"Major" Crisis: Do what you love or study what you love?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I know the popular advice is to "do with you love," but in my case, it's more of a contest between "do what love" and "study what you love." Let me explain:</p>

<p>I'm an entering freshman currently set up to do a human biology major, looking to do health care work and/or M.S./PhD research (specifically neurosciene) in the future. I've wanted to do this for years. I'm one of those all around good students who pretty much stood out in every class, so I think I could do well in science academically. However, this major is very, very intense with structure only allocating ~12-15 nondegree credits for all four years. You take science, a couple of math courses, abnormal pssych, and little else. I like biology from a practical, laboratory appoarch (hence my interest in nero research) and did well in high school biology, but truthfully, science, while a very good subject for me, is not my best subject.... Which takes use to part 2:</p>

<p>I was looking at the course catalogue last night in vain attempt to figure out registration and stumbled across the school's language offerings: Irish, Turkish, Persian, Japanese, Arabic, German, Latin, ASL, Spanish, etc., etc., and pratically salavated. If it was at all financially feasible, I would spend my life learning languages. I love language and I'm good at it. Futhermore, I'm a state-recognized writer (expository) and have received awards for my fiction as well. My school offers a concentration in linguistics, which has built in allowances for foreign language study as well as elective credits for more (but still not enough to manage prehealth science classes in four years).</p>

<p>The double-edged sword:
I feel I would be happier studying linguistics, but I can't think of what I would do with it. Hoping for translation and interpretation work is like hoping good will fall from the sky and I doubt the CIA and FBI would be an option for me in terms of required skills, a gult of native speakers, and physical requirements. Professorship would be cool but hoping for tenure is only slightly better than translation and interptation work. Teaching High School wouldn't work well and I don't want to simply go out there and try to get a job with no really marketable skills (Mom's friend, for example, was an anthropology major whose been stuck in the same dead-end job for 20+ because of her limited degree). Even my Foreign language/linguistics major teacher has said that you shouldn't major in a language unless you want to teacher.</p>

<p>I want to do biology work, really. I find it all fascinating on a personal and scientific level. It's just that giving up languages to do it doesn't seem palatable at all.</p>

<p>Post-bac:
I know some of you will probably mention post-bac premed programs. Not really an option for me. You see, I'm a scholarship kiddo with some sort of expensive Higher Ed in my future and simply can't, for personal reasons, put my family or myself in that situation (post-bac debt + professional school debt). Because I am on scholarship, I MUST complete my undergraduate degree in 4 years, which given, the way my school struxtures majors, means deciding now.</p>

<p>So should I study what I love and put my future prospects on the line or should I take the less attractive rout but end up with well paying chance to make a difference in the world?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading all this; it means a lot.</p>

2

<p>I'm not sure you absolutely have to decide yet. You do have a few extra credits to work with. You also could take extra classes if you are willing and able to do more than the usual number each quarter/semester. I would recommend taking the required classes for human biology for first quarter/semester, but also taking a language class and perhaps finding some club or group that is into languages where you can spend time outside of class getting into other aspects of the subject. After you have taken a few classes, you may have a better idea of what you really want.</p>

<p>Ideally, of course, what you want to study would lead to what you want to do; however, that may not always be the case. But foreign language classes could still be an asset, no matter what you end up doing. Do all you can to keep options open the first year, and see where you feel led after that.</p>

3

<p>Here's a suggestion: Try taking a foreign language course and/or a science course that you deem is difficult at a community college. If you end up getting a terrible grade in that class, then simply don't transfer the credit. However, taking it at a CC will expose you to some of the material ahead of time, so you'll have a better idea of what to expect at a university level course. For example, I was sort of afraid to even go near physics, but my parents recommended that I take a General Physics course at a community college this summer - I got an A in the course, it gave me something to do in the summer, AND I felt much more confident about physics in general.</p>

<p>Finally, be realistic about your goals. I don't know anyone on this earth (myself included) that wouldn't love to learn all the languages out there, but the truth is that most of us have some degree of difficulty learning even one language. Say by the end of your junior year in college that you're sick of learning languages - then it'd be a bit too late to change then. So keep your options open, and try to take a wide variety of courses in the fall. Who knows? Maybe you'll find out something that interests you that you've never heard of before...</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

4

<p>Could you atleast minor in Linguistics and then once you have a job and all go back to school to get the degree...just to see where it takes you. I work with tons of linguists, but about 70% of them are military. Depends if you think you could obtain a clearance</p>

