How did you pick your major in college?

[richardhmc]

Well, being a senior in high school, I am making probably the biggest decision of my life. What college and major I want to go to. Problem is that I really have no idea what I want to do. So how did you decide on your major?

[nycsicktank]

try lots of different things and find something your good at

[spunjin]

Wanted to be a math teacher but I was told to be an engineer so I could have something to fall back on, so I agreed. I hated engineering so I switched to Mathematics. I graduate in June.
The way I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher was simple. June, July, and August. I wanted to teach but I hated English, Science, History, and PE was too easy. Math was the only subject that challenged me so I made my decision...and now I wish I chose PE, just kidding.
Think of what you like to do and how you want to live and make your decision from there. If you like what you do you will never work a day in your life.

[nycsicktank]

Wanted to be a math teacher but I was told to be an engineer so I could have something to fall back on, so I agreed. I hated engineering so I switched to Mathematics. I graduate in June.

i hate math....cause i suck so much but i wanna do engineering(current major) :cry:

[spunjin]

Then you better learn to love math and physics.

[BreellaBlue87]

LOL. In highschool I went to a school with an oceanography program, I wanted to be a marine biologist... come senior year I decided I wanted to be a large/exotic animal vet.. after one year of vet school I realized I wasn't cut for Pre-med yet, and switched to Science. I'll be going into Zoology.

Take up a Liberal Arts major, or go in undeclared, sit in on some lectures, visit other schools with different majors and ask to sit in on lectures there too.

[Eupterus]

Parents said you can choose your college when YOU pay for it. YOU are going to (fill in here) because this is what is convient for us.
WHO cares about your interests, this is close by so it's less expensive. Therefore this is we choose.

Once you are there you can pick a major from the list they have. SO that's what I did. Since what I would have chosen was not available I obviously had to compromise a lot.
Sure I fought for self empowerment so I could have more choices. And that's how money eventually became a priority in my life since I saw money= choices.

[severum mama]

I went to college right after high school, had no clue what I wanted to do, and just winged it. I ended up with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Bachelor's in Sociology... unfortunately I realized that the jobs I could get with the education I have now are enjoyable, but don't pay enough to live on, and I also realized that I had no interest either in grad school or in the jobs I could get pursuing a related Master's degree.

Now I'm back in school working on a 3rd Bachelor's, lol. I totally switched gears and am trying out computer science, and hoping it works out.

I feel like I probably would have taken the whole college thing a lot more seriously if I hadn't been expected to go straight into college after high school. If I could have taken some time to do a little growing up, and work some crappy jobs for a while (and realize exactly why I needed to go to school) I think I would have applied myself a lot more to begin with and probably put more thought into choosing a major.

[richardhmc]

I am thinking about trying for pharmacy, but I don't know if that is what I really what I want to do or if it is just parents' crazy influence.

[Wyomingite]

Always have loved animals. Decided I was going to be a zookeeper when I was 5. Changed to a zoologist 'bout 4th grade. Graduated with a B.S in Zoology/Physiology in 1990. Shoulda stuck it out another year and got either the Wildlife or Fisheries Management degree.

WYite

[StarStruck8]

I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger, then when I was applying to schools I was lured away by Diagnostic Genetics which was only offered at UCONN for the east coast (at least that's wheat I was told). After realizing that a sterile lab life would be kinda boring, I switched to Pathobiology since I love science but wanted a more hands on approach. I am applying for vet school next year.

When I was applying for college I just had a feeling that UCONN was the school for me..there was nothing rational about my decision really. I think you will just visit a school and be like "This is the one for me." Once you get to school you will have the opportunity to try many different majors/classes your first year or so until you have to take more specific major-related classes so feel free to experiment. If you don't know what you want to major in, I would recommend going to a larger university because they have so many choices. One of my friends went to a small, private college and was forced into a business major since they didn't have what she wanted. Needless to say, she isn't happy now that she has graduated and is working.

[excuzzzeme]

I sort of "fell" into it. It seemed as if everything I was doing kept pointing me in a certain direction (including work). So you might say it was more by accident than design. At the same time I maintained my long-standing interest in mechanics so along with being a Computer Systems Engineer, I also became a Heavy Truck Master Mechanic

While in the Army I volunteered to go to as many schools as I could. I then used my Army schools and training for college credits. For me, getting drafted (one of the last classes to get drafted) was the best thing to happen to me.

