Poll: What should I major in?

[Chaotic42]

I'm 21. I went to Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi) when I was 16. That year my mom died, and after that I kind of lost interest in class. So I moved back home and got a nice BS in hard knocks.

I'm wiser now, and I'm going to go back to school, since it's either that or work at a small town radio station for the next 50 years.

The thing is that I can't decide what to major in. I'm probably going to go to LSU, MSU (MS State), Univ. of Southern Alabama, or the University of New Orleans.

Whatever I pick I'm smart enough to do well in, so that's not an issue. I'm looking more along the lines of employment when I get done.

Any comments are appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: I'd like to go PhD in anything I pursue, should money allow it. I'm interested in theory and research. My dream job would be doing research at a unversity for the rest of my life.

 

[Soybomb]

Do you plan to continue past your BS?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Do you plan to continue past your BS?

If I can afford to do it, I'd like to go PhD.

 

[clamum]

College at 16? I would agree on you being smart

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: americangigolo
College at 16? I would agree on you being smart

Well, let's put it this way, if I was really smart, I'd have done better in school.

 

[whizbang]

You're screwed. All of those, perhaps except for Math or Physics, are being commoditized and the work is being sent to India or elsewhere overseas. BTW, I went to Tulane and hate all of the schools you might attend. Good luck, though.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: whizbang
You're screwed. All of those, perhaps except for Math or Physics, are being commoditized and the work is being sent to India or elsewhere overseas. BTW, I went to Tulane and hate all of the schools you might attend. Good luck, though.

Hmm...

So what would be your suggestion? I'd go to Tulane, but I can't afford it.

 

[glugglug]

Don't know how useful an electric engineering degree ends up being, my gut says it isn't at all. Computer Engineering degree is less useful than the work experience you could get in the same 5 years, I strongly suspect that is also true of Electrical.

Physics/Math/Aerospace may be interesting, but how many jobs are there in those areas?

Chemical Engineering I would say has the most career potential out of those you listed.

BTW: I voted for other. Need more information on skills/interests to be sure what "other" would be though.

 

[dionx]

another vote for chemical engineering

 

[whizbang]

I would suggest getting a business degree and trying to start your own business, or going into Finance (but not accounting, unless you are CPA). Technical jobs are becoming scarce as companies send the work off shore. If there's a group of reasonably competent engineers or programmers in Bangalore who work while we are asleep for $10 an hour (which is a king's ransom there), then there's no way to live in the US and compete.

I had a nice 15 year career in IT, but will probably lose my job in August because my consulting company no longer has work for me. I've reskilled myself as a project manager and I'm hoping the strong need for communication skills (one of my strengths) and my PM experience and certification will help me find a new position.

I hear you about the price of Tulane. I cost a buttload when I went there 20 years ago, I can't imagine what it costs now.

 

[Legendary]

I put down for aerospace engineering because, strictly from a job standpoint, I think it might have the best jobs - don't know too many people going into aerospace engineering.
Good luck to you either way. I'm going in for math but a job isn't my first concern.

 

[SnoopCat]

civil enginer

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: whizbang
I would suggest getting a business degree and trying to start your own business, or going into Finance (but not accounting, unless you are CPA).

Blech. Thanks for the recommendation, but I'd rather work for $7/hr and somewhat enjoy my job than do anything like that.

As for my interests, I enjoy most hard sciences. I don't know if astronomy is a major, but I wouldn't mind doing that either. Astrophysics, quantum mechanincs, all very interesting to me.

I have no interest in pursuing a career in literature or business.

I do have an interest in language, but only certain ones (Spanish, Russian, and German).

 

[Chaotic42]

What about a double major in some of the above?

 

[wfbberzerker]

civil engineer might be a good idea, as snoopcat said.

 

[ElFenix]

aerospace!

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
civil engineer might be a good idea, as snoopcat said.

Forgive me, but civil engineering would be like city planning and architecture?

 

[UglyCasanova]

LSU offers Astronomy I believe. I'm seriously toying with the idea of transferring there (I'm at La Tech right now).

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: UglyCassanova
LSU offers Astronomy I believe. I'm seriously toying with the idea of transferring there (I'm at La Tech right now).

Really? Is La tech not good? I've never really heard much about it.

 

[aphex]

You can major in 'Results'?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
civil engineer might be a good idea, as snoopcat said.

Forgive me, but civil engineering would be like city planning and architecture?

city planning is geography and architecture. a civil engineer figures out how to implement the artist's design for structures

 

[Rahminator]

Mechanical E.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: UglyCassanova
LSU offers Astronomy I believe. I'm seriously toying with the idea of transferring there (I'm at La Tech right now).

Really? Is La tech not good? I've never really heard much about it.

It's decent, our scores pretty much tie LSU when it comes to Engineering and Science. I'm just really thinking about taking up astronomy and LSU is fun as hell (not the best reason to transfer, and it sure won't help my studying, but you only live once).

 

[Chaotic42]

How much is it? This will likely have to be mostly loans.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
How much is it? This will likely have to be mostly loans.

Haven't gotten that far yet. (only decided this about a day ago while talking with my friend, and chances are I'll just stay here in Ruston).

TOPS pays for my tuition, and I have another scholorship on top of that. I'm not sure if people who haven't lived in Louisiana for a while are eligible for TOPS or not, but it's worth looking into. Basically what it is a scholorship that the state has, and if you take certain classes in HS (it's just general classes, so you might have what you need) and have a decent GPA then you get so much every quarter/semester. Basically it pays for your tuition to any Louisiana college or university, and is one of the few good things that the state has done.

edit: Here is a link to their physics and astronomy derpartment.