So, as most of my friends on here know, I am a veteran. What some people know is that I am currently going to college. However, the VA is paying for my college, so it's gets a little complicated. Essentially, I have to pick a job, and then using the VA program I am in, they pay for my training. 
As of now, the job I chose was IT Tech, and the training I thought I needed was a degree in Computer Science. However, I did not realize that when I was doing all of my research, it was coding. In my second semester, I had a breakdown, and dropped my coding class, leaving me with essentially no degree. Now, I'm in a bind and stuck. 

I need to figure out what job I want to do, so that when this summer rolls around, I can go and get my plan redone, so that I can continue school. The only problem is, there is nothing that I feel I am interested in enough to dedicated 3 (or maybe 4 more years) of college learning a broad topic of, to get a specific job. Basically, I'm not interested in anything enough to dedicate my life to for the next few years learning about. 

So, what I need help with is serious tests online that I won't have to pay for that help you find out what career fields you might be inclined to. T



The only exception is history, but the VA won't approve a degree in that because there are not any in demand jobs that require a history degree. (please, just leave this one alone). And besides, I like it, but not enough to learn a bunch of stuff that I don't care about when it comes to history for the next few years. 

Computer science is more for Software engineers(or some other job that is for coders just an example). For IT you don't really need a degree from research I have done in the past it relies more on the certificates you have.(If someone in the field wants to say different they can since I know somebody that has done IT with a degree instead of certificates it just helps better.)

If the college your going to see if they have information systems or literally informational technology it might help you find stuff that relates more to the IT area.

(Can't really give much help in anything else)

Didn't you wash out and get a disability discharge? Does the VA still have Montgomery GI bill rights or another program?

Either way, if they're paying for it, go get something.

Why not pick up a trade instead of IT/Tech. Think about plumbing, rough frame construction, electrician work, or HVAC and pipefitting. Even steamfitters and elevator service techs get paid a lot because of the specialized work.

Those jobs are in demand and will never be outsourced to India. Writing code can have that happen, especially since they're off-time to us and can do work overnight.

Trades. Do that.

Ghostbear1111 : No, I didn't not wash out. I was passing everything, and then I got screwed because of the military draw down. I got an honorable discharge. 
Yes, the VA pays me disability. 
No, I do not have a GI Bill because of the timing of me being screwed by a single person in the Army who wanted to establish dominance in the company and make a name for herself. 

Don't you even again question my service or insult me like that again. 


I can't do anything too physical because of my disability. (my back). 




Local Mods : Please close. People are already not following instructions. I asked for tests that people might know of, not advice on stuff I've either already thought about or stuff they have no business sticking their head into.

Before the closes let me squeeze my input in here. Like you said, you could take a career aptitude test to see what career you fit into the best. It works for some people. There is another route you could go as well, one that I took. What might help you decide a path is to look at or research the quality of careers out there. Meaning, how well will the job be for you in the future and/or maybe the atmosphere of it. I'll use myself as an example.

My career path is occupational therapy. I chose this because after I broke my wrist a few years ago and had occupational therapy done (after the surgery) at Ft. Lewis I enjoyed the atmosphere of the people working at the OT clinic the hospital. People were joking and were relaxed, which made it fun being there. I thought to myself that I wanted to be in an environment just like it when I got out of the Army and got into a career. I wanted to be in a place with little or no stress and be able to joke with peers. So I did some research into what OT was about and found that it was ranked in the top 5 or 10 career choices to go with and ones that people are happy with. It pays extremely well, it is flexible, which not every job is, and probably most important, it has a good future- The job growth of it was in the teens or low 20's percent for the next 5 years. This meant not only a high hiring rate straight out of college, but great stability. Though, it comes to no surprise since there will ALWAYS be people with injuries. So with all those factors together and being confident that I could successfully do it I felt it was too good to pass up (my liking for and knowledge of exercise science played a role in that decision as well.) And it kind of goes without saying that physical therapy is right above or below OT on any given list since they are almost one in the same.

