<p>Although I'm only a junior in HS I'm starting to feel the pressure about majors and colleges, etc. </p>
<p>I'm feeling pretty torn because, unfortunately, my gift is my curse. I'm very interested in film and creative writing. I spend the large majority of my free time writing short film scripts, or making those short films. I send my movies to film festivals, have completed internships in the field, and even some paid jobs.</p>
<p>However, I still excel in math and science courses at school, and I do very well. So here I have my pick of being able to go to a top college, and becoming an economics major, engineering major, doctor, whatever I want. But, each time I look at the list of majors and see Film or Creative Writing I feel as if that's what I would want to do.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, artistic careers like the ones I like hardly ever make a good salary, and I don't want to live off my parents forever. I'm really torn between making the logical decision of getting a "real" career, versus my passionate decision for one of these artistic careers.</p>
<p>Actually, that's kind of my problem, too, although I haven't taken my passion as far as you have. I love language/literature/writing, and while I do well in such courses at school, I also excel in the sciences and maths. However, in my case, I want to do something where I can apply my thinking abilities and help people, give something to the world (to be corny). So I think going down the science path is more applicable for me. However, there's no doubt that I still prefer spending time writing to doing practice math problems.</p>
<p>I've entertained thoughts of double majoring in college, but my parents scoffed at the idea, since English and biology aren't really related, and they think it'd be a waste of time getting that second major. Whenever I hear that someone's majoring in English or a similar major, I feel envious. But at the same time, I have a feeling deep down that it wouldn't be right for me.</p>
<p>Er, reading through my post, I haven't really given you any advice. But you're not alone.</p>
<p>Why do you feel compelled to pick a major now? Don't think of your undergraduate education as a trade school (save that for grad school). Go with your passion. It will show through in your application and get you into a better school. You will probably change your major more than once in college anyway. Look at your undergraduate as a time to explore things. To expand your focus, not narrow it. If you play it safe, you will probably be miserable and always wonder, what if.</p>
<p>1) Most people end up in careers that don't have anything to do with their major in college.
2) You're looking at majors and careers from a high school perspective. You've been exposed to very little in high school; you really have no clue what's available and what's out there. You may change your mind twelve times based on what you learn while in college.
3) No career choice is forever; you can change something you don't like. I started as pre-med, got a master's in health sciences, went to law school, practiced law for many years, changed my career to business analysis & software development, and may change yet again!
4) Nothing you learn is ever wasted.
5) Is college a time for learning and exploring, or is it a time for vocational training?</p>
<p>Perhaps places with film schools would be good, but perhaps not if only majors can take classes or if you have to be admitted to the film school itself. To me, you sound like a prime candidate for a broad-based liberal arts education (which can be had at an LAC or at many fine universities). I'd suggest looking as schools that allow you to take classes across many disciplines, regardless of your major. There are many of them out there.</p>
<p>First, keep your options open ... as ptmagnolia suggested apply to colleges that also have strong offerings around your passion. (In a strange way this can help a college search ... in my case being an architect was hanging out there as a possibility ... there are 3000+ 4-year schools however just restructing my search by geography and undergrad architecture shortened the list so much I could investigate all the remaining schools.)</p>
<p>Second, there are a lot of people making their living in the film industry why can't you be one of those people ... pursuing dreams while young is great time to try it. I have few regrets in life and almost all of them are "what if" regrets ... regrets of what I did NOT try. If this is your passion give it a shot ... hopefully it works out and we read your name in credits soon ... if it doesn't you still pursued your dream, you know you gave it a shot, and you have tons of time (and no regrets) to move on to a more "practical" career path. </p>
<p>There are many ways that you could combine your science and writing talents to make the world a better place. One that comes to mind would be if you decided to eventually go into a career in public health.</p>
