College students, what's your major?

[yogurtexpress]

English-creative writing

 

[DetachedRetina]

^you feel like critiquing a couple of my short (quite short) stories for me?

 

[Architect]

Yes, but I have not chosen yet. I am going to wait until I learn significantly more before I commit.

OK, I recommend learning how to study.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I'm making a concerted effort. I now study for roughly three hours after school. (I hope it can last)

 

[DetachedRetina]

^ are you studying things that interest you or just for your regular schoolwork?

 

[Dr. Freeman]

^ are you studying things that interest you or just for your regular schoolwork?

I am studying schoolwork. Otherwise it wouldn't really count of that purpose.

 

[HDINTP]

I change my mind really often but right now for about 2 months it is Biology because i am interested in that. It seems to be something i can do for a long time however i don't feel like teaching at school after that. I just want to study biology. The problem can be that i don't see myself work in this field somewhere at laboratory and things like that but i am interested so i will probably do that and then take something else.

 

[yogurtexpress]

^you feel like critiquing a couple of my short (quite short) stories for me?

Yes. PM them.

 

[MEDICaustik]

Mornin all,

I'm starting school up again this coming week, after 3 or 4 years out of community college. I'm retaking a couple classes that I did "freshman" in.. meaning I did horrible cause I didn't care.

I completed two semesters of community college and stopped going, not before wasting my parents' money on another semester that I dropped all the classes on.

At the time, I was also becoming a volunteer firefighter, having taken that class at the same time, and enjoying it much much more. So I thought that was the way to go. I also became and EMT-B.

Then I started working in IT as an entry level system admin/help desk tech. At the same time, I was becoming an EMT-Intermediate (generally referred to as a "medic". These are the more advanced EMT-Basic's who can do IVs, medications, intubation, etc). I loved it. And my resentment of the IT job began.

Since then, I became an EMT-Paramedic, and my job as an IT Admin went full-time, and the work tripled. And, I resent it heavily.

I enjoy the people, at times, but I like to work alone too. Worst thing about the job: answering help desk calls, or dealing with people who think their small scale IT problem is the end of the world. I do enjoy the technical stuff at times, but at this point, I have figured out that IT is not for me. All you CS majors, good luck.

I like tech as a hobby.. not as a career.

So, now that I've shared my life story, on to what I started with: starting school in a week.

My plan is now to do a Bachelor's degree; Bioengineering, Neuroscience, History, German, Horticulture, Wildlife Sciences, Astrophysics, Biology, Earth Science, Geology, French, Chemistry, Global Affairs, All the Engineering subsets.. all are possible.

The idea now, is to go to medical school, as I really enjoy medicine.

My biggest driver (and I suspect this drives many of you as well) is to make an impact in the world, not live the status quo, and be in control of myself.

I want to travel the world as a physician, do something akin to Doctors Without Borders, and avoid the office lifestyle king of deal.

Any advice on which undergrad to pursue? Honestly, I don't really know, and I don't have much experience with any of them. I find all of them interesting, especially the ones that would apply practically to life. But, I also have the huge wrench called "Med School" in the plan, that dictates (partially) what I can do in undergrad.

 

[DetachedRetina]

It doesn't matter too much what major you choose in terms of getting into med school. As long as you get the grades that's what counts. Med schools give a little bit more respect to "difficult" majors, but not that much and it is way better to get straight A's than to master a difficult subject (In the eyes of med school admissions boards.)

Though if you're taking the route of "I had no direction before, but after becoming an EMT-Paramedic I discovered that I'm really interested in medicine" I would recommend taking a path that is at least somewhat related to medicine.

Most schools you go to will have med advisors though and there's a lot of info online you can find pretty easily. The med school advisor at UF told me to just major in what I was most interested in, and that seemed like sound advice.

Engineering is really hard to get through (at some schools) with a strong GPA, although pretty much all the majors you listed can be.

If you're really interested in the "real world applications" part though, some of the engineering subsets might let you down as they are mostly theory courses until you are an upper-class-man.

 

[MEDICaustik]

It doesn't matter too much what major you choose in terms of getting into med school. As long as you get the grades that's what counts. Med schools give a little bit more respect to "difficult" majors, but not that much and it is way better to get straight A's than to master a difficult subject (In the eyes of med school admissions boards.)

Though if you're taking the route of "I had no direction before, but after becoming an EMT-Paramedic I discovered that I'm really interested in medicine" I would recommend taking a path that is at least somewhat related to medicine.

Most schools you go to will have med advisors though and there's a lot of info online you can find pretty easily. The med school advisor at UF told me to just major in what I was most interested in, and that seemed like sound advice.

Engineering is really hard to get through (at some schools) with a strong GPA, although pretty much all the majors you listed can be.

