<p>Should a college student choose a major based on how likely the student will be able to get a job or based on how interested the student is on the subject?
I just feel that there is too much pressure for the student to choose a major that has good job prospects instead of a subject the student is passionate about.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>If you’re truly inspired by a major (and good at it) then go into it with eyes wide open - you’ll love what you do but may have to work your butt off to make a living. This is a frequent issue with music/art majors.</p>
<p>My suggestion would be to major in what you love, but make sure you acquire some saleable job skills along the way - computer skills, organizational skills, language skills - and/or some work experience that is relevant to your future career goals. It also helps to be prepared to do a lot of networking (talking to alums, family friends, professors) about what you want to do later so they can help you make the connections you will need.</p>
<p>Basically something that you’re very interested in and hopefully have some natural skill for.</p>
<p>It depends how important money is to you. Some people are perfectly happy going off to Africa and living with apes because they love field research so much. Others want to be able to afford the latest toys and gadgets and fine restaurants, etc. The lucky ones are those who are good at what they love and who love professions that happen to pay highly. There is no right path for everyone and each choice you make comes with strings attached. Investment bankers often live in high cost of living areas and work very long hours. They have to love what they do because they do it 10 hours a day. I have a friend who is an executive who travels nearly every week - to Asia and Europe and South America. She is home every weekend to be with her kids, but her husband and an aide (“errand-runner”) take care of the household during the week. She absolutely loves her job and makes loads of money, but I know people who would just hate all that flying and hate being away from home during the week and hate all the meetings and political aspects of the job. I have another friend who went to med school, but specialized in rural medicine because he loves living in the wilderness. He doesn’t make near the income of an urban specialist doctor, but he loves the tiny town where he lives and the ability to go for a hike or go fishing on his days off. The worst, in my opinion, would be to work long hours at a job you disliked and be trapped in a living situation you don’t like - either a bad neighborhood or a long commute or with huge loans to pay off or high medical bills for a sick family member. And, if you choose a major that pays well that you don’t like, you could just end up in this situation. Not very many jobs that pay well actually pay well enough that you will have tons of money. You have to be successful in your job to get the big bucks and that will only come if you like what you do and you are good at it and you have some good luck along the way.</p>
<p>ricegal, I agree with everything you said. You are very wise.</p>
<p>danceclass: Thanks! Not so wise, though, just old! Seen enough of what life can throw at you.</p>
<p>I doubt there are many investment bankers who work as little as ten hours on a typical day.</p>
<p>If it were my child, I would say to major in something she’s interested in. Although I am not familiar with ALL of the new majors that have been conceived in the past twenty years or so, I do believe that if you strongly believe in and have an interest in the area of expertise, you will be able to find or create a job in that area. Even if it’s History, for example. One job prospect for that major could include working in a history museum, which are sprawling all over the country. With the same major, you could also go to graduate school and work in politics, a la Bush.</p>
<p>“Do what you love, and love what you do.”</p>
<p>Forget about what you think will make you the most money for a future career or what you think others will be impressed by; none of that is relevant if you truly dislike what you are doing and you are not passionate about it. Figure out what you’re passionate about and what you’re good at.</p>
<p>If you’re good at math and you love it, go for it. You can always be a professor of mathematics. </p>
<p>If you’re good at History and you love it, go for it. You can always write books, teach, etc.</p>
<p>Your options are endless.</p>