How did you choose your major?
 

There's probably been a thread like this, and there's a chance that a lot of people feel that their major was worthless, but so what? I could use the insight.

I came in as a declared comm major and, even though I love the professor, I'm not really moved by research and social science. I'm going to go undecided for a while, but I'm wondering, what led you to the major you had? How did you make that decision?

Thank you for your input.

I actually went in wanting undecided but inclined to do computer graphics. I came to find out after I started school that they didn't have a computer graphics/design major. I was completely confused as to what I should major in.

I talked to my mom and she said I should do computer science. Computer science was on computers and so was computer graphics so it was close to being the same thing. I totally bought her logic at the time and went with it. I know now that they are completely different and have nothing to do with each other except sharing the same hardware.

I really enjoy what I do so I got lucky.

I'm on my third declared major, and I'm still not completely sold, but I'm graduating in December so I guess I'm stuck with it. LOL

I started college with my declared major my passion, which is music, but after a few bad experiences in the program I became disenchanted and decided to leave it. I often still struggle with that decision and whether or not it was the right thing for me to do. At that point, I decided that I really wanted to study something technical. I've always been a math and science person, and I really missed that while taking only music classes. I switched from music to physics, but I decided I didn't like the faculty and moved to the civil engineering program. I stayed in the CE program because I enjoyed the coursework, like the faculty, and I figured that it was a sensible choice career-wise.

Talk to classmates, talk to professors, and try to take classes from an assortment of areas that you are interested in. Make sure that you pick something that you are truly interested in, and also take the time to think about what you would do with a degree in that area.

When I was in high school, I met a speech-language pathologist. I knew that was the career for me. It was that simple. I got to college, dove deeply into the field, also studied linguistics (which I find fascinating, still). Minored in Italian, because I had a huge crush on a professor (who married one of my classmates). I went to their wedding.

The philanthropy for Kappa Alpha Theta was the Institute of Logopedics in Kansas, and I also liked that link to my major. Believe that the Fraternity still supports the Institute in some fashion, although CASA is the primary philanthropy.

Toyed with the idea of law school while still an undergrad. The arrogance of youth: thought I was so smart that I should be a judge. :eek: made myself laugh out loud seeing those words in print! In hindsight, I would have been a horrible attorney. Too emotional and impatient. Had the logical/analytical reasoning part down, but that's hardly enough.

Never really strayed from speech, language & hearing sciences. In my field, the entry level degree is a master's, so you pretty much stick with it after spending six years learning to do what we do. I've enjoyed my entire career; it's been so diverse. Worked in all sorts of settings, "from cradle to grave".

The best part of my higher education? The first two years, definitely, taking all the "general education" courses. That's where I learned to think, to read critically, to write a coherent paper. Art history, astronomy, history, biology, philosophy, English; loved those courses, even the huge lectures with 900 seats.

I wish the same for you, that you enjoy your college education and maximize your options.

When I applied to college, I came to the University of Pittsburgh with the intended field of study as Pre-Law, trying to become an Immigration Lawyer. Once I got to Pitt, as a Pre-History major, I realized that I didn't want to go to law school so I decided to take Communication courses and become a History and Communication double major.

After my sophomore year, I stayed in Pittsburgh and became a tour guide for summer sessions. During one of those sessions, we received information about a Business and Arts & Sciences double major. I took to prerequisite classes (forgoing my planned semester abroad) and graduated with a triple major in December 09 (one semester later) and haven't regretted it since.

I viewed college as a means to an end, as I knew I'd have to go beyond a college education to be competitive. I selected a good base major (English), which left the door open for graduate programs in a number of fields. I ultimately chose a graduate program in nonprofit management as my "career" field.

Darts. Worked out very well.

OK...really...I knew I wanted to do something in health, somewhere. Not really into nursing...maybe not a lab worker, but maybe...didn't think I was smart enough for biology so I took Public Health...and it bored me. I, however, found myself facinated (and smart enough) for the PH science requisites. Out of all the areas, I was most interested in Environmental Health.

Picking my perfcet major, for me, involved transferring schools, but I don't regret it. I got exactly what I wanted- the right major is like a good relationship- it holds your interest. I enjoyed the rest of college and got a job in my chosen field.

