Whats your major?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Well my kids are still young - and thoughts of colleges are not even in their brain as of yet. </p>

<p>Personally I felt I spent too much time in college getting advanced degrees - furthermore I have felt that about half of the students in college have no business even being there in the first place. </p>

<p>Looking at the kids in my neighborhood, I see those that are ready for college have a goal and are ready to start the road down that pathway. Far too many others have no clue what they want to do - but hey going to college is cool - and I want to fit it. And the ever so popular opinion - it is my right to go to college. No it is not!</p>

<p>Seems like more and more are accepted while at the same time the country as a whole sees us loosing ground to almost every other developed country on the map. Why is that? Well I see it starting in my kids education already. it is all about the money not the education. They prep our kids on the state testing which is related to funding - so the practice how to take the silly test. taking time away from actually learning anything useful. Although it is useful to them.</p>

<p>Colleges are the same way - notice how the cost for colleges increased in relationship to how much financial aid the students can get? Yes if you can get a loan you are in! It does not matter that the college think it unlikely that you will graduate, they make a ton of money whether you ever get a degree or not. If you fail out it is okay as there are two other applicants waiting to take your place - so perhaps we should increase tuition.</p>

<p>Whats your major? The number one question amongst the college crowd. Ever notice how the Science majors are required to take Philosophy courses? hmm How many Philosophy majors take bio-chemistry and physics? after all it will make them more rounded people you know. If your child wants a liberal arts degree - wish them well and kiss your investment goodbye - I am not sure what one does with a philosophy degree - perhaps use it to sit on while meditating atop a mountain peak. </p>

<p>Majoring in History? are you also majoring in education? or are you just curious about the events of the past - If so that is something you can research as a hobby or after you retire. Don't get me wrong history is interesting assuming the books are factual - some belong in the fiction section of the library.</p>

<p>Majoring in Education? it is often said there are not enough teachers out there. But I think that there are not a lot of GOOD teachers out there. In all my studies - middle school on up - I had some awesome teachers and some that are just going through the motions. I will never discount someone going after an education degree - if their heart is in it and it is what they want to do then good for them. We always need more GOOD teachers. If you are in it just to get a paycheck and medical benefits well go into philosophy you want hurt our future setting on that mountain top reflecting on life.</p>

<p>Majoring in Math? okay that is a tough major for sure. but once again - what are you going to do with a BS in Math? definitely a spot for a double major in another scientific field. Perhaps physics - or engineering. Math though, in my opinion is the most under-educated portion of our society. I think Calculus should be required of all students in college. I am not asking one to take differential equations after all..</p>

<p>Majoring in psychology - now don't laugh - but this can be a hard major if you make it hard. It is just that there are so many psychology classes to choose from. Neurophysiology is not easy course and I speak of that from experience as a biology major there were several psych students in that class. This degree will require a min of a master degree and a PhD in clinical psychology to make a good career out of. Getting into a Clinical Psychology program is not an easy task - Some will tell you medical school is easier to get into.</p>

<p>Majoring in Biology/Chemistry - one of my degrees - I have a MS in Bio. My favorite class was biochemistry as it actually made sense of of all the stuff we had to learn in organic chemistry. A biology degree or chemistry degree is a great stepping stone into a Medical program - competition is high coursework is hard - Outlook - would be medical school, teaching or working in a lab somewhere. Or be like me and work in another field.</p>

<p>Majoring in Computer Science - yes my other passion - and I have worked in this field for over 20 years now. The last 15 as a consultant and I love my job with a passion. It can be demanding and high stress at times - having ice-water in your veins is a good pre-req.
CS degrees will vary - looking to program - well good luck most of that is out-sourced overseas these days - understanding all the technology and how business can benefit from it - now that you can make a nickle on.</p>

<p>Majoring in Engineering - personally I think this is a sweet spot - lots of options and sub-disciplines that one can grow into along their college pathway. School will play a major role - there are excellent ones you might not even have heard of before or at least have not thought about sending you child to.</p>

<p>Major in Business - well I always wondered why this is a major - the best way to learn business is to go to work.. and unlearn the stuff they taught in school in the process. Ok there are some basic things to learn -but in a down economy who is a company going to hire? The wet behind the ear college grad with a 4.0 GPA or the seasoned professional that has been road tested? Don't get me wrong there are people who do great with a business degree - most go on and get an MBA - Then it becomes a matter of who you know - which is what the business world is all about in the long run. It is what you know and who you know --- and what you know about who you know :)</p>

<p>well that is my 2 cents - or $50000 in student loans - take you pick.. </p>

<p>Just remember this is an investment - I hear students on here complain that their parents won't pay for their college - and them they go on and on - and I understand why that is..</p>

2

<p>I’m so sick of the anti-humanities ■■■■■■. Your kid, your problem. My liberal arts degree, my problem. My parents discouraged me from pursuing a field that I dislike and told me to pursue one that I love. They were an English major and a Film major and they are somehow managing to put me through college. Their problem. Not yours.</p>

3

<p>What can one do with a degree in history or philosophy (or religious studies or English or polisci or psychology)? One can go to law school and become an amazing lawyer - I don’t see how an engineering major has an advantage there. Furthermore, without bioethicists, who will determine the limitations that must be placed on those in the medical field? Without political philosophers and historians, who will remain properly vigilant of the law and aspire to a government that will benefit people? That is why everyone should be encouraged to take philosophy courses. Because no math and science course will teach you to truly understand right and wrong, and that is a crucial thing.</p>

4

<p>I’m a Mathematics-Computer Science and Classics double major. I decided to apply to computer science internships for this summer, but the recruiting process left me with a bad taste in my mouth, so I turned down a lucrative salary working for a well-known company to teach Latin this summer. Working for people who didn’t seem to care at all about me in a subdiscipline of computer science that doesn’t interest me was not worth the bump in salary for me. To each her own.</p>

5

<p>Weird, you don’t write like someone who has advanced degrees (plural).</p>

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<p>Actually, plenty of math majors end up in well paying jobs in the finance, actuarial, or computer fields. It does help to supplement the math major by using some of one’s breadth and free electives in statistics, computer science, and/or economics/finance.</p>

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<p>Medical schools do not require a biology or chemistry degree; the pre-med courses can be taken alongside any major. For the majority who do not get into any medical school, the job and career prospects are poor, with huge numbers of failed pre-meds competing for a small number of low paid lab technician jobs. Or leave the field and apply for the same jobs that the humanities and social studies majors are seeking.</p>

<p>Someone interested in chemistry but concerned about job and career may want to choose chemical engineering instead.</p>

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<p>But the engineering major would not necessarily be at a disadvantage applying to law school. Of course, if the student is interested in patent or intellectual property law, a science or engineering undergraduate major is needed.</p>

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<p>Agree that widespread knowledge of humanities and social studies is good for society in general. But the way universities are pricing themselves these days, they may be discouraging students from in-depth study (to a bachelor’s degree level) of those subjects, which is a somewhat disturbing trend.</p>

<p>However, the ethicists, philosophers, historians, etc. do need knowledge and understanding of science, engineering, and technology in order to properly understand what they are debating about, if it touches those fields (“oh no, radiation from a damaged nuclear power plant in Japan may reach the US… and by the way, don’t take away my CT scans and mammograms from my insurance…”). Unfortunately, too many universities’ breadth requirements in these areas are too “lightweight” to give a good understanding. Science and engineering majors typically study much more in the way of humanities and social studies than humanities and social studies majors study in the way of science.</p>