<p>I'm a senior in high school (3.968 WGPA, 1990 SAT (plan to retake), lots of ECs, etc.) and I have no idea what I'm going to major in -- okay, I have some idea, but my dad really wants me to narrow it down. Now.</p>
<p>I really, really want to travel after HS, but I want to do it the right way. I'm interested in the Middle East, and Russian, which are two slightly less popular majors (ie. harder to find around my hometown). I'd be willing to major in French or Spanish (I've spent 4 ears learning Spanish already), but I feel like in order to get a government job regarding languages means focusing mainly on becoming fluent/near fluent in a (critical) language like Arabic/Russian. I'm good at languages, they're easy for me, but I don't know which specific major to choose that would allow me to travel (safely, and be understood and successful) after college.</p>
<p>** So, I guess the point to all my rambling is, should I go the easier (Spanish/French/Italian) route, or the harder one (Arabic/Russian/Persian)?</p>
<p>And Also, are there any schools that are really known for their study abroad programs that match my stats (line 1)? **</p>
<p>I would say Arabic would be a good route to go, as there is a lot of demand for Arabic speaking people in a variety of places. </p>
<p>Arabic is similar to Persian (that may have been an ignorant statement) so why not double-major?</p>
<p>If I were to do it over again, I would have done my biz B.S. in international business instead of finance. And maybe studied Mandarin. 1.3 billion people and a rapidly growing economy. Cities like Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.</p>
<p>International major is usually the way to go. I have a friend that does it</p>
<p>I really am leaning towards an International Studies major, with a minor in either Arabic or Russian (depends on the college)…Any suggestions for colleges with great study abroad programs (that hopefully have good Financial Aid)? lol thanks :)</p>
<p>Private need base school.</p>
<p>Look for large schools that have an honors college/program that you could be accepted into. That way there will be lots of language offerings, and the scholarship allocations would go to you.</p>
<p>I am personally thinking about either International Studies, International Relations, or International Business, and minors in maybe Italian or Spanish and in Hindi. Also, look for study abroad internships with companies that have locations all over the world.</p>
<p>Steps to international travel:
- Enroll in University
- Major in Geology or Geophysics. Learn Spanish/French and Arabic.
3.???
- profit</p>
<p>Watch as employers in the O&G industry or in the mineral industry fawn over you. With 5-10 years experience and language skills you will be making 150k+ a year as a senior geologist. Starting geoscientists with just a B.S. make around 70k. You get to travel and see some of the most beautiful and remote areas in the globe. From a rig in the middle of the frigid Arctic sea, to the jungles of South America, to the deserts of the Middle East, to the outback in Australia… you can travel and live anywhere you want. Usually the companies will fly you out for 2-3 week shifts and then you have 2 weeks off. Someone I know flies in for 2 weeks of work in Australia with an exploration geology firm right now, and once he is done the company will fly him anywhere he wants. He was just in Prague. I think he wants to go to Chile next rotation.</p>
<p>The only drawback is if you get homesick easy or if you have/want a family.</p>
<p>Plus geologists are bad ass and drinking beer is a huge part of the culture :).</p>
<p>International Relations. Duh?
Engineering and sciences also have lots of international things, but you need to work yourself up.
Humanitarian groups and charities also are a good way.</p>
<p>Now, if you want to travel right before college or at its start, you might be interested in a leap year before college. HS graduates spend a year backpacking in Italy and Europe often, but now more kids turn to internships. Look at your heritage and what you’re interested in. If you just want to trek the Amazon and see Giza, thats just the “see-the-world” tourist. if you want to stay at hostels in Sicily and Cologne, you’ll be the “see-life-before-I’m-busy” tourist. If you want to visit Phnom Penh and Chongqing, you might be that “globetrekking-explorer” tourist.</p>
<p>As a person that travels fairly a lot, I can look at people and categorize them into what they want to accomplish by ‘travelling the world’. If you know why you want to travel, then it might be easier for you to predict your future paths.</p>
<p>Languages, are also variable too. Learning Spanish, French, or Italian is just for ‘usefulness’ or heritage. Learning Arabic, Hindi, or Chinese might be just for business or career openers. Learning something like Finnish, Hebrew, or Thai might be because you actually enjoy that language, its culture, or its linked to your heritage. Just like different ‘travelers’, there are different people that learn different languages for different reasons. (Yes, I’m interested in languages just as much as I travel).</p>
<p>What do you mean by “work yourself up”? There aren’t many organizations that are near where I live (small-ish town, near a big-ish city), and even fewer for teenagers. Plus, my father has this thing against activities that take away from school and work that aren’t “really necessary” (his words, not mine :/).</p>
<p>My thing about taking a gap year is that if I do, my parents would expect me to live at home, not travel, and work at least one job…We aren’t poor, but we don’t usually have a lot of spending money, especially for me going off to travel on my own (another thing is that I’m the baby of the family, so they’re still a bit overprotective…they won’t be come college but now? still working on it.)</p>
<p>I am genuinely interested in Middle Eastern cultures, and the Russian language (don’t exactly match perfectly, but…); I want to be able to live in that country, absorb the culture, and learn. I’m hoping a college degree in a language can help me get a start on learning the language/culture, and maybe even give me the opportunity to get a job that allows for international travel.</p>
<p>You could take the year off to volunteer somewhere abroad, if that’s a possibility (which it sounds like it isn’t).</p>
<p>If you’re looking to get a job with the government (of any college), you might want to look at schools located in/near D.C. Washington D.C. has a lot of foreign consulates located there, so you could possibly intern with one of them.</p>
<p>Hello, your post regarding being a geologist caught my interest. I am currently a sophomore in college, just completed my basics, still have not declared a major. My goal is to travel internationally, mainly germany. Anyway, are you a geologist or know someone who is? If so, could you provide more information. Thank you.</p>