Did you/your child major in what they liked or what would get them into a career?

[Hunter's Moon]

I want to be a History major but other than a teacher, I can't do much else.

 

Sure, I could work at a History museum, but the pay....

 

I love reading books, but I hate writing, so being a History writer is out!

 

I wanted to specialize in the Tudor Dynasty, but that won't get me anywhere.

 

I have been thinking of just finding a major where I can actually get a solid career. A major that just screams what that career is. (Law, Bio, etc.).

 

I have been thinking of going to school for History and Business so I would have something to fall back on. I would love to start my own business from home when I am older, but I have no clue what.

 

Anyways, did you/your child choose a major based on what they liked or whether it would give them a good, solid career?

[TravelingChris]

My first started out as history but changed to philosophy. He likes to write philosophy papers and hopes to go to graduate school and eventually become a professor. He has skills he can use outside of his major if he needs to- sound man, animal care, retail stock, cafeteria worker, and summer camp counselor. My next is planning to go to law school so she can major in anything for undergraduate. SHe also has skills aside from school. My last will probably go into engineering which is a useful major by itself.

[Food4Thought]

I originally went to college as a music composition major. It was what I wanted to do (at the time), and I didn't consider it a useful degree. After my 2nd year, I switched to Communications with an emphasis in Radio/TV/Film - also because it was something I enjoyed. When it came time for work, that Communications degree is what got me the interviews (I worked in marketing and public relations before kids).

 

Truthfully, I can think of only a small handful of college friends who are working in places that have anything to do with their degrees. For most, the degrees just got them in the door to work. If you're still undecided, just study what you're passionate about right now! There were many others like me who finally figured it out by junior year and changed majors halfway through.

[Rosie_0801]

It's pretty hard to get paid with regards to the Tudor dynasty, but there's plenty of room for pursuing study in that area through historical re-enactment. Many important contributors to even academic journals are re-enactors. Many of those are academics in their every day life, but are publishing that sort of stuff as a hobby because you generally don't get funding to study that kind of stuff. Now if you write a good enough book, all the re-enactors will buy. Think of the Tudor Tailor ;)

 

As for college, I highly recommend you read this: http://www.amazon.com/You-Majored-What-Mapping-Career/dp/B002YNS116/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=ITW9UL76FKK5W&colid=2LE2RDPS10Z04 I think it will make you feel better about what you do.

 

Rosie

[creekland]

We're "college for jobs" people here, both hubby (Engineering) and I (Physics/Math) plus how we're aiming our boys. That said, we also think people ought to be doing something they enjoy, so we just look for where the two meet. It hasn't been a problem so far. There's almost always enough room in credits needed to graduate to take classes that interest you, or, as you had mentioned, there's always the option of a double major/minor.

 

None of our family has been wealthy enough to just get an education for the sake of a higher education, but I honestly don't mind. We enjoy using our degrees.

[Mom0012]

I chose to major in accounting and get my CPA license because I knew I would always be able to find a job with that degree. More importantly, it is a job that is conducive to working at home or part time and, for me, that was a huge selling point in case I had children and needed to work.

 

I have not worked since after the tax season my second was born, but with the economy, things are getting tighter and tighter for us financially, so I am starting to look into renewing my license so I can do some part time work at home or maybe just do some work during tax season.

 

Lisa

[Hoggirl]

in my law school class.

[MBM]

I want to be a History major but other than a teacher, I can't do much else.

 

Sure, I could work at a History museum, but the pay....

 

I love reading books, but I hate writing, so being a History writer is out!

 

I wanted to specialize in the Tudor Dynasty, but that won't get me anywhere.

 

I have been thinking of just finding a major where I can actually get a solid career. A major that just screams what that career is. (Law, Bio, etc.).

 

I have been thinking of going to school for History and Business so I would have something to fall back on. I would love to start my own business from home when I am older, but I have no clue what.

 

Anyways, did you/your child choose a major based on what they liked or whether it would give them a good, solid career?

 

My two eldest, now 26 and 24, both majored in electrical engineering. My son works at an electrical plant and loves his job. My daughter works long hours at a consulting firm and travels a lot. She doesn't want that job for life and would prefer to work at a museum designing educational programs for children. At some museums the pay is decent, so don't write that off completely. Some universities and military will also hire history majors. Be sure to consider quality of life factors (for example, hours, travel, job security, etc.) and benefits, too.

 

I noticed that you are also learning Italian. What if you majored in history, business (honestly, I think that's practical) and minored in Italian? If you haven't visited Italy yet, once you do, you'll be planning how to move there permanently. ;) Seriously, it could open doors for you.

 

The Wet Feet guides have insider information about companies. www.wetfeet.com You might want to check one out already to get an idea what they're about.

 

Good luck.

[AngieW in Texas]

I have been encouraging my kids to major in something that will lead to a career.

