What Is a Good Possible Major For Me?Help?

College Majors
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<p>I'm a junior in high school, I'm starting to look at possible colleges and majors as well. At this point, I'm not really looking for something absolute, but it would be helpful to know my general direction I am planning on going in before looking at colleges. All I know so far is that I at least want to study Chinese in college alongside another major.</p>

<p>I like science a lot. I love biology and physics, but chemistry isn't that interesting to me. I like learning languages as well. I also really liked music and art class, but I stopped taking art classes after sophomore year because of schedule conflicts. I like history and geography. I really like AP Euro right now. Neutral about math. I dislike English class a lot, but I'm not bad at it. I really like reading, so I'm taking AP Lit next year. Good grades right now...I like to learn languages and I like to travel :)</p>

<p>These are the plans I was thinking about, and I will list pros and cons of each (In my view).</p>

<p>East Asian Studies (Probably as a double major?)
Pros:I really love to learn languages. Studied Chinese in high school (3years so far, 4 in all). I also want to study Japanese and Korean in college (I have been teaching myself for a few years), but is it possible if I want to double major?
Cons: Limited job opportunities?
-Maybe I could major in International Relations/EAS, would that offer me more job opportunities?</p>

<p>Civil Engineering/(Maybe Environmental Engineering or Urban Planning?)
Pros:I love physics, biology and math. I love science. Taken/taking AP physics B and C, AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Enviro Sci, and Anatomy (Plus regular bio,chem,physics).
Cons: Will I be able to use creativity, design things?
-Is there a major where I can design/engineer things such as airports, metro/subway trains, etc? Make them more environmentally friendly, efficient, design infrastructure, etc? Seems very interesting to me. Is this urban planning?</p>

<p>Architecture
Pros:Very creative. Use art with science. High interest in the field. Won't be boring
Cons:Limited Job opportunities? Wont' be able to use physics/science in field? Can you combine this with engineering so that you can use physics?</p>

<p>Epidemiology/Public Health
Pros:Science. I like biology. Can possibly combine languages with science (global health/health policy?)
Cons: I hate anatomy in high school right now (Possibly because of a bad teacher), but do you have to study a lot of anatomy for this major, or more virus/diseases (microbiology)? Movies like quarantine/outbreak scare me away a bit from this field... </p>

<p>Basically want to know if I can do these majors/combine them. They all interest me, but I can only do so much in college. I also need to consider job opportunities as well, since tuition is rising, and I don't want to be a college grad, thousands of dollars in debt, working at a restaurant or something because they majored in a field without any jobs. Just looking for some advice that will help me make a tentative decision. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Have you thought about Computer Science? Learning programming languages is a lot like foreign language in terms of understanding syntax. Plus there are jobs where Software Engineers localize user interfaces for different countries, incorporate speech & gesture, and use context. You could check out HCI (Human Computer Interaction) or HFE (Human Factors Engineering).</p>

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<p>Epi requires more math than bio, but it requires you to be competent with it. It is a quantitative program, and thus you will need a strong foundation in mathematics to be competitive for entry. It is their expectation that you will also have upper division training in biology (it could all be in genetics/immuno) and that you will continue this in graduate school. However the bulk of your work will be in data analysis techniques.</p>

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<p>@LGSMom -Thanks for the reply! I guess I never really ventured into computer programming since we didn’t have a class at school for it, and I always pictured it as a dull subject. I think that it might actually be a good fit for me though since it’s the science and technology I like, plus different languages, as well as a bit of creativity if I design software. I’m also pretty sure that it has good job opportunities. I’ll research a bit about it, and if I find it really interesting, I might take a class at a local college to see if I really like it…</p>

<p>@ANDS!-Thanks for your advice. So I am taking AP Statistics right now. Does epi involve a lot of stuff you learn in Stats (except obviously on a higher level)? How much chemistry is required for epi majors (If required at all)? Sounds a bit more interesting knowing that I can study a lot of genetics/immuno.</p>

<p>If anyone is currently completing a major in Architecture/Engineering/ Urban Planning/International Relations/East Asian Studies, could you give me some insight about it? If anyone is a graduate, how are the job opportunities?</p>

