What is the most useful college major?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Is it CS or Business? Or is it Engineering? I'm the math and science type, and I was wondering what would be the most useful major.</p>

2

<p>What does ‘useful’ mean to you? Is this the major that will get you the most job offers upon graduation? Or the most versatile - meaning you can work in the widest range of jobs/companies? Or the one that gives you the most mobility so you can live anywhere? Or the one that earns the most?</p>

3

<p>Yes, define “useful”.</p>

4

<p>The most useful major will be one which develops your capacity to think things through, using insights from multiple disciplines. CS, Business and Engineering are pretty useful for getting you an entry-level job, but in 10 or 20 years you could be awfully frustrated watching those in your field with broad critical thought and communication skills get promoted. Plus, many jobs in your lifetime will be in fields that have yet to develop. Being equipped for maximum versatility over the long haul is the most useful asset you could have in the 21st century.</p>

5

<p>Probably Sanskrit.</p>

6

<p>which one is the most versatile?</p>

7

<p>Versatile for what purpose?</p>

8

<p>Physics or Mathematics?</p>

9

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<p>Here’s a thought that may sound counter-intuitive. Perhaps Theatre? I wouldn’t suggest that for most students it’d lead to an acting career, but Theatre majors learn to stand in front of groups and communicate, adjust their communication styles to the material and their audiences, study the contexts and influences of relationships, history, politics, etc. on differing roles - those are skills which when added to any technical expertise makes an individual much more effective and leadership-ready.</p>

10

<p>“meaning you can work in the widest range of jobs/companies”</p>

<p>If that’s your definition, then I’d go with some combination of computer science and something. There is virtually no area of commercial life or research these days that doesn’t involve information techology and the most interesting jobs (in my opinion) are those where the application of computers to an existing field, way of doing things, or process is creating new discoveries. Example - in biology, the application of computers is creating huge new areas of research in genomics. In physics, it’s nanotechnology. In business, I know of no organization that is ‘done’ with its tech infrastructure.</p>

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<p>Engineering</p>

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<p>Philosophy</p>

13

<p>This is like asking what the best flavor of ice cream is.</p>

<p>The most useful major FOR YOU is whatever major will enable you to pursue a fulfilling and enjoyable life. Maybe that’s math, maybe that’s history, maybe that’s forestry.</p>

14

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<p>+1000</p>

<p>Some of these questions make me wonder. Maybe they are best ignored. Maybe there should be a Clownhouse forum where ■■■■■ and “What school is best” threads are dumped by the mods (if there are any).</p>

15

<p>statistics and a social science minor. check out business analytics. the field is forecast to be pretty solid. (if you like math)</p>

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<p>This type of question keeps cc alive. Never ending debate. The truth, though, you can find people who are successful with various backgrounds. Who says the engineering type is so narrow minded that they’ll be disadvantaged in 20 or 30 years? Or flipping the coin for the liberal arts? Even going to Harvard doesn’t guarantee anything. In fact, right here on cc, there is a woman who went to Yale but couldn’t pay her D to even a public college. Or that Harvard mom on the UNC forum.</p>