Hi everyone,
it is my first year at CC going on 2nd trying to find a better pathway to transfer to a good/decent UC etc, and im conflicted on what to pick as a major that yields a better employment/pay and “happiness”.
I started with a biology major but didnt do so well, although I am still trying to do some sci classes to better understand so far it has been my “weakness”. Though I heard it opens opportunities to grad school, med school or dentistry.
I really enjoy english or psychology all As in those areas so far- and it is my “strength” but I really dont know much about it other than it might give you low pay or pursue the academia/teaching career - which a masters or Phd would help with finding jobs in the academia at least?
I need some advice on how should one decide because all Ive been told is the STEM or healthcare pathway is the best to ensure a job but I’m not sure if I’m down the right path because I dont like STEM that much anymore (i might can bare it, but the competition at unis are quite tough I heard) after 1st year CC experiences but im also torn on job employment. Thank you for all of your advice.
How do you feel about math, statistics, and computers?
Within the social sciences, there is everything from the clinical/relational (i.e. becoming a clinical psychologist, a practicing therapist with a masters in social work, etc.) and the analytical/research-y “big data” side of things (whether in pure social sciences research, or in public health, public policy, etc.). So it’s good to have an idea going in whether you’re likely to be acquiring a strong quantitative skill-set (which can be very marketable - a double-major or major+minor between social sciences and stats can give you opportunities that a “vanilla” social sciences BA won’t) or if your goal is to be a clinician or to just use a broad social sciences degree as a platform for something else (law, business, public health education, etc.)
And by English you mean…? Literary analysis? Writing? And if writing… creative writing? Journalism? Technical writing? An English degree can impart some valuable background and skills, but at the undergrad level it’s not inherently a “credential” to do anything in particular… so, where would you want to go from there?
If life sciences aren’t your thing, certainly don’t feel like they’re the only path to gainful employment!! But also understand that enjoying intro-level classes in English and Psychology is not the same thing as having a passion for those fields at the upper-division and grad-school level… so do look into where the trajectory is going before you get on the path.
There are lots of careers you can have with a BA in psychology or English, other than academia or low-paying human service careers. Some of them aren’t directly related to those majors or what people think of when they think “psychology”, but many paths are possible.
Don’t pick a STEM major or career path just because someone else says it pays well. The people that are successful in any career path are the ones that are passionate and hard-working in that path.
If you force yourself to pick something you don’t love, it could be a miserable situation that also doesn’t pay off in the end.