I couldnt figure it out either so I went to grad school at night while getting started in a entry level job. I'm glad I did because I dont know how you make the time for it later in life. It's hard to put #'s the the experience, but I know I grew up a lot and learned a few things too.

As long as you can put food in your belly and arent in a world of debt, have as much fun as possible. Dont rush it, you're never young again.

Now this is getting good...where's the popcorn...I love hearing people's stories; they are ALL so varied and interesting.

To be clear: I am very much looking forward to this next step in my life. College was fun but it's close to over, and I want to switch it up and see what else is around. By the time I'm done I will have been in Berkeley for 5 years. (I know some of you are cringing; I am ducking the onslaught of your spoons.)

Looking before I leap, is all. Not afraid at all to be paying the piper or having more responsibilities. :)

I moved to DC because it seemed like the place where I could still party like I was in college, yet make a living and be surrounded by lots of career-minded folks my own age. I actually partied a lot harder for a few years after college than during college.

Why not a short stint in the Military? Nothing better on a resume than having been a Naval or Marine Corps officer...and you'll see the world for free.

When I graduated in '08 I looked for a job. Then I looked some more. And then I kept looking. Focus on a field that interests you and just find a job.

Makes little sense to be picky at a time when CA's unemployment rate is 12.5%.

This is true. I was surprised how many Engineers/Surveyors I work with have a Military background.

Do what you are GOOD at, not what you enjoy. Many reasons for this.

Good luck! You sound smart and capable. Have fun with this.
Larry

Well, I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 05. At that time I had been looking for a job for about 7-8 months so I went to the Mechanical Engineering chair and he had a graduate position open so I took it. I may have been an average student as an undergrad, but the challenging work load has brought out a hard worker. A little over a year ago I was offered a position at a local grocery store where I troubleshoot/fix all their computer systems and the like. I never would have thought I could use my engineering skill set at a place like this. Its a fun time, but I am still looking for a higher paying job.

With the job market the way it is, those with background may be elbowing to keep the available spaces.
You mentioned travel and volunteering. If school costs are not an immediate issue, the military/peace coprs sounds like a way to travel, do good in the world, and gain some breathing space after 5 years of lecture halls.
A resume with hands-on experience looks better than a book resume.

You might consider doing this for a couple years while reasearching the market and planning your next stage in life.

Cognitive neuroscience sounds like a specialized field.
How broad is it? Is it limited to MDs and R&D? How will it transfer to other possibilities?

There are some job titles which sound menial but have potential.
-There is HVAC, then there is installing high end clean rooms for NASA and chip manufacturers.
-There is landscaping, then there is installing completely automated backyard integrated mood enviroments for billionaires.

If you are serious about the entrepreneurship thing, you might want to consider doing it now. It gets a LOT harder, IMO, to start your own business later in life.

When you've got a mortgage and a couple of kids in daycare that need health insurance, quitting your job is not an option. Just a thought.

I applied for the Peace Corps....and was offered a position to teach IT in Eastern Europe, but I turned it down. (in the time between acceptance and when I was to ship, I got a job that paid me well....at the time.)

It was probably a foolish thing to turn it down. It would have only been 2 years, would have experienced some cool culture, and it would have opened mega doors for grad school (preferential admittance/scholarships for some heavy-hitting schools) as well as having a leg up for a government job.

Of course, the military would definitely be an awesome, thing too...if that fits your personality.

You should go to graduate school.

Undergrad is more of a basis to whet one's interest in a variety of subjects. Graduate school is where you make all your contacts that will get you a good position in the future.

And do not delay doing so too long, as it gets harder the older you get. SmileWavy

lol, I didn't think anyone would notice that.

On the other hand, are you really ready to specialize in something, when you don't have any work or industry experience? I think grad school is best after at least 2 years or using your undergrad. Every mechanical engineer I know changed their opinion of the field (to some extent) once they had their first job.

free advice - worth what you paid for it.

