Help Me Decide My College Major

Off Topic
61

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]carbiduis wrote:
Don’t major in a hobby (music, weight training, art etc)

[/quote]

True. You might end up in a successful career illustrating features for MuscleMag.
[/quote]

I totally went to school for what was a childhood passion/hobby.[/quote]

I love hearing this from people. It’s a shame so many kids are pushed away from such “nonsensical dreams” to pursue a “practical” career.
[/quote]

Let’s be real here, you are the exception, not the rule. All power to you for what you’ve accomplished in your field, but advising someone to pick a bunk degree because 1 out 1000 actually make it is not sound advice. [/quote]

No, not really. Engineering majors generally enjoy problems/puzzles involving numbers. Computer Science majors generally enjoy…computers (and technology). Science majors generally enjoy…you guessed it-- SCIENCE.

Of course, there are exceptions. History buffs may major in History. They’re likely to become teachers. Nothing wrong with that. Anthropologists are actually in demand (relative term) in business/marketing analysis circles (or behind the counter at Starbucks).

I collected rocks and fossils and maps as a kid (and generally a science geek). I gravitated toward Land Surveying (pre and during college)-- making maps professionally.

Majored in Geology. Guess what I did? Looked at rocks and fossils and made maps – and did “science” in the form of biology (vertebrate/invertebrate anatomy, anatomical analogs, environments, etc), physics (electrical, seismic, mechanics, etc), chemistry (organic for petrochem and inorganic for rock/water geochemistry), and on and on.

I graduated and never looked at a rock again. Why? Because during that time I was forced to teach myself to write computer programs to do the analyses I needed to do (same while land surveying).

So, by majoring in something I had a passion for, I applied myself out of sheer enjoyment and curiosity for the subject matter. In doing so, I set myself up to move into a tangentially related field and make a pretty damn good living.

I could have very easily gone to work for Exxon as a geomorphologist/geophysicist at the time (Exxon (pre-Mobile) financed my thesis). I’d probably be making more money, but I’m not really a ‘corporate guy’.

I started out taking classes in Business/Finance. While I’d probably be a lot wealthier right now, I’d probably be miserable.

Follow your interests, but have a plan. Ask I.D.-- if you’re going to major in Art, fucking do art. Make money doing art. If you’re going to major in Music, fucking get paid to make music.

Know what you’re getting into and why. If you have to ask yourself “why did I pick this major” then you’ve picked the wrong major. [/quote]
[/quote]

ONLY 2 PHD?? DISAPPOINT!!!

62

I’ve just received a job offer for when I finish university (2012) with the UK civil service graduate scheme. My degree? Linguistics with literature, something most people will sniff at. I’ve worked bloody hard, working part-time and applied to more jobs than I can count.

I’ve always wanted to do something along those lines but due to parental infleunce I did maths and physics till my final year at school and spent 90% of my time revising them and got the worst marks in those exams relative to English History latin and Greek. It was then I realised I did not have a mathematical brain. If I see the phrase “+c” anywhere I have a nervous breakdown because always FORGOT THE BLOODY C WHEN I WAS INTEGRATING.

TL;DR some people are not built to do engineering or science but can still succeed in their career doing other subjects

63

I don’t believe major is overly important unless you want to go a specific route ie Public Accounting, engineering type of career.

Some advice I would give a young college student would be:

GPA matters, everything is more competitive in today’s economy. Having a high GPA will only help you open more doors for you. Do well early (fresh/soph year) you will get first dibs on internships, jobs, grad schools etc. and it will make your junior and senior year that much more enjoyable not having to stress about trying to raise your GPA.

Go to the best school you can get into within financial reason. Some professions care about this more than others but look at the alumni base and see what type of careers most of them are having.

Like others said try to figure out what you enjoy doing and pursue that rather than a random career path you pick cause your parents pressured you to.

