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[Bouchart]

This probably sounds like an odd suggestion but try reading the Book of Ecclesiastes.

[endlessblaze]

Kinda reminds me of myself. I say I want to learn computer progaming but I don't teach myself (though that's partly because I sorta tried and failed)

Roy's explenation makes the most sense to me. I don't feel depressed. I'm more...apatheticly content.

But I don't know. I'm not you.

[helmacon]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

I think, based on what most of you are saying, I should just make the best of it and hope i change a bit more as i develop. Anyways, forcing myself to do stuff has helped a bit. I think it just takes my mind off it and gives me some short term goals to focus on. I joined a chess club, and that's been... interesting.

I just had a quick followup for i2amroy,

it's really impossible for you to know "what you want in your life" for another 3-5 years

If you do decide to go to college ...., than I highly suggest you take the first year or even two simply taking as many classes in as many different fields as you can.

I'm actually already in college pursuing a degree in Ecology, and ill probably graduate by the time im 21 provided nothing unexpected happens. Should I stop and wait, in case it turns out I don't actually like biology?  I think you got me worried about my future now. Still, at least that got me thinking about something!

[gimlet]

I would say keep going as long as you're reasonably liking your courses, there are lots of options for changing directions later.    Take as much math and computer programming as you can stand though, is my recommendation, that's generally always helpful in your field, and as a bridge to other fields.

And yea use your distribution classes (I don't know what they call em nowadays, for us it was "distribution classes", classes you have to take in other fields to be "well rounded") to get a taste of other fields, plus do some reading outside of your comfort zone, and yeah definitely try clubs and activities.  One warning though, if you find, for example, you like engineering but you LOVE renaissance italian romantic poetry, be aware of the job market and prepare yourself for working in engineering and make Italian poetry a hobby.  I'm not saying start a career in something you hate just for the money, but face the reality of the job market.

If you want to get a head start, and maximize your chances of getting a good first job, start NOW to research what companies have hired grads in your field from your school, what positions they got, and what the companies were looking for on top of just the degree.   Don't get discouraged if the jobs don't sound really exciting, most entry level jobs kinda suck, otoh if 90% of them are working at Starbucks, that'd be kind of a warning sign too...

[helmacon]

Take as much math and computer programming as you can stand though, is my recommendation, that's generally always helpful in your field, and as a bridge to other fields.

For bio? My degree plan only requires 6 hrs of stats, I thought i was already overqualified cause i came in with some credit in calc. I know a tiny bit of java coding too from poking around in high-school, but i don't see how either of those relate much to an Ecology degree...

[Harry Baldman]

For bio? My degree plan only requires 6 hrs of stats, I thought i was already overqualified cause i came in with some credit in calc. I know a tiny bit of java coding too from poking around in high-school, but i don't see how either of those relate much to an Ecology degree...

You can never have enough math education. It's one of the definitive things I feel biologists as a whole don't get enough of. That, and it never hurts to be the guy who knows all this stuff in the company of other biologists. Being good with statistics and math as a whole is an incredibly marketable skill, and there aren't really any forms of science that don't at the very least highly benefit from rigorous application of mathematics.

Same with programming - a biologist who can customize their own software is a very valuable sort indeed.

[gimlet]

Really?  What are the jobs you think you'll be getting with an ecology degree?  Do they really rarely involve data collection and analysis?  Seems to me like that'd be a common activity in projects that are actually funded - sponsors are paying for results and these things have to be measured.  There are ALWAYS IT/computer programming career paths in every scientific discipline.   Here's a quote from a biology grad program "Discoveries in biology are driven as much by computer analysis as by laboratory work. "

What kind of jobs do you think you'd want?  Do you LIKE math and data analysis?  Do you like the problem solving of programming, the creation of tools to help your research and analysis?  That'd be an indicator of where to focus.

The thing about math/programming plus a knowledge domain, say "ecology", is you have 2 arrows to your bow - if you can't find something cool right away in ecology, you can get work programming and still come back.  And you are REALLY qualified for the combination ecology programming/analysis type jobs - opening up that category of jobs in your field.  Obviously if you absolutely hate the math/programming bit then aim for something else, but if you like it and are good at it that's a competitive advantage...

[Bogus]

wether or not what you have qualifies as a clinical depression: my suggestion would be to just do something, motivation usually comes with it. i used to almost always want to do something particular when i was a kid but nowadays i tend to not intrinsically have a lot of motivation - i need to get myself busy first. like when im just sitting on my couch, the thought of say riding my bike doesnt really amaze me at all. when i actually get on my bike it becomes fun - knowing this, i may have to force myself to do it at first until the motivation kicks in.

[i2amroy]

Same with programming - a biologist who can customize their own software is a very valuable sort indeed.

My school actually has a DNA analysis class where the basic idea of it is that it puts together a bunch of CS and bio people so that CS people can teach the bio people how to meta-analyze the DNA analyses.