5

<p>Do both! My son is successfully double majoring in engineering and german language and literature. I think you would probably need to take a variety of classes to fulfill the college's distribution requirements anyway (ie, some sciences, some humanities, etc). Also, I agree that it is way too early for you to make a final decision. If you try both, your final direction may eventually become clear to you. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>yeah, get a minor or do a double major. i'd say a minor at this point...but actually, at this point you needn't be completely tied down.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the input.</p>

<p>Let me clear up a few things:
I do have to decide now, in a way. </p>

<p>I was orginally planning to do the human bio major and continue the language I've been studying in high school. However, given the nature of my program and the honors requirements I have to meet, it seems impossible. Let me explain:</p>

<p>My tentative schedule for the first semester will look like:
Abnormal Psyc (4) Must take it for major
PreCal (3) Must take
Upper level foreign language (4)
Honors seminar (required) (1)
Ethics GE or Honors Course (3-4) *see note on honor courses below)</p>

<p>15-16 credits</p>

<p>Second:
Chem w/ lab (5)
Calc (4)
Bio II (4)
Required honors course (3)
16 credits</p>

<p>On top of my degree and GE requirements, I also have to take a number of honors courses, which will not relate to my Bio major--Bio II being the only possible exception. So I'll end up having to shove in ~25 into a major filled with sequential Bio and Chem courses (Most of these are English, humanties. ect.)</p>

<p>I've taken college level courses in language and AP courses and exams (on which I have so far performed well--haven't gotten all my scores in but got a 4 on Bio), so I feel I could handle the science well. I've also done well in foreign languages, English, etc. (4.0 unweighted GPA).</p>

<p>Any more questions?</p>

8

<p>Have you spoken to your school's career office? They may be able to help you figure out what you could do with a linguistics degree.</p>

<p>I also know that in the health care field, they're always looking for interpreters to deal with non-English speaking patients. There may be a way to combine those interests.</p>

9

<p>I pulled off a double major in chemical engineering & liberal arts. I had to take a zillion extra courses and had very little time for anything else. It was completely worth it, though.</p>

10

<p>I say, if you think you can handle it, a double major would be a great way to go. Just think, you could end up doing research in a foreign country using your launguage skills and then write a publication about your findings!</p>

11

<p>Have you discussed your problem with a knowledgeable person at your college?</p>

12

<p>Languagegirl,</p>

<p>Thanks so much for asking this question! I'm having a similar dilemma (and also love languages), but I feel even less sure of a solution than I do for you.</p>

<p>Here's what I would do if I were you: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Major in bio. You can always learn languages outside of college (that's how all of the native speakers did it, right?), but it's hard to get access to bio equipment outside of college. If you don't major in bio, that door becomes harder to open. </p></li>
<li><p>Study languages over the summer. If you don't get a job or research grant one summer, head to another country to do an immersion (see #4 for tips).</p></li>
<li><p>Apply for scholarships to study languages after you graduate. There's a State Department scholarship for "national security" languages like Arabic, Mandarin, and Bengali. There's Rotary. Your school might have some.</p></li>
<li><p>Study languages cheaply after you graduate: </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Take a gap year and head to an inexpensive country like Guatemala or Costa Rica or Ecuador (not Spain) to study Spanish (I did this for a couple of weeks and it only cost about $200/week, including study, room, and board. That's much less than living in an apartment in the US. It could be less if you could find work to do there, maybe for the school, or if you could find telecommuting work to do from the US, perhaps online research for a professor or something.) Or, head to China. Or Turkey.</p>

<p>Go to a community college while you are working and take a year or so of a language (in CA, for example, this is only $26 per credit, or about $150, with books, for 3.5 months). </p>

<p>Teach English abroad in a country where you want to learn the language. Spend the part of your salary that's left over on language lessons (or make a deal to swap English lessons for lessons in that country's language).</p>

<p>(Btw, perhaps you can look at my post about majors and see if you can help me come to some solution! ;) )</p>

13

<p>I am a Biomolecular Chemistry major. While science is pretty much my strong suit, that doesn't mean my grades are fantastic. But I love what I do and I want to work in that field.</p>

<p>However, it gets dry, so I'm minoring in political science- something I find interesting, but don't see as a way to spend my life. I get to take classes that interest me personally while I complete my major to get to a point where I can do what I want in my life. This is working out for me so far, but who knows what may happen.</p>

