Advise me on college.

[Susurrus]

So. I'm in the process of applying to colleges. I know it's a bit early to be think in of this, but I am conflicted about my major. I have already decided that I will minor in most likely political science, possibly economics, maybe journalism. But my major I cannot decide. The reason lies within my motivations and interests. First off, here are what I am mainly considering:
a. A field of science. Pros: I am deeply interested in such things, and have been all my life. Probably jobs available in them.
Cons: I have not had much formal schooling(went to an arts high school) in any of them, particularly the ones I am mostly considering(engineering, physics, poss. computer-related), and consequentially do not know if I would actually be any good at it.
b. a social science(ie urban studies, politsci, econ, international relations) Pros: Also something interesting to me, have knowledge in subject. Cons: will probably not pursue as career, main con is the opportunity cost of not going for science.
c. Journalism Pros: I'm pretty good at it from what I've been told, only field of writing that really requires a formal education in it to get a job, and also a very interesting field and something I would definitely pursue as a career if I were to study it. Cons: Opportunity cost of not doing the other two.

My main motivation is learning the things and enjoying them. Getting a good job in them would only be a bonus.

Please give your advice/opinions. Thanks.

[Prometeo liberado]

I have always been of the opinion that a major in linguistics provides you with a gateway to almost anything. But nothing will really prepare you for the world like a good solid understanding of literature and the math sciences. A trifecta of life long ass kickin.

[#FF0000]

Spend the first year or so just doin dumb liberal arts shit and figure things out

[NewLeft]

I just completed an application for this program not too long ago. I plan on majoring in physics.. I really would advise you not to go into some humanities thing because 1/2 people I know who went into one of those programs are screwed right now. Out of all the social sciences, econ and socio sound the most interesting (at least to me). I know a few who went into philosophy and are assistant profs now.

[eyedrop]

Do they learn multivariable math in economics?

[Ele'ill]

Go to school to get a job in something you're good at and can tolerate. Once in that future career use your free time to do the things you love.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

Spend the first year or so just doin dumb liberal arts shit and figure things out
This. Seriously. Use the first two to three semesters taking prerequisite classes that will count towards any (or most) major(s) and use the time to decide on what you really want to study.

If you're in the US: http://www.fastweb.com - huge scholarship database
(http://www.fastweb.com)

[F9]

get something that you LOVE.Not something you think you like, you think gonna like or think its gonna be good for the future.Get 1000% sure beforehand!!

[Искра]

Don't listen to hippies. Take what you know that you'll get a job, because what's use of finishing something you "love" if you end up as unemployed and live with you parents until you're 60 (then they die)? Life is a shit. Get use to it. You can't do what you love.

[black magick hustla]

if u love math then ure settled

[black magick hustla]

u probably dont tho because leftists are hippies and hippies are *-* ArTsY-*

[The Young Pioneer]

I say do study what you love, because this is the last time in your life you'll really enjoy the ability to do so. Seriously.

I was a double major in political science and international studies. I had a blast.

You have the rest of your life to say, "This sucks." For those who can afford to do so, college is a nice, four year, procrastination of the inevitable.

Also- Particularly if you're from USA, I second the linguistics thing.

[Искра]

I say do study what you love, because this is the last time in your life you'll really enjoy the ability to do so. Seriously.
Fucking hippie bollocks. If you love literature read it at home... if you study it it'll fuck this shit for you and you won't love literature...

[Firebrand]

The question is are you studying in order to enrich yourself or are you studying in order to become a more efficient wage slave.
If you want a good job then study something you enjoy because a) you will be less likely to fail if you enjoy the subjects and its better to have a pass in english than a fail in hard science, and b) if you do a subject you hate most of the jobs you'll get off the back of that will be similar and therefore you will hate them as well.
If what you want is a guranteed well paid job then study medicine, dentistry or become a vet. Seriously you'll never want for a well paid job.
If what you want is to kick back and enjoy your last few years of freedom while doing very little work then do somthing artsy, preferably that you already know about.
The system in the UK is a bit different to where you are so I can't offer you any more specific advice

[black magick hustla]

you don"t enrich yourself because some old man rambles on a class. unis are cool cuz they are full of curious and horny 20somethings. i majored in physics and probably went to 30 percent of my classes

[PC LOAD LETTER]

Just thought I'd mention that I know a few history and english majors that now work in book stores part time because they can't find jobs.

