Guide to Picking a College Major

[Burnt Sugar]

I admit, this idea is stolen from Fark!

Link (http://markhasty.com/archives/2004/10/15/tbps-guide-to-picking-a-college-major/)


It can be based on your own experience, or the perceived experiences of others, or whatever. But, help us uni students out: why should we pick a certain major?

Some examples from the link:

Chemistry majors have to endure all manner of snickering about the possible illegal uses of their studies. You should only major in chemistry if you have a thick skin or a well-trained goon squad.

Economics: There are those who say that religion is despicable because it is nothing more than a bunch of unprovable assertions about that which is ultimately unknowable; furthermore, these assertions are frequently contrary to plainly-evident fact and represent nothing more than a backhanded attempt to rule the world by means of subjugating humanity through the application of ritualistic mumbo-jumbo which means nothing to the non-brainwashed. I didn’t realize economics was a religion until I wrote this paragraph.

Philosophy is the biggest scam in academia. I ought to know; it was my undergrad major. In philosophy, you don’t have to be right; you just have to sound like you’re not wrong.

Public administration students spend four years in college doing the college-student thing, then two more years in in grad school. At the end of this, they get a government desk job. Why everybody doesn’t major in public administration, I’ll never know.

I'll think up some of my own later. I'm a bit busy at the moment doing a uni assignment. BTW, my current majors are tourism and travel, international relations and Chinese (mandarin), so feel free to pick on them!

[Silentgoldfish]

Nursing: 3 years of study, 1 year of post grad work, and you still wind up wiping someone else's arse at the end of it all.

[Burnt Sugar]

Education (In Aus at least): An extremely easy degree to get into, full of classes so easy to pass, with the result of being qualified to play a vital role in children's development. Scary.

[Burnt Sugar]

Arts: Often picked by those who can't decide what to do, or didn't score high enough to get into the course they wanted (so they do Arts for a year then upgrade). Full of useless courses. Hence, "Would you like fries with that?"

Yet, it can also be very useful in combination with a degree that will result in a real career (e.g. Chinese, like myself).

[Burnt Sugar]

Economics: There are those who say that religion is despicable because it is nothing more than a bunch of unprovable assertions about that which is ultimately unknowable; furthermore, these assertions are frequently contrary to plainly-evident fact and represent nothing more than a backhanded attempt to rule the world by means of subjugating humanity through the application of ritualistic mumbo-jumbo which means nothing to the non-brainwashed. I didn’t realize economics was a religion until I wrote this paragraph.

I actually liked my economics class!
:eek:

[lel]

Psychology: You will never use this major again. Your boss will have majored in business. You will be a clerk -- if you're lucky.

Political Science: 1. Go to law school, or 2. see Psychology

Now, why on earth did I choose those majors again? :smack: Oh, right, I did that so I could be going back to school for a degree in Accounting now, except at a much higher cost. :rolleyes:

[Burnt Sugar]

Psychology: You will never use this major again. Your boss will have majored in business. You will be a clerk -- if you're lucky.

Political Science: 1. Go to law school, or 2. see Psychology


I'm hoping to use my international relations major by working in an embassy or consulate somewhere, I figured it might be useful for that! Plus, IR is really interesting (IMHO) to study.

[lel]

Best of luck to you, Burnt Sugar. I ended up an office clerk -- what can I say? :p

[Ringo]

Psychology: You will never use this major again. Your boss will have majored in business. You will be a clerk -- if you're lucky.

Well damn, lel, I like you, but I must be contrary. Observations that have occurred to me:

A.) If you look around the upper rungs of corporado world, you'll see that there are many humanities grads scurryin' around running things;

B.) While I'm the head of my scientific discipline (geophysics) in a large NYSE traded company, I think my education in psychology (B.A.) has definitely helped me navigate the political waters over the years.

I just can't buy the "Would you like fries with that?" model of a humanities grad's potential in the marketplace after what I've witnessed.

Sure, the techno-grads bag bigger beginning salaries, but in the long term humanities degree holders can do quite well in the marketplace.

