Major issues

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Well, I commited to Cornell because I fell in love with the school, and believe that it will give me unparalleled opportunities to work hard and build a future for myself. However, I'm trying to find the best career path for me, and i'm having a lot of difficulty.</p>

<p>I love the biological sciences. . . .i'm also facinated by psychology, biology, sociology, physics, and calc. . . along with literature, history, music, and sociology.</p>

<p>I am very into music but do not plan to pursue a career in it. I want a career where I can still be able to pursue music as a hobby, and would absolutely love to travel. . . .</p>

<p>I am accepted to the school of arts and sciences at Cornell, and am faced with the following options:</p>

<p>-Stay in biology- go onto either medical school or biological research, and maybe double major in another related subject, like psych.</p>

<p>-Internal transfer to CALS and major in Biological Engineering- pursue either a PhD in BME to become a college professor, get an MS in BME to go into research, or get an MD and go into medicine.</p>

<p>I can't decide which is a better option. I like both, but I really don't want to kill myself trying to do both premed and biological engineering requirements (although I have 8 credits of bio already through AP). </p>

<p>If I go with Biological Engineering and premed, I'm worried that I would wind up getting a lower GPA and ruining future potential for med/grad school.</p>

<p>If I go with biology, I'm worried that if I didn't get into med school or decided I don't want to be a doctor, I would have no options for a successfull job!</p>

<p>I have my doubts either way, and I just wish I knew exactly what I want to do when I get out of college, but I just really don't know.</p>

<p>I just don't want to overload myself with engineering classes, and not have time for everything else. Biology through arts and sciences also appeals because I could major in anything since 1/3 of the classes are open for electives. However, it seems I wouldn't have as marketable of a degree.</p>

<p>(haha, option number three . . . .concentrate on biology until I learn how to clone myself multiple times so I can have many different majors, lol)</p>

2

<p>I'd say go with the third option! Wow, that's a very tough decision. I would say go your first year in Arts and Sciences for Bio., talk to people, and then try to narrow down what you want to do after college. Since there are a ton of awesome majors at Cornell, you could surely find one to transfer to if you decide that you do not want to focus as much on Bio. The thing is, with CAS, you get many many opportunities given to you, and maybe by the end of your freshman year you will have talked to enough people in the CAS, as well as in other schools around campus that you will be able to figure out a plan that's perfect for you. Just remember, after only one year, your college career is not set in stone, you still have the opportunities to switch majors if you wish.</p>

<p>Basically, I say don't stress over it before you get there. Then once you're at Cornell, and you see the workloads first hand, then you can decide to buckle down your focus into a more precise field. That's my $0.02...</p>

3

<p>Thanks, I almost didn't go to Cornell because I was so worried about finding the right major in such a complex network of colleges.</p>

<p>I'm soo glad I chose Cornell anyway. It seems like there's a lot of flexibility about transfering between colleges in the University.</p>

4

<p>Ezra said, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." It's pretty true... Just remember that you're not 200% committed with what you fill out before you even enter the University. Once you get there, talk to people, and that way you can decide what you truly want to do.</p>

<p>I hope this has helped :)</p>

5

<p>I'm not sure what you mean when you say this:</p>

<p>"Biology through arts and sciences also appeals because I could major in anything since 1/3 of the classes are open for electives."</p>

<p>Biology is itself a major. Did you mean a double major or something?</p>

6

<p>hey, norcalguy, yeah I meant double major.</p>

<p>sometimes I get typing, and my sentences don't come out in English. . . lol.</p>