Stuck. Major Change or...?

Hello all, this is my first post…

I’m currently a sophomore in a public 4-year university. I’m a undeclared science major(thinking about doing biology because I love animals, etc.) and I was thinking about doing research as career.
At the by the end of this quarter, I must declare my major. The reason why I’m considering a major change is even though I love science, I’m not doing quite well overall and I’m not sure if it’ll be good to continue like this. I did talk with my parents, but they’re not very familiar with how U.S. college do things, like “undergrad research has GPA requirements”, etc. It’s easier said than done.

When I was a high school senior, we talked about what I should major in with future jobs in mind, and the choices are:
1 biology/biochem ----( I was pretty good in high school bio,chem, env sci, anatomy/physiology)

  1. accounting?-----it's a job needed everywhere, I have no problem with math, but I'm not sure if I'll like it. And my mom says it's easy math, you just need how to apply the knowledge...she makes it sound easy, but I know it's not? Maybe compared to science?
  2. Art----- a hobby of mine and I'm great at it, as but the future for art major isn't as good my parents say, I do agree to some point because, in reality, it isn't).

I’m stuck. I’ve taken personality tests and whatnot to see what suits me, but science is the top one. Should I continue or change major? I’ve talked to my mom again and now, she’s letting me choose, but I don’t know anymore.

For jobs, accounting is likely better than biology or biochemistry with just a Bachelor’s degree. Art is also harder for jobs I think. Since it is summer now, you should take the summer to figure out what you would like best. It sounds like your parents are letting you choose for yourself and so it is wise for you to become as informed as possible about each of the choices. Is it possible for you to volunteer or find work in a biology lab this summer? That would be a way of deciding if it is for you.

Both art and biology majors tend to have to look for jobs not specifically related to their majors, if they are not among the top or most lucky few who do well in work related to their majors. Accountants do have better job prospects relating to their majors, though the CPA licensing requires a fifth year worth of course work. However, if you do not actually like the subject, you may not do so well in it in school or on the job.

I can’t because I’ll be taking summer courses for 2quarters of organic chemistry squeezed into 6 weeks.

My brother is an art/animation major

Your point is…?

I see that in your brief description math is standing out as a strong area. But I need to know more. Have you enjoyed working with your hands? How do you feel about doing work that is routine and hardly ever changes? How do you feel about working with others - love interacting with strangers, prefer just a small group, just tolerate others or what? How do you feel about working outdoors/indoors/in a cubicle? Have you gotten any awards in any particular area? What do other people think you’re good at? What were your SAT scores?

What problems are you having with science? I am not inclined to agree that you should give up science because it’s hard. I am inclined to say work harder at it. This is because developing your mind, as science does, will make you more competent, in getting jobs, in work and functioning generally, as an adult. I personally feel college should be a time of hard work in developing your mind. You will extract more from the opportunity if you study long and hard and seek out the help of instructors, other students and even relevant websites if a concept is difficult.

For actual job prospects, look at http://data.bls.gov/projections/occupationProj and, for the sciences, math and engineering (the so-called STEM fields), look at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10318/pdf/tab35.pdf . The former is projection by the Dept. of Labor, the latter is established fact about STEM. Both of these data sources say that the health area offers the best odds of getting a job that applies to one’s major. The bls (Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics) site shows the top specific professions for number of openings expected in the decade of 2012-2022 to be accountants, managers (general), secretaries (general), and registered nurses (each about half a million).

Try to find out what it’s like doing the work of an occupation - through talking to people who do it, through interning or part-time working at it - before submitting yourself to studying to do it.

I looked at the jobs that BS degree recipients at my university do. Most of them had studied biology or agriculture. Many of them worked in laboratories and many worked in some kind of environmental management, often for the government, others were in technical support, sales, teaching. I think the major decision facing you is whether to focus on developing the skills fundamental to doing these kinds of professions, letting the exact profession remain undetermined for now, or to right away be vocationally-minded and opt for a program with a specific job at the end of it. On the latter course you will be more comfortable now, but you will not become as developed.

Thanks for the reply. I’m an introvert, so…I prefer small groups, hands-on experiences, either indoor or outdoor’s fine.
I’ve been working hard and am trying harder(like figuring out learning style is visual", but I’m still not reaching my goal. I don’t know if I’d do better in accounting, and I’m afraid that my grades will be even worse if I do switch major, and even though Myers-Briggs test says accounting/natural sciences suits me.

I had a score of around 1740 on the SAT, stronger in math. Yes, I know about job prospects. Now, I’m wondering if science major is for me because I don’t really have “good grades” and that is preventing me from getting into undergraduate research and other activities. I’ve been keeping at it for a while now since my friends/parents told me to continue, but I’m not sure what to do. I keep thinking if things would it be better if I switch.

It looks like you would be a good laboratory worker.

There are three problems:

  1. GPA

You worry too much about GPA. Don’t worry about it unless it’s so bad your university isn’t going to let you continue as a student. Undergraduate research is nice, but not necessary. I don’t know what the other activities are that your low GPA prevents you from doing, but I presume you would have detailed them if you regarded them as really important.

Of course, GPA can be raised. For example, you can do what I did: PERSEVERE. I went to the University of California at the age of 31 (twelve years after I had last been a full-time student) to get a chemistry degree, and I got a D on my first math test. I resolved to do problems every available waking minute. After that I did math and physics problems ELEVEN hours every week day and 25 hours every weekend as long as I was doing math and physics (about the first two years). I kept a log of my study time. I graduated with a 3.3 GPA, and it was actually higher than that in the math courses.

It may be that there is a community college convenient to you where you can take some course(s) which you can get credit for and in which you likely will get higher grades that will bring up your GPA.

You can get a tutor and/or take a study skills course and/or read study skills books. Likely your university can get you access to these. For a general tip, I say this: think about the material of your courses ALL the time.

  1. Becoming mentally proficient

The fundamental point of higher education is development of mental proficiency. This enhances a person’s attractiveness to employers and facilitates the person navigating well in life. It fundamentally explains why society promotes higher education. Unless one has one’s heart set on a specific occupation accessible no other way, the quest for general mental proficiency is the only good reason to insist on a 4-year degree.

Science is a particularly good discipline for developing mental proficiency, because it entails logic so much. If you don’t do science coursework, you will not develop as much in that regard – and that matters.

  1. Getting a job

For high ability to get a job I see three paths for you.

You could do a very vocationally oriented biology-related degree, such as nursing, clinical laboratory technology, x-ray technician, etc. Among broad occupational fields, the health field is projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to have the most job openings in the next few years. Some of these job training tracks can be done at a community college. They may not be offered at your current university, so you might need to transfer. You could likely thus get an easier science education.

You can do accounting. You will have good job prospects with that. But you will have to live the rest of your life in acceptance of the principle that something you loved, science, had to be sacrificed because the practicality of certain employment was more important.

Try to develop yourself as much as possible as a laboratory worker. Even people without degrees can get work in environmental analysis labs; a student or a graduate certainly can, whatever the GPA is. If your university has a work-study program (it’s considered part of financial aid) and you qualify for it, try to get a work-study job in a campus lab. (I did that a lot). In the process you are likely to get known to people who can offer a full-time job later (as was the case for me). While you are a student try to get into any instrumental analysis laboratory course you can, because that kind of coursework very much helps to get a good laboratory career going.

Don’t overlook that how comfortable you feel during the ~4 years of college is less important than how you feel during the decades after it.