Shifting interests - Arts to Science?

College Majors
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<p>I'm a Canadian HS junior, and I'm at a bit of a crossroads. Typically I've been an arts/bookwork type. I went from wanting to major in English, to philosophy, to linguistics and languages. I also considered psychology, anthropology, and economics. The only two I'm still seriously considering are linguistics and economics, because they're the most practical. And I'll probably minor in Russian so that I can study abroad. </p>

<p>But I'm beginning to reevaluate my interests and aspirations. I have a 98 average this year, including a 99 in Chemistry and 96 in Math. When I signed up for courses last year, I was set on going into Arts so I wasn't worried about Sciences. I didn't pick Biology because, frankly, I hate it. I didn't pick Physics because I already had Chemistry (which I actually enjoy for the most part), and didn't see the need for both. I enjoy math very much though, so I signed up for Math and Calculus next year, but no sciences.</p>

<p>My career opportunities with a BA degree seem fairly limited. It was always my dream to be a professor, and it still is. But I've felt a nagging realism/pessimism telling me to pursue something more lucrative and practical. I don't want to work as a teacher or librarian, out of pride, I suppose, and I can't see myself as a lawyer. I've explored my options, and not much appeals to me. </p>

<p>I've considered double majoring/minoring in Computer Science and going into computational linguistics. It's still a possibility, I'm just not sure. But my success in Chemistry has made me wonder whether I should go for something like Engineering (not Medicine because Bio is death). I've also pondered a BS in Math, but maybe I like the idea of it more than I would the reality.</p>

<p>English and philosophy only serve to annoy me now for the most part. They're just so subjective and BS-able (no offence). I really want to challenge myself in university, because I work well under pressure. I've never worked harder than I have in Chemistry (I do at least 2 hours of homework a night, and I study 6+ hours for each test), but it's paying off and I enjoy it. And I feel like I'd rather solve equations and whatnot than read poetry; it's so trivial and I perceive it as more of a hobby than a legitimate study/profession now. Again, no offence.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm rambling. Without sounding too arrogant, I honestly believe I can find success in almost any field I want to (not saying it will be easy or that I'll be the best, but that I can be competent). My primary considerations right now are linguistics (which has been my passion for a while, but I doubt its practicality), economics (I'm not so interested in business/finance, but it's a lucrative BA with math), and something like engineering/mathematics/computer science. I'm quite obviously all over the place. Any advice?</p>

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<p>Do what you love, not what is lucrative or what “challenges you.”</p>

3

<p>Again, I feel your pain. Clearly you don’t have enough information yet to make an educated decision about which major to choose. Wait until you do, and until that time, don’t stress about it. That’s my advice, and what I’m adhering to as well.</p>

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<p>The Canadian higher-education system resembles the US one, correct?–rather than the more focused British one? If so, you can choose a university with strong science/arts/humanities across the board, and spend your first two years taking rigorous introductory courses in the fields that interest you. What you will probably find is that you incline one way more than another, but that can be hard for good students to figure out in HS because the classes are not yet sufficiently rigorous. Or you may do a double major in a science and an arts or humanities field. Either way you will end up with an excellent, wide-ranging undergraduate education.</p>

<p>I was in your situation and did a lot of work toward a biochemistry major as an undergraduate, before realizing that I simply had more ability and interest in the humanities. I switched course, finished an English major, and then went to graduate school for a PhD in English. I was decent enough in science/math to get good grades, but a couple of semesters as a transfer student to an Ivy League university demonstrated to me that others were far more naturally talented in that field than I was.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice. The Canadian higher education system does resemble the US one. My conflict lies in the fact that I will be attending either McGill or UBC (two of the top Canadian unis, the other being UT, which I don’t have much desire to attend.) McGill is very strong in linguistics but weak in economics, and UBC vice versa. They both have good sciences and engineering programs, but I feel pressured to choose based on my major. I don’t want to attend one with the intention of a linguistics or economics major and then hate it and wish I had went to the other. </p>

<p>I’m competent in math, like I’ve always received As in Honors classes, but I know what you mean…it’s obvious that others are “far more naturally talented”. The field I feel I do have a natural talent for is linguistics. So I may double major in linguistics and comp sci to satisfy both sides AND secure a job. </p>

<p>I just went to the library and picked up two books on linguistics, two on economics, and a C programming guide. Coupled with my two math courses next year, hopefully I can make a decision.</p>