If you're really interested in the "real world applications" part though, some of the engineering subsets might let you down as they are mostly theory courses until you are an upper-class-man.

Yea. Like most INTP's, my interests are many, and picking an undergrad is far more difficult than the decision to do med school.

I'd like to do an undergrad that applies to medicine, but that is also versatile. I have a lot of friends in med school, and for the most part they say majoring in Biology/Chemistry is kind of a waste, since you go over most of that stuff in med school anyway.

Decisions, decisions. I think engineering (and the engineering subsets) is out of the question. I just don't see myself doing overly well with engineering.

I dominate History/Humanities/English/Languages and most liberalish items.. I might pick one of those.

 

[DetachedRetina]

That's a great idea. (Though I didn't mean to discourage engineering if you have a genuine interest, it's just that some professors seem bent on piling huge amounts of work on their students to "weed out" the lazy ones (read as "weed out the INTPs))

Granted you will probably have to take some science courses even if you have already taken them in community college, Med schools want to see that you have succeeded in science/math courses recently and at the school you graduate from.

If you can get good grades in the Calc sequence, Chem 1+2 plus labs and probably organic chem, physics + lab, etc. While you also major in a humanities type discipline, Med schools will eat you up.

Especially if you score well on MCAT (which I'm sure you will as an INTP you are probably good with standardized tests and stuff, yes?)

 

[Wasp]

When I was younger I wanted to be a detective then later a physicist (too much time playing Half-life...wait what am I saying you can never have too much Half-life ).
Now I want to be computer programmer, .
Already getting into trouble for breaking into my mum and dad's computer so why not?
Any advice?

 

[MEDICaustik]

That's a great idea. (Though I didn't mean to discourage engineering if you have a genuine interest, it's just that some professors seem bent on piling huge amounts of work on their students to "weed out" the lazy ones (read as "weed out the INTPs))

Granted you will probably have to take some science courses even if you have already taken them in community college, Med schools want to see that you have succeeded in science/math courses recently and at the school you graduate from.

If you can get good grades in the Calc sequence, Chem 1+2 plus labs and probably organic chem, physics + lab, etc. While you also major in a humanities type discipline, Med schools will eat you up.

Especially if you score well on MCAT (which I'm sure you will as an INTP you are probably good with standardized tests and stuff, yes?)

I never met a standardized test that could handle me.

No but really, like most INTPs, I test like a machine.

I have a genuine interest in engineering but I can't see myself as an engineer. At the most, I'd like to learn a bit of CAD to design and build some furniture or something. I don't think I can see myself designing an aircraft or engine, etc.

So far, I'm looking at Virginia Tech, and the degrees that seem right up my alley:

International Studies - Global Development Specialization.. Also requires a foreign language.. not sure which one

Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise - Covers all the Med prereqs, and I have a genuine interest as a bit of health "enthusiast". I'm a vegan after all

Environmental Science - Similar to International Development, but focuses on developing resources like water and crops.

Biochemistry - Simple enough, it's the chemistry of life. This one is probably the MOST applicable to Medicine.

Regardless of which I pick for the major, I will likely do at least one of the above as a minor, if not a double minor.

My fear of Biochemistry is that it applies to med school, and beyond that there isn't much I would do with the knowledge. If I decide medicine is not my thing, then my options with a Biochemistry degree are.. research or teaching.

I like the other 3 more because there is room to use those to do field work.. outdoors.

My ultimate goal is to travel abroad as a physician with an organization like Doctors Without Borders, and aid in developing countries.

 

[DetachedRetina]

@MEDICaustik
You might like geology a lot. My best friend majored in geology and there's a lot of opportunity for field work.

I learned French, and I found languages are much harder than mathy stuff (at least for me.)

All of those sound super interesting to me actually. This is the problem I had a few years ago where I just couldn't choose.

@Wasp I love programming, but there's someone on this forum named Architect who I believe does that for a living. You might want to ask him?

 

[MEDICaustik]

Actually I think I would enjoy Geology/Earth Science a lot. One of my favorites from high school, even though it was a huge joke.

Yea.. too many majors look interesting. Tough to pick.

From the sound of it, seems you are either in med school or planning to be.. what's your major?

 

[Wasp]

@MEDICaustik
You might like geology a lot. My best friend majored in geology and there's a lot of opportunity for field work.

I learned French, and I found languages are much harder than mathy stuff (at least for me.)

All of those sound super interesting to me actually. This is the problem I had a few years ago where I just couldn't choose.

@Wasp I love programming, but there's someone on this forum named Architect who I believe does that for a living. You might want to ask him?

Thanks

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Any advice on which undergrad to pursue?

