Major in something you like or what is financially secure?

[SuperGroove]

Is there justification majoring in something that you enjoy, no matter what?

I was a prejournalism major here at CU, and really had no qualms. It wasn't fun, because it was what you majored in before you could apply to the actual journalism school. It felt like a waste of time, but I enjoyed the thought of being able to write for a living. I was only unhappy because my parents, and everyone who asked me what my major was, made me feel ridiculously stupid.

Last semester, I switched to Economics. I am taking it because of the projected income reason. I hate it with every fiber of my being.

What I do enjoy, is English. I love writing papers, editing papers, and everything I've done with English, I've enjoyed. Maybe because it wasn't difficult, but in the end, I just enjoyed it. I would assume that I must major in English if I'm to become editor, no?

I can't sleep...I hate my major...I hate school(Mine especially). I want it to be over with so that I can enjoy the fruits of my decisions/mistakes not related to school I want to know if the results of majoring in something you enjoy is, for the most part, positive.

Paul
-grammatically my post is perfect...for a CU student at 3a.m.

 

[Mill]

Do what you want! You have to complete your major and to work at a job for the rest of you life. Your parents and anyone else should understand you want to do what you love.

There isn't all that much money in Criminal Justice(unless you go private sector) but that is what I want to do. I have always wanted to be a police officer/investigator since I was very young. I will start living out my dream shortly.

Please do what YOU want. Don't regret what you will live the rest of your life doing. You don't have to pick what is the best financially or what is approved by your family or friends. To do so can make you very unhappy and stressed.

 

[Spagina]

Do what you want to and enjoy doing. There is no sense in doing something you hate, even for the money. You may spend the next 40 years after school doing that profession, so think about that. You want to spend your life dreading your job and hating everyday you wakeup, but making a decent amount of money, or doing something you love, look forward to everyday, and possibly make a smaller amount of money. It's a pretty simple choice really.

I'm going into art, I may not make a great, phenomenal amount of cash compared to most professions, but I love doing art more than anything in this world, and if my parents were to tell me to pick another profession for the money, I'd seriously tell them to go jump off a cliff. Thankfully my family is very supportive of what I'm doing.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: SuperGroove
Is there justification majoring in something that you enjoy, no matter what?

I was a prejournalism major here at CU, and really had no qualms. It wasn't fun, because it was what you majored in before you could apply to the actual journalism school. It felt like a waste of time, but I enjoyed the thought of being able to write for a living. I was only unhappy because my parents, and everyone who asked me what my major was, made me feel ridiculously stupid.

Last semester, I switched to Economics. I am taking it because of the projected income reason. I hate it with every fiber of my being.

What I do enjoy, is English. I love writing papers, editing papers, and everything I've done with English, I've enjoyed. Maybe because it wasn't difficult, but in the end, I just enjoyed it. I would assume that I must major in English if I'm to become editor, no?

I can't sleep...I hate my major...I hate school(Mine especially). I want it to be over with so that I can enjoy the fruits of my decisions/mistakes not related to school I want to know if the results of majoring in something you enjoy is, for the most part, positive.

Paul
-grammatically my post is perfect...for a CU student at 3a.m.

You're going to spend the rest of your life working, might as well do something you like. Then again, a quote from my dad:
"No one ever said work is easy"

Do you want job satisfaction or money?

There are alot of ways to look at this issue. Do you enjoy the concepts you are learning as a finance major? Is it something that mentally stimulates you?

 

[AU Tiger]

Do what makes you happy. If you have a journalism degree or english degree you always can fall back on teaching if the journalism doesn't work out. Teachers in private schools make decent money.

 

[BigJohnKC]

Like everyone else, I'll say do what you want to do, not what will make you rich. I started out college pre-med because I thought that I would make a lot of money doing that. I hated the classes I had to take. My sophomore year, I found out how much I truly loved programming, and switched majors to computer science. I can't even imagine myself in medical school right now - it would be horrifying. Instead, I'm doing what I love, and enjoying going to work every day. A great man once said, "If you truly enjoy your job, then you never go to work." It's your life, don't let your family make decisions for you.

