Thinking of switching majors.

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>Just looking for some friendly advice. I'm currently a marine biology major weighing the pros and cons of switching to something else. The further I have gone with my major, the more I realized that I probably won't do anything related to this major once I graduate. Also, I really love the subject, but I don't want to spend a huge portion of my life sitting in a laboratory all day, which is all I have been doing since I started biology. I am looking for advice on finding an alternative. This is not easy, but any advice on where to begin would be cool.</p>

<p>I would like to do something that fits my interests.</p>

<p>~I enjoy biology and evolution.</p>

<p>~I enjoy physics and molecular biology when it isn't too crazy.</p>

<p>~I'm fairly good at math now. I struggled a lot in high school, but now I'm in calc II and kicking its ass. I think I only need to go up to calc II, but I may do all of calc since I'm not struggling yet and it might help me if I decide to switch majors.</p>

<p>~I like graphic design, web design, audio mixing/recording, producing/editing video... all the creative stuff. (I know photoshop, Logic pro, and the Adobe suite very well. Been using it since I was 6 years old.)</p>

<p>Here are some majors I looked into:</p>

<p>~programming/software engineering/computer science. I like working and editing with Adobe programs, and even though I've been intimidated, I've always sort of wanted to learn how to design my own software. Plus, I'm sure programmers/software engineers are in fairly good demand.</p>

<p>~Some kind of engineering maybe. Environmental engineering sounds interesting, and it could relate a little to biology since its about constructing systems to preserve life/ecosystems. </p>

<p>~worst comes to worst, I can always fall back on graphic/web design or multimedia, but I feel like I can do better.</p>

2

<p>If you don’t want to spend so much time “sitting in a lab all day”, you might want to really look into what computer work is all about. It’s pretty much the same thing. Many who think they want to major in the CS area wind up switching because they didn’t realize how much solitary work it involves.</p>

3

<p>I see. Maybe I should reconsider computer science then. I don’t mind working in solitude on something if I am passionate about it though… but I see your point.
I like my major, but I don’t know if its worth all the chemistry you have to go through. I still like the fact that a marine biologist doesn’t just crunch numbers though. They at least get to go out and interact and do something interesting… I just feel like there is something else that could be a better fit. I’m just not sure how to look for it.</p>

4

<p>If you are seriously interested in CS, take the introductory CS course(s) before you decide yes or no.</p>

5

<p>Have you considered civil engineering? These jobs often have a component of outdoor work, along with indoor time. Projects are sometimes environmentally oriented, and learning CAD will utilize your design skills. Also, depending on the school, you may not need any more chemistry.</p>

6

<p>Thanks Sheepster. I think I may consider doing civil engineering. From the description, it sounds like something I might like doing. I am going to sit in one of the engineering classes and see how it feels. I may very well become an engineer instead.</p>

7

<p>Go ahead and take a few civil classes. Structural work might not be your cup of tea, but they do a lot of environmental work as well. It’s not the hottest market right now, but it’s leagues ahead of all biology fields.</p>

8

<p>Thanks. I was just curious, what is the difference between civil and environmental engineering? And also, what kind of work does an environmental engineer do? (It’s not just designing sewers right? :p).
If it doesn’t float my boat, I will try something else, of course. I appreciate the suggestions.</p>

9

<p>Civil deals a lot with structures, mostly public ones. Buildings, bridges, and the like. Has a lot of application to important themes within environmental engineering as well, which is an ill-defined field because it has many specific applications with no overarching theme.</p>

10

<p>i would say that civil is with bridges, roads, city layout, buildings, condos, airports. you design the bridge to make it safe. to hold x amount of load with x amount of cars driving over it. </p>

<p>environmental does deal a lot with sewers… they work with the city to make sure the treatment facilities are up to par. they take water samples and analyze them. advise companies and governments on policies and procedures to clean up waste. deal with portable water supply and connections. deals with air pollution from industrial plants. asses impacts on the land from pipelines, buildings, industrial plants. </p>

<p>for marine biology, can you not work at sea world? I always thought that would be cool, training the whales.</p>