What's your major?

[Get Low]

For those of you who are in college, what is your major, and why did you choose it?

I've chosen to be an English major because my goal in life is to become an author of fiction writing, and expanding my knowledge of the language will help me achieve my goal.

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

Game art/design
I'm fairly good at drawing/painting, and I've always been curious on how games work
I'm focusing on the art aspect. I'll probably try to go into concept art, 3D modeling, or maybe rigging (lol not artsy)
But I'll be happy with level design, etc.
Eventually planning on teaching or going into government/medical contract work.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

Math has always been easy to me. Everything else was irritating to do. Writing papers, memorizing a ton of names and dates, etc.

Only thing is that you can't do anything with a math degree other than teaching which is also not something I enjoy doing.

Physics uses math. Stats uses math. Those are majors, so I'm going for that.

 

[M@v]

Started off as Aerospace Engineering. Unlike the guy above me, all the math wasn't sitting too well, so I switched to Information Sciences and Technology(IST), with a minor in Security Risk Analysis(SRA).

I love computers. Its why I picked those majors. My internship last summer(and again this summer) have me working with information security and network security.

 

[Geist]

I came from the field of mechanical engineering, but there were too many rules and I got creatively bored - so I went and switched to 3d character modeling for animations and games with a minor in 2d digital, which is basically concept art, matte painting and a bit of graphics design
(though technically they're not major/minors. lol art degrees)

 

[Gatlin]

Nursing. My aunt actually inspired me to decide to pursue that career goal.

I originally started out as a Psychology major, but changed shortly after.

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

I came from the field of mechanical engineering, but there were too many rules and I got creatively bored - so I went and switched to 3d character modeling for animations and games with a minor in 2d digital, which is basically concept art, matte painting and a bit of graphics design
(though technically they're not major/minors. lol art degrees)

And you're ****ing amazing at what you do
And I hate you for it
(hi buddy! teach me your skillllssssssssss)

 

[theeboredone]

For those of you who are in college, what is your major, and why did you choose it?

I've chosen to be an English major because my goal in life is to become an author of fiction writing, and expanding my knowledge of the language will help me achieve my goal.

Just a suggestion but, you might want to consider being a double major, cause a English degree is really not all that practical. I know you want to be a writer, but it's hard to become a successful one, and it would help if you have knowledge in another area so you come off as more versatile.

Personally, I'm a psychology major. The failed science. Senior year, gonna take a year off to get some secretarial/clinical work and off to grad school. Right now shooting for a Human and Resources role, or a Sports Psychology role.

 

[Get Low]

Just a suggestion but, you might want to consider being a double major, cause a English degree is really not all that practical. I know you want to be a writer, but it's hard to become a successful one, and it would help if you have knowledge in another area so you come off as more versatile.

I'm aware that making it as a writer isn't easy, but there is a whole crapload of jobs I can get with an English degree, and I'd be happy with any of those. Even though writing is my plan A, I have plan B, C, and so on. I'd be foolish not to.

 

[Keblerelf]

Biology.

I like how life works.

 

[theeboredone]

I'm aware that making it as a writer isn't easy, but there is a whole crapload of jobs I can get with an English degree, and I'd be happy with any of those. Even though writing is my plan A, I have plan B, C, and so on. I'd be foolish not to.

Alright, well good to see you got a few back up plans. Though I guess it also depends on expectations and what you want in life as well lol.

 

[Deleted member]

Only thing is that you can't do anything with a math degree other than teaching which is also not something I enjoy doing.

wrong? back when I was deciding on a major all the teacher said you could do a ton of things with a math degree. personally I didn't care and went with math regardless if it had a broad job perspective or not.

 

[F8AL]

Marketing, cause I like business courses and being creative when it comes to my work.

IMO, it's more interesting than the other ones like accounting, HR, e-commerce etc.

 

[SuperBowser]

^pretty sure maths graduates earn the most. They have a decent array of jobs to choose from.


I'm doing Medicine. Graduated in Health Sciences last year, but still not sure why I did that degree, so not gonna talk about that lol. I chose medicine because I like helping people, I like talking to people and I'm awesome at biology.

Almost went into physics but backed out in the end. I loved the subject, but wasn't so interested in the jobs afterwards.

 

[Overload]

Computer programming, though I think I'm going to quit college after getting my associate's. Can't stand all the debt, and being in class is mind-numbingly boring. Ideally, I'll teach myself and start off by making video games. That will be a good way to build up experience programming and potentially make a little bit of money, but I'd like to go beyond that. Artificial intelligence has always interested me.

 

[Morin0]

Comp Sci/Comp Eng

I love ze computers.

 

[Get Low]

All of you guys with your crazy technological majors are making me thankful for how simple my major is.

 

[JonnyW]

Music major. Trying to be a guitar teacher.

 

[Mota]

Psychology. Although I might change to Neuroscience

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

wrong? back when I was deciding on a major all the teacher said you could do a ton of things with a math degree. personally I didn't care and went with math regardless if it had a broad job perspective or not.