 

[smp]

People who go to school with a 'career' in mind lack creativity and that all important human trait, curiosity.
Go to school to learn, go learn something you're curious about, if you're lucky you can live off of it one day.

 

[LostHiWay]

Originally posted by: smp
People who go to school with a 'career' in mind lack creativity and that all important human trait, curiosity.
Go to school to learn, go learn something you're curious about, if you're lucky you can live off of it one day.

Good advice but...just don't get curious about liberal arts

 

[tm37]

Perhaps you could go into finacial journalism.

The key is finding something you enjoy doing and identifing your talents, Getting thoose two things are paramount to living a successful life. Remeber the keys to success are driven not by the size of your paycheck but the size of your life. I don't particularly enjoy my job but I REALLY enjoy certain aspects of it and I focus on those to insure that I don't dread my job every monday. I attack every obstical with vigor and I understand that I have a responsiblity to my family to provide for them.

You need to talk to your parents and IF they are footing the bill for your schooling then they do have a say in it, They may be closed minded but it is their money (if they are the ones paying)

I did not attend college although I could have and while I sometimes regret not going I wouldn;t trade places with ANYONE i know. My success is not only measured by my paycheck (which is pretty good for a CC drop-out) but by the joy in my life that is everyday with my wife and son (and soon to be daughter)

This is a situation that only YOU can find the answer for and I hope you make a choice that makes you happy, Remember that just because you choose one thing doesn't mean you can't change down the road. I went from autosales to the navy (electronics repair on airplanes) to electronics tech private sector, to sales and service of medical equiptment to service of medical equiptment. I am only 28 and I have worked in many different secors and I have had vast responsibilities. All the way from running a maintence shop to doing absolutely nothing.

Last semester, I switched to Economics. I am taking it because of the projected income reason. I hate it with every fiber of my being.

Do you hate it because you want to write or because it isn't easy or because it wan't your first choice. Understand that people tend to push away ideas that were not their's and also may show alot of hostility towards ideas they feel were forced upon them.

 

[LanEvoVI]

Well if you major in English you can become a teacher. There is always a need for good teachers so you'll basically be assured a job.

 

[Moonbeam]

"There are a million paths in life and they all lead nowhere. Choose a path that has a heart"

 

[Doggiedog]

I say go for majoring in something you like. When you like what you are doing, you tend to do better at it than something you dislike.

As for your career, where I work, I see lots of people working on Wall Street that have absolutely no financial backgrounds. I see history, English, engineering, medical, MIS, etc. along with your traditional finance related majors.

In fact, your famous Henry Blodgett (of Amazon fame) who used to work in my group was a journalism major and a journalist before becoming an analyst.

I don't think your selection of major would preclude you from a financially secure career. However, your selection may make it tougher to enter certain fields that may require a background in a certain major (ie medicine, engineering).

 

[Whisper]

Do what you like and the money will follow. Besides, it's easier to be happy and getting by than to be miserable and rich. I just switched out of pre-med last semester, and believe I'll be going either into editing or psychology. Well, psych was already my major and I'd planned on doing something with it eventually, but never really grad school and clinicial psychology. And yeah, english has just always been a hobby/pasttime/passion/whatever. Take a few upper level courses in both right now, and think I'll end up adding in the english minor by the time I graduate.

So in summary, just do what you want. Who cares what other people think. If they're going to judge you based on your choice of majors, then do you really value their opinion that much?

 

[Jzero]

No amount of money will spare you the misery of having to get up every morning and while away 1/3 OR MORE of your adult life at a job that you hate and has no meaning.
Do what love

 

[jemcam]

Trust me when I tell you to do something that you like, or is at least interesting to you. A well paying job that sucks, sucks even worse after a couple of years. It gets you depressed, especially on Sunday afternoons. I had a well paying job that I hated for about four years, and I took a pay cut to go to a job that I enjoyed more.

I made up the financial difference after four or five years and am so glad I made the switch.