<p>You might want to consider doing a gap year before going to college (most colleges will very happily allow you to do this because they know that students who do productive gap years are likely to be more focused and mature than are students who go straight to college after h.s.).</p>
<p>Check out Americorps programs, particularly City Year ones, which are among the very best Americorps programs.</p>
<p>My younger S's interests and talents are very similar to yours, and he will be doing a gap year starting in Aug. He'll be an Americorps Vista at a place where he already has been volunteering. Among the projects he has lined up for himself are writing and producing a play that will help prevent teens from getting HIV, so he's finding ways of combining his writing and science interests and interests in making the world a better place.</p>
<p>If you apply to Americorps or City Year and have some definite ideas about what you have to offer and what you'd like to accomplish, you can get volunteer positions that allow you to run with your interests and passions. The programs pay around $800 a month for a stipend and also give you about $4,700 to use for your college education.</p>
<p>You could either apply to colleges senior year and then defer or you could apply to colleges during your gap year. Colleges are very impressed by students who do this kind of activity.</p>
<p>AlanArch took the words right out of my mouth. </p>
<p>I'll add though that unless you get into a school with a strong and recognized film program like some of the one's that ptmagnolia suggested, I don't think that it's worth being film major. The point of film school is being surrounded by people with a similar passion for film. If you're at a university and they have a film major, chances are it isn't going to be worth it since you won't be surrounded by tons of kids with a similar passion for film. Use your years as an undergraduate to explore. You can do film related stuff on the side.You can always go to film school later if that's what you decide that you want to do.</p>
<p>Folks, you are waaaay too young to give up on your dreams. As was so wisely posted, in many cases college majors have nothing to do with anything. If you can't pursue your passion now, then when? Either of you could get your degrees in the field you love and then if life leads you down a more practical path, you could get a master's in education and spread your passion around.</p>
<p>if you were my kids, I'd say go for the film or the English and I will support you in any way I can while you make a go of it. It would truly break my heart to think that my kids had stopped dreaming to very soon.</p>
<p>demeter - it's very possible to double major in English and biology. At some schools it might be easier to minor in one or the other. It's also possible that you may discover a major which includes the humanities and sciences in a such way that allows you to pursue both your passions. (anthropology and archaeology come to mind)</p>
<p>Maybe you should just take courses in film that interest you, but not major in it per se. Do it on the side, and if it is serious, then persue it?</p>
<p>I think life is too short not to pursue one's passion.</p>
<p>Particularly when it is impossible to predict the job market years from now. Economics? I remember reading a while ago how there was a glut of young grads and they couldn't get jobs (you would think if anyone understood supply and demand ...) The market for MBAs seems to heat up and cool down. Engineering? My son has one more year and the job market is tight, tight, tight ... (Yes, there are jobs -- but employers seem to be looking for people with specialized knowledge and experience. There is also the perennial concern about outsourcing.) Science? My niece has a Ph.D. in astronomy, spent years in low paid post doc positions, was unable to find anything permanent -- and so went into the computer field. Her experience is not atypical.</p>
<p>There will probably always be a market for doctors. But with managed care, I'm not sure it will be as lucrative in the future. It is also many, many years of very hard work -- I can't imagine doing it unless one loves the idea of being a doctor.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong, and probably much wise, about taking some practical courses. But not to study what was loves and always to wonder "what if?" as one works at a job one hates doesn't strike me as the way to pursue one's life.</p>
<p>Oh, BTW, a recent issue of Archaeology magazine talked about how tight the market is now for that field. It isn't particularly lucrative either. But if this is what you love ... enough of this. My daughter is off at an archaeological field school now in Bolivia and loving it!</p>
<p>You can't predict where life will take you. My brother has a masters in philosophy. He couldn't find anything in the field (kept dragging out his Ph.D. hoping the job market would turn ... it was hot when he started grad school!). He now works for a small business daily, doing layout and writing the film reviews, which he enjoys. I don't think he regrets the years he spent studying philosophy because he loves the subject and it is something he continues to enjoy on his own.</p>