64

[quote]Rodimus Black wrote:

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]carbiduis wrote:
Don’t major in a hobby (music, weight training, art etc)

[/quote]

True. You might end up in a successful career illustrating features for MuscleMag.
[/quote]

I totally went to school for what was a childhood passion/hobby.[/quote]

I love hearing this from people. It’s a shame so many kids are pushed away from such “nonsensical dreams” to pursue a “practical” career.
[/quote]

Let’s be real here, you are the exception, not the rule. All power to you for what you’ve accomplished in your field, but advising someone to pick a bunk degree because 1 out 1000 actually make it is not sound advice. [/quote]

Let’s flip your bullshit reasoning. How do you know that the one who chooses that different path isn’t the one who is the “exception”? IMO, it’s much more important to be happy and fulfilled than to worry about what the majority of uninspired, non-dreaming “practical” people say because they have stacked the odds in their favor of not being exceptional because they have accepted being average. Average people don’t impact the world and make things better for others. Exceptional people do. My 7 year old has already decided he wants to be a film director when he grows up and you can believe I am going to make DAMN sure I support and encourage him every step of the way in any way that I can. [/quote]

Word. I will have wasted 15 years of my life in a job-field I damn sure hate, but everyone else thinks of as noble and a great career. I’m getting out to pursue a field(s) that I actually love and enjoy doing. Helping people/kids. No clue how things will turn out, but I’m pretty damned optimistic. Better than staying with the current gig.[/quote]

Isn’t it funny how those of us who have actually lived life and experienced things are saying go for what makes you happy while the ones who really haven’t and should be the most optimistic and have lots of dreams and aspirations are telling people to be “practical”?

65

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]Rodimus Black wrote:

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]carbiduis wrote:
Don’t major in a hobby (music, weight training, art etc)

[/quote]

True. You might end up in a successful career illustrating features for MuscleMag.
[/quote]

I totally went to school for what was a childhood passion/hobby.[/quote]

I love hearing this from people. It’s a shame so many kids are pushed away from such “nonsensical dreams” to pursue a “practical” career.
[/quote]

Let’s be real here, you are the exception, not the rule. All power to you for what you’ve accomplished in your field, but advising someone to pick a bunk degree because 1 out 1000 actually make it is not sound advice. [/quote]

Let’s flip your bullshit reasoning. How do you know that the one who chooses that different path isn’t the one who is the “exception”? IMO, it’s much more important to be happy and fulfilled than to worry about what the majority of uninspired, non-dreaming “practical” people say because they have stacked the odds in their favor of not being exceptional because they have accepted being average. Average people don’t impact the world and make things better for others. Exceptional people do. My 7 year old has already decided he wants to be a film director when he grows up and you can believe I am going to make DAMN sure I support and encourage him every step of the way in any way that I can. [/quote]

Word. I will have wasted 15 years of my life in a job-field I damn sure hate, but everyone else thinks of as noble and a great career. I’m getting out to pursue a field(s) that I actually love and enjoy doing. Helping people/kids. No clue how things will turn out, but I’m pretty damned optimistic. Better than staying with the current gig.[/quote]

Isn’t it funny how those of us who have actually lived life and experienced things are saying go for what makes you happy while the ones who really haven’t and should be the most optimistic and have lots of dreams and aspirations are telling people to be “practical”?[/quote]

66

[quote]Rodimus Black wrote:

[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:

[quote]overstand wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:

[quote]carbiduis wrote:
Don’t major in a hobby (music, weight training, art etc)

[/quote]

True. You might end up in a successful career illustrating features for MuscleMag.
[/quote]

I totally went to school for what was a childhood passion/hobby.[/quote]

I love hearing this from people. It’s a shame so many kids are pushed away from such “nonsensical dreams” to pursue a “practical” career.
[/quote]

Let’s be real here, you are the exception, not the rule. All power to you for what you’ve accomplished in your field, but advising someone to pick a bunk degree because 1 out 1000 actually make it is not sound advice. [/quote]

Let’s flip your bullshit reasoning. How do you know that the one who chooses that different path isn’t the one who is the “exception”? IMO, it’s much more important to be happy and fulfilled than to worry about what the majority of uninspired, non-dreaming “practical” people say because they have stacked the odds in their favor of not being exceptional because they have accepted being average. Average people don’t impact the world and make things better for others. Exceptional people do. My 7 year old has already decided he wants to be a film director when he grows up and you can believe I am going to make DAMN sure I support and encourage him every step of the way in any way that I can. [/quote]

Word. I will have wasted 15 years of my life in a job-field I damn sure hate, but everyone else thinks of as noble and a great career. I’m getting out to pursue a field(s) that I actually love and enjoy doing. Helping people/kids. No clue how things will turn out, but I’m pretty damned optimistic. Better than staying with the current gig.[/quote]

What did you do?