[Damodred]

I am thinking about trying for pharmacy, but I don't know if that is what I really what I want to do or if it is just parents' crazy influence.
If you're seriously considering pharmacy, I highly recommend that you spend *a lot* of time working in a pharmacy or at least job shadowing in one. And by *a lot* I don't mean a couple hours a day for a week. I mean a couple hours for a month at the minimum. Being a pharmacist is a job you will either love or hate. There's no middle ground. Make sure you love it before you pursue it. I'm currently in a pre-pharmacy program, and I've worked in a pharmacy for about a year now -- first at the registers and now as a pharmacy technician. I think I've worked somewhere around 1100-1200 hours in the past year (full-time in the summer). I didn't have a real, solid idea of what it's like until I worked full-time, either. Anyway, now that I've been exposed to this environment I can't imagine doing anything else with my life.

[Bettacreek]

I wouldn't worry to much about choosing the "wrong" one. My sister wanted to open a business, and ended up taking classes for it for awhile. Turns out, she found out that she didn't want to open her own business after learning exactly what she would have to put into it and the risks involved. She ended up going back to school, but she used her previous schooling to get a great job that used her learned skills. :)
Personally, I haven't gone yet. I'm hoping to hit nursing schoolnext year (2010).

[richardhmc]

Business was one of the majors I was considering... However, with the state of the economy right now, and how unstable it is at trying to get a job at it, I decided not to go for it

[svf]

Well... I have 2 music performance degrees. If I could stand doing anything else I would have done it. Can't though. When I have students that are starting to ask about being music majors, I tell them to consider the fact that most musicians don't make a lot of money, and don't get paid for the years of practice (Hours and hours and hours for years) that goes along with the gig. I have enjoyed playing music for a living, and am now enjoying doing instrument repair, teaching and playing the gigs that I want to because it's fun, rather than because I need the $$.


I sort of went into this thing "bass-ackwards." I had started out on flute at age 7. I enjoyed playing, but didn't like the flute. Switched to oboe in HS. Liked it better, but didn't really have a teacher, so when the time to take college auditions came around, I was too frightened. I just showed up at a small state college on audition day with my oboe. I figured that if I couldn't get into this school as a music major, I should do something else. I got in. By the end of the 2nd semester I had auditioned at a conservatory in the closest major city and was accepted. By the 2nd year at the conservatory I auditioned for a famous teacher and was accepted into his studio. This was so stressful that I quit after graduation. That didn't stick. I went back to school for my Master's and was accepted at a wonderful school. Had a blast. After graduation I went to Mexico to play in an orchestra for 6 years. I have traveled all over the world, playing amazing music in amazing places. I have also practiced like a lunatic for many years - day in, day out - every day. No holidays from practicing - hour upon hour in a practice room. Long nights spent working on reeds until the wee hours.
I don't play as much now, and I am enjoying the break. I still feel weird when I get into the car without my oboe and English horn. I have never even gone on vacation with out my horns!


One of the things that you will find is that you might have to make a choice about how you want to live your life. If money is very important to you, you may have to compromise in the "fun job" department. If doing something that you enjoy is more important to you, you may have have to compromise in the "creature comforts" department.


It's your choice - and nothing is permanent. Enjoy college. It rocks!


Susan

[BreellaBlue87]

Always have loved animals. Decided I was going to be a zookeeper when I was 5. Changed to a zoologist 'bout 4th grade. Graduated with a B.S in Zoology/Physiology in 1990. Shoulda stuck it out another year and got either the Wildlife or Fisheries Management degree.

WYite

I'd like to get a concentration in Conservation/Education if I can. I LOVE doing the tours with the GirlScout sleepovers at my local zoo! They're so intrigued by every word the main guide has to say about EVERYTHING.

[Bk718]

ill keep it short

In high school fell in love with biology, decided to go into a field that dealt with it (medicine). Tried to narrow down my choices and went for Nursing. After a while I wasnt able to complete that program and well now im in a university going for Respiratory Therapy.

Key is find something that really attracts you and try to work from there. Before you pick that major, you can go and see what the job actually involves, that way once you finish what ever major it is you choose you wont be surprised by the duties/expectations.

[Mgamer20o0]

where is the option of picking it from a hat or dart board?

[jpappy789]

Lol mg

Go with something ya like to do. Better to like your job than be miserable. Then again use your freshman year to experiment. You don't have to declare your major upon entry and even if you do you'll have time to change it. First year is mostly generals anyway, depending on the school. Even a major like biology or business offers you a variety of ways to branch off or concentrate in a specific field. Don't worry about it right now.