So maybe you could look online for a list of top-ranked careers and see if make one your own. I can't guarantee you will find something that would flow with you, but please, at least give them considerable thought. Look at what skills you have now, whether it be working with people or whatever, and apply even just one to the careers you see. I will say that I never thought I'd be going the route I am taking now, but after looking up info on something anything can happen. FYI, most, if not all high-ranked careers require little or no physical activity, and that would be great for you.

And no, Ghostbear, he wasn't washed out or anything. It was because of the reduction of the military since war activities were had be drawing to a close. A lot of people were put on the "chopping block" because of it.

Cyro Xero : Yeah, Chapter 31 Voc Rehab looks at that (job growth). 
Part of why I want to take the tests again is so that I can see what I might like, and then sit and think about it. 
I know that I have a lot of ideas for things. However, while I may have an image in my head of what I want, I don't always know how to execute it. But, I know how to delegate and tell people what to do in a team environment to get what I want. It's what I did last semester in a class. We had a team project that lasted 4 weeks, and I was essentially the director, telling my idea, and then splitting up assignments with everybody's help, also inputting. I would approve, take suggestions, allow votes on things, etc. 
I think I want to do something like that. But, I don't want to go into business and deal with 4 years of dressing in a tie. Maybe administrative stuff, but still. That's why I want to take the test again. Maybe I'll call my VA guy and ask him to email me the results of my test that I took last summer, and go from there. 

thing1 : First, don't be so sensitive. There's nothing bad with EASing due to injury. And your posts in the past have referenced injury. There's nothing dishonorable in a discharge due to medical conditions like a messed up back. I just asked the question to understand where you're coming from.

And the reason why I didn't say "Go take this online test" is because they'll give you a bunch of answers regarding your responses but they're never something that's applicable.

"You should be a park ranger with your skills and interests." Great, too bad NPS isn't hiring anyone and they have no money any more.

"You should be a firefighter with your skills and interests." Awesome, it's a shame no towns or cities anywhere are hiring firefighters due to budget cuts and unavailable funds for new firefighters.

Those tests are nice as entertainment but they don't take into effect the current job market, the reality of career development, and what's in your area. Hence, I'm not going to mess around, google some random tests, and then recommend them. When you're 17, they're a fun time to think about what you like.

But then we hit adult age and we've had some experience, we know what the world is like and we respond accordingly. We know it is unlikely we get our dream job by 25 years of age. We take jobs that give us skills and help us meet people and then we can progress on our trajectory.

Don't take any of this as insult or offense. I fought in the Marine Corps for six years as a gunner. I don't dump on anyone's military service, however short or long, or if they deployed and took three tours overseas or stayed home in the reserves. Your and my teenage years were cooler than anyone's who didn't go into the military.

So: (1) No offense was meant and I apologize if you disliked the phrase 'washed out.' It has no negative connotations from my standpoint. "Failure to Adapt" is the mean phrase. (2) Tests won't get you very far because you live in the real world, not high school. It's not awesome but it's reality. (3) Good hunting.

I'm just providing reality for you. It's not awesome but it's better than

thing1 : Hey, thing1. I'm not too sure about tests online (these may also be inaccurate, as far as I'm aware), but one thing that I can suggest is that, before you make any decision on any course that you want to do, go online and either request a free prospectus from the university that you wish to attend or visit their website and look up their course beforehand. You didn't know about how the course that you took would be focused on coding previously, but if you research the course beforehand, you can tell exactly what sort of things the course will be covering.

If you've found a course that you think you can enjoy or do well in, it can be as simple as looking up what jobs you can obtain with the qualifications that you'll receive at the end of the course. For example, if I was to look up 'jobs in clinical psychology', lists of available jobs and what they entail will show up. You can choose to research these further and see if they're for you.

This information might not be what you're searching for, but it's the best advice I can give you as a university student, myself. I'm really sorry that I can't be of more help to you. I hope things work out. If you want, we could PM each other and seek out something for you together if you feel that you need a little help. I really don't like the thought of you struggling through this alone.