 

My oldest started off wanting to major in art. The problem with that is that you can have a career in art with NO degree at all. Spending tens of thousands of dollars to get a degree to do something that doesn't require a degree at all doesn't make sense. She had no interest in teaching art, so I couldn't see the point.

 

I did encourage her to take art classes at the community college. After two art classes there, she wasn't interested in an art degree anymore and was interested in looking at digital art. That major actually does lead to a career. It's still very artsy, but it also uses her computer skills. She's taking digital imaging this summer and LOVES it. She's planning to major in ATEC (Arts and TEChnology) at UT Dallas.

 

My middle dd is very interested in philosophy of mind. There aren't any jobs in that field (that I know of) outside of becoming a philosophy professor in a university or cc and she isn't really interested in that. I'm pushing her towards cognitive science. It incorporates a lot of philosophy, but has an actual career path. She can always read tons of philosophy on her own and even discuss it with others without majoring in it. If she wanted to do philosophy for her undergrad as a pre-law degree, that would be fine. You can get an undergrad in just about anything as pre-law and philosophy is actually quite popular as a pre-law degree. She has absolutely no interest in doing that though. I think she'd be happiest in some type of research position, so that's why I've got her looking into cognitive science (maybe neuroscience, but that's a lot more biology-based than I think she's interested in).

 

My youngest wants to be an architect. That major definitely has a career path. Right now architecture is in a slump due to the economy. She's only in 7th grade though. Who knows what the field will look like in 10-12 years?

[Hunter's Moon]

Thanks everyone for all the responses.

 

I have been thinking of majoring in Special Education services. I have never worked with children with special needs. I have interacted with them, but never anything beyond that. I am not sure why, but I always felt that pull to do so.

 

I was looking into it and thought about becoming an Early Childhood Special Educator. I suppose I will look into it more, but I could maybe minor in the Tudor Dynasty, or at least work at a History museum while I am in college and maybe even start a special ed program at a History museum.

 

Thanks everyone :)

[Karen in CO]

I was weird and loved physics. I had no idea what kind of job I would do with a degree in it, but I wanted to study it. I majored in that for a couple of years then changed to computer science which is where I still work. At some point in my physics study, a combination of a weakness in math and a fascination with computers turned me in a direction that I enjoyed and could earn a living with.

 

My ds loves philosophy. He is majoring in Internationl Relations and Japanese and filling in all of his extra classes with philosophy classes. He found that he loves foreign languages and loves to study the way others think. His IR classes help to satisfy part of his love for philosphy and he is studying many non-western philosophies. He picked IR basically at random because he like the list of classes offered in the major. He'll be able to get a job with, and it allows him to continue to study the thing he loves.

 

He didn't decide on his intended major until he was filling out his college applications and some of them required it, and his student loan application would not allow philosophy as a choice.

 

Not everyone's path is the same. If I had set out to study computer science, I might have missed the terrific college that I chose. If my ds had chosen his major with only the intent to make money or the intent to follow what he loved, he would have missed a field he had never considered.

[kmacnchs]

My mil refused to let my dh go to a photography college. She went to college for art and it did not lead to a career so she refused to let dh do that. So, he went to school and became a pediatric nurse. Now, he does that and he is starting his own photography business. He has learned everything from books, the internet, etc. We are hoping that he will be able to do photography full time soon. I'm not sure going to school for photography would have guaranteed he would be able to do photography full time any sooner...

 

Don't know what to tell you - could you learn all you want to learn via books, journals, and the Internet?

[Hannah C.]

I went to college on a scholarship, along with good financial aid. I was undecided at first, then declared a German major in my sophomore year and quickly ended up switching to history. I'm doing history because I like it, and because I have a really good deal money- and education-quality-wise at this college. So, there's no point in dropping out now!!

 

If you want to major in history, you can do teacher certification and become a high school teacher. You can also go on to grad school for something else after majoring in history (e.g. library science, law school). Plus, any 4 year degree somehow makes you look better to potential employers, even if the job in question has almost nothing to do with your degree.

[Mommyfaithe]

I want to be a History major but other than a teacher, I can't do much else.

 

Sure, I could work at a History museum, but the pay....

 

I love reading books, but I hate writing, so being a History writer is out!

 

I wanted to specialize in the Tudor Dynasty, but that won't get me anywhere.

 

I have been thinking of just finding a major where I can actually get a solid career. A major that just screams what that career is. (Law, Bio, etc.).

 

I have been thinking of going to school for History and Business so I would have something to fall back on. I would love to start my own business from home when I am older, but I have no clue what.

 

Anyways, did you/your child choose a major based on what they liked or whether it would give them a good, solid career?

 

well, both. My oldest dd i a classically trained artist. She went into graphic design...and loves it.

 

DD#2 loves sports and did all sorts of red cross stuff. She is a swim coach and loves all sorts of medical first aid stuff. Yes, she would love to study philosophy, but chose to persue nutrition. She isin her 3rd year...and loves it.

 

So, find what you love and then look to study something in that area which you can actually make money doing.

 

Good Luck,

Faithe