What are good fields of study for someone with Aspergers?

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I got a 2.2 Honours Bachelors Degree in English and History. This is equivalent to around a 3.0-3.3 GPA but I think in terms of different standards it's really more like a 2.6-2.99 GPA. I got a 2.79 cumulative QCA, which converts to a 3.15 GPA I think but I suppose it's really seen like a 2.79 GPA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_u ... sification

I'm Irish, but we use the same system as the UK.

In any case, a lot of employers won't take anyone without a 2.1 honours.

English and History isn't seen as a hard or useful degree, so considering the job market I graduated feeling quite depressed about it.

In fact, I've taken an online "Depressed or just lazy?" test and it says I am actually quite depressed.

I didn't have good enough grades to get into college; I got in through a special access programme for youths from disadvantaged backgrounds. So obviously college was a big leap in terms of work ethic. The access admins were happy with my initial grades, but I was guilty about a lot of procrastination. I was thinking of dropping out but they encouraged me to stay, and where I live, at the height of the recession, from a family where my parents have never worked and I depended on grants to get in, I had little to get in terms of any jobs out there and I couldn't get a loan to restart in a different course. (We don't have the majors system here. You pick a four year course and stick to it or restart from year one of another if you want to change.)

Even when I felt I really applied myself my grades up ticked too minisculely. I think I had no ability to deliver a critical argument in history; I could get a lot of references and citations but I suppose I missed the point of making an argument and.....my English grades were on average a bit better, but I was too lazy early on with handling all the material so I could get them done by tutorials.

My attention in lectures was spotty. My sleep cycle awful (something I need to fix still to hold a job), I stayed up too late often.

And I often made a mess of simple things. Poor note-taking, memory of what I needed to be doing, procrastination.....showing up to tutorials unprepared.

My grade isn't that awful all things considered but...

.....I took a postgrad course in Journalism after frustration over a year unemployed. I did get warned there's no jobs in it but.....anyway, it's a much easier courseload but I still made dumb mistakes. I think I'm very depressed and disfocused and I need to appreciate how far I come from having almost failed to graduate secondary school (high school). I had no diagnosis until I was 19 and thought I was dumb; being told I had a genius IQ was.....confusing.

ANYWAY, I think I can change my attitude, clear my head, and focus enough to do better next semester....I hope. After that though, I still might not be hugely employable.

I have looked into what are good degrees/careers for Aspies, and computer programming came up a lot (we don't have computer science in high school here, and I was too poor to use a home computer....) so I have started learning some of that on Codecademy. As I may be unable to get another grant or any loan, I'm going to start saving to a postgrad conversion diploma in it eventually, if I can get in on the course of course...

Until then, what kind of jobs do you think I should go for? Ideally anything that'd pay enough to move out of home and live independently.

But also, if not programming, what kind of things should I study in the future if I go back? Obviously not anything that requires a relevant Bachelors degree .

I've been trying to see the counsellor I had at college during my undergrad but she's been booked out all semester. I couldn't meet her the few times she was available.

I think in order to know the best job for an Aspie, it's important to consider the individual.

You have to know yourself to an extent. Aspies do better with things that they find interesting. But some have sensory issues, or executive functioning issues, there are all kinds of differences.

You should sit down and figure out what you are interested in, and what your individual issues are, and what options are available to you. What works for one may not work for another.

I know that's not very helpful, but it's a place to start.

I think IT is usually an incredibly proficient subject for those with any AS disorder due to the mass of logical functionality involved. It depends on what you want, since your background is a little varied to this suggestion so I don't know precisely what would suit you. I think any STEM field would be fitting. A high IQ would grant you significant aptitude for both of these, but it depends if it's what you'd like to look into or not. Those are my suggestions, anyway.

If the OP wants to go the STEM route, there is a problem that I can see with the science area. To really have a chance to do well in the hard sciences, one must earn a graduate degree at minimum. A Bachelors degree does not go far in most physics/chemistry jobs. There are exceptions to that rule, but for the most part it rings true.

As others have said you need to evaluate what you actually like and enjoy doing. Then it's a matter of seeing if there is a field that will use your interests.

You could go to your local electricians union and ask how to be an electrician -email if the social anxiety is too much.

You could also learn how to install kitchen cabinets,sounds boring but pays well. Or how to tile a shower -

You could get a masters in programming or engineering but make sure you are capable first or it will be a waste of time and money.

You could find a trade school and learn how to be a mechanic or welder.

If you can drive you could get a trailer and now people's gardens-for a side income while studying

Yes I might do a PLC (like Community College) in the US in programming first. It just seems to make sense but I won't rush into it.

