College majoring

[Kryzantine]

This is a personal issue I am having. My senior year of high school, which is of course dominated by college application. I'm thinking of applying to overseas British schools, mostly out of a desire to get away from the American education system (which I've fallen out of favor with), and I figure I should settle my major soon.

I'm not like most people, who jump around with their decision all the time. I've got at the most, 5 major options: History, Poli Sci, Archaeology, Sociology and English (they're not in any order). The majors I am most interested in are History and Archaeology, but there's just one snag in the whole thing; literally everyone I talk to says I would be an amazing English major, and in truth, I am a better writer than historian right now, but I'm not overly interested in majoring in English.

It might seem really obvious, but I'd still enjoy some reinforcement on a decision, and perhaps a discussion on the 5 major options I presented is adequate for this thread.

 

[zen5887]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

 

[hawkeye52]

when you say you are interested in going to a college in england do you mean the sixth form that is 16-18 years or university (18-21).

if its university then you could take history and i do know out here they do suggest that after you finish history you can take a conversion course that lasts for 2 years to get law qualifications and hopefully become a lawyer or some other legal worker. alternatively you can become a teacher with any of those as aqua suggested since those are the only 2 mainstream careers that are commonly practiced to my knowledge which would suit your degree choices.

ignore the trade school part though since unless you want to do manual labour such as plumbing or electrics its really not worth it

 

[NeutralDrow]

Honestly, if it were down to History or English, I'd go with history. I'm probably projecting my own interests, somewhat, but it opens up options in more fields.

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

...wait, you berated him for including a "non-job major" as an option, but you picked history? History and Poli Sci are great if you want to get a government job, and archaeologists and sociologists have their own fields to themselves (and related options in other social sciences and medicine).

I mean, you went with the overblown "get a job" routine, and you didn't pick English? That's like making fun of Irish people for wearing kilts, it just doesn't work.

 

[thylasos]

As a good writer, without enthusiasm for literature (which I somewhat picked up, possily erroneously from your OP), I'd definitely recommend history. And Sheffield, simply because it's a fantastic city. And I've known some supremely intelligent and interesting history students here.

 

[thylasos]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

Its all about the money man. I chose money over passion and have never looked back. You tell me you love what you do when you can't make rent and just ran out of ramen.

Works for some. Not for me. I'd rather be poor doing something I love rather than doing metalwork and hating every moment of my working life. As long as I can afford a few lagers and a book every once in a while, I'm basically OK.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Well put it as Undecided. Give it a crack it in college and once you find your calling, commit
Hell, if they ask, say "multiinterested" it's true right?

 

[SimuLord]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

Except for one small problem---unless Mom and Dad gave you a hell of a college fund you're going to be financing your education with student debt. And that means you'd damn well better major in something that pays enough to make that college education worthwhile.

This is why I'm a creative writer who's majoring in accounting rather than creative writing or journalism. In the words of Laurence Olivier, "Money, dear boy."

 

[Kryzantine]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

Its all about the money man. I chose money over passion and have never looked back. You tell me you love what you do when you can't make rent and just ran out of ramen.

If I wanted to go that route, then I still would never consider a trade school. The military schools in the US are a godsend, actually; no tuition, quality education, and job offering advantages once you leave the service (because when an employer has to make a choice between a guy who just got out of trade school and a guy who's spent the last 4 years working on a nuclear submarine, who do you think he's gonna take?).

But I don't want to take that route. I'm not that kind of guy. I want to spend the next 3-4 years learning about the world and the intricacies within than how to repair cars for a living. I'm a guy in high school who studies things like the pre-Islamic history of Yemen and the effects of overcrowding in Jakarta for fun. How many welders do you think know that shit?

 

[thylasos]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

Except for one small problem---unless Mom and Dad gave you a hell of a college fund you're going to be financing your education with student debt. And that means you'd damn well better major in something that pays enough to make that college education worthwhile.

This is why I'm a creative writer who's majoring in accounting rather than creative writing or journalism. In the words of Laurence Olivier, "Money, dear boy."

And this is why I love living in the EU.

 

[Chewster]

Unless you plan on doing graduate work, what you major in isn't of any real consequence in most of the arts (at least in Canada, where education is more or less worth the same across the board). Unless it is something practical and direct, like say, Nursing or Accounting or whatever, take whatever interests you the most.

You can always switch majors after you start anyway. Most people do.

Except for one small problem---unless Mom and Dad gave you a hell of a college fund you're going to be financing your education with student debt. And that means you'd damn well better major in something that pays enough to make that college education worthwhile.

This is why I'm a creative writer who's majoring in accounting rather than creative writing or journalism. In the words of Laurence Olivier, "Money, dear boy."

That is only really a problem in America, where school costs are outrageous. Here, school still costs you, as do living expenses, but it is much more reasonable so if he chooses to go somewhere with lower education costs, it will be of a lesser consequence that he doesn't major in something really profitable.

 

[Zugai]

I'm doing counter-terrorism.

It's pretty good.

 

[emeraldrafael]

GO for whatever you like best. I can tell you english may be your best if you go for a teacher position, becuase the others arent realy hiring as well as you'd like, bust english teachers get good pension plans.

