<p>Hello, I'm currently going to Community College in California and I am still very confused of what major I should take. I am new in the forums and the reason I joined is because I have a lot of questions about degrees, universities, programs and majors. It is really hard for me to choose my major and some I have considered are majoring in Music Technology/Sound Design, Psychology or Business Marketing. In the case of Music Tech, I was wondering if you can take the program and also learn about business, so I don't rely on the Music Tech program only. Also, I have seen that most universities offer Music BA or BM, but not in Music Tech/Sound Des, however I'm not sure about this. </p>
<p>Now, I am on my second semester in college having a bad GPA and confused whether I should just transfer to an Arts University. I was wondering what you guys think ? What major did you choose ? Is it so late for me to choose my major because I want to try out classes, learn what different courses teach about and see if I like them.. I have taken Business classes but they aren't that much interest to me and I would try my best not to major in business. However my family completely supports me and they suggest I take a Business major. Engineering has also been interesting but I am afraid it is difficult because I am not the best at the sciences, although I like calculations. Please tell me what you think and what your major is, thank you.</p>
<p>First of all, you’re not too late about choosing a major. Have no worries.</p>
<p>Don’t major in Business if you don’t like learning it. I promise you, you’ll hate it. However, it’s a great idea for a minor. I am currently minoring in Business and majoring in Public Health. Business is a great addition to anything… except some majors are so packed it’s nearly impossible to add anything else, like engineering for an example (doable, but more than four years probably).</p>
<p>I’m kind of confused what music technology actually is. If you describe it to me, I might know a University-like program that can help you.</p>
<p>Also, if you like calculations but not really science, some options are accounting, finance, statistics… and if you like computers, you can do Computer Science or MIS. All of these fields I have mentioned have phenomenal career opportunities. Management Information Systems, a computer-focused business degree at my school, has some 97% employment rate in the field within a year of graduation. That stat might be wrong, but it is very high and is the most employed degree at my school.</p>
<p>What about advertising ? What major should I take to lean towards that ? I have always been interested with commercials and advertisements but I have no experience in Digital Media Art or anything like that, I am willing to learn though, might consider trying a course in college. What do you think ?</p>
<p>Advertising? There is no program for graphic design at my U (maybe it exists elsewhere) but if you want to be the one who helps create the ideas for commercials (instead of just designing them), a Marketing major might be best for you. This is also a Business major though. Most graphic design places only need some kind of associate’s degree at like AI or such.</p>
<p>Marketing would make your parents happy and it’s very broad. Some deal with the advertising aspects for a corporation (typically much higher up on the ladder) and some research to see who these products should be targeted for, how a product could be improved in the eyes of a customer, or they work as sales representatives. If advertising is something you would like, I think the best option might be a marketing major and a minor in graphic design or something along the lines of “graphic design”. </p>
<p>It’s okay to be undecided in what you want to do… but you seem to bounce around in interests. It’s not bad at all, actually good in a way, you will just have to narrow down what you would like to do most for a career. What would provide more interest, a possibly low burn-out rate for yourself (who wants to be forty and is already thinking about switching careers?), good opportunities, would allow for a lifestyle you want to live, and also what cons you would be willing to deal with for that career. For an example, engineers get fantastic pay and great hours, but some can work in undesirable places (oil wells) and a lot of plants aren’t in big cities. If one is willing to sacrifice for said great pay and great hours, it can be a very rewarding career.</p>
<p>Recently I’ve been thinking that Marketing would be good, but is it possible if I minor in Music Industry Studies ? Also, how do you decide or determine if a major and a minor would be compatible ? Or is it just from how the employer will see you on the resume ?</p>
<p>Another question, in marketing would I be most likely working in the office ? Can I lean on towards media from taking a major in marketing ? Also, if entirely possible I do not want to study much on graphics design cuz I’m kinda sure my skills in drawing kinda sucks…</p>
<p>Graphic Design doesn’t necessarily involve “drawing” in the sense but more or so skills with Photoshop and a few other computer programs. To me, Photoshop is extremely complicated but if you have access to it I would try it out. Easy for some, hard for others. But if you know that’s not what you want to do, then that’s fine.</p>
<p>A minor is made to “supplement” your major. For an example, I will use myself. I plan on going into healthcare management (i.e. running a hospital) so I am currently majoring in Public Health which gives me the basis that I am qualified for more hospital/nonprofit/health work, but I am minoring in Business Administration to show that I also have more management skills and can understand business. This can also work in reverse for me, but not always for others. Your minor should either help specialize you, or give you more skills that would be beneficial (like a foreign language). Some also get minors just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>Marketing would typically involve office work. Yes you can lean towards media in Marketing and you pretty much have to in this day and age. I haven’t heard of “music industry studies” but if it exists than sure why not. Do what you would like to do.</p>
<p>Firstly, if you don’t really care for business, DO NOT major in it. It will drain the freaking life out of you to major in something you don’t like. I understand the need to make money and the fear you have when you want to major in something that doesn’t have the most clear cut or lucrative career path. I was thinking about going into the field of computational linguistics because I liked linguistics but wanted to do something to make money so I slapped computer science onto it. I was excited about it for a while but ultimately realized I shouldn’t be doing something just for the money, I should be studying my true passion. Since then, I’ve decided on a sociology major but have decided to have linguistics as a minor because that’s where my heart is. I don’t know if I’ll make much money or what the heck I’ll be able to do for a career, but I’m going for it. As an extra little anecdote, neither of my parents have college degrees but they are both comfortable in their careers and make more than enough to get by, so try not to worry too much about that aspect of it.</p>
<p>As for what to major in, it can be a hard decision. As you can see by my story I have a crazy broad range of interests and picking a major was the hardest thing in the world for me, because I felt like no matter what I choose I’m forgoing something else that I like. But it seems you have a different reason for your problem. All the same, I sympathize. If you’re unsure about whether you have the biggest passion for Music Tech and Sound Design, take a class in it! I find that that usually either charges people up for a major in the field or encourages them to take a different path. Either way, it’s always productive in helping you make a decision. If there are other paths you are even entertaining a little, I suggest you take some classes in those as well. I’d put money on the fact that at the end of an exploratory semester like that, you’ll be significantly closer to a decision if not decided. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>endiabanana I feel exactly the same way… I have decided that I want to major in Music Tech… However I was wondering if any comm college credits are transferrable to music unis that include music tech or sound design majors ?</p>