I’m an incoming freshman from Tunisia, and I’m having a hard time deciding what I wanna study. I’m mainly into STEM (mathematics, computer science, data science, chemistry, physics, neuroscience) but also into other things (literature and creative writing, media). I know that I can’t do it all, but I’d like to major in something that would be intellectually stimulating and give me options later on in life.
So far, here’s the list of majors I’m looking into: • Chemical and Biological Engineering • Chemistry • Civil and Environmental Engineering • Computer Science • Economics • Electrical Engineering • Independent Concentration • Mathematics • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering • Neuroscience • Operations Research and Financial Engineering • Physics • Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
I’ve been looking a lot into the ORFE department lately and it combines my interests quite nicely, but I got the impression that it funnels students en masse into finance, which although I think I’d enjoy, is not something I’d draw satisfaction from or would make me feel that I’m making the world a better place. As of now, I’d love to launch my own business after graduation, either in tech (biotech, decision making, media), or do research for the corporate world that makes people’s lives better (like OpenBCI developing brain-computer interfaces, doing genomics somewhere ethical… you get my drift). I don’t know much about the other departments, but I’d like to chat a bit with students in the different departments I mentioned above. If you think I could be a fit for your dept. as well, comment as well! I could use alllll the help I could possibly get.
Take a deep breath and do not worry about choosing a major until you reach campus. The required freshman courses for Chemical and Biological Engineering • Chemistry • Civil and Environmental Engineering • Computer Science • Electrical Engineering • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering • Operations Research and Financial Engineering • and Physics are very similar. The residential college advisers (RCA) can help you select courses and understand each major. A freshman seminar may enable you to explore a new subject like Neuroscience. You should also consider the Program in Entrepreneurship. See: https://kellercenter.princeton.edu/learn/program-in-entrepreneurship and joining the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club. You can use your freshman and sophomore years to explore many subjects. Enjoy that freedom. Take courses in literature and creative writing. During your junior and senior years you will take mostly courses related to your major and perhaps your certificate.
Many finance jobs are offered to ORFE graduates. However, many large corporations hire graduates with OR skills as OR analysts, system engineers, project managers, consultants, business analysts, etc. “In the health care field, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York used operations research to design a radiation treatment plan for prostate patients using sophisticated modeling and computation techniques.” https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/operations-research-analyst Enjoy the next four years, Tiger.
Thank you so much @PtonAlumnus. Your words are really comforting. I just went ahead and started following all the entrepreneurship circles of Princeton in preparation for September.
What major did you do, if I may ask?
Electrical engineering before Princeton had a computer science major. I took OR courses at MIT in grad school and interviewed for several OR jobs (oil industry and banking). I have worked mostly as an IT manager.
Hey prefrosh, I’m a rising junior in the economics department. I’m glad you have so many interests and have desires to help the world - I think Princeton could always use more people like you. You’re right that a lot of ORFE kids end up working at investment banks and large tech companies (and, to a lesser extent, consulting firms). If I were you, I’d look into the COS (computer science) majors. COS at Princeton is split into two degrees: a bachelors of arts degree (AB), and a bachelors of science in engineering degree (BSE). I’m not the best person to explain all the differences, since I’m not super familiar with them, but I think you in particular might find the A.B. COS major appealing. Both AB and BSE COS majors receive the same training in computer science theory and applications, but the AB major offers the flexibility of a liberal arts degree. You’ll take electives across a range of distribution areas - history, social analysis, literature, ethics, and epistemology, to name a few. As an AB major, you’ll also study a foreign language and do independent work in your junior and senior years. The AB major offers the intellectual flexibility that you seem to desire.
@TunisKid I think @normanxi gives great advice on AB COS. Son is ORFE, and loves history and writing. He took two freshmen seminars and a writing seminar, all had zero overlap with ORFE. He liked his entrepreneurial courses at the Keller Center as well. Princeton offers you tons of EC opportunities too. Best advice for your situation is to enjoy your first year, make friends with diverse interests, go “wide” with your classes, then make up your mind on BSE vs AB end of first year.
@normanxi@psywar thanks for the solid advice. I’ll probably end up doing that as well (taking a bunch of humanities courses in my first year as well as math and seeing how it all feels) and then decide from there whether or not I want to pursue engineering full-on or enjoy the flexibility of AB to mix and mash my courses and get a more well-rounded education. Thanks!