<p>I am going to tulane next year on a founders scholarship. My family is stressing me out because they said I need to have a plan of what I want to do, but I really don't know. I haven't had enough experience to say what I like. From what I've experienced, I've enjoyed psychology, as well as human anatomy and physiology. I know that something like engineering would not be for me because it seems too technical and dull. I obviously don't want to get a degree in something that won't get my a job because that would be a waste of time and a dumb decision, considering how much it costs. I also don't know how hard college classes will be for me. I am taking ap classes in calculus and physics and doing good this year. (As). Could somebody help me out with major suggestions that are useful for getting a job and maybe even something that sounds like I might enjoy? Thank you!</p>
<p>You can start your first semester by begining your core and any distribution requirements needed in your college.
<a href=“https://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/undergraduate-distribution-requirements.cf[/url]”>https://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/undergraduate-distribution-requirements.cf</a></p>
<p>When you get to college, you can take advantage of academic advising the the resources of the career center to explore optionss. That will help you more than just picking out of thin air. Tell your family to back off.</p>
<p>Start by taking a broad course of subjects freshman year. See where you talents and interests lie. I took 16 courses in like 12 different departments by the end of sophomore year before I knew what I wanted to major in. 1. It was not what I thought I would major in when I entered college. 2. It ended up being those courses where I excelled and had straight A’s. I ended up being one of only a few in my concentration of choice.</p>
<p>Go to the Tulane CC and post this question. Someone like Fallenchemist will be a great help to you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the shout out, Dungareedoll. I happened to find this anyway, so I will in fact comment.</p>
<p>Penelope, I guess first of all it is true that you don’t have to declare a major until after 4 semesters, although of course many choose earlier. But there is certainly no hurry to decide before the end of your freshman year unless you are striving for a particular profession that has a fairly rigid, preset program like engineering or architecture. I can tell your parents that I know a huge number of students that have gone on to successful careers not knowing what they wanted coming into Tulane. Besides, as was pointed out, you have to fulfill various distribution requirements anyway, so freshman year is a good time to explore, both in the classroom and from interaction with your fellow students.</p>
<p>I would also say that it is very hard to predict sometimes what will end up being great preparation for today’s (or more to the point tomorrow’s) job market. For example, one might think that a degree in philosophy is about as useless a degree for getting a non-academic job as there is. But this major requires a skill set of reading and comprehending large volumes of material and being able to manage that information into well thought out, logical, and well written arguments that employers are finding valuable in today’s information rich economy. Who knew? I would strongly argue that it is far more important to major in something you find passionately interesting and, should it seem like that major is questionable for the job market, double major in something more seemingly practical. Tulane makes it very easy to double major.</p>
<p>Finally, given your stated interest in psychology and anatomy/physiology, Tulane has a very strong Neuroscience program and the area of human cognition will only increase in emphasis in the future. This not only meets your current preferences, but also represents excellent employment opportunities down the road. So I think you are in pretty good shape if you do choose Tulane.</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t get freaked out about succeeding in classes at Tulane. They wouldn’t have accepted you with such a nice scholarship if they were not confident you could do the work and more. With discipline and balance in your life at Tulane, you will do well in the classroom and in research.</p>
<p>After many years working with incoming college freshman, I think undecided is the very best major of all! I’ve seen different stats, but I think it’s fairly safe to say 70-80% of incoming freshmen change majors. Going in undecided leaves you open to experience a host of new things. And believe it or not, you’re ahead of the game slightly because you know what you don’t like.</p>
<p>It’s fine to spend your first year completing distribution requirements. Each semester, take some requirements and one class that looks interesting, whether or not it “counts” for anything other than an elective. You might be interested in pscyh. Start there (I’m guessing there’s a behavioral science requirement to fulfill anyway). You like A&P. Try some bio (again, probably a lab science requirement). Like them? Try another second semester. Luke warm? Move on.</p>
<p>You are right ordinarylives. I have seen articles, which while I cannot attest to their accuracy they feel correct based on my experience and seemingly yours as well, that say that 65-70% of full time college students change majors at least once from what they thought they wanted when they entered as freshmen.</p>
<p>Except for that handful of kids who’ve known their destiny since age 5, eighteen year olds, with their still-developing frontal lobes, shouldn’t be making life-shaping decisions. I think most parents, looking back at some of the dunder-headed moves they made at that age, will agree!</p>
<p>I am not sure what you are saying, Momma3. That the parents should decide her major for her? Your point is not very clear to me. Besides, 18 year old (and younger) people make life shaping decisions all the time, at least in this country. Who they date, whether to try smoking, drinking, drugs and/or sex, whether to try a musical instrument or acting or soccer or … Sure as parents we guide them, less as they get older, but making these decisions, and making mistakes, is all part of growing up. Obviously we try and keep them from making the huge, fatal (literally and figuratively) mistakes, but otherwise they are going to make decisions and mistakes, along with good decisions that are successful.</p>
<p>But to stay on point, I am just not sure how your comment applies to this OP.</p>
<p>It seems that more and more parents are pushing their children before college, or even as early as middle school (!) to know what they want to major in and what career they want.</p>
<p>This is too bad because premature planning can actually interfere with opportunities (I have read this, and also observed it).</p>
<p>Most students change their majors, as others have said. And often major and career have little to do with each other. College is not always so vocational, at least, not yet.</p>
<p>I realize it is hard because college costs money and loans can be heavy and naturally we parents have to worry about “return on investment,” and worry if our kids lack direction, but I think it is early for that because you can decide on a major in a year or two.</p>
<p>So anyway, I hope your parents can stop worrying about you being an “undecided” major, which is very common and brings lots of possibilities. Take classes to explore different areas that you might find interesting and that you are relatively good at.</p>
<p>The job market is complex and diverse and does not fall into the neat easy categories that we all think of. New fields crop up. And most people change jobs if not fields over the course of their lives.</p>
<p>Once at Tulane, if you do find an area of interest, you can volunteer, intern or work and try to get some experience, including during the summers. But you know, with a bachelor’s, you can apply to any job that requires a bachelors, and go to grad/med/law/business school as well. It’s fine to study something you want to study and worry about career later.
Even if nerve-wracking for some parents!</p>