College Major/Life Decisions

[Suraj]

Hi there - I'm Suraj. I made this account a while back after stalking the forums for a while, but haven't posted very much since. I've been mulling over some tough college choices lately and figured maybe one of you INTPs have sufficient enough experience to lend me some advice.

I'm currently in my third year at an undergraduate college. I attend a research university (UCSB, if any of you know of it) and I really need to get a move on with choosing my majors.

For the last year or so I've been more or less set on a double-major in economics and psychology, but lately I've become very disinterested in our economics department. I'm very much interested in pure theory, but the emphasis here (and probably at many other schools as well) is placed on problem-solving - and while I'm by no means bad at math, it's neither my inclination nor something I want to spend too much time on. I'm still as into psychology as I've always been, and that's probably going to be my main focus.

I suspect philosophy is more or less responsible for my current apathy toward the economics major. I'm in my fourth or fifth philosophy class right now (free will/determinism) and I can't get enough of it - philosophy has always been one of my favorite subjects, and my brain seems decently built for it (I'm always looking for the demonstration of abstract philosophical themes in real life, as most of you probably do as well - otherwise things get boring quickly). It's a field I'm naturally drawn toward to the point where I frequent the library to read/study philosophy for the fun of it - to learn about and understand it as much as possible is an end I find good-in-itself. Existentialist thought in particular appeals to me - I've studied it independently for some years now.

Long story short - my intellectual interest is directed toward understanding the human condition: psychology studies the mind, economics studies how rational people make decisions/interact with each other, and philosophy attempts to answer a number of questions central to human existence. However, my focus seems to be understanding the self, and economics doesn't offer me half as much in this regard as the other two majors do.

So I'm thinking about double-majoring in psychology and philosophy. This new plan would give me sky-high intellectual enjoyment but also sacrifices a lot of real-world applicability by trading off economics (though for the record, none of the problem-solving seems very helpful outside of the classroom/academia - but many employers favor the major nonetheless).

My question to you INTPs is this: If I go with philosophy/psychology intending to somehow apply them beyond undergrad, am I essentially limiting myself to the professor/scholar's route?

 

[Cognisant]

The real question is do you want to be a professor/scholar?

If money is your goal get degrees in business and HR management, find a corporation you like, then kiss-ass, back-stab and blackmail your way to the top; being an INTP is a lot like having Jack Sparrow's magic compass, you can go anywhere you want if you can figure out where you want to be, which sometimes can take years if not decades to figure out

Before anything else I think you should figure out what you enjoy doing, then find a job that involves doing it, because you only get one life, I think enjoying life is more important than saving up for your descendant's inheritance.

 

[Suraj]

I think I would enjoy being a professor/scholar - I seem to enjoy studying my interests in-depth and at my own leisure, and being a professor could afford me the freedom/encouragement to do that.

The idea of a 9-5 corporate job doesn't appeal to me much at all. I'd only be doing something like that for a few years, just to confirm that I'm not missing out on much.

The P-ness in me is primarily concerned with keeping my options open, ya know?

 

[pjoa09]

Yes, mostly. I think the regular ole' businessman still stands in the way. But in the way of being employed there aren't too many options associated with philosophy. It's not a lucrative idea. Although, it can have some effects on your life decisions in some convoluted way in the future.

 

[Words]

One important problem I find with professor/scholar is that you don't actually get to create much. You cannot invent. You cannot innovate. You cannot build. You are primarily a storage of the past and the spokesperson for convention. In essence, I think these areas are simply inadequate in Ne, mainly in regards to its "actualization." Or maybe its my personal preference for observable products. Still, I think it lacks "progress" or "potentiality." Philosophy in particular leads nowhere. Psychology has some but it's mainly through plain quantification of behavior.

 

[Suraj]

Although, it can have some effects on your life decisions in some convoluted way in the future.

Probably my biggest reason for thinking it worthwhile, crazy and unpractical as that seems. Studying philosophy is very liberating - especially when Ne starts churning out original ideas and I know I'll be encouraged to express them (given I'm in a competent discussion atmosphere). This opportunity to develop Ne (and Ti, naturally) is extremely compelling.

One important problem I find with professor/scholar is that you don't actually get to create much. You cannot invent.

Definitely a valid concern. I'll have to ask for some of my professors' thoughts on this.

 

[kvothe27]

If you're that interested in it, why not just continue to study it on your own time? You could sit in on lectures or attend the first couple days to get the syllabus. You could follow along by reading the textbook or texts assigned. If you want to be able to discuss these topics, you could make use of a philosophy forum or sit in on classes.

A good way to keep your options open would be to study something that would teach you to think differently than how you're being taught to think in your current major, but could be used in a more practical sense in other careers. I know you said you have no interest in studying mathematics, but I would imagine a major in math or statistics would be much more beneficial to you in the long run than a major in philosophy (as awesome as it is to study). Being able to think about situations as though they're equations would be highly beneficial to, well, anyone. So, while you may not find much enjoyment in studying it now, it would probably benefit you much more. Besides, if you're an intp, you'll be studying all sorts of things on your own throughout your life, especially things like philosophy.

That said, it's your decision and blah blah blah . .

 

[Suraj]

It's long been my rather stubborn opinion that people ought to study 1) what they're interested in and 2) what nurtures their greatest potential. I'm amazed and a bit disgusted at how many people around me have given up on this ideal - and act contrary to it. An ideal is only as real as we let it be.

I can't help but see a worthwhile challenge in trying to break this mold: to do what I want and get where I want having done things my own way. Unrealistic or no, the prospect excites me at a time in my life where few other things seem to.

I guess deliberation is useless after all - seems my mind is already made up. Heh, let's hope I can make this work.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Finish with econ/psych, and then get an MBA. Then you can run some business somewhere, tell other people what to do, and waste time on your 3-hour-long lunch break. Also, you'll make more money than everyone else at the business so you'll be able to pursue the things you really want to pursue.

The alternative will be switching and switching some more and wondering what you're supposed to do. And then you'll end up working 3 part-time jobs to make ends meet and wish you'd finished your econ degree.

 

[Words]

Finish with econ/psych, and then get an MBA. Then you can run some business somewhere, tell other people what to do, and waste time on your 3-hour-long lunch break. Also, you'll make more money than everyone else at the business so you'll be able to pursue the things you really want to pursue.

Under the guise of "innovation", this is what I was really trying to push. Perhaps there's not necessarily any innovation there, but the most successful businesses are the most innovative ones. And then it's about free time. The best ideas are the ones not forced. Then there's this premise of mine that Ti is the most "capitalist", most "selfish" function. It's commonly agreed that the market is composed of individualist, rational agents(Ti) as opposed to collective or institution followers. Then there's this other idea of mine that every market represents a personal idea(a personal Ne-Si). The interrelationships between markets that make up the "market arena" is where the linearity of intelligence is irrelevant. It's also about guiding your own life, instead of a company deciding it for you. All that said, I have no business experience at all. In addition, i think it's best paired with something more technological. interest in social systems worsens the quality of this idea.

 

[pjoa09]

This is really messed up. Tis being forced into Te jobs.

 

[Suraj]

This is really messed up. Tis being forced into Te jobs.

How dare they assume we actually care to carry out our independently-formed ideas?!

Eh, gonna let Ne/Si perceive some more before I make a conscious decision either way. I've got a quarter more to figure stuff out.

BTW, I appreciate all the INTP input. Studying MB typology has made me considerably more suspicious of others' opinions when it comes to deciding things for myself.