How did you pick your College Major?

[Kung]

Perhaps the kids who ARE smart enough BUT lack the maturity to get through a full undergrad of calculus based science and technology classes should hold off a few years before college.

Parents often push their kids to go to school and SO many kids blow their only shot in college because they weren't ready to dedicate themselves to the books. I joined the service because I didn't want to fail out of college and felt lost. I only took one college class and then I enlisted in the Navy.

6 years later I started college and did pretty well and graduated from an engineering program @ UCSC. I don't have any kids right now and the idea of having a 18yo male kid is pretty scary.

:gun6:

Same story here - I enlisted in the Navy (and later Army Reserves) because I knew I had the intelligence to learn but not necessarily the maturity to motivate myself to do so.

 

[Spiggie]

any automotive engineers on here??

 

[BrianSD_42]

I think NelsonMD is an automotive engineering major, based on some of his posts.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I wish I could have done electrical engineering or civil. But math, not being my forte, lead me to other degrees.

I do have a friend who works at the BMW plant in Greer. Smart guy.

 

[Millerad1651]

I started out wanting to be a doctor, but found out first semester that it was not for me. Always good at art/working with my hands. Ended up being an art/marketing double major. Now getting my MBA...so whatever you choose early, may be totally opposite of what you end up doing!

 

[Mark86]

My two big questions are:
1) What can you see yourself doing 20-30 years from now and still enjoying it?
2) Is the job practical/can I raise a family with the salary, schedule, etc.

I always wanted to be a doctor. That made picking a major in college easy. I majored in biology and minored in economics. I basically followed the agenda to get into med school. Over the years, I have developed a strong interest in cars as well. I did not think that it would be a practical career for me though.

 

[Thai]

My two big questions are:
1) What can you see yourself doing 20-30 years from now and still enjoying it?
2) Is the job practical/can I raise a family with the salary, schedule, etc.

I always wanted to be a doctor. That made picking a major in college easy. I majored in biology and minored in economics. I basically followed the agenda to get into med school. Over the years, I have developed a strong interest in cars as well. I did not think that it would be a practical career for me though.

Here is a good speech that everyone should listen to: Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address - YouTube

Having shown that, I agree with Mark. I am more practical than most people. I do like what i do...but is that the main factor? I don't know. Sure, in the ideal world, doing what you like the best and being paid handsomely for it should go hand in hand. However, in the REAL world, this is not always the case...and more often than not, the exception rather than the rule.

My wife is a good example. She is a pharmacist...gets paid over $100k at a hospital job. (Working for Walmart/Target/etc gets you a bit more.) It is certainly not the most exciting job. So, yeah, my wife would rather do something more entertaining or something more interesting. Based on most idealist out there, she should quit and do something else, right?

Well, that is where the REAL world jumps in. Sure, the job is very boring...but she gets good money out of it. MONEY may not buy happiness, but it sure does help a whole lot, esp. when you factor in your family well-being. If you plan on being alone all your life, then wonderful...but, with a family (or future family), having the means to live life comfortably is priceless! Her job allows her good vacation time and good hours for family. She can then use the vacation and good hours to do something that she really wants on the side. Sure, she has to "suffer" for 8 hours a day...but the rest of the time, she gets to do what she wants. In the end, she gets paid very well, which leads to comfortable living for her family...and she still gets to do the things that she enjoys in life without running out of cash. THAT is priceless IMO.

I like my job. But, is it something that i spend hours of my free time to study? No. Is it a career that i initially pick? Nope. My job pays me well...my family lives comfortably. It allows me free time (and money) for my hobbies. So, both my wife and I use our job (not our first love mind you) to "pay" for our side hobbies...and keep a comfortable living.

My advice? Pick a job/career that you like BUT make damn sure that there is a future in it (aka good pay). So, although i love Steve Jobs video above, i am also practical and not a genius like Jobs or Gates or even my science teacher!

 

[JB.]

Having shown that, I agree with Mark. I am more practical than most people.

Yeah, "follow your dreams" and "never compromise" make great copy, but the people your hear saying that are not a random selection. They are, in fact, probably outliers who feel strongly about it because it ended up working out for them. We're rarely exposed to the silent evidence, namely, the people for whom it didn't work out and who may comprise a vastly greater number.

 

[Thai]

I will go as far as...pick a job that pays well (or has a good future) as priority, even if it is in a field that you consider "boring." Having the means to pay for hobbies and enjoy life (for you and family) is priceless even if you have to suffer a bit on the way.

Being in a field that you love with zero means may be ok when you are single, but is highly impractical and likely stressful when you have to support other folks.

 

[Casper421]

Life is short, do what you enjoy.

I changed my major from Marketing to Kinesiology to Communications before i realized i had no idea what i wanted to do with the rest of my life. I took a break from school and became a "ski bum". I needed money so i got a job that payed me to do what i love, snowboard. Worked terrain park for 2 years and figured out that i want to start a career in the ski industry. 2 years later and ive got a good sales job at Northstar. Salary and i spend more time riding than at my desk.

I also teach waterski/wakeboard lessons during the summer, another love of my life. My break from school helped me realize what i wanna get my degree in and do for the rest of my life.

There's plenty of careers out there, find the one that you will enjoy for 30-40 years! Good luck!

 

[BrianSD_42]

I changed my major from Marketing to Kinesiology to Communications

Dude I am glad you finally found something you like!

 

[Casper421]

Dude I am glad you finally found something you like!

Me too! And the gf and parents are happy.

 

[H2O_Doc]

True story: I was going to be a computer science major, but could find the building at orientation. I also liked biology and I figured what the heck, let's just finish the paperwork so I wandered (a bit like Moses) over to the biology building (which I found earlier looking for computer science) and signed up. Ended up with a PhD in biology (a few years later), and am VERY happy with my career choice.

Glad I didn't wander into the animal husbandry building.

 

[BrianSD_42]

*** message from above ***

I also liked biology and I figured what the heck, let's just finish the paperwork so I wandered (a bit like Moses) over to the biology building (which I found earlier looking for computer science) and signed up.

Way to name drop Z Moses. LOL. Look at the ads that showed up. Not photoshopped.





:bigok:

 

[Kung]

Yes, but being as the ads that show up are usually driven by YOUR surfing habits....

:biggrin2:

 

[jirehn]

This major would be a good and interesting career.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Actually the ads are based on the text loaded in the page.

Mention a Borla and you will start to see exhaust ads. Mention Moses and well it goes.a.different direction.

My phone clears the cache every time I close the browser.