So it wasn't exactly darts, literally, but it was honing in on a certain area in a very broad discipline. Taking classes is really the only way to narrow it down. Also, really WHAT is it you would enjoy? I knew I absolutely loved nature and the outdoors, so I wanted to incoprorate that into my job somehow. I knew working in an office all day wasn't for me. I liked labwork, but I didn't want to be stuck in a lab ALL day, every day. I like people, but didn't want to work exclusively with patients all day.

ETA: In this age, we are all a work in progress. Career change is common, as is going back to school for graduate degrees (as others have detailed in this post.) You really don't have to have it all figured out at 19, honestly. I'm a (potential) career changer at 32. I love what I do, but it's very limiting because there's no upward mobility, especially without a PE (engineer) or PG (geologist) license. Those would be attainable for me with additional classes (and some other stuff.) Point being, you kind of pick the general direction undergrad and hone it down when you get into the workforce and see what you really enjoy, or learn more about what specifically is required to move into the direction you choose.

I chose Psychology, not because I wanted to work as a clinical psychologist but because I find human behavior fascinating. Still do and after undergrad I'm now pursuing a dual Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational psychology and Consumer psychology.

I majored in Journalism, but even then didn't have any real intent at working in it, or newspapers anyway. What I really wanted to do was write the Liner Notes for Rolling Stone magazine between gigs writing literary nonfiction. And what did I become when I grew up? A travel agent, and more recently a lady who lunches. For a while after college I was pretty bitter about how worthless my education was, but I am a true believer in getting a good solid liberal education, particularly if post-grad education is in your plans. I also believe you should major in what you love. If you can't stand the math homework, majoring in something math'y is probably a bad idea even if you think there's a great future in it. Most of my friends couldn't believe how much writing I had to do in college, usually a paper every 3 days. But on the other hand, one semester I didn't have a single text book and did not take a single final test.

If I were going to suggest a field to a college kid these days, I think I'd recommend Nurse Practitioner for someone interested in a medical field, and something computer science'y if you have aptitude there. Every field under the sun uses computers and being the person behind the computers will always be needed.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I almost think it's more important to pick a career and then back track into a major, even one you don't like, than it is to pick a major you are interested in. I was a history major for like a month, and then I decided I needed something practical. I majored in business administration. Outside of statistics and probability (which I geeked out over) I didn't find my classes fascinating, and I made sure to take interesting electives on the side. However, now that I'm out of college (between two-three years out), I am in a job I love more than anything (and I truly mean love) that pays enough for me to live comfortably in an area that is fairly expensive.

In my experience from a class that graduated into the worst economy in some time, all my friends who had business, economics, and engineering majors are employed in jobs they enjoy that pay well. My buddies who knew they wanted to go to law school or med school from day one (and chose good "feeder" majors) are there and doing well. Those who chose majors that may have tickled them academically but with no immediate practical application are working at jobs like hostessing and coaching sports (and that's only after long periods of unemployment). And these are smart, personable guys who graduated from a school that is currently top 25 in the nation.

The point is that I think the days of going to college for purely academic purposes are over. I think you need to be incredibly careful that there is an immediate practical application for your major. It doesn't have to be the career you spend your entire life in, but it does have to be something that can support you for the first three to four years until you get enough work experience that your major becomes irrelevant.

I wanted to point out to any current undergraduates that a lot of us have gone through something similar. For me, I knew I wasn't going to stop at my bachelor's degree, but I still struggled to find a career path. I didn't truly know what I wanted to do until I was 31.

I had a very similar experience. For the non-writing majors, students would have to take a handful of writing-intensive courses to ensure that they could string words together coherently. I had a lot of friends who would think I was exaggerating about the amount of reading and writing I had to do until they took one of the writing-intensive courses. lol Then those same people would be at my door asking for help with their so-called writer's block...yeahhh right.

With precious few exceptions, I'm afraid you're right. At the very least, people who select majors that have very little immediate practical application should know that they're going to need further education in a career-oriented field.

