Haven't got a clue what to do with my life?:( HELP

I've always wanted to be a corporate lawyer. My dream was to study law at a prestigious uni (say, Oxford) and maybe get hired by one of the Magic Circle companies. That would definitely be amazing. BUT...

I'm not one bit passionate about law. Not one bit. I'm more passionate about languages and learning about different cultures than things like contract law, etc. Because of this I'm considering studying European and Middle Eastern Languages at uni, focusing on Spanish and Arabic. This could very well lead me to working for the MI6. How amazing would that be? ONLY PROBLEM IS I am not a British citizen. My parents aren't either. I came to England when I was 3 but still don't have a British passport. MI6 clearly states you need to be a British citizen to apply, and for at least one parent to be a British citizen or have ties with the UK in some way. So that's probably not an option anymore, which is devastating because I would love a career like this :frown:

Any tips/advice? Does anyone have any information on what options I'd have? For example if I studied EMEL, or whether I could still apply for MI6. Or could I study EMEL and still get into law?

I'm scared I don't know what to do with my life. I don't have much time left, and there's nothing else which I'd really consider doing :frown:

I don't come from a rich family, so making a lot of money is definitely in my interest in the future. I'd love to give back to my family and overall lead a better life.

Would love to hear your opinions! Please help :/

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Reply 1

Sigma44

Why do you want to be a solicitor / work for MI6? If it's just to make lots of money, or coz it's an amazing job, there are many other career paths that offers something similar / better.

Reply 2

User1280516

Original post by Sigma44

Why do you want to be a solicitor / work for MI6? If it's just to make lots of money, or coz it's an amazing job, there are many other career paths that offers something similar / better.

Like what?

Reply 3

Old_Simon

If you want to join MI6 do not tell anybody even "anonymously". They will know.

Reply 4

geoking

You'll need more than just a language degree to get into mi6.

Reply 5

geoking

Original post by Old_Simon

If you want to join MI6 do not tell anybody even "anonymously". They will know.

Making a joke like that when someone is asking for sincere advice isn't useful.

Reply 6

iheartdjokovic

I don't think MI6 is the way to go if your goal is to earn lots of money

Reply 7

Old_Simon

Original post by geoking

Making a joke like that when someone is asking for sincere advice isn't useful.

It is not a joke at all. Discretion and security are absolutely paramount in that line of work. They can and will go through applicants backgrounds including all their online communications with a fine tooth comb.

Reply 8

geoking

Original post by Old_Simon

If it's not a joke then you are just making things up. Obviously once you start working there you have to be discreet, but wanting to be in MI6 and saying so prior to applying doesn't matter. I imagine DV won't flag it as a problem.

Reply 9

Sigma44

Original post by lianaist

Like what?

investment banking, consulting

Reply 10

Chewyy

What subjects are you doing at A Level?

Reply 11

User1280516

Original post by Sigma44

investment banking, consulting

Hmm they don't really appeal to me

Reply 12

User1280516

Original post by geoking

You'll need more than just a language degree to get into mi6.

Not if you want to be a language specialist?...

Reply 13

User1280516

Original post by Chewyy

What subjects are you doing at A Level?

History, Maths, English Lit, Psychology

Reply 14

username944192

I find posts like these INCREDIBLY annoying. "My dream was X" "oh btw…I don't like law" well it wasn't your dream then, was it? You just want the name of a shiny job and the salary to go with it. Think about what you actually enjoy and can envisage spending the rest of your life doing.

And have you checked you don't need Spanish A level for the languages degree? You really need to sit and think about your options and how realistic they are instead of flitting from one course to another just because it might get you an impressive job.

Reply 15

username944192

Original post by geoking

When you're applying you can't tell anyone, I had a look at the graduate scheme myself and it says so. Not even supposed to tell very close family members.

Reply 16

Chewyy

Original post by lianaist

History, Maths, English Lit, Psychology

And I'm assuming you're amazing at 5 languages? The logic with choosing a job isn't:

I like languages --> I can do it at uni --> I can work at MI6.

From your other posts it just sounds like you want to go for the prestige of any university to any random job that has prestige and pays well. To get any of the jobs that you want you need to have passion and enthusiasm and have done loads around the subject. If you want to do law, do some work experience and outside reading and apply to law. If you want to go into MI6 (language specialist) spend every moment you have learning new languages and getting fluent in them and do your British citizenship asap. You have to give them something more than just 'I like languages' they will only recruit the absolute best and someone who's only thinking of this as a possibility now is definitely not it.

You have a much better chance of getting into law. Do some work experience to see if you like it. If you do, pursue it. If not, do some work experience in a different field until you find something you actively enjoy and wouldn't mind spending the rest of your working life spending 40-60 hours a week doing.

Reply 17

Silver Arrows

Intelligence Corps sounds right for you.

http://www.army.mod.uk/join/
http://www.army.mod.uk/intelligence/intelligence.aspx

Reply 18

Al-Mudaari

MI6...? All the best I guess.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 19

geoking

Original post by infairverona

When you're applying you can't tell anyone, I had a look at the graduate scheme myself and it says so. Not even supposed to tell very close family members.

That's when applying, not wild speculation on an internet forum before even a degree has been done. As it would be hard enough tying who OP is down to an actual person, let alone in 5 years (graduation and application) this sort of thing is less than a non-issue for them. Now if she was thinking of applying tomorrow, that could be more of a concern.