Right now I’m currently a freshman who is almost finishing his second quarter in College… but still have no idea what I want to major in. I really don’t want to keep wasting my time and money to try new classes, because well there’s only like 4 years in college and I don’t want to waste my entire first or second year.
But I’m lost on what major I should get at. I’m okay with science and math, but I don’t think I’m capable of getting into departments like Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, etc. Cause isn’t the competition hard? I don’t feel like I’ll be competitive enough.
So I was wondering what kind of options are out there for me so that I may be able to find a job out there with at least a decent pay. Cause my father’s salary is about $70,000… and I don’t want to feel like I’ve disappointed my family by doing something that earns less than half of that. But I just don’t know what I’m good at or what I enjoy. I just need some options out there and I was wondering if anyone could help me.
Talking with the counselors weren’t that helpful, and talking with my parents weren’t especially helpful as well (you know, I have Asian parents with expectations. Like they said I should do Computer Science or Engineering or something high, but I’m worried what if I don’t get in and what are my other options).
Your father’s salary is $70K because presumably he’s been working for 20+ years and has had time to see his salary rise over time. Your salary will rise over time, too - even if you start out in a career making $30K, by the time you are 45 years old you could be making more than $70K. It doesn’t depend on your major; it depends on the kind of career you choose and what jobs you do. (Example: you could major in psychology and go into human resources, then become a human resources manager. They average nearly $100K a year. I have a friend who has a PhD in public health and political science who makes six figures managing the public health outreach program of a well-known company.)
Don’t major in engineering or computer science just because your parents think you should or you think that’s the easiest route to a high-paying job, because there is definitely more than one way to make a decent salary (particularly by mid-life).
Your father has been working for your entire lifetime to reach that $70,000 mark. He most certainly did not make it as a brand new college graduate.
You’re going to be working for a very long time-- for years and years and years. Find something you enjoy. For me, it’s teaching high school math. While some periods go on forever, the days and the years fly. I enjoy what I do, and I’m good at it.
But in 1980, my opening salary was $9,700 a year. Nope, not a typo. Under 10 thousand dollars my first year out of college. I took a pay decrease from the waitressing job I had in college. But 35 years later, I still love what I do, and am making many times that original salary.
What do you do with your spare time? What sort of things make you happy? If you won LOTTO today, what would you see yourself doing with your time? Give it some thought, and figure out what makes you happy.
If you like math and science, why not try something like Physics or Chemistry? Those, I would think, remain valid options for you.
Also, another thing to consider is that you don’t usually start off with a big salary. It rises with time; when you start, you’ll obviously be making less than someone who’s been in the job for years, decades. So, no need to be discouraged.
Wanting to do your folks justice is well and all, but you’ve got to consider what your personal interests and goals lay, y’know?
I understand wanting to please your parents, but we’ve all been there. I recommend creating a list of possible careers you’re interested in and seeing if you can volunteer or shadow/intern at businesses or companies near that have that career. And then from there pick a major.
I agree with what others have said. I’d also like to ask if you have talked to your academic adviser? S/he knows what classes you’ve taken, how you did, etc. So, they might have some input, or will at least share their personal experience with you, which may help out.
Also, are you in any clubs, organizations, done volunteer work, etc? I have found that I learn a lot about what skills I have based on my roles in these things. For instance, when I had no accounting experience but took on a position as treasurer, I learned that I am good with numbers–despite the fact that my intentions were to major in some humanities-esque field–and I am very adaptable. This impacts my job outlook, because I know I want a job that has multiple dynamic responsibilities.
Something else you may want to do is flip through your course catalog, and read a bunch of course descriptions from ALL departments. Try as best as possible to not have a bias. Take note of what really interests you. If you get to one department and find that half of the classes they offer are things you’d love to take, that could give you some direction. On the other hand, if you go over some departments and find that nothing strikes your fancy, move on.
Do remember that college major isn’t nearly as important as you might think. If anything, employers and grad schools will be interested in courses you have taken. If you want to go into research right after school, make sure you have taken a few stats & methods courses regardless of your major, etc.