Thoughts on Immigration

[Acoustica]

Hello from Washington State USA! Wow, I'm glad I found such a site as this as I definitely need some advice. :) I'm 21 and a senior in college, though I'll be graduating with five years under my belt. I've been displeased with America ever since I can actually remember, even when I was little I would question our policies, wars and other things. I am not afraid to say I am ashamed to be an American right now.

A few years back, I made the decision that upon completion of my college education, I would leave America for a new country. I chose NZ for a number of reasons, but I can leave those out and just say that I can't wait to arrive. :) What I would like to know though is a bit about the job market currently, or rather, what I as a recent college grad, could find for myself in order to apply for a proper work permit and then residency?

I am currently still floating between a number of different majors. I have two years left to focus, and the routes that I am potentially interested in are as follows:
1) Political Science
2) East Asian Studies
3) Media Arts.
Now those are pretty different subjects but I wouldn't mind majoring in any of them any more than the other. What would be most benificial to me though is that, given the current employment situation in NZ (which I have no knowledge of), would any of those three degrees hold any presidence of the others? I would like to come to NZ and find a solid, stable job so that I know I can work my five years until citizenship with a sound mind knowing I have a place that will let me stay in NZ until that happens. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. :)

Oh and one other question, I noticed a large majority of graduate programs require degrees "with honours", since I am coming from an American school which do not have X degree and X degree with honours, but simply an X degree, what are my chances of work and/or proceeding to graduate school?

EDIT: I suppose I should state what I would like to do with either of these three degrees so that it can help anyone viewing this in assessing what I could contribute to your wonderful country.

1) Political Science - I would love to work with an environmental office or perhaps even immigration office so as to help others such as myself find ease of passage into NZ. With the environmental side, I would love to eventually perhaps find myself working with the national parks as a policy writer or advocate, but I would also enjoy becoming involved in either local or national politics as well.
2) East Asian Studies - I love Asian art and culture, especially the Chinese opera. I would love to open a museum or perhaps find work with a cultural office or national museum. This degree could also potentially lend itself to government work.
3) Media Studies - Another one of my dreams is to one day own a recording studio and/or production company that works with bands and such. I would of course get a job to pay bills at first, but then I would hopefully invest in opening a recording studio then progress from there. I am equality interested in film and film production, so with the media arts degree, I could go either way. :)

I know they're rather varied, but I'm a very rounded individual in that I like to keep my options open. Again, wonderful forum, I am glad I found it!

EDIT 2: Sorry this is getting to be a long post, I'm an ex English major. :) Anyway, I am as well teaching myself graphic design over this summer and next year. I just purchased the Adobe Creative Suite two days ago and will be learning as much as I can. I want to have as many skills as possible ready to bring to NZ so I can leave the US and fast! :D

Hi Acoustica,
Just picked out a point in your message about wanting to start up a recording studio... you may want to look in to a book called 'A New Life In New Zealand' by Paul Goddard. It is about a family who moved from the UK to run a business in New Zealand. Although they actually start out with a car cleaning franchise, they too opened a recording studio in New Zealand... I wont say any more as it will spoil the book! I know its a UK to NZ story, but the business things in NZ will apply to you!

Sorry if this is off topic - but is that the same Paul Goddard who played Stark in Farscape?

No, its this chap:

http://www.howtobooks.co.uk/howto/di...TITLE&MW=0