<p>Hi everyone, I wanted to thank you all first off for reading my post. Basically what it boils down to is I have no idea what I want to do as my major. My favorite thing in school is international relations. I love talking about diplomacy, different countries, etc. However, I've been told you can't really make a good living off a foreign relations major. I also love economics, especially the stock market, but I've been told that the economic job sector is controlled by mostly Ivy graduates (I am applying to several Ivy schools, but am not sure on if I will get in.) Finally, ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a doctor. I loved biology(not as much as Economics and foreign relations though), liked chemistry, but hated physics. Sorry for the rant, I just don't know what I'm going to do, and it seems like I have to decide now (as a Senior in high school). If any of you had some thought or insight I'd really appreciate anything. Thanks for all the help.</p>
<p>Unless you’re applying to certain schools within a university, I don’t see any reason why you have to decide at this point.</p>
<p>“I also love economics, especially the stock market, but I’ve been told that the economic job sector is controlled by mostly Ivy graduates (I am applying to several Ivy schools, but am not sure on if I will get in.)”</p>
<p>While there apparently is a bias among Wall St. investment banks to hire fellow Ivy grads, this is only one economic sector. Financial institutions and services exist in every major city. Economics is a diverse field with opportunities in both the private and public sector, and preparation for graduate/professional study in numerous fields. You can usefully combine your interests in international affairs and economics, e.g., international business, development & microfinance, etc. You can even work your science interests into it, e.g., global health, international environmental/energy/resource economics, etc. </p>
<p>As the previous poster mentioned, you don’t need to settle on a field right away.</p>
<p>Just major in chemistry and sell drugs after graduation.</p>
<p>You have your science, business, and even law enforcement experience.</p>
<p>In your first two years of college, unless you are in engineering school or some other technical program, you will most likely be taking a broad range of courses to fulfill distribution requirements. This will allow you to sort out your interests and probable major. If you think you might want to apply to medical school, don’t sign up for the “physics for poets” or “rocks for jocks” sort of science courses, but real science courses, which are more interesting anyhow if you have even a modicum of math/science aptitude. Premed requirements (2 years of chemistry, 1 year of biology, 1 year of calculus, and 1 year of physics) are not all that extensive and can easily be combined with a social science major if you like. If you decide to bail on premed after a year or so, you’ve still got your science distribution requirement completed.</p>
<p>I use a good website that might help you its career.berkeley.edu. You can choose a variety of majors for instance click on International and it will give you different career paths within that major. It also has great links to learn about internships and you can take on-line assessments that can also help. The key is not to stress out about your major because it will likely change…it is a journey to discover what you will be happy doing…it doesn’t happen overnight.</p>