<p>I'm a freshman in college and I'm very conflicted about what I should major in. Right now, it's boiling down to English or Biology concentrated in neuroscience.</p>
<p>For some reason I'm fascinated by the idea of learning everything about the brain. I'm also very interested in genetics and anatomy. I've always found science somewhat interesting but never thought of myself as a really sciency person. But when I look through my school's course catalogs, the classes I feel most interested in taking are the biology ones. </p>
<p>English on the other hand has always been my strong suit and is what I've always imagined I'd major in. I love to write and read and my dream growing up was to be a publisher. Ideally, I would love to be a literary agent or editor. If that didn't work out I would become a teacher which is something I think I would love too. </p>
<p>The reason I'm hesitant towards majoring in English is the fact that I usually find myself feeling bored in my English classes. I think it's usually the teachers that I've had in the past, but my boredom in the class makes me wonder if English is really something I should pursue. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I get excited at the idea of majoring in Biology. The only problem is that I'm not really sure what career I should pursue. I don't really think I could live in a lab for the rest of my life. I've looked into becoming a Physical Therapist or Physician Assistant but I'm not sure that would be good for me either. Although I would love to be able to help people with spinal cord injuries or brain tumors, I tend to be very emotional and think that it would be very hard for me being around people where the mortality rate can be high. I know that it's inevitable to make mistakes but I'm not sure I could live with myself if I did make mistakes. I think it would just be a very hard career path for me. I'm not sure if I have the personality to really be effective in either of those careers. </p>
<p>So I'm at a loss. Should I major in English and go after the dream job? Or should I pursue what I think is really interesting and maybe figure out a career that would be good for me? Can you think of any careers I haven't thought of or perhaps provide any insight. Double majoring is not a possibility at my school due to there not being any overlap between the two subjects. I thought about majoring in Biology and then minoring in English, but then this would close down the door to being an English teacher. Is it possible to teach English at a private school with a minor in English? I know the requirements are different. </p>
<p>What about teaching biology, since you wouldn’t mind teaching English? You could still fill your elective courses with English courses and do freelance writing on the side…and you could still pursue your dream job as an editor. Very few people stick with one career for life.</p>
<p>I was much like you: I love to write and I am good at it (don’t judge my quick, casual forum posts ), but I truly hated English literature courses. I majored in psychology because I found it more interesting…and I’m now an HR manager who writes in my free time and would love to get into self-publishing. </p>
<p>From what I’ve heard and experienced (I had taken quite a few English electives), majoring in English can hamper creativity for some people because it teaches you to analyze in a way you won’t easily forget (if you’re any good at it, anyway). You learn different writing styles and may feel as though you need to “fit” within a style and can lose your own unique voice in the process. You can become so wrapped up in the technicalities to earn that “A” that you forget to put soul into your writing. You might find yourself picking a story apart rather than reading for pleasure. I’ve heard many devoted English students say that they would love to just read for pleasure again and “turn off” the analytical parts of their brains.
*** Of course, not everyone will feel this way. But I have heard these comments from quite a few of my English majoring peers who have been out of college for a few years now. But I have also seen a difference in attitude between those who took their courses seriously, and those who just thought English was an easy/fun/whatever major and rolled with it - the latter tend not to feel this way.</p>
<p>My writing developed significantly due to all of the writing in my psychology courses, as well as the creative writing courses I had taken. I have academic publications and am working on a novel. You do not need to major in something to do it, and you do not have to have a degree in something to be good at it. Being educated in something other than English can broaden your range of topics to write about. </p>
<p>To make a long story short: You are not stuck for life with the career you pursue while in college. Do what will challenge and excite you. And if you have different careers in mind, take the time to dabble in a bit of everything and grow your skill set.</p>
<p>Ideally, the interesting major will lead to your dream job (which you may not even know exists yet). But it’s not a straight line. For example, perhaps majoring in biology and taking some writing classes can lead you to a publishing position for scientific journals. Or techical writing. </p>
<p>I had a natural sciences major and also could not see myself in a lab. I also hated English courses, although I read and wrote a lot. I never worked in a lab. I went to law school and dealt with drug liability cases, represented hospitals, etc.</p>
<p>There are many careers for science majors, and you have not been exposed to many of them.</p>
<p>Major in what excites you. You will do better at it, be intellectually stimulated, and you can create the career you want.</p>
), but I truly hated English literature courses. I majored in psychology because I found it more interesting…and I’m now an HR manager who writes in my free time and would love to get into self-publishing. </p>