Degree Dilemma (2 Viewers)

[WinterOfMyDiscontent]

Hey BoS!
I’m currently figuring out my next career steps. I want to pursue something I'm truly passionate about, but I also want to make sure I have a stable and secure future.

I’m interested in jobs within the media industry, whether that’s content creation, video editing, presenting, or something that allows me to express my thoughts and creativity. In high school, I gravitated towards subjects like English and enjoyed (and worked really hard on) tasks that used my digital and communication skills. My passion for these subjects motivated me to put in the hard work and discipline to succeed.

However, I’m also worried about financial stability. I want to ensure I can support myself, have financial freedom (e.g buy house, rent, groceries, travel, etc.), and enjoy a healthy work-life balance. Creative fields can feel risky, especially since it often seems like you have to be in the top 1% to be financially secure. I’m also thinking about whether the effort-to-reward ratio in these fields is sustainable in the long term. I value maintaining good mental health and want a career that allows for both fulfillment and stability.

Options I am considering

1. Media/Law
   1. Pros: Gives qualifications and a safety net. Could open doors to careers in HR or government policy if I decide to pivot.
   2. Cons: Takes a lot of time. I do not wish to become a lawyer, barrister, solicitor etc as I don’t think I’d thrive in that environment. I heard that law school involves a lot of reading and it is intellectually demanding ...I'm unsure if I can balance this with my side projects.
2. Psychology
   1. Pros: Could tie into my content creation (e.g. discussing mental health) and opens pathways into organisational psychology.
   2. Cons: Competitive and long. I do wish to be a clinical psychologist and I’m not sure if doing media courses on the side would be enough to get into the media industry or if I’d need a formal media degree.
3. Medicine/Dentistry
   1. Pros: High earning and job security. Seems like it might be easier to earn good marks and succeed in healthcare compared to media (though I’m not sure).
   2. Cons: Science and Maths were my weakest subjects in high school and I struggled with them. It is long and difficult and not really where my passion lies. I definitely do not want to sit the GAMSAT.
4. Real Estate via TAFE
   1. Pros: Real estate has high earning potential and leverages my soft skills (one of my key strengths). It could also feed into content creation e.g. showcasing properties
   2. Cons: It takes time to build a client base and earnings. It is very competitive with a harsh work life balance and I need to hustle.
5. Gap year?

I would love to hear some friendly advice from anyone, especially those who have

• Can share insights into working in real estate, media or studying law.
• Worked in the media industry --> do you need a media degree to break in, or can you get by with other qualifications and experience?
• Faced similar decisions and found a path that offers both personal fulfilment and financial stability.
• Experiences in each of my pathways

Why I'm unsure:
For my HSC, I regret not picking subjects that aligned with my strengths which negatively impacted my mental and physical health (as well as my ATAR). I want to avoid making similar mistakes end up in a job that is unfulfilling and/or does not provide me the financial stability and security I need.

Thank you

 

[cossine]

Hey BoS!
I’m currently figuring out my next career steps. I want to pursue something I'm truly passionate about, but I also want to make sure I have a stable and secure future.

I’m interested in jobs within the media industry, whether that’s content creation, video editing, presenting, or something that allows me to express my thoughts and creativity. In high school, I gravitated towards subjects like English and enjoyed (and worked really hard on) tasks that used my digital and communication skills. My passion for these subjects motivated me to put in the hard work and discipline to succeed.

However, I’m also worried about financial stability. I want to ensure I can support myself, have financial freedom (e.g buy house, rent, groceries, travel, etc.), and enjoy a healthy work-life balance. Creative fields can feel risky, especially since it often seems like you have to be in the top 1% to be financially secure. I’m also thinking about whether the effort-to-reward ratio in these fields is sustainable in the long term. I value maintaining good mental health and want a career that allows for both fulfillment and stability.

Options I am considering

1. Media/Law
   1. Pros: Gives qualifications and a safety net. Could open doors to careers in HR or government policy if I decide to pivot.
   2. Cons: Takes a lot of time. I do not wish to become a lawyer, barrister, solicitor etc as I don’t think I’d thrive in that environment. I heard that law school involves a lot of reading and it is intellectually demanding ...I'm unsure if I can balance this with my side projects.
2. Psychology
   1. Pros: Could tie into my content creation (e.g. discussing mental health) and opens pathways into organisational psychology.
   2. Cons: Competitive and long. I do wish to be a clinical psychologist and I’m not sure if doing media courses on the side would be enough to get into the media industry or if I’d need a formal media degree.
3. Medicine/Dentistry
   1. Pros: High earning and job security. Seems like it might be easier to earn good marks and succeed in healthcare compared to media (though I’m not sure).
   2. Cons: Science and Maths were my weakest subjects in high school and I struggled with them. It is long and difficult and not really where my passion lies. I definitely do not want to sit the GAMSAT.
4. Real Estate via TAFE
   1. Pros: Real estate has high earning potential and leverages my soft skills (one of my key strengths). It could also feed into content creation e.g. showcasing properties
   2. Cons: It takes time to build a client base and earnings. It is very competitive with a harsh work life balance and I need to hustle.
5. Gap year?

I would love to hear some friendly advice from anyone, especially those who have

• Can share insights into working in real estate, media or studying law.
• Worked in the media industry --> do you need a media degree to break in, or can you get by with other qualifications and experience?
• Faced similar decisions and found a path that offers both personal fulfilment and financial stability.
• Experiences in each of my pathways

Why I'm unsure:
For my HSC, I regret not picking subjects that aligned with my strengths which negatively impacted my mental and physical health (as well as my ATAR). I want to avoid making similar mistakes end up in a job that is unfulfilling and/or does not provide me the financial stability and security I need.

Thank you

I don't think you will be using much maths in a med/dentistry degree. In case you want help with maths or science, you can always consider tutoring. If you do decide to GAMSAT a key thing you want to consider is what degree you will do while preparing.

The following link may be helpful:

https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage/occupation-shortage-list