How did you choose your major?

[DubaiSis]

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.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

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 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.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by DTD Alum

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.

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.

[DTD Alum]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

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.

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.

[AlphaFrog]

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).

[AnotherKD]

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.