Hello!
My dream is to become a full-time author. I’ve been writing and creating stories for my whole life and to be honest, I cannot see myself doing anything else. But I know that I need a steady source of income. What would be a good field to major in? I’m passionate about foreign languages, English (perhaps with teacher certification?), music, working with animals, and helping others, especially kids. I’m absolutely terrible at anything math-related. Other majors that don’t appeal to me whatsoever: Nursing, engineering, business, politics, any medical fields save occupational therapy. Basically anything that will get me a job, so I’ve been fretting about what major to choose.
Thanks!
The vast majority of college graduates across majors are gainfully employed, and most of them make a middle-class income that can support them quite well. So really, you could major in anything - English, philosophy, a foreign language, animal science, music, social work, whatever - and find a job that will pay you enough money to live on.
Since you’re a writer and you want to become an author (presumably a fiction writer), English seems like a natural choice. Reading and analyzing other literature is a great way for a writer to prepare for that kind of career. And English majors do all kinds of other things, too; the key is getting internships and other experiences that will prep you for employment and job hunting.
Any other major in which you have to write a lot seems like a good choice. Philosophy, history, sociology, a foreign language and/or area studies major, religious studies, the classics, etc.
I think it is unrealistic to plan to support yourself solely on writing books. The vast majority of fiction writers, including household names, do not support themselves solely from their books. It is realistic to plan to teach or write articles or do some other jobs and use book writing as your part time passion.
Having said that, major in something you enjoy and try to plan a future that let’s you write novels while you earn enough money to live on. Scott Turow wrote his first books on the train on his way to work. Jodi Picoult wrote many magazine articles before she was able to support her writing full time. Many authors have a spouse who earns a paycheck to help support the household, etc.