I changed majors 13 times. I ended up doing interdisciplinary studies with emphasis in Public Relations, Poli Sci, and History. :-/ I am probably not the best one to answer your questions. My first two years I went back and forth between education/pre-law a lot. But then after that (and some personal losses), I felt lost and just wondered from major to major.. LOL ;-)

My friend who was trying to get into the non-profit world was astounded by the fact that most of the jobs (at least the ones that paid enough to live in NYC) required a masters in social work or a similar field. The entry level positions required only a bachelors but were under stimulating and paid absolutely nothing. The masters is something she actively wants, but she needs to fund it on her own and her major (from an IVY LEAGUE) isn't getting her any good paying jobs.

It's a different world out there, all current college students need to be aware of this and make sure they are getting the right major and internships/work experience. Your resume should be stacked with immediately transferable skills the second you leave the graduation ceremony, unless you are planning on immediately going to law school, med school, whatever.

I knew that my talents and interest were in marketing, public relations and advertising since high school.

In college, I was a marketing major but then took accounting and new the College of Business wasn't for me. So I switched to Communication/Public Relations because it would allow me to still graduate on time with similar coursework. I then landed a great graduate assistantship in community relations and marketing at the university so while I gained work experience I earned a Master of Public Administration degree for free (again, didn't want to deal with the math of a MBA!).

I worked in ad/PR agencies for six years and now have returned to higher education at a private university in admissions doing recruiting, events and special projects (wahoo!). Both of my degrees are relevant to the work I did and still do in marketing for non-profit, government and higher education.

Before I started college I wanted to be a music & psych double major. Then I heard about Music Therapy and it sounded perfect. After 3 years, including field work every semester, it became clear that it really wasn't what I thought it would be. Most of my clients were handicapped and I just don't have the patience to work with them as a career.

Seven years later, I now have a family and a good paying but boring as hell (to me - some people love the office work) desk job that I kinda lucked into....well, it also helped that I'm good at my job and have increased my salary mote than 50%. So, anyway, I've just recently jumped off the deep end and decided to accept a scholarship at the NY Film Academy's Musical Theatre Conservatory. I guess the music program didn't end up being a waste after all, because it's where I REALLY learned to sing (I started as a flute major). What really sealed this decision is that I spend 40+ hours a week at work, plus I sing with the Charlotte Symphony, church choir, and do community theatre and indie film projects. My husband kept telling me that I'm too talented to be doing all of this stuff for "free" AND working a full time job. So, that's why we're in process of moving to NYC.

I guess on topic of this thread...my story's not finished, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up (or, rather I do know, but it's a hard row to hoe).

I honestly don't know how I picked advertising as a major, LOL

I mean, I sorta do...I've always enjoyed writing, so going into college I thought I was going to major in journalism. I wasn't able to take my first journalism class until my first semester of sophomore year. When I finished, all I could think was "NOPE."

I took intro to advertising that semester as well and really liked it. I applied to the College of Media as undeclared so that I could explore a little more without fully committing. I totally thought I was going into creative but after taking the intro creative class I had another "NOPE." moment. Luckily, at the same time I was taking the intro public relations class and felt comfortable there. It was kind of like journalism but I felt a little bit more creative, which I liked. So I kinda just went for it (which is why I said, I'm not really sure how I ended up in advertising. I was never like "OMG yes, I love this." It was more like "ok, this works for me".)

Fast forward to now and I'm a media planner who deals with numbers all day. Go figure. On the bright side, at least I am in the advertising field. I do like my job, but I am thinking that I would eventually like to try to get into public relations, like the original plan. :)

When I was in high school, my sister (waves to KL) made a chance remark about the new field of programming computers. I was always interested in math but knew I didn't have the patience for teaching so was like wow. At the time WKU didn't have a computer science major but did have a CS minor. So I started as a math major with a CS minor. Just before my junior year, the CS major was started and by switching which classes were counted where, I switched to the CS major. Loved programming from the start and that's all I ever worked at.

I went in with an Anthropology major, with a concentration in Archaeology. When my parents found out, they flipped their lid and said I'd never find a good job, so they threatened to not pay for school. At that point, I was at an out-of-state school where I wasnr eligible for financial aid and was already in for a semester, so I changed my major to something friends of mine enjoyed, Poli Sci. I figured if they liked it, it wouldn't be too bad. I got lucky in getting internships in undergrad, getting into a good grad degree, and my jobs since, but I think my major was a soft skills one, or one that teaches you how to write well and also teach a bit of common sense, if you didn't have it already. I'm not sure I'd recommend that now, though. I also took most of my electives in archaeology as well, so i stayed stimulated.