67

I get where overstand is coming from, but I see both sides.

I mean, lets face it, I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a CPA. It kind of fell in my lap, I was good at it, there were hot chicks in the classes, and it is going to give me a solid foundation should I ever find myself in a position to “live my dream.”

And even if I don’t ever get the chance to “shoot for the stars”, at least I help other people live their dreams everyday, and that is pretty cool.

68

[quote]Ratchet wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Ratchet wrote:

[quote]waldo21212 wrote:
If you are trying to minimize the cost of college, .[/quote]

if you dont know what you want to do before going, get an associates from a community college. its cheap, lets you get the BS classes out the way and gives you time to figure life out…

Also, dont forget technical degrees like auto / plumbing. Master mechanics make more then most people with bachelors degrees and only need 2 years of class.[/quote]

This is what I’ve been doing.

Ideally, I will become a mechanical engineer, but currently a few credits away from an AAS in welding technology. Having become employed a few weeks ago is going to make it a little harder, but I’ve been doing a bit by bit thing and it is starting to add up.
[/quote]

If i could do it over again, instead of the phd in materials science and metallurgy Id have gone after a master tech for automotive repair, they will make the same money and only need 2 years of school and time on the job versus the 10-11 years of school i’ll have when i am done… only hope for me is to shoot for a dean / provost position at a school eventually as they make a lot more…
[/quote]

I can only assume that you are just being pessimistic, but that may be because I don’t have the insight into the field that you do.

This relatively local company is hiring entry level, which would probably be below your ability but in the field- https://tbe.taleo.net/NA4/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=ALLEGHENY&cws=1&rid=654

An old friend of mine has has worked there since graduating high school and has nothing but good to say about the place. When they say excellent salary and benefits, they aren’t just tooting their own horn.

69

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I get where overstand is coming from, but I see both sides.

I mean, lets face it, I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a CPA. It kind of fell in my lap, I was good at it, there were hot chicks in the classes, and it is going to give me a solid foundation should I ever find myself in a position to “live my dream.”

And even if I don’t ever get the chance to “shoot for the stars”, at least I help other people live their dreams everyday, and that is pretty cool. [/quote]

The question is, though, what DID you dream of doing?

70

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I get where overstand is coming from, but I see both sides.

I mean, lets face it, I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a CPA. It kind of fell in my lap, I was good at it, there were hot chicks in the classes, and it is going to give me a solid foundation should I ever find myself in a position to “live my dream.”

And even if I don’t ever get the chance to “shoot for the stars”, at least I help other people live their dreams everyday, and that is pretty cool. [/quote]

The question is, though, what DID you dream of doing?[/quote]

2 chicks at the same time.

71

[quote]waldo21212 wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I get where overstand is coming from, but I see both sides.

I mean, lets face it, I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a CPA. It kind of fell in my lap, I was good at it, there were hot chicks in the classes, and it is going to give me a solid foundation should I ever find myself in a position to “live my dream.”

And even if I don’t ever get the chance to “shoot for the stars”, at least I help other people live their dreams everyday, and that is pretty cool. [/quote]

The question is, though, what DID you dream of doing?[/quote]

2 chicks at the same time.
[/quote]

haha

First it was catch for the Red Sox, then I figured out I cna’t hit a curve if your grandma tossed it. Then it was play Middle Line Backer for the NY Giants, then I noticed i was white and ran like a white dude…

So by the time college rolled around, Rock Star.

Studied music in CC, and then got accepted into one of the most difficult “second tier” music programs in the country, for music business/sound recording tech. (At least that is what they told me.) I quickly realized I:

a) Didn’t want to be a rock star, fame actually sucks huge balls in a lot fo ways
b) Rock stars don’t go to college, and I fucking LOVED college
c) My degree was good for a job at a record store without a 3.8 (I loved college way too much to get a 3.8 lol.)
d) I made quite a few enemy’s in accounting 101 & 102 by fucking up their curve, and I was getting stoned before class, even exams… We are talking no effort, shit just made sense.
e) I wanted to help people. I knew I could do anything if I was contributing to society in a positive way. CPAs (particularly in a small firm) help small business owners run and own their business, help them live their dreams.

Dude I had no real direction. I grew up in a poor area, raised by drunks. The fact I “made it out” is good enough for me, lol. Now I just have to try and help my kids be better than I was, and things should be good.