My perspective is that you use math as a tool. However, you need other skills to go along with it. So far, having only taken calculus I & II, vector calculus, linear algebra and differential equations, I do not feel like it prepares me at all on how to tackle real life problems or really how to model them. Taking physics and statistics I feel that gives me more experience and a better background. Besides, if I threw on a couple courses in modern algebra and analysis, I would have the math major at my Uni. already complete.

I'm aware that making it as a writer isn't easy, but there is a whole crapload of jobs I can get with an English degree, and I'd be happy with any of those. Even though writing is my plan A, I have plan B, C, and so on. I'd be foolish not to.

Its a really, really common theme I keep hearing about from graduates 20 years later who majored in something that they didn't like doing. I think its good your doing something you like.

All of you guys with your crazy technological majors are making me thankful for how simple my major is.

I would say that writing a book or anything english related is one of the hardest things in the world.

 

[Get Low]

I would say that writing a book or anything english related is one of the hardest things in the world.

Not when you enjoy it like I do. Of course, if people enjoy all the complex technological stuff they're learning about with their majors, then those things probably come relatively easy for them.

 

[SupaSairentoZ7℠]

Game Designing. I go to the Art Institute for my college.

 

[M!nt]

Computer/Electrical Engineering don't know which one yet.

 

[Lythium]

@Get Low: you could always also do a minor or double major in Creative Writing or Journalism, just in case. You never know. :3

I have an English degree, and I'm not doing a whole lot with it at the moment. I really want to go back to school, but I'm poor right now, so maybe next year.

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

Game Designing. I go to the Art Institute for my college.

Hey! Which art institute? Im a GAD student at the Pittsburgh school :D

 

[Get Low]

@Get Low: you could always also do a minor or double major in Creative Writing or Journalism, just in case. You never know. :3

I have an English degree, and I'm not doing a whole lot with it at the moment. I really want to go back to school, but I'm poor right now, so maybe next year.

I am indeed going to minor in creative writing. :3

Why aren't you doing a lot with it? Is it because you can't find a job pertaining to it?

 

[Crimson King]

I'm aware that making it as a writer isn't easy, but there is a whole crapload of jobs I can get with an English degree, and I'd be happy with any of those. Even though writing is my plan A, I have plan B, C, and so on. I'd be foolish not to.

That's a complete and total lie, and I know this because I was lied to in the exact same way.

You are often told, "Well, you can always teach," but in order to do that in the states, you need a certification, and those are hairy, and you won't make much of a liveable income if you are doing elementary or high school. College requires a masters. Teaching overseas is not a career. It's a gig that can last a few years, but in most cases, you cannot live their teaching for life with any sense of upward motion.

I graduated in 2009 with a degree in English with a concentration in technical writing. I had a ton of short stories done and a novel completed. After finally pushing, I have published one short story, for free, because people that do pay well (meaning only a few hundred per story) are very stringent now that the industry is in flux. Kindle is your best way to make money, but you will be doing a lot of self-promotion to make any sort of living.

From August 2009 to Feb. 2010, I was unemployed and unemployable. I had a degree, so I couldn't get some jobs (I actually applied as a custodian at a hospital for $24k a year and benefits, but they rejected me). I lucked into one position as a manual laborer for the local government because I mentioned I was good with computers, and I had a degree. After 3 months of digging ditches and really boring, awful politics, I was promoted to one of the third highest positions in the department. I was doing programming for pump stations, but because of politics, I couldn't actually DO that work, so I was doing a lot of busy work. Finally, I contacted a head hunter, who got me a technical writing job in Atlanta with an engineering firm. That happened last June.

So, to summarize: I went to school (essentially) for creative writing, and it took me 2 years to get a job in my industry with mediocre pay. Colleges and professors will lie to you to keep you in their major. At the school I graduated from, they did this regularly because once a major dropped below a set number of graduating students, it would be cut. I strongly advise you pick up a degree that has implied skills (accounting is a good example), and then, use the time and money you'll have from not having to job hunt constantly to write. I have gotten more writing done since landing this job in Atlanta than I did the entire time I was unemployed. I also know other English graduates who work in retail because they couldn't use their degrees. I got lucky because I have a lot of hobbies, and I can sell myself.

 

[Get Low]

That's a complete and total lie, and I know this because I was lied to in the exact same way.

You are often told, "Well, you can always teach," but in order to do that in the states, you need a certification, and those are hairy, and you won't make much of a liveable income if you are doing elementary or high school. College requires a masters. Teaching overseas is not a career. It's a gig that can last a few years, but in most cases, you cannot live their teaching for life with any sense of upward motion.

I graduated in 2009 with a degree in English with a concentration in technical writing. I had a ton of short stories done and a novel completed. After finally pushing, I have published one short story, for free, because people that do pay well (meaning only a few hundred per story) are very stringent now that the industry is in flux. Kindle is your best way to make money, but you will be doing a lot of self-promotion to make any sort of living.

