Advice on choosing a major

by Rishi Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:31 pm

Harsh Times
If the jobs are not there (literature, humanities, design, etc...) then major in something that will employ you - engineering, nursing, etc...

Chi Expat
This assumes that one's talents, interests, and personality are suitable for any job, which is not the case. And trying to compete with people who have a natural flair for a particular discipline will break your heart, when you lack their ability, drive, and passion.

No, go with your strengths, and then figure out where else your strengths will take you.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/04/there_are_no_academic_jobs_and_getting_a_ph_d_will_make_you_into_a_horrible.html

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:53 pm

Rishi wrote:Harsh Times
If the jobs are not there (literature, humanities, design, etc...) then major in something that will employ you - engineering, nursing, etc...

Chi Expat
This assumes that one's talents, interests, and personality are suitable for any job, which is not the case. And trying to compete with people who have a natural flair for a particular discipline will break your heart, when you lack their ability, drive, and passion.

No, go with your strengths, and then figure out where else your strengths will take you.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/04/there_are_no_academic_jobs_and_getting_a_ph_d_will_make_you_into_a_horrible.html

I agree....

If one were to do literature/ humanities/ design they can go into Law-Business, CPA-CFA-State Fed Govt jobs-psychologist,; graphics design/marketing/advertisement/interior design/retail management...

Possibilities are endless if only the parents look at it from the kid's point of view - interests and skill wise.

I know a national merit finalist go for literature - BS and MS and now into Law School.

Another national merit finalist went to U of Chicago to do Econ, changed to history, and now working in a non-profit NGO making all the right connections....

the parents let them do what they wanted - reluctantly. Mom was/is going ballistic in the case of the girl.

by Kris Tue Apr 09, 2013 2:27 am

Rishi wrote:Harsh Times
If the jobs are not there (literature, humanities, design, etc...) then major in something that will employ you - engineering, nursing, etc...

Chi Expat
This assumes that one's talents, interests, and personality are suitable for any job, which is not the case. And trying to compete with people who have a natural flair for a particular discipline will break your heart, when you lack their ability, drive, and passion.

No, go with your strengths, and then figure out where else your strengths will take you.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/04/there_are_no_academic_jobs_and_getting_a_ph_d_will_make_you_into_a_horrible.html

>>>> I don't know why this person had to go through a PhD before realizing jobs in academia are disproportionately small and in humanities, that leaves you up a creek without a paddle. A more practical approach would have been to pick up a couple of marketable skills in the undergrad years and pursued graduate work after a few years, if literature was still a consuming passion.

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