college, you’re not alone. Here is a list of resources to help you make the decision that is right for you:

General Information/Overview

• (The Art of Manliness)
• (Forbes)
• Don’t Know If You Should Go to College? 5 Things You Need to Do Before Making a Decision (Life and Learning, 91łÔąĎ)

The Argument Against Higher Education

• (The Choice blog, The New York Times)
• (PBS)

The Benefits of Higher Education

• (Collegeboard)
• (Business Insider)
• 7 Reasons You Should Go to College (Life and Learning, 91łÔąĎ)

Alternatives to College

• (Forbes)
• (Art of Manliness)

Making the decision to go to college is a tough one. I hope these resources are helpful to you as you make the decision to attend college, take a gap year, or find an entry-level job. And for those of you wondering, my little brother ended up going to college.