72

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Dude I had no real direction. I grew up in a poor area, raised by drunks. The fact I “made it out” is good enough for me, lol. Now I just have to try and help my kids be better than I was, and things should be good.[/quote]

So that is why I “get” where overstand is coming from.

SOmetimes, you just have to do whatever the fuck you need to to break the cycle. Sometimes you have to give up your dreams, so you can try and set things up so your kids can try and live theirs.

73

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Ratchet wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Ratchet wrote:

[quote]waldo21212 wrote:
If you are trying to minimize the cost of college, .[/quote]

if you dont know what you want to do before going, get an associates from a community college. its cheap, lets you get the BS classes out the way and gives you time to figure life out…

Also, dont forget technical degrees like auto / plumbing. Master mechanics make more then most people with bachelors degrees and only need 2 years of class.[/quote]

This is what I’ve been doing.

Ideally, I will become a mechanical engineer, but currently a few credits away from an AAS in welding technology. Having become employed a few weeks ago is going to make it a little harder, but I’ve been doing a bit by bit thing and it is starting to add up.
[/quote]

If i could do it over again, instead of the phd in materials science and metallurgy Id have gone after a master tech for automotive repair, they will make the same money and only need 2 years of school and time on the job versus the 10-11 years of school i’ll have when i am done… only hope for me is to shoot for a dean / provost position at a school eventually as they make a lot more…
[/quote]

I can only assume that you are just being pessimistic, but that may be because I don’t have the insight into the field that you do.

This relatively local company is hiring entry level, which would probably be below your ability but in the field- https://tbe.taleo.net/NA4/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=ALLEGHENY&cws=1&rid=654

An old friend of mine has has worked there since graduating high school and has nothing but good to say about the place. When they say excellent salary and benefits, they aren’t just tooting their own horn.
[/quote]

I think he’s just being pessimistic. It sounds like he’s still getting his education- the tunnel seems awfully long from that point of view. I’m a first year phd mat sci and I can relate to that. The schooling should only 9 years on average, as well. What a relief lol

There are many ways to make a lot of money with a mat sci phd, but I’m sure there are easier routes to take. Besides, with a metallurgy phd you could develop superalloys for aerospace applications or jet engines, lightweight metals for vehicles, etc. With an automotive repair degree you could fix vehicles when they break down. There is a huge divide in the type of work, if not in the salary, although I would bet the phd has a much higher ceiling.

74

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Dude I had no real direction. I grew up in a poor area, raised by drunks. The fact I “made it out” is good enough for me, lol. Now I just have to try and help my kids be better than I was, and things should be good.[/quote]

So that is why I “get” where overstand is coming from.

SOmetimes, you just have to do whatever the fuck you need to to break the cycle. Sometimes you have to give up your dreams, so you can try and set things up so your kids can try and live theirs.[/quote]

I understand this, however, I don’t want my kids to maintain a memory of me hating my job/career. I’ve already broken the cycle first by joining the military, then moving far away, then almost getting blown up repeatedly, and finally, here pretty soon, getting married and actually maintaining a 2-parent household. My (step)kids and fiance don’t care much for the military lifestyle, so that is just another step towards getting out.

Only in today’s military can some young, sopping-wet-behind-the-ears, NCO make you wait 35 minutes for them to come look at your room, then listen to them declare it “nasty” because you’re in the middle of packing your shit up. Bitter? Who? Me? lol

75

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I get where overstand is coming from, but I see both sides.

I mean, lets face it, I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a CPA. It kind of fell in my lap, I was good at it, there were hot chicks in the classes, and it is going to give me a solid foundation should I ever find myself in a position to “live my dream.”

And even if I don’t ever get the chance to “shoot for the stars”, at least I help other people live their dreams everyday, and that is pretty cool. [/quote]

Girls actually took accounting classes at your school??

I went to a female dominated university and each of my accounting classes probably had 3-4 girls max.

76

I had responded to RB’s post, but it failed I guess. Sucks. got a gateway error and it never went through.

Yeah we had hot chicks in class for sure.

77

What might happen to you (like it did for me and several others) is what you wanted to do at the beginning of university is completely different by the end of it.

Pick a serious major (no history, dramatic arts, criminal justice etc) that you have at least some interest in, then decide a year in if it is what you want to do after a year of courses. I wouldn’t recommend taking a general degree simply because it’s much harder to transfer into other programs. Worst case scenario, you pick a major you hate and end up having to take an extra year of courses after switching into the major you want to study.

