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Having a lot of trouble choosing a major...

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Hmm.. so what if I wanted try for an MBA eventually? I realize that most programs want to see some experience first. But are certain majors more MBA-friendly than others? What if I want to remain in the engineering disciplines for undergrad?
 
Originally posted by: enwar3
Originally posted by: her209
What would you do if you had a million dollars?
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Well.. if I had a billion dollars I would design, develop, and manage a hotel. If I had a million dollars.... I don't know. At least that's what I think I would do. That's kind of a high in the sky fantasy and I don't know if I would truly enjoy it. But it definitely sounds fun.
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Major in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
 
interesting bit of advice from my dad, who never went to college but has that wisdom that comes with experience.

he told me to get the schooling for the position that i enjoyed the most (at least the one that interested me the most); that way if that position ever did open, i would be in a good place for it. I went "no-pref" for my first 3 semesters, getting all the basics out of the way and exploring different classes. I received a bit of ridicule for not making up my mind right away, but those same people who laughed at me, have now had major career changes at least 3 times, while i'm still working in my target field.

BS in Forestry, 2 years Peace Corps (AgroForestry), 2 years Park Ranger, 20 years Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation (working directly with landowners). Right now one of my common requests from landowners is wildlife habitat management.

college will give you the basics, doesn't teach you what you need; it teaches you how to learn and adjust.

good luck
 
sit down for a bit, and look up jobs and see what you wanna do.

you might end up being a cop, a programmer, a teacher, a prositute

who knows. sit down and put some fucking sweat into it. Stop with the bullshit ADHD
 
There are several methods a person may use to determine their direction in life.

  • Parental Direction - Follow in the footsteps of a parent's successful career.
  • Course Comfort - Which classes are you the most comfortable in? Which classes do you look forward to going to each day? Which classes do you get involved in?
  • People Comfort - Which classes do you like the people in?

    I wanted to go into business/finance when I started school but realized I did not like most of the business professors. Many of the business professors seemed fake to me. They also created artificially difficult projects just to watch me sweat while meeting their dreamed-up requirements. This is when I realized that math/science was inherently difficult and did not need to be artificially fabricated. Additionally, the professors and students in math/science were genuinely friendly people who treated me well. These were the people I decided I wanted to work with and I remain happy doing so. A respectable path is to combine business with skills in math, statistics, or engineering. This includes Economics and Finance. Additionally, accounting is a very useful skill.
  • Focus on a useful skill that will pay well.
    • Math,
    • statistics,
    • engineering,
    • chemistry,
    • physics,
    • economics,
    • accounting,
    • foreign languages.
  • Find an academic path that intrigues you.
    • any major and law,
    • engineering through a masters degree,
    • engineering and an MBA,
    • engineering and finance,
    • accounting towards a CPA or CMA,
    • A foreign language combined with public service or foreign policy,
    • History with an MBA,
    • computer science and anything else, or
    • statistics.
  • If there is a specific college or university you plan to attend, what is that institution well known for? If they have the best or a well known program in any course of study then major in that subject.
  • Take introductory classes in multiple areas and see where your interests lie and what classes you enjoy getting involved in.
 
Originally posted by: her209
What would you do if you had a million dollars?
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I don't know if that method is necessarily the best advice. Look at all of the people who have arts/other degrees and are working the same job they'd have if they didn't go to college, only now with a boat load of debt.
 
See a career counselor. I'm sure your university has a career center or something that can help.

The MBA can be applied to a lot of undergrad degrees. Lots of engineering types are doing the MBA thing, but MBA's are getting to be a dime-a-dozen. If business interests you maybe consider something a little different? Undergrad in CompSci or similar and masters in finance? Or mabye international relations...

But yeah, go see a career counselor.
 
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
 
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
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Because the first year or two is filled with core classes and opportunities to just take classes to see what you like. You don't want to end up like Trident, unable to go to college because you aren't decisive in your major (and also have crazy parents) and instead living in your parents' basement with no friends and no job.