 

[SimuLord]

Unless you plan on doing graduate work, what you major in isn't of any real consequence in most of the arts (at least in Canada, where education is more or less worth the same across the board). Unless it is something practical and direct, like say, Nursing or Accounting or whatever, take whatever interests you the most.

You can always switch majors after you start anyway. Most people do.

Except for one small problem---unless Mom and Dad gave you a hell of a college fund you're going to be financing your education with student debt. And that means you'd damn well better major in something that pays enough to make that college education worthwhile.

This is why I'm a creative writer who's majoring in accounting rather than creative writing or journalism. In the words of Laurence Olivier, "Money, dear boy."

That is only really a problem in America, where school costs are outrageous. Here, school still costs you, as do living expenses, but it is much more reasonable so if he chooses to go somewhere with lower education costs, it will be of a lesser consequence that he doesn't major in something really profitable.

Damn you non-Americans with your high quality of life, strong cultural priorities, and lack of people contributing to a culture of corporatism and stupidity. DAMN YOU!

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

 

[Hashime]

All great stepping off points for law. Also, come to Canada for school, we are not like the US, and are close enough to drive (though it may take a long time). Go to Quebec for school if you are a drinker (Legal at 18).

 

[firedfns13]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

My cousin was a history major and nonteacher.
He ended up going to NAVY OCS and is now an Ensign in the USN.

 

[Kryzantine]

Hows about you major in something that you can get money in. All those majors are great if you want to be a teacher. Go to a trade school. Historians can't weld but I bet welders know history.

I lol'd

But seriously, this is horrible advice. Do something that you enjoy and then try to make a living from it. Not the other way around.

Its all about the money man. I chose money over passion and have never looked back. You tell me you love what you do when you can't make rent and just ran out of ramen.

If I wanted to go that route, then I still would never consider a trade school. The military schools in the US are a godsend, actually; no tuition, quality education, and job offering advantages once you leave the service (because when an employer has to make a choice between a guy who just got out of trade school and a guy who's spent the last 4 years working on a nuclear submarine, who do you think he's gonna take?).

But I don't want to take that route. I'm not that kind of guy. I want to spend the next 3-4 years learning about the world and the intricacies within than how to repair cars for a living. I'm a guy in high school who studies things like the pre-Islamic history of Yemen and the effects of overcrowding in Jakarta for fun. How many welders do you think know that shit?

Your righr welders don't read anything but Sports Illustrated and Playboy. I'll go back to my cave.

I'm not saying welders are dumb, I'm saying there's a reason they didn't go to college. This is going to sound very elitist, but I'm better than that. That life is not for me. My father raised me with the expectation that I would become a more valuable individual than he was. He went to a photography school in Latvia and he came to America as a plumber. I'm not going to spend the next 15 years in his footsteps. I'm not going to be content with making a small, semi-steady source of income. Once I get out of college, corporations will be the dominant force on the planet, surpassing states in that time. You will need to work for them if you want to make serious money. You're not going to do that out of trade school.

 

[Chewster]

Unless you plan on doing graduate work, what you major in isn't of any real consequence in most of the arts (at least in Canada, where education is more or less worth the same across the board). Unless it is something practical and direct, like say, Nursing or Accounting or whatever, take whatever interests you the most.

You can always switch majors after you start anyway. Most people do.

Except for one small problem---unless Mom and Dad gave you a hell of a college fund you're going to be financing your education with student debt. And that means you'd damn well better major in something that pays enough to make that college education worthwhile.

This is why I'm a creative writer who's majoring in accounting rather than creative writing or journalism. In the words of Laurence Olivier, "Money, dear boy."

That is only really a problem in America, where school costs are outrageous. Here, school still costs you, as do living expenses, but it is much more reasonable so if he chooses to go somewhere with lower education costs, it will be of a lesser consequence that he doesn't major in something really profitable.

Damn you non-Americans with your high quality of life, strong cultural priorities, and lack of people contributing to a culture of corporatism and stupidity. DAMN YOU!

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

Oh, we have our share of problems, trust me (not the least of which is mass-apathy as most of our politicians are bland as fuck) but funnily enough, I had a couple friends from the States do school here, just because, even with the international student fees doubling what they paid, it was still cheaper. Still, our school are facing an odd crisis where they are not quite public and not quite private (it is about half and half, as far as student cost are concerned) and balancing between the two is becoming harder to do with less government funding on the one side, and students protesting increasing tuition costs on the other.

Still, it depends on where you go. Here it is of little consequence as all basic BAs are worth about the same, but there, getting in to the right school can make all the difference, regardless of the major or cost. Just gotta figure out what you want I guess.

 

[Paksenarrion]

History and Archeology, eh? Just write down "Indiana Jones" as your major. Trust me, they will understand.

It's funny, 'cause when I put down what my intended major was ("Jedi Starship Captain"), they defaulted me to Engineering.

When I changed it to "Sith", they placed me as a History Major with an emphasis on Asia and the Middle East.

It was quite odd.

 

[Breadroller]

I would recommend trying a class in all of those. See what you like best, and focus on that. If you are doing what you enjoy doing, then finding a career is much easier and it will be much more enjoyable than if you are not interested in the substance.