Ask HN: Feelings of regret over career path?

I am about to finish an undergraduate in Computer Engineering, and lately I've been having massive doubts about my future and chosen career path.

Sometimes I am sure that I want to hack software for the rest of my life, sometimes I am sure that I want to get a masters degree in a technical field, and occasionally I want to give it all up and study philosophy!

I know that a certain amount introspection is healthy, but I am concerned that if I truly have so many doubts about my field, perhaps I am not meant to be here, you know?

I was just curious if any of my fellow hackers have felt intense feelings of doubt about their future, and regrets that they didn't pursue something different? If so how have you coped with this continually shifting frame of reference?

You are in the best possible position and have the ability to craft your career any way you would like.

Your technical skills could command a high salary at a fairly stable company that would provide ample time for extracurricular philosophizing.

You could apply philosophical principles to starting a company. It all depends on what areas interest you.

You could also go the academic route and pursue those ideas in the comfort of the academy.

Personally, I think technical skills free people to apply philosophy. Capitalism and open markets allow you to build whatever you like and test it with your peers. Like I said at the beginning, technical skills allow you to do anything you can imagine. Good luck.

Just decide who you would be and then do what you must do:)

Familiar feelings, ha ha. I believe it is human nature to occasionally doubt what you and whether directions you are heading is a right path. I have heard it countless number of times. Though at any given period of time you have to have predominant focus otherwise you will get lost in your choice and will never try either path. The way I solve it, I just act upon the situation, circumstances and intuition coupled with my desires at particular moment of making a decision. I wanted to get PHD in CS but ended up getting master because I was not sure what to concentrate in. Well, now I am in the business world wondering what is next(I might still go for PHD but likely in different field than I though or have successful start up if not both) . I have changed my directions several times but unless you try one you will never know if it is something for you or not.(and there is no negative outcome, you learn on the way plus get understanding if these is something you want or do not). Just try what you believe is desirable and most optimal at this point, listen to your intuition and keep your eyes and mind open to opportunities when they are to come(you will know it). Other thing I noticed, is depending what direction you chose your priorities change so your choose are likely to change along the line. The only thing that works against you is time but that what our life is about. Interesting that you mentioned philosophy, being technical with analytical mind, lately I started to get in more and more into philosophy; wonder if is a normal evolutionary trend for hackers or it is just me…

I could not agree more. Technical skills are empowering, especially in this world before us where software is still a growth industry.

Also -- if you're like me and you end up feeling guilty for making a shameless run for money, you have a set of skills that you can step outside and help any non-profit with. Its what drew me to law as well -- I figured I can be helpful to many that otherwise lack money for these sorts of things.

So far I have been quite fortunate to try many technical things, due to a variety of internships (6!) at a seriously varied set of companies. I have tried to pursue what you mentioned, being open to new and interesting paths that present themselves.

I'm glad that there are other people out there like me, and that compulsively trying new things is not necessarily a hindrance.

Also, on your comment about philosophy: I think that on some level, all hackers are philosophers. The field of philosophy itself is often marginalised by technical people (and perhaps rightly so), but the application of logic and analysis is universal in the hacker world view.