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<p>Absolutely. Most Epidimeology programs will be part of an interdisciplanary group that will include Public Health, BioStatistics (or just Statistics if no seperate Bio programs). As an epi, your job is analysising statistical data to determine public-health trends and patterns. As such you will need a good bio background; however you will be relying MORE on your quantitative skills. </p>

<p>AP Stats is a good start; I’m not familiar with the coursework, but I imagine it is the equivalent of a non-calculus based lower division introductory statistics class. It’s not neccessary, but if you continue on this path, and your college of choice offers it, I would enroll in a calculus based stats class next; a lot of the same material, but if you have time in between your calculus and upper division stats, it will help A LOT. </p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://dceg.cancer.gov/iib/about]Immuno/Epi[/url”&gt;http://dceg.cancer.gov/iib/about]Immuno/Epi[/url</a>] is most definitely a viable synergy.</p>

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<p>OP, you have diverse interests and I’m not sure you can find a major, even a double major, that accommodates all of them. Nonetheless, here are some possibilities to consider that might be a bit outside the box. I’ll assume you’ll continue your Chinese studies and that you’ll double major.</p>

<p>Chinese/East Asian Studies + Earth Sciences
The idea here to major in an area that has good employment prospects, whether on the technical side or the business/policy side. In particular, focus on energy as a theme that ties together your science interests and your international/area studies interests. So, in addition to the usual geoscience courses, take electives in energy economics & policy, natural resource & environmental economics & policy, climate change, international politics & science/technology issues, etc. Needless to say, there are important science and technology issues in international affairs, including energy issues. An energy perspective can tie together and make sense of a lot of what happens on the international scene, and China is a key player in this. You’d always have the option of a graduate program in law, business or IR, too, if you decided to pursue one of those pathways.</p>

<p>A variation on this is to focus some of your earth sciences courses on marine sciences/resources and supplement this with coursework (certificate? minor?) on international relations, international business/economics, and marine affairs. For examples of the type of marine affairs courses to which I’m referring see [College</a> of Earth, Ocean, and Environment | Academics | Departments & Programs | Marine Policy | Courses Offered](<a href=“Prospective Students | College of Earth, Ocean & Environment | University of Delaware”>Prospective Students | College of Earth, Ocean & Environment | University of Delaware).</p>

<p>Another possibility is a double program in Chinese/East Asian Studies + Geographic Information Sciences (GIS). On careers in GIS, see the link to a free publication on this site: [Cartography</a> and Geographic Information Society](<a href=“http://www.cartogis.org/publications/]Cartography”>Publications – Cartography and Geographic Information Society)</p>

<p>If you take the engineering route, you might consider a program in energy engineering. This has an interdisciplinary focus and if you check around, you should be able to locate a number of schools that offer a major in it. Given your stated interests, you might consider architectural engineering, in addition to the other fields you already mentioned (i.e., architecture, urban planning, civil & environmental engineering). Since the requirements for many engineering majors tend to be somewhat more structured and sequential than majors in other fields, it might be difficult to fit in an additional major in Chinese or East Asian Studies. In this regard, you might be able to continue Chinese courses, but mainly to use the language skills as a tool in business, etc. U Wisconsin offers programs in technical Chinese and Japanese for engineers. There may be others. You should also look for schools that offer programs in international engineering, which includes a number of different study abroad options. A significant number of schools offer such a program. I had a post on another thread that included links to a good many of these programs, but I can’t find it right now. The international engineering program at U Rhode Island offers a BS in engineering plus a BA in a foreign language, including Chinese. </p>

<p>You also should check out the Chinese language flagship programs. These are designed to promote a high level of proficiency and to be completed in conjunction with another major. [The</a> Language Flagship - Chinese](<a href=“http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/chinese]The”>http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/chinese) The Chinese flagship program at Ohio State is particularly good by all reports.[Home</a> | The Ohio State University MidWest US-China Flagship Program](<a href=“http://chineseflagship.osu.edu/]Home”>http://chineseflagship.osu.edu/)</p>

<p>So these are just some suggestions to stimulate your thinking about some ways you might try to accommodate your several interests. (Sorry, couldn’t fit in your art and music interests You’ll just have to have those as avocational interests and be satisfied with taking some electives in those areas.)</p>