Geology and Art History

Transfer Students
1

<p>Okay I am an incoming freshman to college and I'm not quite sure what should I do. I am currently enrolled at NYU as a Liberal Studies student. I will be leaving to spend my freshman year in Paris (mandatory in the program) next week. I am currently set to be an Art History major and the program is honestly the best thing I can ask for for my major. </p>

<p>The only thing is that recently (within like the last three months) I've realized I would also REALLY love to at least take a few courses in geology. </p>

<p>I know that EVERY college student goes though this period of "I'm not sure what i'm suppose to do" and "What major should I choose" but I've honestly been deciding between these two, all though high school, and can easily read textbooks/learn independently in both subjects. I self studies AP Art History junior year and loved it, and have been doing science olympiad events in Earth Science/learning since middle school. Crazy as it sounds I've been trying to learn as much as possible about both these subjects over the summer.</p>

<p>The only problem is that NYU doesn't offer a geology, nor even a similar program (unless you count environmental studies, but even that has an "urban focus" at NYU). </p>

<p>Furthermore, the program I was excepted too has a set curriculum for the first year, with all humanities classes. Science and math classes aren't even offered on campus. I've been cross admitted to a French university, but I've done some research and the university is also humanities focused. (Plus my French is horrible)</p>

<p>I love my school, I love the program, I love the fact that I am going to be studying abroad my freshman year, but I still want to take one or two introductory geology courses to make sure I'm not missing something I could really go through with. </p>

<p>I'm really not trying to flaunt that fact that I'll be in Paris, or understate that this is a total "first world problem", but I would feel guilty if I ended up spending all my parents money on a degree that I'm not completely happy with.</p>

<p>What should I do?</p>

2

<p>I’ve always been somewhat critical of the way NYU runs itself, especially its foreign campuses and the split between many undergraduate and graduate programs (including art history). This practice of sending freshmen abroad seems totally suspect.</p>

<p>In any case, yes, I’d encourage you to check out geology. At the risk of stepping on toes, art history is a major that’s not terribly useful without a graduate degree, and even then competition for jobs is extraordinarily fierce. Geology would be far more practical, I think. </p>

<p>If you have room in your schedule, you might try arranging an independent study. Otherwise, transferring is always an option.</p>