From August 2009 to Feb. 2010, I was unemployed and unemployable. I had a degree, so I couldn't get some jobs (I actually applied as a custodian at a hospital for $24k a year and benefits, but they rejected me). I lucked into one position as a manual laborer for the local government because I mentioned I was good with computers, and I had a degree. After 3 months of digging ditches and really boring, awful politics, I was promoted to one of the third highest positions in the department. I was doing programming for pump stations, but because of politics, I couldn't actually DO that work, so I was doing a lot of busy work. Finally, I contacted a head hunter, who got me a technical writing job in Atlanta with an engineering firm. That happened last June.

So, to summarize: I went to school (essentially) for creative writing, and it took me 2 years to get a job in my industry with mediocre pay. Colleges and professors will lie to you to keep you in their major. At the school I graduated from, they did this regularly because once a major dropped below a set number of graduating students, it would be cut. I strongly advise you pick up a degree that has implied skills (accounting is a good example), and then, use the time and money you'll have from not having to job hunt constantly to write. I have gotten more writing done since landing this job in Atlanta than I did the entire time I was unemployed. I also know other English graduates who work in retail because they couldn't use their degrees. I got lucky because I have a lot of hobbies, and I can sell myself.

So do you think my best bet would be to go for a master's? And also, did you try moving around at all? Your problem could've been that there weren't any English related jobs in your area. I definitely appreciate the insight though. Your post was a big eye-opener for me. Other than the writing teachers I've had thus far in my first year, I literally don't know any other person who has ever majored in English, so I've never had anyone to talk to about it.

 

[Crimson King]

There's a major problem with education in the United States. In order to make the most from you, it behooves them to push you to have an advanced degree. So, in the early 90s even, a bachelor's would in anything would have been more than enough to get you pretty far. As this mindset of "hey, if you stay here, we will give you college tuition for the master's!" began to proliferate, the bachelor's became devalued completely. Look up job requirements to see this. Most entry level jobs want 3 - 5 years experience and pay only 30 - 50k. That's ridiculous.

The other trend you see is the proliferation of useless degrees. I have a friend who graduated in Mass Communications, which was once a very good degree. After being broke while working at a restaurant, I got him a job where I worked, and he has no chance of promotion for at least 10 years. He is now going to work offshore, with a pretty good paying position that he got through connections with his dad. He will be on-call all the time, and while the money is good, he has a small child, so he will have to miss out on seeming him anywhere from 2 - 3 days a week to 2 weeks a month. Again, his degree didn't help his with this job, so he could have gotten this position straight out of high school and be really high in the company by now when things were far more stable.

So, basically, I cannot answer that first question. I originally graduated in Louisiana (answering your second question now), and I applied everywhere from where I lived to two hours away from where I lived. There was nothing. Texas didn't offer much at all without experience, and Mississippi and Alabama fear readin' folks.

The best advice I can give you is to look at what jobs are available now. Figure out what you would enjoy and take the quickest route to get there. Then, once you can get in that position, work on your hobby. The education system is so deeply corrupted and broken, that you will not get solid and safe advise. I was told that if I changed my concentration to Technical Writing, I could get a job everywhere. That was false. I was also told at my former job that once I learned to program this one piece of software that they wanted me to program, I could "write my own ticket." This was a lie, as my co-worker pointed out, to keep me in their fold.

 

[GunmasterLombardi]

I'm not in college yet but I'm good at art and common sense.

 

[Omnicron's Baklava Enterprises]

Whenever I do decide my major it's probably either going to be Geology, Anthropology, or Theology.
Most likely, Theology is going to be a minor, so it's really just Geology or Anthropology.

I'm going with Anthropology if the math in Geology doesn't go too well with me--I've never been exceptional at math.

 

[Lythium]

I am indeed going to minor in creative writing. :3

Why aren't you doing a lot with it? Is it because you can't find a job pertaining to it?

Cool, cool.

Yeah, pretty much. I don't regret doing it, but it would be more worthwhile if I could find a job that pertained to it in some way. Doing work in the publishing business would be pretty cool, but I would probably have to move to a larger city in order for that to happen.

 

[Melomaniacal]

Psychology, so I'll be getting a low-paying job in advertisement.

 

[SupaSairentoZ7℠]

Hey! Which art institute? Im a GAD student at the Pittsburgh school :D

San Diego. =)

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

San Diego. =)

Nicenice x3

What quarter? :o

 

[guapo]

Psychology, so I'll be getting a low-paying job in advertisement.

lol im sure u will join plenty of other people

 

[rsr2]

I started out in Culinary Arts. I got my Associate's but the problem is the college I went to screwed me over hard so I changed schools and wanted to do a different major. Last year I got my Associate's in Business Management and I am currently working on getting my Bachelor's.

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

I WAS doing something in art, but because of financial troubles at the time I had to drop out of college.

I want to get back in, but how long it's been makes me feel like it's hopeless at this point

 

[rPSIvysaur]

What kind of careers can I go into with a math major?

 

[Get Low]

What kind of careers can I go into with a math major?

Fast food.