If you have been in school non-stop since kindergarten, stop now. I would not recommend going to grad school. Unless you have a burning desire or target in mind, you will be marking time. You might learn interesting things and meet interesting people, but I think you need a taste of the real world.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, learn them. In fact, if I were in your shoes I would to go China and teach english (while learning Mandarin). You won't get rich, but you'll learn the language and the culture, and broaden your horizons immensely.

My trajectory was a bit different. After HS I spent 4 years trying to be a rock star. When I'd finally had enough of everything, I went to college. At that point I knew the real world sucked, and I was motivated. Once I figured out my major (entered as a music major, then considered english, then physics, ended up in chemistry), I immersed myself in it while still playing music on the side. I then decided that I wanted to teach, pondered the prospect of teaching HS but really liked the college environment. But to teach at university level you need a phd...so for me grad school became the means to an end.

I had a blast in grad school, did a lot of things other than chemistry, but also got very excited by the research questions. Then I had another choice - teach at a small liberal arts college (my original plan) or go to a larger research university. The latter is more about research than teaching. And while I loved thinking about the problems, I hated being at the bench, and didn't like the prospect of spending the next 10 years doing that (3 years for postdoc, then 7 years until getting a research group fully going and getting tenure). I took a postdoc as that would give me flexibility, but about 6 months in I knew that I wanted to teach. So despite getting a 3 year fellowship from NIH I turned that down and left after about 1.5 years for a teaching position.

Of course then I realized that even at a liberal arts college you need to do research. And you have smaller budgets, less infrastructure, and by the time you train your undergrad students they graduate and leave. I also ran into academic politics and faculty nonsense. I don't believe in tenure, and wanted to change the world. I learned my lessons, got savvy, and eventually found out how to navigate the waters. During that time I got more and more into digital technology and eventually walked away from the faculty position and ended up in web development at another university. I wasn't in that position very long as I was way over trained for the position and had much bigger ideas. I had made the right connections though, and a position opened up running a research institute on campus and I took that. Five years there led me to where I am now, doing a little bit of everything running projects that create training systems. And I'm still playing music on the side.

If I were 22 though, I'd go overseas and teach english and learn Mandarin. They you'll have some serious opportunities.

I'm not sure where how or where you've developed your ideas about grad school, maybe because of your immersion in the pure sciences but in my experience/ familiarity, all of the research you mention really isn't much of an issue until you pursue truly advanced degrees.
And it pains me to say this, my perspective having spent many years in the "working world" now, and also as a current student, but, a graduate degree is the price of admission these days kid, sorry.

YTNUKLR,

Todd is right on the money. Get out and explore the world.

When I graduated from college I had many other opportunities than the Navy, lots.

But the advice from my Father still rings true: "It's your life..."

I felt the best way to shortcut seeing the world was flying for the Navy. I don't recommend it for you, but, it was my life.

Dude, get out there.

I don't think a grad. degree means much to employers unless you're in a specialty field. I've worked with plenty of folks who had student loan debt and had the exact same job I had, hired by the exact same boss who never asked about my college degree. I know people my age with plenty of grad. school debt who are not making a dime more than they would have without that degree, but making payments for the next 15 yrs.

Actually something I was going to add - consider the military. There are a lot of opportunities out there, and I've worked with some amazing people recently. All of them were positively shaped by their military experience. You don't have to make a career of it, but you'll certainly see/learn new things.

You should seriously consider this advise.

Of all the people I know today, the only ones comfortable about their future are those who work for the Fed Gov't. It is near impossible to lose your job. Great benefits and wonderful retirement plans. Friend of mine works for the US Treasury. After 20 years she retires with full pay for life.

Everyday I hear about someone else in my circle of friends getting laid off - and I'm talking about 6 figure earners with decades of experience.

My wife lost her job of 18 years 3 weeks ago - no warning at all. Largest employer in St. Louis decided to outsource her department. Everyone gone with the swipe of a pen - except the person doing the swiping.

How come the people who decide to lay a bunch of people off to enhance the bottom line never recommend that their job is eliminated?