College Major Question

[robby]

I just posted this in another thread here:

@robby

…For example, back as an undergraduate, I was equally interested in engineering, chemistry, and history. However, it was fairly obvious that the job prospects were far greater for someone with a degree in the first two fields of study than the latter. This was a large factor in me getting a degree in chemical engineering. However, I have not lost my interest in history. I took electives in history, and have continued to read books on history since graduating. There’s nothing to say that one can’t continue to learn after college.

Besides, how many people who get degrees in history actually work as historians? Most end up getting a job that has no relation to their degree.

I’m not saying that everyone should pick a course of study and/or a career based solely on what can lead to the most lucrative job. However, it should be a factor, IMHO.

I’m actually dealing with this is with my son. My goal for him is to be happy in life. One way to enhance one’s happiness is to be gainfully employed. I don’t want him to have to struggle to get work his whole life.

In discussing various career options, he has heard that lawyers make a lot of money. However, I have encouraged him not to become a lawyer solely for the money. For one thing, many lawyers don’t make as much money as people think, and those that do generally have a poor work-life balance.

On the other hand, if he expresses an interest in something like “Art History,” and wishes to get a decree [sic] in this, I would also encourage him to evaluate what he can do with that degree after graduation.

To elaborate on my post, having eliminated history as a potential major, I also had to decide between some type of engineering and a degree in chemistry. I decided that a B.S. in Chemical Engineering would do a lot more for me than a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and I was right.

I considered getting a double major in history, considering that I had 12 credit hours of history (AP credit) before I even started college, but it still would have required many more classes beyond what was already required for my ChemE degree, not to mention required Navy ROTC classes, so I ended up dropping the idea.