<p>I made a thread like this before but the answers weren't too helpful.
Anyway, I will be a freshman in college next year, but I have no idea what I am going to major in or what I am going to do with my life. I feel as if my life has hit a dead end right now. I can't even think of what I will be doing with my life 5 years from now. I know I still have time to decide, but time flies fast, and I feel as if I should know at least a little what I want to do. </p>
<p>I have given up on everything I have previously wanted to do, such as going to med school, because 1) people have easily discouraged me, 2)they just don't seem interesting anymore.</p>
<p>I don't have many interests at all. All I really like to do is sit on my computer all day and browse the internet. I am on my computer everyday for hours. I like astronomy too, but not the math part of it and certainly not enough to major in it. </p>
<p>How can I figure out what I should major in and be when I graduate?</p>
<p>You’ve still got time to figure it out. If you have no idea when you get to school, chance are you’ll have some required set of GE classes. Use those to explore, try out different areas that don’t sound totally awful… you’re bound to find something you enjoy. It sounds like you’re already ruling out math/engineering, so that’s a good start I guess. :P</p>
<p>We can’t tell you what to major in, though. Gotta figure out what’s best for you.</p>
<p>A lot of people go in very undecided. The system is geared up for that. Look for colleges that have a variety of options and feel like a good fit socially and for your learning style. Also look into the undeclared programs that they have.
You’re not expected to know your life plan as a high school senior. I thought I did, and then my plans changed fairly dramatically once I actually started college. Don’t stress out about that too much yet.</p>
<p>There’s no such thing as a major that you will like 100% and love every aspect of it. So if you really like astronomy and think you can do well in it, go for that despite not liking the math part.
If computer is what you seem to know a lot about, consider majoring in something related to that.
Well right now what you wanna do is just rule out all the things you don’t want to major in. You know yourself best, so think about what you absolutely cannot do for whatever reasons (too hard, not interesting, not “cool” lol) and then look more into the ones that you did not rule out.</p>
<p>To buy yourself time for the decision, get all your general education requirements out of the way first. You might realize you do or don’t like certain subjects through taking those classes. Beyond that, I would browse the course catalog and see if anything catches your eye. Looking at the prerequisites helps rule some out (I didnt realize IT required so much math!) If I think I might like a topic, I look up what the textbook for the class is and try to look at a sample to get a better idea if I might enjoy the class or not. Beyond that, Id recommend talking to an advisor and/or checking out one of the books out there on the topic of choosing a major. Upon reading one such book I realized a major I was interested in could lead to more career options than I realized. These books can also help you figure out what jobs are good for different personality types.</p>
<p>If you spend so much time in front of a computer doing general browsing/social networking/watching videos and the like, then there is no wonder why you don’t have many interests (I was just like you in high school ). Many high schools have limited elective options, and if you’re not getting out and exploring the world then it can be very difficult to know what all of your options are. As you enter college and take a wider variety of electives, interact with different people, and gain new experiences, your interests will become more clear. There is no problem with enrolling undecided or changing majors after a few semesters.</p>
<p>Thanks. I just don’t want to get a degree in something worthless and then have to get a job that has nothing to do with my major. Anyway, it’s pretty much too late to find an interest. Since I was little, I’ve only ever wanted to stay inside all day alone. It didn’t matter what I did, as long as human contact was kept at a minimum. I don’t like being around people for extended periods of time, so that explains why I just stay inside all day.</p>
<p>@overbyen, I like astronomy, but not to the point where I would invest my life in it. That would probably be my minor instead.</p>
<p>It is very common and your situation, in my opinion, is not unique. At the age of 18, I think, most freshman are looking forward to “College Life” with lots of dream but not so much of passion for a particular career path/profession. As they progress, they find their own path and move ahead. Yes, in many cases, the profession of the parents or family pressure may force some specific routes at the time of entry. Whether it is right or wrong, that’s a different discussion altogether:)</p>