[vanillarum]

went to college as a French major, Secondary Ed. minor, because I had 3 years of french in HS, and it was always my easiest course. Never did use my degree in my major, but I did find I had a love for languages. I also took German in college, and since I've been out, I have studied Mandarin Chinese, and have also picked up a working knowledge of Thai and Vietnamese in my travels. Next I would like to learn Japanese or Russian !

[AshK]

I decided I wanted to go in to pharmacy. Nice wages, job security, flexible hours, etc. Got a full ride scholarship at the "best" pharmacy school in the state I lived in, so I went there because it was free. That school was AWFUL. It was in the middle of nowhere, way too small, poor diversity, ghastly living conditions, I hated every minute there. Now I've switched majors and am going to a different school.

Moral of the story: Don't go to any random college, even if it's the cheapest. Think long and hard not only about your major, but also what's important to you in a school. Do you like the city, or rural areas? Make sure there are a ton of clubs that interest you, as it's easy to make acquaintances, but hard to make "friends" that you can rely on. Take mostly gen-eds the first couple semesters. You'll probably think about switching your major a million times, and it will suck when you have a million math credits under your belt but they don't apply to your new communications major.

[Mr.Midas]

I took a year off after highschool to think about what I wanted to do. I didnt come to a decision, but I fogured I'd better go back to school before I forgot how to learn, lol. So I decided to take what I love and go into marine biology, I'm going into my second semester of second year right now and I'm starting to get into the more specific courses and its getting sweet :)

[J double R]

no college for me

[gotglock]

Study what you love. The rest comes naturally.

[justahannah]

No option for "Got a few years of 'life experience' out of highschool and then figured it out"!
I was a hippie, traveling and working right out of highschool, but nothing I was in love with, then I had some pretty major medical issues, and then my great aunt broke her back and I was the only family member available to take care of her for 6+ months so we recovered simultaneously in a lot of ways. Those two experiences made me want to go into nursing, pretty empowing helping someone regain their independence.

[Cory Keeper]

Me, simple. Although I'm not finished, I hope to finish in 4 semesters (1 year and a handful of months) starting this summer. Sometime in 2010 I will have an associates in Aircraft Maintenance from Greenville Technical College, one of only 3 schools offering the course in the area. I will also have an Airframe and Powerplant certificate from the FAA, certifying me for work on either the airframe or engines on almost any aircraft.

For me, the choice was simple, I like airplanes, I like flying airplanes too. My plan is/was is to pave the way to fly airplanes for a living. I can't pay for the training required to learn how to fly however, but I can easily learn to work on airplanes. So I needed a better paying job, hence Aircraft Maintenance. Get paid 2x-4x that what I'm making now, learn valuable insight on the operation and maintenance of aircraft, and best of all, its a fall-back and would still have fun.

And if that fails, I can always go and get my electrical engineering degree, which would be fun, both learning and doing.

[UncaBret]

Someone handed me a beer and a joint and BOOM! that was it!

[nursie]

I am thinking about trying for pharmacy, but I don't know if that is what I really what I want to do or if it is just parents' crazy influence.
You do need to be good in science and math. My daughter is a year from finishing and she loves it. She has worked part time at a retail pharmacy, one that is locally owned, not one of the big box stores. She's had great experience there, but knows she doesnt want to work retail. SHe wants to be either in a practice where she collaborates with MD's on pt care or doing that in a hospital. Being a pharmacist can be so much more than counting out pills and putting them in the bottle...actually..thats what the techs. do. Getting a job at a pharmacy as a tech is a good idea. If you can find one that is locally owned and compounds some of their own meds..even better experience.
Im a nurse...and on one of those people that knew what I wanted since I was about 8. It kept me focused, on track and I achieved my goal.

[caitylee]

you should have an other choice. I did a little drafting as a junior in highschool and I liked it. Then when I moved to Florida my senior year I got a postcard from ITT in the mail just after I graduated. Two weeks later I was signing up to take drafting and two weeks after that I was living in Tampa going to school.

[DeeSeven]

went to college for Applied Science (graphic design) I also have some background in the following...some more then other

Computer Language ASP/ASP.NET, ColdFusion Markup Language, Java, PHP, Perl, Python, JavaScript, HTML, Cobalt, Assembly
Computer Hardware/Software
Electronics (hacking/modifiying/putting stuff together (hackaday.com!))
Marine Biology
Entomology (scientific study of insects)
Astronomy

its all about what you want to make it richard. I decided to go for appilied science and in my spare time I learned/learning the things I listed under that.