You don't have to be decisive to go to college and graduate in 4 years with a degree.

Edit: Made it clearer as to what I meant.
 
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
Click to expand...

Because the first year or two is filled with core classes and opportunities to just take classes to see what you like.
Click to expand...

You reckon? My first year was entirely composed of maths, programming, and EE couses. If I'd spent my time doing film studies or some rubbish I would never have got the credits for an honors degree in 3 years.
 
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
Click to expand...

Because the first year or two is filled with core classes and opportunities to just take classes to see what you like. You don't want to end up like Trident, unable to go to college at 18 without being decisive in your major and instead living in your parents' basement with no friends and no job.
Click to expand...

QFT.
 
Since around 12 I knew I wanted to have a job with technology, so I went into college (spring sem sophomore now) shooting for a CIT and Business major. I'm pretty sure ill just stick with it now because it will be decent paying and I have some connections in the IT field that should prove to be helpful this summer for an internship and post grad job.

Though, I am always interested in being a personal trainer...it's constantly sitting in the back of my mind.
 
I went in Poly Sci & History, came out Information Science.

My friend went in History, came out Communications, he's now in Pharmacy school.

My dad went in Communications, came out Communications, he's now an elementary school teacher.

All companies want is that piece of paper-- what you do after that doesn't really matter.
 
I'm a EE right now and I'm on the fence about my future as well 😛

Options are... MBA, Medschool, Masters/PhD in EE.
 
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
Click to expand...

Because the first year or two is filled with core classes and opportunities to just take classes to see what you like. You don't want to end up like Trident, unable to go to college at 18 without being decisive in your major and instead living in your parents' basement with no friends and no job.
Click to expand...

Why can't someone (or that person, I suppose) go to college? Anyone can, although they might have to start at a CC, which is fine.

But as for people just going to college, there's little point in rushing if you have no idea what to do.
 
Originally posted by: Strk
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
Click to expand...

Because the first year or two is filled with core classes and opportunities to just take classes to see what you like. You don't want to end up like Trident, unable to go to college at 18 without being decisive in your major and instead living in your parents' basement with no friends and no job.
Click to expand...

Why can't someone (or that person, I suppose) go to college? Anyone can, although they might have to start at a CC, which is fine.

But as for people just going to college, there's little point in rushing if you have no idea what to do.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean to say "you can't go to college unless you're decisive". I typed it all out too quickly. I meant to say, you don't have to be decisive in your major - just go take whatever classes look interesting and see what you like.
 
Originally posted by: fishmonger12
I thought i wanted to major in chemistry. The department at my school was full of a-hole professors though.

So now i'm majoring in economics. Cuz it pays better than english and it's easy.

But since economics was too easy I decided to add math. Which is like pounding your head against the wall. So far i've stuck with it though.
Click to expand...

normally a fair bit of math is required in economics programs; ie calc 1 and 2, linear algebra and some stats classes.
 
I thought I wanted to major in journalism, then I realized it's not really about writing anymore. Then I wanted to major in Spanish because I like it. Now I want to double major in Chinese and something else (maybe polisci?). I want to study language, but I also want to get a job...
 
Originally posted by: Atheus
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: Atheus
Why on earth are you going to university without knowing what you're doing? I don't understand that at all. You'll get absolutely nothing educational out of it. Why don't you take a gap year or something until you have some idea what you want to do with your life?
Click to expand...

Because the first year or two is filled with core classes and opportunities to just take classes to see what you like.
Click to expand...

You reckon? My first year was entirely composed of maths, programming, and EE couses. If I'd spent my time doing film studies or some rubbish I would never have got the credits for an honors degree in 3 years.
Click to expand...
I can see that from your profile that your are from London, which explains your comment. In America, the attitude is that everyone goes to college as a continuation to their general education. Thus, we focus on creating well-round person--thus, a liberal education. In my school we don't have to declare a major until after three semesters.

From, what I understand, in almost every other country around the world, college is much more specialized. You don't do whole liberal arts thing. It's just a difference in educational philosophy.
 
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