I still say major in what you like, but start working on those internships! I really wish I had been told that in college. I didn't seek out any internships and I think it really hurt my job search later on. But knowing what you want to do and working backwards is a good way of thinking about it. And presumably you'd end up majoring in something you like since it's what you want to do later on, as long as you're not just in love with the benjamins.

Regarding non-profit work, I don't think there's any way out but to take that crappy job. Then get in there and kick ass and take names and you can move up. Same with politics. Young people seem to think they can have an undergrad in poli-sci and run somebody's campaign. Trust me when I say you start by making those horrendous phone calls and getting coffee.

I had a double major in undergrad. Zoology/biology with a minor in chemistry. But, ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be an astrophysicist, so I made plans to make a career doing that until I got to high school. I was set to choose physics as my major with a minor in math, but I took plan B instead to become a veterinarian, which is what I am now. Although astronomy is my first love of interests, I decided against it because I just felt that since we didn't have enough technology to follow through with research, why bother. I'm one of those who likes to not only study about something, but I want to touch and see up close what I'm studying about. Animals are the next best thing.:)

eta: Oh, and I forgot to add that when I was accepted to my first choice of vet schools (Michigan State), I chose to go into small animal medicine. I thought about going into exotics, but I just love cats too much.:p Starting in January, I'm going to be doing a lot of studying and research in parasitology with my mentor, which is what I'm going to be specializing in. Another four years of headaches, I guess.:(

I really liked math and physics, so I picked engineering. At Illinois, you can (or could at the time, I think it's changed) graduate as a "general engineer". In the later years, I discovered that I liked IE, and took most of my upper-level electives in IE. My internship before senior year confirmed that was a good decision.

I was initially a psychology major, but while taking some communications classes, I became interested in advertising. I switched to advertising, only to find that many of the firms I was interested were looking for business or marketing degrees. My last switch was to business (marketing concentration), and it's served me well so far :)

Just take a wide variety of classes if possible. You will most likely find something you will fall in love with.
At least, that seems to have worked for me.

I decided at about 15 years old that I was going to be an actress. So, picking a degree in Acting was the natural progression for that. Six years later, I'm still happy- maybe not as driven as I could be, but I love what I get to do everyday and the classes I get to take.

I'm getting a BFA versus a BA, so I feel that I've been given enough training to actually make it in the professional acting world. There are quite a few successful graduates from my program.

But, I also am self-aware that I can't handle the instability of acting long term. I set my sights on theatre administration, without knowing much about it. I got my first internship the summer after my sophomore year, and that company has continually hired me back- I've been working with them for over a year, and no longer have the title of intern. The odds are good that I might receive a full-time position after I graduate. I also landed an internship in Chicago last summer, and felt confident in that. I also added a minor in public relations to broaden my training, so I look like a better candidate for these jobs.

So many say that it's too expensive to get a degree in something that seems "out there" and with few job prospects. I would disagree. My acting training has made me an extremely self-aware individual, and an acute analyzer of people. We know how to market ourselves better than most degrees. Most importantly, I'm passionate about it. I have learned more about myself and human behavior in the past 4 years than I ever would have in another degree program. I've been stretched on both a personal and professional level, and isn't that what college is about?

Arts administration is also a fairly "new" field. Degree programs are out there, but there are also many others who are hired into these positions with only theatre or their specialization degrees. This will probably be changing in the foreseeable future, but for now, it's perfectly possible to get hired with only a bachelor's- but I do think you need the work experience or internship to back it up.

Melinda: I went to college at a time and place when women went to college to meet their husbands. Most of my friends were/are from that era. And most of us (not me) got a teaching degree to tide us over until we married, or if God forbid, we "had" to work. I majored in theatre and history.

I worked as an actress for a short time. And I worked in the business. And then I got married and retired permanently. (Well...my daughter and I are exploring a venture together.)

My girls? One majored in Film..and works in the business. The other is a Comm major. She is a natural in styling. And she has worked as an actress/model. She thinks about going back to acting...but I don't know.

The fabulous thing about being young is that you can change your mind/reinvent yourself and explore who you are. And when one is as bright as your are...you will figure it out.