<p>Hey guys, sorry I haven’t responded in a while. I’ve just been doing research and getting schoolwork taken care of. </p>
<p>So I found something that interests me, but I AM a little embarrassed (for a lack of a better word) to say it, because how many times I have sai on this forum that I don’t like math. I really like computers and the internet so I thought, why don’t I major in computer science?</p>
<p>One of you may have suggested that, and if you did thanks!</p>
<p>Do you guys think I can manage that major if I tried and studied? I want to be optimistic but I feel realistically, I may not be able to do it.</p>
<p>Computer science is a wonderful field to be in. There’s certainly going to be some math involved in it though. Generally, you’ll have to take the full calculus sequence, plus discrete mathematics, and possibly linear algebra. You’ll also have to take the introductory physics sequence at most schools. Probability theory is a typical(and highly recommended) math class.</p>
<p>It’s definitely a fairly math heavy major, though not as math heavy as some other majors. A lot of schools will have some of the math courses geared specifically towards computer science majors.</p>
<p>If you’re still undecided though, the best thing to do is just get in there and start taking some gened classes. Take a wide array of classes your first semester or two and see if anything catches your interest. They’re all classes that you’ll have to take anyway, so it’s a win-win. College advisers can be very helpful with dragging your interests out of you too. You say you don’t have many interests, but I can basically assure you that you do. Everyone has interests. Some of them might not seem that relevant to a college major, but you might be surprised. There are a lot of different majors out there.</p>
<p>@wontgetin
Wait why don’t you like math? Is it cause you’re not good at it or what.
I thought the same way about math because I started off in a low class and never saw myself doing higher math because I failed precalc in hs. Was always reconsidering diff majors because of it but I just went for compsci anyway. Still working myself up, in calc 2 right now and its actually not that bad if you try hard and retain info from previous classes.</p>
<p>Have you ever taken calculus before? A lot of people that find algebra dry and boring end up finding calculus fascinating. Algebra obviously has a lot of applications to the world, but calculus has so many MORE applications to the real world. Personally, I don’t understand how anyone could possibly NOT find calculus fascinating. It’s an incredibly elegant thing to study.</p>
<p>@jn26083, I guess I don’t like math because because honestly, I have always gotten B’s in it, since 7th grade, and I believe I am not good at it. It is probably because I don’t try and then I EXPECT to fail a test. It’s like a bad cycle, if that makes sense. I have always been more of a science person instead. </p>
<p>I have taken Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2, and Stats. I’ve never taken anything else. I tried to at least take Pre-Calc this final year but I didn’t. I am such an idiot for not taking it. I would have to start in Pre-Calc as a freshman in college.
I don’t know if this will put me behind so I won’t be able to graduate in 4 years.
Should I try to find a class at my local community college over the summer?</p>
<p>Math: … how far behind could you be? Start with Pre-calc, then Calc 1. Sophomore fall you can take Calc 2. Then it branches and gets less linear, and you can take multivariate, linear/diff eq, discrete math, etc. Any physics requirements you should be able to take after Calc 1. Circuits (if it’s required) might require a year of physics. So none of that would put you behind if you took it during normal terms.</p>
<p>But keep in mind that enjoying playing on computers/internet doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy being a CS major. I would suggest finding a basic level CS class (intro to programming, or a humanities type of CS class, whatever) to get a feel for it. Then decide if you really want to go that route. There’s a lot of math (the fun kind of math) and logic involved in it. I don’t say this to discourage you, it just tends to be a very STEM route so it’d be good to figure out early if you enjoy it. :)</p>
<p>And yes, you can succeed in any field, regardless of whether or not you have prior experience in it. If you want it, go for it!</p>
<p>Do you think it is worth it to get a CS degree from a state school instead of an Ivy League school? Would it be a waste of time or would aI still be able to get a good job?</p>
). Many high schools have limited elective options, and if you’re not getting out and exploring the world then it can be very difficult to know what all of your options are. As you enter college and take a wider variety of electives, interact with different people, and gain new experiences, your interests will become more clear. There is no problem with enrolling undecided or changing majors after a few semesters.</p>