How did you choose your major?

[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.