I have trouble finding the right major and college

College Search & Selection
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<p>I am interested in marketing/advertising, psychology, sociology, communications, and subjects that deal with people. I am leaning towards a career in advertising where I can create slogans and advertising campaigns or a career in marketing where I can research target groups for my company and create marketing strategies. I read online that a degree in marketing/advertising is not needed to get a job in those fields. I'm hoping to have a degree that would open many job opportunities to me. In other words, I'm looking a major that would provide the most flexibility in the job market. Would a degree in marketing/advertising limit me? Would it be better for me to major in psychology? Would a degree in psychology let me get a job in advertising? I wouldn't mind becoming a psychologist either; I'm just leaning towards a career in marketing/advertising. </p>

<p>Unfortunately I had learned from XPAPAX, a person on yahoo answers, that none of the majors I listed above are useful in the real world. XPAPAX said that Marketing/advertising and psychology doesn't really help in getting careers since it is really competitive in those fields. Although XPAPAX said not to get a degree in psychology, I'm still open to that idea. XPAPAX recommended that I get a major in Business and a minor in Marketing/Advertising. If I was to major in Business, what area should I major in? I'm hoping to have many jobs when I grow up because I like exploring and having different jobs. I'm hoping to become a Wedding MC, a Real Estate Agent, and an advertiser/marketer. Would majoring in business help me get any of those jobs? And which type of business should I major in?</p>

<p>Sorry if I was confusing. Here's a recap of what I'm trying to say:
I am interested in advertising/marketing and psychology. I hope to become a Wedding MC, a Real Estate Agent, and an advertiser/marketer. I would like to work in an office and I would definitely love working outdoors. In terms of my interests, job salaries, job opportunities, flexibility in the job market, and course difficulty in college, which major should I pick? And based on that major, which college would be right for me?</p>

<p>I live in California, so I'm trying to look for a college in California. My scores aren't great and honestly, I don't think I can even get into a UC. I'm not top 15% of my class.
Here are my grades:
Unweighted GPA: 3.2 Weighted GPA: 3.5 UCGPA: 3.43
I scored 2020 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT. I will be taking SAT IIs in my senior year.
I took 3 AP courses and I scored a 5 on Calc AB, 3 on English Lit/Comp, 3 on Chem. I'm hoping to get into a college that is in the top 100 of the country. So preferably, not any Cal States or Community/city colleges. </p>

<p>So again here are my main questions. In terms of my interests, job salaries, job opportunities, flexibility in the job market, and course difficulty in college, which major should I pick? And based on that major and my scores, which college would be right for me?
Thanks! </p>

<p>P.S. Sorry, if I was any bit confusing. I hope that someone will be able to answer my questions. If you need any clarifications, just ask and I'll be glad to clarify! And sorry if this is the wrong section to ask about this topic. ):</p>

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<p>Look at schools that offer a strong entrepreneurial option. Sometimes, such programs aren’t restricted to business majors. You would be better off not looking so much at the rankings but rather things like graduation rates, location, size, and so on. If you want to stay in California, it shouldn’t be hard to generate a list and start eliminating colleges that are too big, don’t rank in the top 100, etc.</p>

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<p>psychology, sociology, communications …along with several others are what are known as basket weaving majors! when you are going to school for the college experience and not to also advance your future employment options…those majors would be in line with what you read.</p>

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<p>Nonsense.</p>

<p>It all depends on the school and the program of study. People who go into market research will most often have a strong statistical research background, like that found in rigorous psych and sociology majors. People who go into the creative side will have degrees in all kinds of things, from English to Art to graphics. If any major is meaningless, it is “business.” As a minor, it might be useful.</p>

<p>If you are interested in advertising and marketing, what you probably need are demonstrated quantitative skills, demonstrated creativity, demonstrated facility with contemporary marketing media such as social networks, and a great personality. Majoring in something you love that gives you relevant skills, doing well in it, and having excellent internships are probably the path to success.</p>

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<p>Here’s one thing I will tell you right now: Random people on the Internet should not be the deciding factor in abandoning what you are interested in. </p>

<p>Your scores are pretty good. Just start researching schools on CollegeBoard. Some universities may have Advertising/Marketing within the business school or the arts & sciences school. Look at degree plans for different marketing programs on schools’ websites to see what they involve.</p>

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<p>Don’t abandon what you’re interested in, but also understand that marketing is not a technical degree like engineering or CS. Nobody will expect that you are a good candidate for their position simply because of your degree, and graduating with good grades will be no guarantee of success.</p>

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<p>andy samberg touched on this subject a couple of months ago in an address to harvard students! it was humurous and can be seen on you tube.</p>

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<p>Zoboward, you fail to recognize humor. Andy Samberg was merely mocking the attitudes that quite a few people have regarding non STEM degrees. Consider the source. In the speech, he joked that he rejected Harvard, rather than having Harvard reject him. He went to UC Santa Cruz and then NYU to major in film, a degree most people consider useless.</p>

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<p>whenhen reread my last line “it was humorous” then explain your line I fail to recognize humor.</p>

<p>and stats wise samberg is an anomaly.
where are about 95 % of his class mates? a few have “made it” in the biz and the rest? probably not in show biz or film! but still having really large debt to pay off!</p>

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<p>You are right that your chances are not high for most of the UCs, but you might have a shot at UC Riverside or UC Merced.</p>

<p>I’m not sure why you are dismissing the CSUs… you can get a solid, practical education at many of the CSUs. In any case, you should apply to some of the CSUs for financial safeties. Even if you were to get into a private school, it doesn’t necessarily mean you could afford it… it all depends on the financial aid they offer.</p>

<p>I would reconsider your dismissal of the CSUs and spend some real time looking at the 23 campuses… you are bound to find a few that you really like.</p>

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<p>Thanks guys! I think I will get a minor in Marketing or Finance or some other Business thing. Would a degree in Communications or Psychology be more flexible and more useful in the job market? And also are there any colleges that you guys can recommend for a Business (particularly Marketing/Advertising and Finance) minor and my interests? (preferably in California, but other states are ok too!)<br>
P.S. I read your replies and they were funny haah :)</p>

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<p>So how do I demonstrate quantitative skills and creativity besides have internships? Would a particular degree help demonstrate this?</p>

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<p>There’s no “besides have internships”, really. You’ll need some degree, and it’s helpful if that degree teaches you useful things, but nobody’s going to assume you’re good at any aspect of marketing simply because your degree says so.</p>

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<p>I have Asain parents haha. They told me that they would not pay for my education if I went to a college besides the UCs. They said that they would only pay for my education if they feel that the college is good. But I will look into the CSUs. Based on my interests, which CSU would you recommend?</p>

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<p>What degree would you recommend me getting? I’m debating on Communications, Finance, or Psychology. But I am open to any other suggestions. Would Business Administration help? I heard it was a pretty useless degree to get though.</p>

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<p>You can demonstrate relevant quantitative skills by taking math courses and doing well in them, and by doing research that involves analysis of data, whether that be your own research or that conducted by a professor for whom you work. You can demonstrate creativity by having a great portfolio, preferably with published clips. You can do promotional work for student organizations, small businesses…use your imagination and be entrepreneurial. You really MUST have internships in today’s context. Leaving aside anything else, the contacts you make there will help you get a job, if you make a favorable impression and are lucky.</p>

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<p>The first thing you need to do is get off Yahoo Answers. Too many people there have zero clue what they’re talking about.</p>

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<p>Soo what UCs and colleges would you guys recommend for me?</p>