<p>i am having trouble deciding what to major in (communications, geography, economics, computer science, and biology-i'm torn!)</p>
<p>so i came to the parents forum because you all have experience; **does your college major have anything to do with your career/past careers?**</p>
<p>would you have majored in the same major if you could do it all over again?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Yeppers. :)</p>
<p>Not really.</p>
<p>In this house, it just happens that the grownups college majors and their careers match. One is a speech pathologist with BS/MA degrees and advanced studies in speech pathology. The other is an engineer with a degree in engineering.</p>
<p>Not mine. I was a humanities major but work in accounting. Yes for husband, who was a theater major and is an actor. I expect my daughter (English major) will end up working in some way connected to her major; possibly editing, writing, publishing, teaching lit or writing, technical writing, etc. My son will almost undoubtedly end up working in an unrelated area. He’s a religion major with an interest in going into law enforcement of some kind.</p>
<p>Undergrad I was Biochemistry/Molecular Biology major and then I went to Pharmacy school and I am a pharmacist, so… yes.</p>
<p>wow, thanks everyone!</p>
<p>anymore?</p>
<p>Undergrad I was an Electronic Engineering major. Grad school, I did a Master’s in Comp Sci. I consider myself a programmer and have been for many years, so yes, in a way.</p>
<p>Yes and no. Me? Undergrad and grad in English - Comp teacher/academic support at regional LAC. Dh? Undergrad interdisciplinary major (health/business) then seminary - Lutheran minsiter, so not doing anything related to his undergrad.</p>
<p>My brother-in-law. Major? Mathematics. Job? Catering manager at university food service. No relationship.</p>
<p>My sister. Majors (two degrees, not just a double major) - 1. Graphic design 2. Textile design. Job? Insurance underwriter. Absolutely no relationship.</p>
<p>My brother - “major” - mechanics (no, not mechanical engineering, mechanics, like the kind of guys who fix engines) . Job - factory maintenance. Relationship between training and job? Very high. Salary? Higher than any of the rest of us.</p>
<p>Everyone in my family, so far, has matched their education with their occupation.</p>
<p>I majored in accounting and tax law and write books on the subject. My wife was trained as a commercial interior designer and spend many years in that field before helping me in my business. My son majored in accounting and is working for an accounting firm. My dad majored in Industrial engineering and got a masters in educationl. He was a retired school principal. Thus, I guess some of his training did apply.</p>
<p>I suspect that it helps if your major is also the name of a specific job. Someone with a degree in English probably isn’t going to become an English, but majors like accounting, engineering, nursing, etc. tend to have obvious careers highlighted just by looking at the name. That’s not to say you’re locked in; only that when you have a degree that doesn’t lead to a specific job you will probably end up in a job that – while it might use some knowledge from your education – isn’t as tightly linked to the major.</p>
<p>Yes and no. I majored in Biology, went to med school and practice medicine. My husband majored in theater and English and works in finance!</p>
<p>Yes, I was an accounting major, and now am an accountant. </p>
<p>H was an engineering major, and is now an engineer.</p>
<p>Mixed results in my family…</p>
<p>I got my AA in Fine Arts. Never earned a penny in that field. Finished degree in Sociology, currently trying to decide what the heck I want to be when I grow up (I’m 41 and trying to find a job.)</p>
<p>Spouse-Degrees in Engineering. Has never worked a day as an engineer, is a pilot. In doctoral program and hopes to become a professor in that field. </p>
<p>BIL-Engieering as well. Has never worked a day as an engineer. Got MBA, now works in business and manufacturing.</p>
<p>FIL-Engieering as well. Has never worked a day as an engineer. Got MBA, worked as consultant, now retired.</p>
<p>SIL-Degree in Art History. Has never worked a day in a museum or the like. Got Masters in education, is now a teacher.</p>
<p>Okay, I’m seeing a trend here. In my family it seems that people tend to work in whatever field they get their graduate degrees in. The exception is my mother who got her RN and worked as a nurse. Then got her BS in computer science and worked in computers. Then got her masters/doctorate in Psychology and is a practicing psychologist. I guess she was serious about her degrees!</p>
<p>One more thing: I don’t regret any of it. I would do it again! My husband is content with following the career of his friends who made it in acting. He hates the cut-throat environment of his job but the money is not bad.</p>
<p>I majored in sociology, went to law school & am now running a non-profit. The schooling is helpful.</p>
<p>H majored in accounting & runs telephones & computer systems for his job–no connection (supervises engineers & everyone assumes he is one as well).</p>
<p>My sisters & mom got degrees in education & taught/teach.</p>
<p>My brother, SIL, BIL got degrees in dentistry & medicine & practice the same.</p>
<p>My brothers, niece & dad got degrees in law & practice it (though they have varying undergrad degrees).</p>
<p>S was an EE major & is waiting to start his job in EE in a few weeks/months.</p>
<p>If I can offer one bit of parental advice, in my opinion, you cannot go wrong with majoring in a humanity or science and then vise versa for your minor. For example, majoring in Communications and minoring in biology leaves a lot of doors open for grad school. Just an idea…</p>
<p>Also, no regrets in my family that I’m aware of. We’re of the mindset that education is a worthwhile investment in and of itself.</p>
<p>great question…majored in business, soon found out that a suit and tie was not for me, loved the outdoors too much. Started a nursery 20 years ago and never looked back. In owning my own business, I’m responsible for marketing, sales, finance, accounting…so I guess my business background has helped…lol</p>
<p>Not exactly, but the skills from my majors directly translate.</p>
<p>UG majors were English and Economics with Business Admin emphasis. I then went on to get a post bac paralegal cert. </p>
<p>I work in Pension field (ERISA law, 401(k) Plans, etc). Skills I use involve basic accounting (took as Econ major) and synthesizing info quickly to translate to “common speak” which is a skill I attribute to reading large novels in short period of time and being able to write papers and discuss nuances.</p>
<p>While I was in HS a VP of a large Pharm. Co. told me to major in what I enjoyed, not what will land you a directly correlated job. His UG was psych.</p>
<p>I think few occupations REQUIRE direct UG majors – Architecture and Engineering being top of the list.</p>
<p>A few examples:
<p>One word of advise: Go to school and learn how to fish. Someone could give you a fish and it will be good for one meal. If you learn how to fish, it lasts a life time.</p>
<p>Good luck and go at it with passion. I am sure the life will be good.</p>