EDIT: To have the opportunity to even switch programs you will have to have good grades. Not sure if obvious since you are in high school

78

[quote]therajraj wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I get where overstand is coming from, but I see both sides.

I mean, lets face it, I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a CPA. It kind of fell in my lap, I was good at it, there were hot chicks in the classes, and it is going to give me a solid foundation should I ever find myself in a position to “live my dream.”

And even if I don’t ever get the chance to “shoot for the stars”, at least I help other people live their dreams everyday, and that is pretty cool. [/quote]

Girls actually took accounting classes at your school??

I went to a female dominated university and each of my accounting classes probably had 3-4 girls max.
[/quote]

Duh. It’s Canada dude. All our females are too busy winning gold medals in Hockey, Skiing and Snowboarding.

79

[quote]NAUn wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Ratchet wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Ratchet wrote:

[quote]waldo21212 wrote:
If you are trying to minimize the cost of college, .[/quote]

if you dont know what you want to do before going, get an associates from a community college. its cheap, lets you get the BS classes out the way and gives you time to figure life out…

Also, dont forget technical degrees like auto / plumbing. Master mechanics make more then most people with bachelors degrees and only need 2 years of class.[/quote]

This is what I’ve been doing.

Ideally, I will become a mechanical engineer, but currently a few credits away from an AAS in welding technology. Having become employed a few weeks ago is going to make it a little harder, but I’ve been doing a bit by bit thing and it is starting to add up.
[/quote]

If i could do it over again, instead of the phd in materials science and metallurgy Id have gone after a master tech for automotive repair, they will make the same money and only need 2 years of school and time on the job versus the 10-11 years of school i’ll have when i am done… only hope for me is to shoot for a dean / provost position at a school eventually as they make a lot more…
[/quote]

I can only assume that you are just being pessimistic, but that may be because I don’t have the insight into the field that you do.

This relatively local company is hiring entry level, which would probably be below your ability but in the field- https://tbe.taleo.net/NA4/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=ALLEGHENY&cws=1&rid=654

An old friend of mine has has worked there since graduating high school and has nothing but good to say about the place. When they say excellent salary and benefits, they aren’t just tooting their own horn.
[/quote]

I think he’s just being pessimistic. It sounds like he’s still getting his education- the tunnel seems awfully long from that point of view. I’m a first year phd mat sci and I can relate to that. The schooling should only 9 years on average, as well. What a relief lol

There are many ways to make a lot of money with a mat sci phd, but I’m sure there are easier routes to take. Besides, with a metallurgy phd you could develop superalloys for aerospace applications or jet engines, lightweight metals for vehicles, etc. With an automotive repair degree you could fix vehicles when they break down. There is a huge divide in the type of work, if not in the salary, although I would bet the phd has a much higher ceiling.[/quote]

heh, I actually am finishing up my dissertation on lightweight aerospace/automotive alloys so good guess.

It will be easier to find a job, and in reallity, my goal has always been to teach (which when I realized I hate little kids and highschoolers ment I needed a PhD to teach college). My second love though, is repairing cars (in the middle of bringing a 1967 international scout back to life) and I am not gonna lie, I would have had a lot of fun owning my own company to rapair / restore cars or do 100% custom work cause I love that stuff. but I fell into the PhD and I am almost done, so I guess I’ll just have a nice garage at home…

One thing i will echo, is that follow a passion. I failed every math class I took in gradeschool. Got to college, got devoted and have a math minor and could probable teach partial differentail equations. the difference was motivation which came to me a lot later in life. Also, getting an advanced degree is about determination, NOT being smart / gifted. the “smart” kids I knew in undergrad took jobs because they couldnt deal with research since it involves a lot of failure, something they are not used to.

80

[quote]therajraj wrote:
EDIT: To have the opportunity to even switch programs you will have to have good grades. Not sure if obvious since you are in high school[/quote]

to echo this, the last 1-2 years of a degree are the hardest, so get good grades your first 2 years (yes itll take a little work) but it pays off in the end and makes a lot of things easier later on when you may just have to take that 1 C and move on…

shoot for a GPA between 2.8-3.8 if you want to work in industry. 3.2-4.0 for graduate school.