<p>I've been stressing and depressed lately over what major to pick. From all the research I've done, the only majors of any worth seem to be in engineering, economics, or science. I'm a person with great respect for science, and I'm sure I'm capable enough at math to succeed in it, but I'm also entirely sure that such career paths would make me miserable. I have always had severe issues with depression and OCD, and I know I would probably just snap.</p>
<p>I'm already 22 and am less than a year into college. The only thing I really enjoy is writing and acquiring/professing knowledge. I also am very concerned with doing something meaningful, and money isn't an issue outside of having enough to live comfortably.</p>
<p>Basically, is there any major at all that would work or is college just wasting my time? I'm scared to get a humanities major and end up with no job prospects or doing something pointless, but I also don't want to get an engineering degree and just end up miserable and unfulfilled doing something I'm not suited for.</p>
<p>I sympathize with your concerns. I just graduated college and I know many people who had trouble deciding what to major in. My suggestion is to refocus your thinking. Don’t worry right away about what major to pick (unless you have a clear career path in mind, which you don’t). Think about your interests and what sounds good to you right now. Once you take the pressure off yourself to pick something, I’m sure you’ll find an interest that you’d like to pursue. </p>
<p>You wrote, “the only majors of any worth seem to be in engineering, economics, or science.” Frankly, that’s depressing. If we only had engineers, economists and scientists, we’d be screwed. Bring on the teachers, artists, psychologists, and international relations people. The humanities are desperately important, especially as everything, including education, is becoming commodified. </p>
<p>Why not pursue your interest in writing? Or try a few philosophy classes if you’re interested in acquiring knowledge. Critical thinking and writing are two skills that are applied in every field. Engineers and business majors think they don’t need to write–that’s a joke. They’re going to realize the truth once they (try to) get a job.</p>
<p>If making huge loads of cash isn’t the issue, why bother with, what you call, “the only majors worth anything”? It sounds to me like you’re a philosopher at heart. You’re concerned about yourself, you’re able to candidly analyze those concerns and communicate them to the world. You’re concerned with issues of meaning and how to live your life. You’re a philosopher my friend, but you don’t have to study philosophy to be one (though I recommend it! I did and I don’t regret it).</p>
<p>You say that science-oriented majors seem to be the only worthwhile majors, but if you can’t see yourself working in any of the career paths these majors typically lead to, than those areas are pretty worthless for you, don’t you think?</p>
<p>Engineers, scientists and economists are not the only people with jobs. They’re probably in the minority. I suggest going to your college’s career services office and talking this over with someone.</p>
<p>Loop, I’m pretty much in the same shape as you. I’m 25 and will be going back to school this fall semester. I’ve been racking my brain on what to major in. I’ve been thinking about Economics, Political Science, or a hard science. But one by one I started to eliminate things. Economics, now what can I do with that? Most likely an analyst type of job on Wall Street or something like that. I crossed that out because 1) I have no interest in helping the already greedy Wall Street become even more greedy 2) Its a lot of mundane work 3) Its a very unstable field with too many bubble created. Another one is about to burst. Then I considered Political Science. Although I am passionate about my country, the whole system is a joke. Rather than working together, they like to blame each other when something bad hapens. Its a pool full of corruption. Then I considered a hard science/interdisciplinary science like Geology or Chem. I’ve done well in all my science classes as a child/teenager, I’ve also asked the important question of the How are thing’s created the way they are and Why are they the way they are? Science jobs can probably seem mundane at first, but all entry level jobs start out that way. But with hard work, the reward will follow. But its probably one of the most stable places to be in, because as long as human’s are around, there will be a need for scientific advancement to continue our survival. I enjoy writing as well. I’ve spent a majority of my life writing fantasy stories and poems, even had some published. But I choose not to pursue that path because it is a hobby of mine, just like modifying cars to become faster is a hobby of mine. But that goes with ANY degree. Humanities is not a total waste. You just have to sell it to an employer. College is not a vocational school. It will not automatically give you a job after graduation. So major in what you’d like to, get good grades, do internships if available, and everything will work out on its own.</p>