<p>Would you take a safer career in something practical - such as nursing/engineering/accounting - where you actually possess some degree of interest and ability but value financial security more</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Would you gamble with a more intellectually pure subject you possess great passion and ability but uncertain financial prospects?</p>
<p>I chose intellectual (Arts & Humanities, Medical anthropology, bioethics) and I’ve really never lacked for a job.</p>
<p>Financial Security.</p>
<p>I can’t really see myself liking any job unless I own a business or I’m a celebrity who has fun all day. I really don’t understand why people say “Do something you love” because when I do that something I love a billion times everyday from 8-5, I don’t think I 'll like it as much as I did when I first started.</p>
<p>I think the ones who say this legitimately love doing what they do a billion times a day.</p>
<p>When I graduated high school (waaaaaaaay back in 2003) everyone told us we should study computer science or go into nursing and teaching. Those were the jobs with the most need, they were the way of the future, demand would never drop off.</p>
<p>That didn’t go well for everyone.</p>
<p>I’m going to keep on with my biology major and just work to find a niche I like.</p>
<p>I’m just going to follow what I love( astronomy/physics) and pray it works out. I mean, at some point or another, people have good me that every major outside of business or medicine would be pointless, so I might as well take a risk on my passion. I can’t contemplate having a job I hate, spending 40 hr/wk there for most of my life unless I had some really good reason for it( children to feed, etc)</p>
<p>If what you want to study does not have particularly well paid job and career prospects, be extra careful about avoiding or minimizing student loan debt.</p>
<p>For me, the first option. I actually am majoring in political science, which is not a great major for finding a job. But am targeting law school, thinking about focusing on accq/mergers once I get to my 3rd year of law school.</p>
<p>Who ever said that they are mutually exclusive?</p>
<p>Can you provide an example of a major that is both?</p>
<p>It seems like an oxymoron that a major can be both practical and intellectually abstract as well as being both a safe and risky career.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I made a division between a major that one is somewhat interested and skilled in versus a major one is deeply passionate about and talented in.</p>
<p>I don’t see how a major can be both.</p>
<p>If I had something I was really passionate about, I’d choose it. But until then, option 1. </p>
<p>…Aaand that sounds really pathetic (not having something I’m passionate about that translates into any kind of job).</p>
<p>I’m choosing intellectual and I’m just hoping it works out, because hopefully I’ll be happy. :)</p>
<p>I obviously haven’t chosen the first path - I’ve followed my passion for history and academic research. Despite the possible financial gain, I would be incredibly unhappy if I had chosen the first path. I plan to earn my Ph.D in history and to become a professor, which is a tough job to obtain these days (especially tenure-track positions), but I’m willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice it takes to get where I want to be.</p>
<p>Computer science is practical and intellectually stimulating. So are most engineering majors. Especially in a research and development lab, they pay well and are intellectually demanding.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There are people who like doing computer science, engineering, statistics, nursing, etc… For such people, there is no need to choose between what they like and what will give them good job and career prospects.</p>
<p>i would take the safe career right off the bat</p>
<p>So agree w/ pjloyd100! Lol</p>
<p>I want to go into medicine, so I got a job as a dietetic aide in a hospital while I’m in college. Yet, it all ticks me off and there are days where I hate getting up at 5am.</p>
<p>I say shoot for in between. Go for something that is interesting to you, but is financially stable. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to work 50+ hours a week at a job that I hate!</p>
<p>Do something you love… This is the only life you get. Money comes and goes, but memories last. To me, it would be better to have a world full of artists and rundown infrastructure than it would be to have a world where everything is so far technological advanced, but everyone in it is deadpan and without meaning on the inside. I want a job where I feel guilty when receiving a paycheck.</p>
<p>And this is coming from an engineering major. :)</p>
<p>Interesting recent article related to the outlooks of the decision of the ? OP posted:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Read more: [Underemployment</a> hurts graduates, economy - SFGate](<a href=“http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Underemployment-hurts-graduates-economy-3697713.php]Underemployment”>http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Underemployment-hurts-graduates-economy-3697713.php)</p>
<p>I didnt say intellectually stimulating. What I mean is a subject that both extremely and extremely abstract/unpractical. Most if not all subjects ar intellectually stimulating but some are more concretely applicable than others.</p>
<p>What I distinguished between is someone who has a passion for a subject then chooses to major in it and someone who has a passing interest in a subject but chooses to major in it.</p>
<p>For example, someone who is passionate about theoretical physics but majors in engineering is the former since they chose a subject they legitimately had an interest in but neglected their passion.</p>
<p>It isnt a distinction between picking a subject you hate - but is highly employable or picking a subject you love - but will struggle to get a job in. Its a more gray area choice that most people make.</p>
<p>“There are people who like doing computer science, engineering, statistics, nursing, etc… For such people, there is no need to choose between what they like and what will give them good job and career prospects.” </p>
<p>This is true. There a people who find these subjects their calling. However, there are significantly more people who choose them for employability rather than because it is their passion. You wont find nearly as many people who, for example, choose studio art and anthropogy because they have a general interest in the subject as well as for the pay as people who choose nursing and engineering for those reasons.</p>