[Cliff Mayes]

At the time most of us are making the decisions as to what to major in we are so woefully ignorant that the whole thing does not make much sense but we are pressured into this for someone elses benefit and they should know better but everyone has a life to lead so you become a number rather than a person.

Most of the people I know have not used their major as a primary function and a lot of the ones that have are not happy with their lives but need the job. Sometimes you can get lucky.

Advice? I wish I had some.

[Cory Keeper]

Cliff, I think in most cases we just realize that we are talented in other fields that we didn't even consider, I.E. me and electronics. It wasn't untill last year when I took basic E, that I was as talented in electronics as I am, and enjoyed it. I was one of the few (maybe the only one) that actually had fun in the class.

[Hooked Newbie]

None of the above... I joined the Navy.

[spudjnr123]

Wow, I knew ever since I was like 5 that I wanted to work/play with fish. I'm now on a track to do Marine Conservation and Ecological work. Woot Woot!

As for advise:
Take as many, and as varied courses as you can your first couple semesters, take classes that look interesting. Worst comes to worst, the class isn't what you thought and you get out quick before it becomes a Withdrawal and try another course. For some people it's an easy decision. For others, it's not. I know a few Juniors at my College who are still "deciding" and I know adults who are still deciding what to do with their lives too!

[Native American]

I will be absolutely no help to you. I started with Biochemistry. Switched to Philosophy. Tried Economics. Then straight Biology. Oh man, 4 different majors entering my 4th year, and I realized I couldn't possibly finish in 4 years, had to nail one down and finish it. Chemistry. Good ol' Synthetic Organic Chemistry (okay, I polluted it a little by branching off into Physical Organic). I joined the USAF, and instead of being put into AFLC (Air Force Logistics Command) to work in a DoD laboratory (my goal was a M.S., and maybe a Ph.D.), I ended up with a pilot slot. No way was I going to turn that down! 20 years of flying, a retirement, and now working for Boeing IDS.

Good Lord, none of that post-graduation stuff I did strictly had anything to do with Chemistry. Oh well.

I will tell you that Econ and Management courses were actually a big help in later life, and that the sciences helped with being an analytic thinker.

Regards, NA

[OgreMkV]

90% of students change their major at least twice (major changes not like from Ancient Enlish Lit to Medieval English Lit).

65% of the students do NOT get a job in their major. Their first job is usually an extension of a job they had while in college.

There are only 5 useful major areas in college. Nursing, Education, Business, Engineering, and Technical (like electrician or plumbing).

I was a college adviser for a long time.

Don't sweat it too much.

[feemia]

Take an aptitude test to help you determine what fields you would do well in. Your school should have already had you do this. Then check the job outlook for any jobs that interest you to see what the earning potential and employment posibilities are likely to be when you graduate.
Keep in mind, most universities don't require you to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year, so you can just work on getting your general education requirements out of the way for your first year or two. Summer internships are a good way to get experience that might help you in your decision.

[Mgamer20o0]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/desimated_dreams/45_new.jpg
no college for me

[galen]

i was homeschooled. one piece that i wished i did have and is accessible to high school students is that career counselor. i might have helped me.
yet, in the homeschool, i took "Saxon" Physics and "Saxon" Calculus.
math and science really attracted me and since i took physics, i went in that direction.
i took high school chemistry, but the text was awful, so i thought chemsitry was terrible and confusing!!

with a math major, i figured it would lead to teaching, which was'nt my cup of tea. so that eliminated that major in my mind.

well, i was a physics major a while and took all the courses. when i reached modern physics (quantum mechanics) i grew disillusioned with the major.
all those physics people did was clam up in their work and never try to help the world with inventing new items to really transform every day life.

so, i took small (3 credit or less) sample courses in industrial engineering, civil engineering, and then chemistry.

chemistry seemed good to me since it was an expanding field and seeemed to be hiring.
plus, its a versatile, well-respected major.
also, i like studying for science related majors, so it appealed to me from that angle.

ive taken a few courses in chemistry so far and it is pretty cool.

orgainic was'nt as tough as everyone says it is- i thought it made alot of sense myself, but gee wiz were there alot of details!!!
anaylytical chem was surprisingly interesting.

of course, having a college degree does'nt rubber stamp a good job after college. fall back plans are careers in law enforcement (cops and troopers are always hiring) and of course the military, specifically the navy.
maybe this will help the high school grad in understanding that its ok to switch majors and such, but just have a general idea which area appeals to your mindset.

[Windy]

A hangover or 2 and a couple of wet farts helped me decide what I wanted to do but still I wish I had done some other type of major or minor