I knew since middle school I wanted to be an engineer. I wasn't sure what type but an engineer. I choose electrical engineering because it provided me a challenge and I would not get bored. Of course I had no life for about 5 years but I enjoyed my classmates, professors, and all the opportunities that came my way because of engineering. I did try to do a double major in EE and Spanish but got tired of school and did not want to stay one more semester for a Spanish class so I ended up with a degree in EE with specialization in Power Systems and Controls and a minor in Spanish.

True story. I was a Poli Sci major going into my junior year. One night, I was at a TG (themed gathering) with a fraternity. There was a guy who was boasting that no girls could handle being an Econ major. I told him I was taking my third Econ class and thought it was easy, and he got pissy. I actually liked Econ so out of spite, I changed my major.

This turned out to be a good thing in the long run because it forced me to take more business classes, even though I was not in the business school. And when I went to grad school, I was able to get waivers on my Econ classes.

Yep, this too.

I would say the school does help with this process. The school I graduated from (ironically with a science degree) has a HUGE and nationally-known performing arts program- everything from dance to theatre to stage and arts management. Being in that environment, you are working with and meeting those valuable "networking" people simply because of your educational environment. In the dance program, recruiters come to the school to find new talent because the school is so well-known for its program and its high standards. As a result of the excellence in the performing arts, grads can have an automatic connection to people in the industry because there are so many who are alumnus from this school. It also has name recognition. It certainly helps with internships, too.

Off topic...sorry MelindaWarren :)

Actually, not off-topic at all! Networking is huge. Sometimes, in certain fields (not the ones DTD Alum-by the way, FIGHT ON!-mentioned, but certain fields), networking is "it." Multiple people have said to me, "I wouldn't be any more or less inclined to hire based on what academic qualification was on the person's resume-I want the person who's best for the job." You're more likely to be in that room and up for the job in the first place if you have the connections, regardless of whether or not you majored in Biomechanical Engineering or Basketweaving.

But thank you all for your answers! I'm not really in that much of a rush-I have until the end of sophomore year (fall 2012, thanks to AP credits)- but my school has this really weird policy that, if you major in something in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, all but about 24 units have to be CLAS units (this may not be a weird policy; I have no basis for comparison). I've already taken 8 (given that I was a major in a professional school)+3.3 from my summer class. This leaves me very little room for outside experimentation, should I decide to pursue something in liberal arts (which, in all honesty, is probably the case for me).

Either way, hearing your stories gave me some perspective (given that every other relative of mine, save for one, came in as a major in [poli sci, history, etc.] and saw that major through). :)

I wouldn't count on ANY degree being a guarantee that you'll be able to be employed after college - I know far too many unemployed business, finance, accounting and law majors to think that you can count on your degree. I'm also reminded of my grandfather who graduated from SMU. He wanted to be an architect, but as a child of the Depression, he listened to his father who told him to be an accountant, and he'd always have work. So he spent his life as a miserable accountant. Nope, life's too short to do something you hate.

That said - I started college as a drama major. I was given a scholarship, and thought for sure I would be a professional actress. I quickly discerned that I could be perfectly happy doing acting as a hobby, but really wanted the intellectual stimulation of a liberal arts degree. I graduated with a B.A. in English and a drama minor. I did NOT plan to teach. I then went to graduate school in order to continue my studies - again, NOT planning to teach. But when I needed to support my family teaching turned out to be the perfect career. I have taught college, high school and middle school. Teaching turned out to be my passion. I am also a newspaper columnist, but that is really more for fun than financial gain.

My education is far more than a way to earn a living, as important as that is. I cannot imagine what my life would be without it.

You could include Pharmacy in that. If you select a school where it has a straight 5-6 year pharmacy program, you're making 6 figures or close to it when you graduate. That is versus 7-8 years if you get a BS undergrad, and then go to grad school of pharmacy. This is why Ohio Northern is so popular for Pharmacy school, I think it's one of the few left in the country that offer a straight 6 year program (I think they did away with the 5 year program, everyone now has to get their PharmD).

