A huge crisis, please help me out wise parents!

Parents Forum
1

<p>Dear Parents, </p>

<p>I know you have been answering these kind of posts before, but I would appreciate it a lot if you read this one through and shared your experiences! </p>

<p>I can't decide my college major since I am interested in too many things. I have done so much research on the internet but it just gets me more confused! My mother is French and father American and I have lived in both countries. I am going to do my undergraduate degree in Europe and graduate in the U.S, where I would like to work in the future. I love languages, different cultures, travel, art and music. I am quite ambitious and would like to get a high salary in the future. Still it is very important for me to do what I love and what I am naturally good at. </p>

<p>Here are my choices for undergraduate:
English or another foreign language, political science, social psychology, sociology, geography, art, music
and for graduate:
law school or some of the above (or MBA, but I hate math...)</p>

<p>I think I would get the best grades in english and social psychology and therefore had a better chance to get to a great grad school. Job-wise political science sounds really good ($$), but I don't know If I am genuinely
interested in it (it seems quite theoretical & even difficult at some point).</p>

<p>A dream job in the future would be something creative, challenging, independent but not too stressful. Law school sounds great ($$), but once again I don't know if it would be for me. The job itself sounds interesting but law school doesn't. </p>

<p>I am talented in arts and languages, but wouldn't major in music because of the limited future job prospects and what it comes to arts I am not a picasso, I just have 'a good eye' for things (furnishing, fashion, photography and I am very concerned about how things look).</p>

<p>This big decision that will affect the rest of my life is driving me mad and I would love to hear some wise advice from you. Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>Undecided students do best in American colleges where they can sample courses in different disciplines.</p>

<p>If you have not had solid undergraduate preparation in political science as an undergraduate, it will be very difficult if not impossible to get admitted into a top graduate program (and poli sci requires some grounding in statistical analysis). A degree in English might be easy to get but would not be a good preparation for law school (history and political science would be far better).</p>

3

<p>What is the "huge crisis"?</p>

4

<p>Go to a liberal arts college in the U.S. All have curricula that allow you to sample courses in a variety of subjects before you choose a major.</p>

5

<p>Sounds like art history to me and working for Christie's or Sotheby's. But if that doesn't work for you, I agree that the American LAC system is the best for someone like you. Here, you can sample all kinds of subjects, and don't have to declare your major until end of sophomore year.</p>

6

<p>Sorry I was a bit dramatic on the topic. I know it doesn't sound that much of a huge crisis to you, but for me it is. I already wasted almost 2 years studying business at a CC, but figured out it wasn't for me at all. So now I really want to decide it right! the thing is, I would really like to do undergraduate in europe because it's free. And here you have to decide your major straight away, you can't experiment.</p>

7

<p>Well, we can sympathize but we can't help. We don't know your strengths, your personality or even the universities you are thinking of applying to. </p>

<p>So a sympathetic ear but no word of wisdom.</p>

8

<p>I think part of the problem for Annica is that some European Universities require some specialization earlier. She may want to use her indecision as a selection factor by seeking out universities that allow switching of specialization.</p>

9

<p>My personality based on a test i did in the internet is "extraverted intuitive feeling judging" :D so i like to be with people (but get shy if theres a huge crowd), i am creative & do things my own way, i analyse a lot in my head, i like to learn, i like to write and i love arts.</p>

10

<p>Study history. You say you are interest in a variety of things, plan to go to graduate school, and want to make lots of money. A deep study of history is excellent preparation for law school.</p>

11

<p>Mardad is correct. Most European universities are organized on the principle that general education is what you get in high school (hence the Advanced Standing available to students who have done well on their A-levels or have passed the bac or arbitur). And that's why some of us are suggesting attending an American university.</p>

12

<p>If you want to study in France and come to the US for graduate school, how about majoring in French literature or comparative literature? You would be a hot ticket for a graduate program, because they need native speakers to teach undergraduate language courses, and literature departments have been infatuated with French thought (Barthes, Derrida, etc) for years. Literature is also great preparation for law school -- both involve close textual analysis.</p>

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<p>If you know which university in Europe you will study at, do some research on several study areas there and find out which area has the best reputation and most respected profs. That could help you choose one major over another. Look at the course offerings--which courses are the most attractive to you?</p>

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<p>If you really were sure you wanted to go to law school or get a MBA in the US, it would not matter one iota which major you chose. I respectfully disagree with Marite's opinion that English is not a good preparation for law school.Poli sci and history are most definitely NOT "far better." (I'm an attorney and my kid is in law school.) So, forget about your graduate plans in choosing an undergraduate major IF you want to go to law school or get a MBA. It makes no difference whatsoever. </p>

