Well, I have started my sophmore year in college now. I first went to Kettering University for a mojor in Computer Science, but after a year of that, I had had enough. I decided that I didn’t want to spend my life in a cubicle, and so I decided to change my major. But now, attending Michigan State, I still have no idea what I want to change it to. But I know what I don’t want:
[ul]
[li]Math[/li][li]Physics (too much math)[/li][li]Computer Science[/li][li]Computer Engineering[/li][li]Any type on engineering (Mechanical, electrical, etc.)[/li][li]Journalism[/li][/ul]
I have always been prone to the natural sciences. Biology, Chemistry etc. I also love to read philosophy, but I don’t think you could do much with a philosophy degree. Everyone in my family (Stock Broker, Real Estate Agent, Lawyer, and Small Business Owner) says that I seem to have a natural talent for business. I’m friendly and I love to talk to people, but I am not overly fond of old people (>60 no offense anyone). Kids are cool too, though I don’t like teenagers (even though I am one for one more year).
Anyway, right now my options are up in the air. I don’t really need on any time soon, but I would like to have some outside input from people who have nothing to do with paying for my eduction. I don’t want to join the army or navy or anything like that either. Umm… I think that’s about it. What do you think guys and gals? What direction should I take?
It all depends on what you want to do. Some degree requiring jobs require a specific major in a specific degree with certifications even after that. Other jobs are major-neutral as long as you have a degree from an accredited school. And there’s everything in between. Some decent jobs do not even require a college degree.
I majored in French Literature in undergrad. Other than teaching, which I did not want to do, there is not a damn thing you can do, directly, with an undergraduate degree in French Literature. But I wanted to learn French Literature and that was that. I’ve had an eclectic series of jobs over the years which have been somewhat entertaining at times.
Figuring out what you want to do based on learning what you don’t want to do is, IMHO, a horribly inefficient plan; there are too many possibilities and you have a limited amount of time to complete your degree.
As silly as they seem, if you truly have no idea what you want to do, you might want to go to your Univ. career center and take some of those interest/aptitude batteries/tests. It might give you some insight.
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.”
Well, if you have read my thread over here, you will see that I hate engineering. It took me over two years to realize this, so my advice is to make sure you major in something you know you will enjoy.
I majored in International Politics and modern languages. I hated maths and vowed that I wouldn’t take any more than was necessary. My first job out of Uni? Supporting a hedge fund and doing financial balances. Did that for two years and hated every minute of it. Then I started fooling around with the office network and realized I was better and faster than the Sysadmin. Did that for three months until I got downsized the week of 9/11. I put in seven months of being a Tier III Helpdesk/ Sysadmin for a large nonprofit, until…my commission for the US Foreign Service came through. So after three years of doing absolutely nothing related to my major (and having some real fun and success at it, as well as some real asshole bosses), I’ll be actually using my degree. Unlike around 85% of the people who I went to school with.
Don’t worry about majors too much. Find something you love and care about and get educated. Jobs are easy to get, careers and callings are difficult. Do what comes naturally and what you like doing and you’re set. Might I suggest psychology or forest management?
Consider Environmental Engineering. Merges Ecology, Public Health, Chemical & Civil Engineering all into one. Google it for a site. It will get you out of the office