Feeling kind of hopeless

[gennss]

Be patient and grind on. Behavioral science will probably get you a career in law enforcement as a shrink. Not a bad career path.

Study what you like to study. Worst case, just having a degree improves yoru chances for work. I know a few psych majors that have decent paying clerical positions and their degrees though completely off-topic have helped them acquire the positions.

Just relax. You have a long way to go. You'll understand where you're going once you get closer. You're still an undergrad

[Xeogred]

You'll be fine. Just focus on what YOU want out of life, and you'll be fine.

I can't stress this enough. I kind of slipped into a depression right out of high school because I had all the pressure in the world from family and friends that going to college was the only answer and things like that when I had no idea what I wanted to do. Fast forward a few years and I'm finally way past that point and I don't think it's selfish at all to say you are going to college for YOU. Do what you want and don't go for others! You're the one putting in all that work, not them.

Kwixotik never mentioned anything like this being an issue, but thought I'd throw it out there.

[RadarScope1]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang on.

You're getting way ahead of yourself here. Believe me when I say NO ONE is going to look back at your freshman year summer as any kind of gauge about anything. There are people who don't even figure out a major until late in their junior or even senior year.

You're doing fine. Good grades, a general path forward and you're already thinking about involvement and extras. So relax a bit. Don't fall into the trap of thinking this is about padding your resume with superficial stuff. Better to toss your weight into a single organization or volunteer group and actually make a difference than to be a member of 10 and do nothing in any of them. My advice is to pick two: one related in some way to your major or general direction of study, and one that's part of the larger community where you're going to schools, such as food panty, etc. A frat is nice, but it's social only. No employer or grad school admission person is going to think anything of it. But if you're going to do any of these things, try to go out for a leadership position in time. It's not what the organization is, but what you do with it that someone will notice.

Don't get caught up in plans and benchmarks or comparing yourself to others. That is so dangerous and doesn't help at all. Don't worry about a detailed "plan" with superficial goals year by year. Better to set forth on a more general path/direction and be willing to shift gears little by little as you get older, get to know yourself better, and learn more about the world.

Internships are also big. I tell this to every college student I know. Do as much as you have time for or can afford. If your major requires one, do two. If it requires two, do three. They also give you access to people who have been down the path you're headed down. Don't be afraid to seek out their advice like you've done here.

[saturnfan]

It took me 3 years to decied what I wanted to do, and because of it I more or less wasted a year. But eventualy I decied to take my hobby of reading history and try to make a career out of it and am now in the process of getting my masters in said subject... and maybe I will get a Phd next!

So don't worry too much as a freshman, you still have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do.

[Kwixotik]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've calmed down a bit now. School starts back up again in around 10 days. Just going to take it slow and do the best I can. I'm still a bit worried about not having a back-up plan, but I've decided I need to talk to a few of the advisors at school before I make any decisions.

Again, thanks for the advice. All of it has helped.