****

And on preview I see that we might discuss the ...ended up... part of your post, dear.

[t-keela]

I can't possibly tell anyone WHAT field they should study, as my transcripts look like a damned list of college courses. I might recommend a degree in business. Since most businesses will hire someone that knows their way around the books and has some sense about what it takes to make money, read charts, graphs, and make projections. Business majors are required to know math and economics, etc.
They have to have computer skills and that's always a plus.
When I first went to school there were degrees available in general studies which seemingly aren't much use on the surface but it does get you familiar with a broad range of studies to which you can make an intelligent decision regarding any possible graduate programs. Usually all is required at that point is another semester focusing on WHAT you want to study for your Master's degree.
I couldn't decide either, as a result I have double majors, a Master's and several undeclared majors in fields which only a semester would fullfill the requirements to get a diploma. I also have numerous associates degrees which are pretty much useless. But hey, I had a good time and made the Presidents Dean's List every semester so WTF. :)

What do I do for money? I build houses. Ain't that some shit? :D

[Burnt Sugar]

Well, this thread is kinda flopping, huh? It was meant to be a bit of a poke at the different majors, with a little bit of serious stuff on the side.

Thanks for the input though guys!

I'm sure it will take off though (I've got my fingers crossed.).

[masonite]

Let's see, I was a Communications major, English minor, from one of the most prestigious Midwestern Ivies ... and now, my most lucrative skill is ... typing. I'm the best damn typist you've ever seen, and I ought to be, given my pedigree. Also, I can name all the state capitals. That and a quarter'll get you a phone call.

My advice to ANY college student unsure of major is, drop out, go to carpenter school. Or plumbing. Or whatever. Would that I had myself.

If, at some later date, you become interested in some academic subject, the colleges and universities will still be there. Meanwhile, read.

[t-keela]

Sorry dude, :( I always take everything people ask as a serious question unless they give me an obvious clue that it's not. I really do aspire to fight ignorance here. Cecil knows that we need all the help we can get.
It's kinda like the threads where people ask, "What gender are you?"
Hey, I'm a man...I always assume I'm talking to a woman. First because I believe you should be respectful of women UNLESS they do something to prove otherwise and I would still do my best to show respect. Second, I'd hate to ruin my own self respect by saying something to insult a lady (or anyone) because I assumed otherwise. That being said, I'm still going to appreciate your opinion either way, even if you show yourself undeserving. Ask around, if anyone says that I was less than respectful to them, have them write me a letter saying so and I will gladly either explain myself or tell them to kiss my ass. ;)
BTW: I get whooshed all the time. That's okay though, I'd rather be mistaken than wrong.
It's called honesty and manners. I was taught this as a child but I learned it as a man. :)

[Marley23]

Journalism: If you have no compassion and enjoy the pain of others, give it a shot! Especially if you've always wanted to find a way to make a big deal out of things even you don't care about. And if you like doing those things but have no skills or talents aside from looking pretty and being semiliterate, congratulations! You're a broadcast major! :D

[lel]

Sure, the techno-grads bag bigger beginning salaries, but in the long term humanities degree holders can do quite well in the marketplace.

****

And on preview I see that we might discuss the ...ended up... part of your post, dear.

Figures that I'd be near the beginning of my career anyway, where people with humanities degrees abound in my department.

As for the ended up part, are you implying that there's still hope for me to be upwardly mobile in a career? :p

So far though, I have to say that my most lucrative skills have been typing and the ability to figure out how to make a spreadsheet, and those skills came at the price of well...we know how much college costs nowadays.

[MsRobyn]

Journalism: If you have no compassion and enjoy the pain of others, give it a shot! Especially if you've always wanted to find a way to make a big deal out of things even you don't care about. And if you like doing those things but have no skills or talents aside from looking pretty and being semiliterate, congratulations! You're a broadcast major! :D

And if you're a broadcast major who doesn't look pretty but can talk out your ass about anything, you've got a brilliant future in radio.

Robin