14

<p>languagegirl: There is a great deal of work going on that combines linguistics with neuroscience, see Philip Lieberman's work at Brown for example. His new book has just been published. You can major in linguistics and take relevant neurobiology courses preparing you for grad school. It is possible to follow both of your loves.</p>

15

<ol>
<li><p>Don't confuse "linguistics" with "learning a lot of foreign languages". While it's true that linguistics attracts people with your interests, the mainstream of linguistics is very theoretical, and you will have to do a lot of work that has nothing to do with learning languages. It's a little like majoring in math if what really interests you is engineering. A friend of my daughter at NYU had to switch to Gallatin (the "construct-your-own-major" college there) because the CAS linguistics program would not have given her the ability to study more than one or two actual languages.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of people with your interests also wind up in med school. Med school entrance requirements are actually not that hard to meet while majoring in something completely different, and my sense is that a left-field major is actually attractive to med schools (provided you did really well in the prerequisite science courses and MCATs).</p></li>
</ol>

16

<p>Can you audit language classes or at least take them pass/fail (taking like max allowable credits)? The point would be learning the language even if you don't get the degree.</p>

17

<p>LG, </p>

<p>It is disappointing that you are attending a school that forces such a critical decision like a major so early. The only place worse is CMU, which forces such a decision at the application point!</p>

<p>I would seriously consider a major that does not have such in depth requirements. I suspect your college does have other majors that offer more flexibility. </p>

<p>You would be best off using time your first year or two to explore other areas as you clearly have the interest. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that grad schools really don't care what your undergrad major was. They care only that you've shown you can do the work. That's why you see many a kid changing fields for grad schools. You'd be amazed at (1) how few courses it takes to make an admissions committee happy and (2) how attractive kids with nonstandard backgrounds can be. So don't sweat grad school. Sweat performing well as an undergrad.</p>

<p>Among the saddest things I hear as an adult (one who has done some radical career shifts) is "I wish I had done that..."</p>

<p>So my advice is to follow your interests. And focus on getting that degree on time, no matter what the major. At the end of four years, if you find you need more classes to achieve your target, you will find many more avenues open than you find now. After all, college grads are better financial risks than college frosh!</p>

18

<p>LG,
You mention the "honors requirements" as taking up your schedule time. Do you have to be in an honors program or take an honors degree? Would studying biology in a non-honors program allow more time for you to study languages? Would any language courses count for your non-biology honors electives? </p>

<p>My son's college requires a certain number of writing courses for graduation, regardless of AP credits. He was able to take his required writing class in German, so everybody was happy. Maybe there is some way for you to work both of your interests into your schedule. Is your advisor of any help?</p>

19

<p>My advice would be to pursue languages undergrad (was well as some courses designed for your proposed graduate program) and then move on to science in grad school. You will enjoy yourself more, pick up valuable skills, and can still be competitive for grad work. </p>

<p>Plus, it sounds like if you pursue science you will not be able to study abroad and that, in my opinion, is one of the best and most important experiences you can have, whatever your major but especially for people interested in languages.</p>

20

<p>language girl,</p>

<p>A few points to consider:</p>

<p>Getting your PhD is a very difficult road - if you don't love STUDYING your subject. You have several years of study before even thinking about "working" in the field - if you don't enjoy studying the subject at this point - I doubt that you will stay with it for the 8-10 years of in-depth research and study.</p>

<p>I disagree with other posts regarding only the "need" to show the graduate committee that you are "capable of graduate work" and that any major will do. This is no longer true in most science fields. The competition for seats in good graduate programs is intense and the spots go to those who not only excel in their undergrad work - but those who have studied and preferably done research in their chosen field. In other words, the graduate committees are looking for those with a "passion" for the field.</p>

<p>The last point I want to make - may seem rather harsh - however, it needs to be said. You posted your "demanding" freshman schedule as evidence for why you could not take additional elective courses "out of major". Quite honestly, your first year's coursework - especially the first semester appears extremely weak. If you think this schedule is tough, you might want to rethink your major - it is very light compared to those of most students who share your career aspirations. And, it is "nothing" compared to your later years of work. </p>

<p>Finally, I want to tell you to "follow your passion." No one can tell you where you might go with your love of languages. The people you meet, the travels you will take, will all play a part in your future. The value of being involved with a subject you love and sharing that love with others who are passionate about the subject cannot be underestimated.</p>

<p>Good Luck to you - whereever your path leads.</p>