I can't drive, never had the money to afford a car so I never bothered learning, and my family has no car.

I will think about trade school. I suppose I didn't give it much thought because I feel like I would be amongst very different personalities, and I supposedly have a genius-level IQ so I "should" be doing something that leads to a lucrative career.

I think I'm in a bit of a depressed and confused state.

Ok yes then
Programming or
Cisco networking qualifications or
Electrician

Sound like they would suit you, all of which are lucrative

If you studied English how about writing for a magazine or newspaper? Maybe even a history-related one since that is your other interest.

Whatever you have an interest in. Aspies tend to do a lot better when they're interested in the subject they're studying.

I don't know what year you are in, but I don't think it is going to matter eventually what field you study. If you pay attention to the Jessica Kingsley Publishers website they can send you a free catalogue. Books are just now starting to come out that can teach you how to navigate your way through the workplace.

Ok, it seems to me like you learned your lesson in college, but you are not going to be able to get anywhere without the human support that you had in University. Do you still have contact with your Disability Services Coordinator at your university? Tell him that what you need is a support service that understands the needs of adults on the spectrum. They can help you out with getting your life organized.

Actually you should've had that taken care of your sleep problems while you were in University. I remember when I was in University I had to reach out to not just my DSO coordinator, but the Learning Assistance Center, my Undergraduate Advisor, my Major Advisor and almost EVERY SINGLE PROFESSOR I HAD!! I ended graduating with a 2.874 GPA and I BUSTED MY ASS to get it. My question is did you reach out to those people?


You had said in your post that you had come from a disadvantaged background, you procrastinated and you didn't have a good sleep schedule.. Would you say this was the result of your own fault or the disability or your disadvantaged background?

In my opinion, BEFORE you go on to the next step. You need to fix some of those core problems that have stuck with you since childhood. I'm guessing since your parents never worked they were not able to be good role models for you in terms of how to be productive citizens. It's not your fault and and it wasn't their fault either. But the fact of the matter is you have a welfare mentality and you need to change the way you think about certain things. Do yourself a favor, get on google and type up: Hidden Rules Among Social Classes. Look at the sheet and look at the differences among the social classes. Notice the difference between welfare and middle class. Start adopting unspoken middle class values.


So my question is, if your parents never worked, did they stay up all night as well? I'm not trying to be an as*hole, I'm just trying to get to the ROOT of your problems. Seems like you are trying to jump to the next phase without dealing with them.

Not all people with Aspergers are the same, and everyone (Aspies included) all have different interests. My advice would be to find a field of study based on your likes, interests, and personality rather than just on your Aspergers.

are you really "lazy", depressed, or asd functionally overwhelmed?
before starting down a new learning path, that sounds like it was the major hurdle in the past one and thus should be addressed lest it waste your future attempts.

after that, as others said, it depends on what you like. IT can be good because the actual work is often logical (though some IT depts like working help desk isn't logical at all. it's redundant tedium just like the show the IT crowd. 'have you tried turning it off and on again?'), coworkers are often of higher iqs and more commonly 'geeks' among the greater public, And, being a night owl can be to your advantage if working at a company that has 24/7 shift support.

however, if you can't stand computers or could give a crap about making a program work, then it may be a bad fit -for you-. similarly, while the work technically may be logical, you still have to deal with bereaucratic stupidity.. being told to release software that you know is buggy because of the bottom line; having to deal with small budgets and few resources (including human ones) which can also mean a lot of outsourcing and getting programs horribly written by 'consultants' overseas that clearly overcharged and underdelivered; being told to be proactive and yet told to ignore major issues; being expected to work incredibly long hours to deliver what sales sold having no idea how long it would Really take; etc etc.

in other words, there still is a lot of the usual crap there is at all companies..the good part is that unlike customer service, the end work does have logic and it can involve a fair amount of troubleshooting. there is also always more to learn. and, if you are really good, you can make great money being an independent consultant which means you dictate the hours worked. at that point, technical skills override lack of social skills.

all of this though relies on the above being resolved.

in the meantime, coursera has courses on every realm available - including IT. so like codeacadamy, it would be a good way to test the waters and see if a subject 'seems' interesting, but by the end you want nothing to do with it, or if you want to take the next course.
after that, having an english or history degree, while often offering few positions outside of professor or author, it can be a 'base'. and you can get certifications - in IT, project management, etc on top that are more focused in the field you wish to enter..you then get an entry level job in that field (even if you wanted to be a programmer, starting as help desk level I can get a foot in the door), and it can all go forward from there.

^ This.