Majoring in a major that won't lead to a career I want?

<p>I'm a freshman in college and am still struggling to decide what to major in. I feel as though I am very interested in science. I never really thought of myself as a science person but lately I feel as though it would be fascinating to learn biology, genetics, neuroscience, nutrition, exercise science....ect. But when I think about the careers I would pursue with a bs in Biology...I come to a stall. I'm pretty sure I don't want a career in research.</p>

<p>I wouldn't mind doing a little research but the idea of living in a lab for the rest of my life kind of horrifies me. I also don't have any desire to pursue a PhD. I've thought about becoming a Physician Assistant or Physical Therapist, but although I have a desire to help people, I don't feel as though I'm apt for a career in either. I feel as though I'm just choosing those careers because it's something that could derive from a Biology degree. I tend to be an emotional person and one who doesn't deal well in high stress environments...I don't think I'd be able to handle or be comfortable in a health care environment. And while I believe I'm smart enough to memorize everything I would need to know to get good grades, I don't think I'd be smart enough to apply my knowledge when it comes to actaully taking care of patients. </p>

<p>On the other hand, I've always done well in English. I like reading and I like to write. I used to always imagine working at a publishing company and the idea really appealed to me for a while. I guess I only started doubting it when I found myself bored in my English classes. Compared to Biology, I feel like taking biology classes would be so much more interesting than English. </p>

<p>If I majored in English though I feel like I'd be easier to get into the publishing industry. I've also thought of minoring/double majoring in media/advertising ( which I am also somewhat interested in) and could then go into marketing. I also think I would really love being an English teacher and it's something I really feel as though I'd be happy doing. </p>

<p>I feel so lost haha. Should I just forget about bio because I can't see myself having a reasonable career anywhere in the medical field? Or should I go with what interests me (biology)? Or should I pursue what I feel best fits my personality and my aptitudes (english)? It seems to me like I should just major in English but I keep feeling hesitant. I feel like it's partly because of the stigma that English is a useless major. And while money isn't my primary motive, the low salaries involved in being a teacher, publishing, or marketing kind of does worry me. </p>

<p>Any advice?</p>

<p>BTW: I won't be able to double major...I already tried to work it out and it doesn't.</p>

<p>How about technical writing. A background in science would be good for that and you can take most of your electives in English.</p>

<p>I think you should major in what would most help you in your future career. If you think that’s English, then major in English. If you think it’s media/advertising, then major in that. Even if you can’t fit in a double major, you can still take biology classes as they fit into your schedule (assuming there are some that are not restricted to majors only, and even then, you may be able to petition into the class). That may be even better because you could take the biology classes that really interest you, without having to slog through the stuff that you find really boring. If you can take enough to get a minor, then great, get a minor. But even if you don’t, then you can still take classes that just interest you, and you could always learn more about it on your own (read a wiki article on something that interests you, watch youtube videos or read science articles, take a coursera course).</p>

<p>In terms of a career, future and prestige I think a Bio degree is better than an English degree. Furthermore I do think biology is a more interesting topic than english. The only thing that would keep me from recommending bio would be “I tend to be an emotional person and one who doesn’t deal well in high stress environments…” I too am an emotional personal person, I always get stressed out before tests and because of this I usually do worse than other people who quite frankly aren’t as smart as me. For this reason I switched out of engineering. Bio and engineering have a lot of overlap so it’d be basically the something.</p>

<p>@bomerr when I say I am stressed out easily…I don’t mean like studying I just meant that I don’t think I could handle working in a hospital as a doctor or physician assistant.</p>

<p>Thank you everyone for your insight. It’s just hard I guess because I feel like I want to study Bio but every career I seem to want indicates that I should get an English degree. I really just see me being a teacher, but for some reason I have no desire to teach biology. But I feel like Id love discussing literature and writing. </p>

<p>Arggg…I just don’t know how to decide what to major in lol. The major I want to take or the one that leads to a career I’ll most likely enjoy.</p>

<p>Please think long and hard about what you want to do with your future. I’m stuck in the same boat except it’s too late for me. I’m set to graduate with a Computer Science degree this coming May… and I have absolutely no interest in any fields associated with my degree whatsoever. I unsuccessfully tried to transfer into my University’s Business school twice. My GPA is very low because I do not like any of the coursework nor do I understand the bulk of it. You don’t want to be me.</p>