How did you choose your college major?

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eLiu

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2001
6,407
1
0
Originally posted by: loki8481
reading the Grapes of Wrath senior year of high school made me want to be a writer.

Really? Reading that made me want to invent a time machine so I could kill Steinbeck. YUCK :p
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
I was initially a business admin major. Then I took a couple of required principles of accounting courses. I did fairly well in them, so I stuck with Accounting.
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
9,922
0
76
If you'd like to do business, then do business! Picking a particular major in business can be tough, so take what interests you. If you'd rather deal with the numbers and theory, try economics or accounting.

I did physics because I loved doing math/physics problems and it really opened up my options. It seems like Physics majors kind of go everywhere and do everything. A guy with a PhD in physics whose primary profession is teaching surfing during the summer and snowboarding during the winter recently published a Theory of Everything that has a fair number of theorists pretty excited. Physics is weird like that.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,498
35,177
136
Originally posted by: loki8481
reading the Grapes of Wrath senior year of high school made me want to be a writer.

Really? I wanted to be a migrant worker. Damn color bar.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: SampSon
I was into computers and programming at the time.
So I went into that. In the end it ruined my hobby and I'm no longer working in that field.

I should have just used the list of majors and a dartboard. In the long run it's all a crap shoot anyway.

If you pick a mjaor by hobby or money, what is gonna happen is that you will probably ending up doing something that you hated doing in college.
 

mrkun

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2005
2,177
0
0
Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you'd like to do business, then do business! Picking a particular major in business can be tough, so take what interests you. If you'd rather deal with the numbers and theory, try economics or accounting.

Agreed. Economics and Accounting are both good general degrees that apply to everything.
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
I'm going to assume you're just starting college.

As a senior Political Science major, I can offer you some advice that I guarantee three years from now you'll be nodding your head in agreement to.

Take as many math and science courses as you can. Especially Calculus through level 2, and a set of either (or both of) Biology and Chemistry.

"But those are hard!" You might say. "I'd rather take Chinese History or Buddhist Philosophy courses!"

Listen, dumbass Freshman, take the math and science courses. You have no idea what you'll be majoring in, your mind WILL change numerous times. But when it does, at least you have a choice. At least you won't be stuck as a junior picking from the small pool of majors that will let you graduate before your funding runs out. Prerequesites, at a certain stage, mean you don't get to choose your major anymore. Sure I like Politics but what the hell am I going to do with this degree? Nothing. A science or business degree means at least a year's extension on my studies, which is not worth it considering I could apply that time towards grad school instead.

...at least that is what I wish someone had told me a couple of years ago.
 

Dualist

Platinum Member
Dec 5, 2005
2,395
0
86
I wanted to be in either the television or radio business on sports announcing, so I went with Mass Communications. And now, I'm this close in doing an internship with a local radio station soon, and I have to take a few more classes in the spring. And then, I'm all set. :)
 

Siva

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2001
5,472
0
71
I was in another major, but enjoyed other classes and did far better in certain classes so I switched
 

Rockinacoustic

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2006
2,460
0
76
Originally posted by: SampSon
I was into computers and programming at the time.
So I went into that. In the end it ruined my hobby and I'm no longer working in that field.

This is how I felt about going to school for Art. Sure I loved it and had a great portfolio, but I saw it more as a hobby than a profession. So I went with my other passion; Science. If all goes well I'll have a degree in Biochemistry in 2 and 1/2 more years.

Another thing. Just remember your major doesn't define the rest of your life. It's a nice thing to own in case you have limited options, but most of the time there are many career paths from ones major. I may just say screw it 20 years from now and go back to Art or Radio DJ-ing :p
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
Originally posted by: Farang
I'm going to assume you're just starting college.

As a senior Political Science major, I can offer you some advice that I guarantee three years from now you'll be nodding your head in agreement to.

Take as many math and science courses as you can. Especially Calculus through level 2, and a set of either (or both of) Biology and Chemistry.

"But those are hard!" You might say. "I'd rather take Chinese History or Buddhist Philosophy courses!"

Listen, dumbass Freshman, take the math and science courses. You have no idea what you'll be majoring in, your mind WILL change numerous times. But when it does, at least you have a choice. At least you won't be stuck as a junior picking from the small pool of majors that will let you graduate before your funding runs out. Prerequesites, at a certain stage, mean you don't get to choose your major anymore. Sure I like Politics but what the hell am I going to do with this degree? Nothing. A science or business degree means at least a year's extension on my studies, which is not worth it considering I could apply that time towards grad school instead.

...at least that is what I wish someone had told me a couple of years ago.

Well thats what i was told to do some i am probably am going to do that
I am a junior in high school ;)
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
Lol mine was fairly easy. I've been a science geek all of my life, but I'm also interested in practically every other field. So I started off last year as a Computer Engineering major, switched a few months ago to a Computer Engineering/Biology double major with an intention to get into Biomedical. However, I love astrophysics, astronomy, and practically anything that has to do with space, so I might do a minor in aerospace (maybe I just watched too much Star Trek as a kid).

If you're really not sure, go "undeclared" for a semester or two and try out the options. I know plenty of people who have/are doing it. It's actually commonly referred to as "fundeclared" because you can take anything you want, while the rest of us are fairly constrained to 1 (possibly 2 if you're willing wo work your ass off) electives.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,978
31,534
146
photography and entrepreneur?

this is too easy.... (involves naked chicks and the internet)
no need to go to school :)
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Don't consult one of those "top 10 starting salaries based on major" lists. Please, don't. Take a lot of classes your first year. Try a bit of everything. Only take classes with bad professors if you absolutely must. Otherwise (particularly in the humanities), find professors that your peers really like and take classes offered by them. A good professor makes or breaks a class more than the material.

Don't be afraid to double major either. I know a lot of people who were science / humanities majors and loved it because they got a bit of everything.
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
1
76
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Don't consult one of those "top 10 starting salaries based on major" lists. Please, don't. Take a lot of classes your first year. Try a bit of everything. Only take classes with bad professors if you absolutely must. Otherwise (particularly in the humanities), find professors that your peers really like and take classes offered by them. A good professor makes or breaks a class more than the material.

Don't be afraid to double major either. I know a lot of people who were science / humanities majors and loved it because they got a bit of everything.

Are they the type who get by with 'learning the material' while their GPA plummets?
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Don't consult one of those "top 10 starting salaries based on major" lists. Please, don't. Take a lot of classes your first year. Try a bit of everything. Only take classes with bad professors if you absolutely must. Otherwise (particularly in the humanities), find professors that your peers really like and take classes offered by them. A good professor makes or breaks a class more than the material.

Don't be afraid to double major either. I know a lot of people who were science / humanities majors and loved it because they got a bit of everything.

Are they the type who get by with 'learning the material' while their GPA plummets?

If you're referring to my friends who double-majored, no they aren't. One was an English / Econ major and is now attending Harvard Law and the other was a Biochemistry / History major and is in med school at Tufts... Oops.

I wasn't saying it was for everyone, but if you put in the work it can be really rewarding.
 

Saint Nick

Lifer
Jan 21, 2005
17,722
6
81
I decided what I wanted to based on what I liked to do. I like to work on computers and work with systems of computers. So, I'm doing Management Information Systems. I'm also minoring in guitar performance.

Do what you like to do.
 

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
8,896
1
0
Originally posted by: alfa147x

Well thats what i was told to do some i am probably am going to do that
I am a junior in high school ;)

i don't think people should go to college already having their major in mind. finish high school, go to college, take the pre-req's and see what you like and go from there.
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
1
76
I think you should do what's easy.. something with very little mental stress.