<p>I am majoring in Communications. Whenever someone asks what I'm studying, I freeze. I stutter and usually end up with word vomit, saying something like "y-y-you know, just my basics". Other times it's "Communications, for now". I live in an area where if you aren't a nursing or engineering major, you are viewed as wasting your time and money, basically. But Communications is one of those majors that have always been laughed at (not as much as art history or philosophy, but you get my point).</p>
<p>I feel like I am confessing to them my major. Obviously this is a confidence problem. I love my major and classes, and know that this is what I want to study. I would appreciate some pointers of how to convey that to people without being berated for having a useless major, and being asked "what are you going to do with that"?</p>
<p>PS. Telling them that college isn't about "what will you do with that" doesn't work.</p>
<p>Tell them what you plan to do with it before they ask.</p>
<p>Tell them, “I’m a communications major because I plan to do (insert job you would like to do/ grad school you want to go to).”</p>
<p>^ That is a good suggestion. Shift the focus from your major to your career plans. If you are passionate about what you’re studying then let it show. Your insecurity makes it seem as though you’re not passionate, or not sure what to do with it. But if you display confidence that you are studying communications and will work in xyz field, they may be less skeptical. </p>
<p>In the end you cannot change stubborn minds. So if they still scoff at you, just shake it off, smile, and keep up the good work in the field you love. The best thing you can do is prove them wrong. </p>
<p>A manager I worked with had this quote as his e-mail signature, and I love it: “The best revenge is massive success.” Don’t let their remarks get you down.</p>
<p>I wish that I would have majored in communications because I am a very communicative person.Anyways, I majored in History. How do you think I felt?</p>
<p>We’re at the same school…so I can relate. Half the people at our school are in nursing or engineering.</p>
<p>I’m a physics major…and usually when I tell people that I am a physics major…they take it to mean that I’m in engineering. Which is not the case. When I tell them that I want to go into theoretical physics and research…they either a) don’t even know what I mean…or b) ask me what the hell a theoretical physicist can do with a degree.</p>
<p>Obviously there’s a bit of a difference between communications and physics…but actually majoring purely in physics at our school is very uncommon. Professor Atchley told me that I am only the third student he has ever had that has been majoring in physics…and not engineering. And he’s been teaching there for a few decades now.</p>
<p>Those are good suggestions. Though my “I want to work for a public relations firm in Manhattan” will very well cause a few coronaries here, haha.</p>
<p>Curt: my dad is a theoretical physicist. He got two degrees at our school back in the day, if I am not mistaken. I had no idea there were so few physics majors there. I figured most of the people weren’t nursing were either criminal justice or STEM of some kind. Good luck. I guess I should count myself lucky that people actually have an idea of what my major is, whereas physics probably gets, at best, “oh, like those guys off of Big Bang Theory?” :)</p>
<p>I forgot about that…the criminal justice department here is a pretty big one too. There are a ton of welding students here too…but they rarely have much of a presence in the halls, because they’re usually back in the welding annex. </p>
<p>You have no idea how much I hear about the Big Bang Theory…lol…Just about every time I tell someone my major, their automatic response is “OOOHH!!! I love Sheldon!!!” or “OOOHHH!! Penny is so hot!!!” or something to that effect. Don’t get me wrong…I like the Big Bang Theory. But that’s not why I’m a physics major…lol A lot of people kind of jump to that conclusion. Either that or they have no idea what a physicist even does.</p>
<p>There are a decent amount of STEM majors here…but overall I think the majority of the student body is in nursing, engineering, criminal justice, and various applied fields like welding and HVAC.</p>
<p>I barely know what a physicist does. I tell people my dad blows up atoms for a living.</p>
<p>They say the welding program has almost grown too fast, which is great. My cousin was in it and loves his job. As for the CJS majors… don’t get me started. I once attempted to explain to some girl in the cafeteria that Law and Order is just a show. I am sure there are some awesome students in that program, but many watch too many detective shows and not enough prison shows.</p>
<p>I am detecting a correlation between television and majors.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more. I’ve talked to quite a few of the criminal justice majors out there…and many of them seem to have some kind of delusion of grandeur pertaining to their major. People see shows like Law and Order and envision themselves in a career just like that…when in reality, most of them will end up being a probation officer in Podunk County, Louisiana or something like that…lol</p>
<p>The welding program has gotten huge there…I’ve talked to a lot of people that are in it. They’re actually hiring a couple new welding instructors for next year to accommodate all the students that are registering for it. Sadly though, they’re doing away with the wind energy program from what I understand.</p>
<p>Except they will probably never leave town because, in the words of a former advisor, “why would you ever want to do that?” I told the girl to watch some HBO and get back to me. She never did. This could be why I have so few friends out there :P</p>
<p>They are doing away with the wind energy program? That’s sad. I imagine they didn’t have many students for it.</p>
<p>Be proud of what you decided to study- it was your decision, and obviously it means a lot to you. No one, and I mean no one, has the right to berate you for a choice you made. But if it bothers you what others say, then think of ways to respond that show your passion and what you want to do with your major.</p>
<p>I majored in French (I am Indian) and was probably ridiculed by my whole community because Indian kids aren’t “supposed to” major in anything other than Engineering or a Science/premed curriculum. Well, I had the last laugh, as I am now a Cardiologist (which is what I wanted to be when I was 3 years old- I just hated studying any and all science unless it had any application to the heart). French was my favorite subject, and I am proud for what I accomplished.</p>
<p>I am seeing many fields out in the corporate world that feel this current generation of college grads lack strong speaking, writing, and basic communication skills. A good communicator is always in demand. So yes your major is good and worthy. That being said your degree is not a golden ticket. Try to get as many internships or experiences as you can esp in your chosen field. That’s really what is going to help land you the job not so much your class work. 
if you really love you major and what you are studying then be proud of it. If not then maybe you need to look deep and see if you are truly happy with what you are studying. You are not responsible for what other people think. This is your life.</p>
<p>Well if there is any correlation from tv shows to major, then I guess the history channel is where I live at, oh and don’t mess with us because apparently history teachers and librarians are vampire hunters(vampire diaries/Buffy the vampire slayer) lol</p>
<p>I wouldn’t really care. </p>
<p>Personally I would never major in communications, but I’ll make a point:</p>
<p>You said in your opening post:</p>
<p>“Communications is one of those majors that have always been laughed at (not as much as art history or philosophy, but you get my point)”</p>
<p>I’m an economics major/computer science minor and I think philosophy is the “king” of academic subjects. I would never laugh at it. Shows you how subjective things are.</p>