When I started college, I was a biology/pre-vet major. I loved science, was good at it for the most part, and loved animals. What better career, right? Wrong. I started shadowing vets the summer before college started. I passed out a few times. I nearly barfed a few times. The vets kept telling me I'd get over it. First year of college came and went, and I struggled with keeping my grades up. I partied too much, and I struggled with passing chemistry classes. After my first year of college, and my dismal GPA, my mom said "If you want to flunk out of college, you can come home and do that from the community college." I didn't want to leave school, so I changed my major to something I didn't even know my school offered at the time: environmental science. I could still keep my biology and science nerdiness, while doing something I thought I'd enjoy. As a bonus, I didn't have to take as many or as difficult chemistry classes. I was always an outdoors enthusiast. My grandparents took me hunting, fishing, riding and camping as a kid, and I was in 4-H for 10 years. I got to take awesomely cool classes like Mammology, Herpetology, Ornithology and Entomology. I also got to take engineering classes, which got my foot in the door with engineering consulting companies in the petroleum industry. I've always been fortunate to have a career in my field (with the exception of some unemployment). Now, I am an environmental geologist at a nuclear facility, I love my job, and my salary is decent.

I chose English Writing/Journalism for basically two reasons: I'd always been a very good writer and I wouldn't have to take a lot of math!

I just saw KSUViolet's quote and I had to add an emphatic head nod to it because she is spot on. It definitely works that way in public relations, which was my chosen field. In PR, you're essentially no good to anyone if you don't know people who will run things on your client.

Right, but keep in mind that there are other fields where the actual credentials are very important, maybe even moreso than what you actually know.

Relatedly, in some fields (mostly IT stuff), a certification on top of ANY bachelor's is fine.

When I started at Penn State I really didn't know what I wanted to major in. Everyone in high school was like "well what are you good at?" and the only thing I could think of was French. So I went in as a French major. However my senior year I kind of fell in love with science and was thinking of double majoring in microbiology and French, to eventually do medical research or be a doctor in Africa. Enter intro chem, which I was not a fan of. I had to work really hard at it and it just did not come naturally to me, so I decided to stick with French, since I was naturally very good with languages.

I loved my 200 level grammar, writing, and speaking courses. I originally had planned to graduate early since it wouldn't have been difficult to do so. I also thought maybe I'd double major in German since I'd taken a year of it in high school, but wasn't sure. At about sophomore year I realized that French was not a marketable degree. I tried to think of what else I could do but came up with little. But then it came to me-- a lot of people in my family are teachers, so maybe I'd teach.

I was taking education classes for about a year and liked them, but I only really enjoyed teaching preschool and elementary aged children. Unfortunately, there is not a big market for that as most world language programs only start in middle or high school. That, in combination with a GPA drop from a family tragedy had me scratching my head again about what major I would stay in.

Spring semester junior year I decided just to stick it out with my French major (I had never technically changed it to French education). However my French was rusty because I hadn't been consistently taking classes or immersing myself in the language and I could not afford to go abroad. I started avoiding taking French classes (smart, right?) by taking TESOL, applied linguistics, and linguistics classes. I loved those, but again for personal and family reasons failed at least one of them in each area which prevented me from technically minoring in them. Womp.

At the beginning of my (first) senior year, I hated French. I could not do it anymore. I hadn't gone abroad and so my French was abysmal in comparison to everyone else's (my conversational French isn't bad, but my academic French wasn't great) and I was just over it. I knew I had to take 4 more advanced French literature classes to graduate and I could.not.do.it. So I decided to switch to the major that I could graduate from the fastest- Communication, Arts, and Sciences, or the liberal arts version of Communications.

I've been a CAS major for about a year and after trying a few different courses within the major I realize that I really enjoy rhetoric classes. I am also working on doing an internship this spring (and hopefully summer as well) to count for one or two of my classes and give me some more useful skills and contacts. I've already had one internship and I've also worked as an RA, which could definitely help me if I go into event planning or student affairs. Right now I'm looking into working for a nonprofit, in the social services, in student affairs, higher education, admissions, advising, or in ministry/as a missionary. I realize that getting my heart set on a specific career path at this point is not super practical and that I need to be open minded to get a job. I also do not care one bit about how much I get paid as long as I can eat sometimes and have some sort of roof over my head.

I guess the turning point for me came when I realized I do not have high material needs, I love to help people, I love working with people, and ideally I'd like to travel. My plans this August after I graduate is to just apply to a whole host of internships and full time positions and see where it leads me.
I'm not too worried about it; in fact, I'm pretty excited.