<p>I can't give you any advice as to which you should choose; I'm just letting you know that choosing among those subjects will have NO impact on the odds that you will be admitted to law or business school. (I find it odd that someone who disliked business is considering a MBA. BTW, you usually need 2-3 years work experience before you apply to MBA programs.)</p>

<p>I also find it odd to say the least that you think poli sci is a major more likely to lead to a good salary than history or English. It isn't.</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
I love languages, different cultures, travel, art and music.</p>

<p>i like to be with people (but get shy if theres a huge crowd), i am creative & do things my own way, i analyse a lot in my head, i like to learn, i like to write and i love arts.</p>

<p>I am talented in arts and languages</p>

<p>I am not a picasso</p>

<p>I just have 'a good eye' for things (furnishing, fashion, photography and I am very concerned about how things look).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I've pulled out your statements about your likes and your abilities.</p>

<p>Based on these statements, I agree with erj1, art history, with possible careers involving curating or connoisseurship, could be a good fit for you. (You don't need to be a Picasso, either, just as a political historian doesn't have to be a DeGaulle).</p>

<p>Why don't you check out this book: "Master Pieces: The Curator's Game", by Thomas Hoving. If you find it thrilling, exciting, then art history could well be for you! </p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Master-Pieces-Curators-Thomas-Hoving/dp/0393328384/sr=8-1/qid=1172809372/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8340530-7763323?ie=UTF8&s=books%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.amazon.com/Master-Pieces-Curators-Thomas-Hoving/dp/0393328384/sr=8-1/qid=1172809372/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8340530-7763323?ie=UTF8&s=books&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>You may really want to think twice before going to Europe to study as an undergrad if you really intend to come back to the US. First of all your studies will only be "free" if you go to France. (I assume you have dual citizenship). As a non-resident EU Member you would have to pay international rates in the UK for instance which is no cheaper than US tuition. Also unless you stay with relatives, living expenses in a place like Paris would be through the roof. </p>

<p>Also as Marite indicated in most countries and certainly France, you have to pick your area of specialization right away. The French university system is theoretically open to all but is pretty useless as a springboard to a career where you can make some money as you seem to want. France has probably more unemployed university graduates than any country in Europe. Studying history or litterature at the Sorbonne for instance may be fun as an exchange student for a year, but spending 4 years to get a degree would be a total waste of time. You would also be shocked by the condition of most facilities. Any State school in the US would look like a Hilton compared to a French university. Most French students commute to school, so forget about any type of socializing as you have on residental campuses in the US. Some of the "Cite Universitaires" where student can live are downright scary. </p>

<p>While there exists an excellent system of higher education in France it is extremely selective and you have to work your butt off for several years just to attempt to get into the schools. And if you don't like math, forget about a business degree. In France everything is based on math, even social studies. </p>

<p>I also can't see how studying in Europe would put you in a good position when applying to graduate schools in the US. You have infinitely more choices and greater flexibility as an undergrad in the US. </p>

<p>I can tell you from experience, I grew up and studied in France before coming to the US. I have two teenage daughters born here, also bilingual. I wouldn't in my wildest dream suggest that they spend their undergraduate years in Europe (except as part of study abroad program for a year). Until you have seen both systems, you don't realize how lucky you are to have the choices and opportunities offered here in the US. The grass is definitely greener here.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot you all! Interesting comments. If I really want to go to a good law school, I need to save a lot in undergraduate costs. And I don't want to experience CC again, so I think it really is Europe for me this time around. Even if the grass is greener in the U.S ;) </p>

<p>I was considering a third choice; Spain. My friend studies in Madrid and loves it a lot (mostly because of social aspects, but the university is still one of the best in the country). What if I studied English and Spanish in Spain for 4 years, got involved in the community, got myself internships and did very well there. Then I would speak 3 languages fluently and had international experience (and I could do what i love: get to know a new culture and travel). Then I'd apply to law school or a graduate program in political science (?). Is it possible to go to poli sci with a languages backgound?</p>

18

<p>Having the business classes will probably help if you see them as and present them as a plus. ADad had great thoughts about art history. Imagine how much the art world needs people who are practical and grounded in (or at least aware of) business skills!</p>

19

<p>Hmm. I have been doing some research on cultural anthropology today, and it feels like a dream major! But I am very concerned about the job market! What can you do with an MA in cultural anthropology? What should I take as a minor? geography, languages, political science maybe? I am so thrilled about this option! and, if I don't get a job with that, there's always law school...</p>

20

<p>Cultural anthropology does not lead to any jobs directly--except in academia. But it would be a perfectly OK basis for going to law school, or possibly into museum work. Another direction would be a Master's in Social Work or the field of Third World development and assistance.</p>