<p>Okay. This is just absolutely crazy, I just know it.
First of all, I'm currently a junior in high school, and I've been weighing out career options and planning for college since sophomore year. I don't want to end up like one of those clueless seniors who have certain gifts and don't even realize what the heck they want to do with them after college. And that's the thing. I'm a very creative person, and people at my school know I'm the artsy/musical girl. But then again, I'm also very caring, and I love listening to my friend's burdening problems or even playing with little kids in my church. I don't want to go to college with the idea that the career I'm supposedly going for will give me lots of money. Well, excuse me, but money doesn't equal happiness. But then again, I don't wanna struggle so much and end up counting a number of regrets.
So basically, I have a seriously huge passion for music (I actually cried myself to sleep when I got a really nice mattress instead of a keyboard for Christmas. Hey, I really am grateful for that orthopedic baby, but still. The amount of disappointment was almost a little overwhelming to merely hold in. OK, anyways....), and I love helping people.
So I'm torn between music composition and...psychology-ish stuff, most likely the focus being of Youth And Family Services...something like that.
Tell me, what are the pros and cons of majoring in both these things?
Will it take more than four years? More money? More EFFORT (well, obviously, haha)?
San Francisco State is really luring me in for some reason, so I'm keeping my eyes open on that.
Are job employments good if I have both those sides by my side? Will I be able to be flexible and creative?</p>
<p>Music composition:
Will it take more than four years? No
More money? No
More EFFORT? Yes
Job employments good? No
Will I be able to be flexible and creative? Depends</p>
<p>Psychology:
Will it take more than four years? Yes
More money? Yes, as a result of the above
More EFFORT? Yes
Job employments good? No
Will I be able to be flexible and creative? Possibly</p>
<p>Better answer:</p>
<p>With psychology, you should plan to work all the way up to a PhD, because, until you get that, no one's going to take you seriously. As you may know, graduate school is very expensive, and costly in time, effort, and money. Psychologists tend to be unappreciated.</p>
<p>With music composition, it really depends on what you specifically want to do. Also, there is a ton of competition out there, and far more supply than demand. Your music will likely be greatly undervalued, both in terms of respect and monetary value.</p>
<p>I use to be a psychology major until I realized I couldn't afford it, and I would have been a music composition major if I had enough charisma, connections, and cash to make a name for myself. I still compose music as a way to procrastinate on my actual school work, though. :)</p>
<p>uhh .. maybe "psychology" isn't the specific major I'm aiming for. I don't even wanna be a psychologist. hahah Just something that isn't up to that "level," I guess I should say, but still sufficient enough for a decent job and I can still do something out there to make a difference.</p>
<p>Could major in sociology and be a social worker.</p>
<p>Yawn writes that there is more supply than demand for music composition. I would have to add to that, that there is NO demand at all for composers. Most composers barely make a dime through commissions and grants and royalties. In fact, in this whole world, there is probably only about 10 classical composers who can make a whole living only through writing music.</p>
<p>The rest become professors. So yes, almost all undergraduate composition majors end up going on to get their MAs or MMs, and many go on to do a PhD or a DMA as well. It is unrealistic to find any job related to composition with just a bachelor's.</p>
<p>You may also choose to be a film composer - but that's a whole new field and a different set of chops.</p>
<p>Music and Psych are actually quite a common pair. As long as you love them both, work hard and plan ahead, you can double major no problem. Oh, and psychologist isn't the only thing you can do with a psych major. I'm surprised a former psych major would say that. Is grad school necessary? Pretty much. But there's a lot more than just PhD to pursue.
If I were you I would look into the field of music therapy.</p>