I Just Need Help

College Majors
1

Hi everyone, I’m a current freshman at college, and like a lot of other freshmen, I’m so lost. To be a tad bit more specific, I really just don’t know what I want to do with my life.

While my strongest subject is, and always has been, English (literary analysis and writing), I am also strong when it comes to sciences and math. Currently, I am an undeclared engineering major considering a possible double in English, but other than that I don’t know what to do.

My interests are scattered all over the board. I love visual arts, designing, building, journalism, chemistry, bio, math, the environment; it’s a lot to say the least. I’ve always been told I’d be really good at architecture, and that is one of my interests, but unfortunately my school only offers that as a minor (although I am planning on grad school).

Basically, one of my ideas right now is to get a degree in Environmental Engineering (a division of civil at my school), grab the minor in Architectural studies, and then either double major or minor in visual arts. Hopefully, when combined with grad school, I would be able to either go into landscape architecture or design sustainable homes and buildings, both of which are interests for me.

I really just wanna know how viable something like this is, and see if I can talk to anyone who has done anything like this. Aside from this, I really don’t have any other ideas that build towards a certain career path. I really only know I like design, science, writing, and math.

Any help with be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

2

That sounds like too much. Two majors and two minors? Engineering is already a rigorous major that is difficult to combine; architecture and visual arts are like that too. Lots of sequenced classes; visual arts is going to have studio classes to take.

You don’t have to major in everything that you like. Everyone has varied interests; that doesn’t mean that every one of them needs to become your major or part of your career. I love writing, history, and psychology; my job uses a lot of psychology, and I write and read historical books in my spare time. You can design sustainable homes and buildings with either an environmental engineering major or an architecture major - you don’t need both. Maybe you could take some of the classes in architectural design, take some art classes as electives, and combine those experiences into your eventual career.

Also…it’s totally normal to not know what you want to do with your life at age 19. I’m actually working in a full-time job and I don’t know what I want to do with my life. I know that I like doing what I’m doing right now, but in 5 or 10 years from now maybe I’ll still be here or maybe I’ll change careers. That goes for you, too - right now your job is to pick something that sounds interesting and awesome to you now, and train for that with an eye to building skills that you enjoy. Over time your career will develop from there.