I can't decide on a major?

College Majors
1

I need to decide on a major like now. I transferred from community college to a 4 year university so I have completed the majority of gen ed requirements. I still can’t decide on a major. I have no strengths, talents, or academic interests so it’s hard.

I’ve been debating between pharmaceutical science, computer science, and nutrition.

I would meet with an advisor but I don’t really think they will help that much. I’ve taken personality tests too and they were no help. Lastly, I never enjoyed any of my gen ed classes so it’s hard to choose from experience.

2

Well. I mean, you’re only hurting yourself. There is nothing you have an interest in? Why are you in college? The line about “I would meet with an advisor but I don’t really think they will help that much,” is only partly true. They aren’t going to help you because you have no direction. If you said, “I like science” or math or literature or history or art or design or agriculture or engineering or animal science or literally any broad subject, they would be able to help you.

Unless you can answer that question, it might be better to go back to community college and get an AA in something where you can immediately work with it. Otherwise you are up for ~3 years of indecision, misery, and disinterest.

3

Do you prefer chemistry or biology or math?

4

I prefer chemistry.

5

Posted before I was done.

Do you like to interact with people or do you prefer to work on your own? Do you want to work in a hospital setting or drug store or not? Do you like to have some autonomy or creative outlet or do you like defined tasks? Have you ever worked with someone in those fields? Have you taken courses in those fields?

6

Chemistry would point to the pharmaceutical sciences.

7

bouders - I prefer to have at least some interaction with people. I don’t mind working in a hospital or drug store, however I prefer not to do one on one care with patients at a hospital. I like defined tasks. I have not worked with anyone in those fields. I study chemistry on my own time outside of school but I haven’t taken a chem class yet.

And with regards to pharmaceutical science, is it a major where you can get a decent paying job after college? That’s where I’m not sure.

8

I was surprised to hear that pharmaceutical science is even a major; it seems unnecessarily narrow for an undergraduate major. The few undergraduate programs I have found it in seem to indicate that the curriculum begins with a foundation in the basic sciences of chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as mathematics. Your upper-level classes are then focused on “aspects of drug design and synthesis, mechanisms of drug action, pharmacology and toxicology, dosage formulation, manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance”.

One of the schools with these programs listed careers that majors may pursue:

Consumer safety officers
Drug analysts
Manufacturing/production technologists
Marketing/sales drug detail representatives
Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers
Research associates in: Bioanalysis, drug delivery, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics
Science librarians

Peace Corps volunteer isn’t really a career, and anyone can do that. I am skeptical about the research associate thing; I’m pretty sure that most well-paying research associate positions (either at universities or at pharmaceutical companies) require at least an MS. There may be some entry-level research technician positions at some of these places that only require a BS. The science librarian thing made me raise an eyebrow. First of all, librarian position are soooooooo competitive. Second of all, almost all of them require that you have an MLIS/MLS (master’s in library (and information) science), and/or a PhD in a science field. The first half of the list is probably doable, but more achievable if you intend to get a master’s.

But I do believe that the same options are open to you as they are to, say, a chemistry major. In other words, don’t expect a fancy pharmaceutical research position. However, you could probably go into pharmaceutical sales (and the major may give you an advantage, although you could do that with any major). You could also go into healthcare consulting or business, particularly at hospitals and health insurers. It’s probably excellent preparation for pharmacy school.

If you study chemistry on your own time outside of school, that’s an interest. So chemistry or pharmaceutical sciences sounds like a good option for a major for you.