What should I do with my nutrition degree?

Hi Jill,

I am a current senior at Penn State in the nutrition program. I'm graduating in the Spring, but still have no idea what exactly I want to do with my major. I pretty much need to attend grad school but was going to get certified in teaching because I've had the urge to teach since I was younger. Before I came to Penn State I was torn between the two majors, elementary education and nutrition, but decided nutrition. Do you have any suggestions on what I should do?

Thank you for your time in reading this! I really look forward to hearing from you.

-Lisa

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Hi Lisa,

You should not enroll in a graduate program without knowing what you ultimately want to do. You are better off working for a few years and explore the space before making the mental and financial commitment. Grad programs as so specialized that if you graduate in something that you don鈥檛 need, you will have to go back! AND IT IS NOT CHEAP!

Only you can ultimately make this decision. I don鈥檛 know you well enough to know what choices will fulfill you. But here are the questions you should be asking yourself: What are your skills? What problems in the world need your skills and talents? Use your skills and talents to solve a problem. You will be happy and you will never be out of a job because you will be in demand.

Think more about the capacity that you want to teach and what credentials are required for the job. If you want to teach in an elementary school, you鈥檒l need an extra year of school or so to get that. Or do you want more experience in nutrition education? That does not require a teaching license, but if you do enough of it, you can earn your teaching certificate with experience and graduate study. Basically, there are many, many ways to achieve a goal and you need to think about what makes SENSE for you. If you are unsure what you want to do, and what further study you should pursue but you like education, sounds to me like you should spend the next year of your life working in the field of nutrition education and seeing what鈥檚 out there, exploring how you can structure your education/grad program/future around getting the right credentials.

Keep your eye on the prize. It sounds lame, but don鈥檛 get derailed by stupid stuff. Keep focused and use everything in your power to get where you want to go. Experience is the best teacher, even if it is finding out that you DO NOT like something. Experience will inform your decisions and help build your confidence that you are making the right one!

-Jill

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