[Misanthrope]

take some college prep courses or community college course before university?

[Bronco]

Literature isn't a hippie degree, it's pretentious bollocks but it's quite well respected and can give you lots of opportunities, you're gonna do better in something you actually enjoy as well

[Искра]

Literature isn't a hippie degree, it's pretentious bollocks but it's quite well respected and can give you lots of opportunities, you're gonna do better in something you actually enjoy as well
Sweet dreams.

Literature majors work in supermarkets.

[Bronco]

Sweet dreams.

Literature majors work in supermarkets.

You don't half talk a lot of bollocks

[getfiscal]

Take engineering and if things go sour you can always build IEDs for the resistance have a nice life in the suburbs.

[Ose]

Do what you enjoy the most. I did a double major in philosophy and weed smoking. The subsequent year of unemployment turned out to be a pretty good year. Fuck job prospects.

[Metacomet]

Just thought I'd mention that I know a few history and english majors that now work in book stores part time because they can't find jobs.


I know a

History major who does that (me)
A Environmental science major
A Law school graduate
A Accounting major
A food science major (a little different she is a immigrant from Russia)
A microbiology major (same as above, but from India)

[Aspiring Humanist]

I'm in the same boat OP. Trying to decide on whether to major in anthropology or German

[Ostrinski]

Probably gonna double major in history and english myself.

[Fawkes]

As far as job prospects go, unless you're looking at a highly specialized career (e.g. mechanical engineer, neurosurgeon, etc.), what matters most is having a degree, regardless of what it's in. My dad majored in philosophy and religion (he's an atheist, go figure) and ended up working on/racing motorcycles for most of his 20s before becoming an architect of sorts (he works restoring vacant and derelict historical buildings up to a usable capacity). Likewise, my step-mom studied marketing and then ended up working as a interior designer. That's not the most stable field though, so now she's working a shit 60 hour a week job for some nursing home company.

Either way, most people don't know what they want to do for the rest of their lives when they're college age. Study something you like.


Also, fuck the "hippie" thing. I've taken a bunch of psych/sociology courses and plenty of film theory courses, guess which ones have taught me infinitely more about the structuring of societies and "the world" in general? (hint: it's not the science ones)

That's not to discount science/math, I wish I had more time so I could learn more about physics, but art is only 'useless' if you make it/critique it from an "art for art's sake" standpoint.

[NoMasters]

Just do what makes you happy and motivates you. If you don't, you will probably be miserable in the future.

Like someone said, do liberal arts stuff and figure it out after the first year.

[gorillafuck]

for most jobs it doesn't matter what degree you have as long as you have one. do whatever you're best at because you'll get by the easiest.

[Nox]

Dont worry about the degree, just go to college for seks!

[Nox]

for most jobs it doesn't matter what degree you have as long as you have one. do whatever you're best at because you'll get by the easiest.

Agreed. I want to be a History teacher and as far as I know you don't even specifically need a History degree :D

[praxis1966]

OP - I agree with the others here saying just find something you really love and major in that... The only way you're going to figure out what that is is by screwing around with a wide variety of topics in your lower division. The one thing I would concretely advise is if you have any inclination that way, make sure you're taking high level maths and sciences (ie take physics instead of a BS version of an oceanography class and calculus instead of 'math for liberal arts majors' like I did, lol) so you're assured as wide a swath of classes as possible. You wanna make sure you're going to actually enjoy sitting around doing long division the rest of your life...

At the end of the day, the truth is that the BA is the new high school diploma. Unless you're going to get a BS in engineering, you're going to need grad work no matter what you wind up doing for work so it really doesn't fucking matter what your major is.