A bit late to the party, but hey, what the hell.

If med school is your goal:
Biology
*Bioengineering
Neuroscience
Chemistry

*Given your background and INTP nature, Bioengineering is the way to go if you're interested in the research aspect of the medical field. Bioeng, Bio, and Neuro will give you a general background for med school in general, and Chem and Neuro are good if you want to enter psychiatry. Bioengineering gives you the most options, IMHO.

If you're dead set on traveling the world as a physician you should consider minoring in a foreign language (FYI, way more people speak Spanish, Swahili, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi than German and French...), but you can have just as much, if not more of an impact as a researcher. Create something/s useful and awesome and make it widely available for as cheap as possible.

I can answer questions regarding the life sciences (Biology, Ecology, Wildlife, and some aspects of the medical field (I teach pre-meds). Generally speaking, the life sciences are something you do because you love what you do, not because the pay is close to good and not because there are jobs available. Competition is very high (most employment comes via state or fed governments, which have slashed funding), e.g. an entry level full time position in wildlife is now a M.S. level deal for $30,000 a year.

If you can't stand repetition, do yourself a favor and knock Horticulture off the list. It's a dying (nearly dead) repetitive field best served as a hobby. And as for Earth Sci and Geology, you'll likely be able to get a job quickly due to the natural gas industry, but it isn't exactly the most altruistic field of employment and due to the gas boom and nature of the industry you could find yourself jobless in 20 years.

 

[DetachedRetina]

I have to disagree about ending up jobless. Geologists and Environmental scientists work closely with one another, and with the recent interest in global climate I'd bet that paleomagnetism and paleoclimatology are going to be growing fields IMO. Geology is broad.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I like the other 3 more because there is room to use those to do field work.. outdoors.

If you have any interest in environmental/ecological field work and are in the Great Lakes area, I can hook you up. You'd get the experience and I could use the labor, if only for a day...

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I have to disagree about ending up jobless. Geologists and Environmental scientists work closely with one another, and with the recent interest in global climate I'd bet that paleomagnetism and paleoclimatology are going to be growing fields IMO. Geology is broad.

Keep in mind that everything you mentioned depends on public funding.

 

[xbox]

lolz. my turn

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Major: Psychology Grad preperation
Minor: Communications
Minor: Economics

lol my advisor is gonna kill me when he sees I switched to econ.
Communications classes were a joke, classes designed for ESF's. not like standard academia. Learned the same stuff as psych but taught in a horrible manner. eh and comm major ppl, the most talkative Sensor bunch so annoying

MY TURN Lol I hated going to advisors, they always got mad at me for taking classes out of my major.

BS Molecular bio & Microbiology -> Medical School

BS Electrical Engineering and BS in Music (they didn't offer aerospace engineering )

I hate being in school lawl.

 

[MEDICaustik]

A bit late to the party, but hey, what the hell.

If med school is your goal:
Biology
*Bioengineering
Neuroscience
Chemistry

*Given your background and INTP nature, Bioengineering is the way to go if you're interested in the research aspect of the medical field. Bioeng, Bio, and Neuro will give you a general background for med school in general, and Chem and Neuro are good if you want to enter psychiatry. Bioengineering gives you the most options, IMHO.

If you're dead set on traveling the world as a physician you should consider minoring in a foreign language (FYI, way more people speak Spanish, Swahili, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi than German and French...), but you can have just as much, if not more of an impact as a researcher. Create something/s useful and awesome and make it widely available for as cheap as possible.

I can answer questions regarding the life sciences (Biology, Ecology, Wildlife, and some aspects of the medical field (I teach pre-meds). Generally speaking, the life sciences are something you do because you love what you do, not because the pay is close to good and not because there are jobs available. Competition is very high (most employment comes via state or fed governments, which have slashed funding), e.g. an entry level full time position in wildlife is now a M.S. level deal for $30,000 a year.

If you can't stand repetition, do yourself a favor and knock Horticulture off the list. It's a dying (nearly dead) repetitive field best served as a hobby. And as for Earth Sci and Geology, you'll likely be able to get a job quickly due to the natural gas industry, but it isn't exactly the most altruistic field of employment and due to the gas boom and nature of the industry you could find yourself jobless in 20 years.

Awesome input, thanks.

Given some recent discussions with med students I know, and some research into interviews with admissions people, combined with what I am looking for in a major, I have a very strong feeling on an interdisciplinary/unique major offered at Virginia Tech:

Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Science and Environment

It's interdisciplinary, which if you see the stats, med schools tend to like. It is broad and not super specific (which I REALLY like), there are many options for what path to take, it ties in very nicely with a minor in "Medicine and Society", covers natural science, life science, humanities, language and even some political science.

Basically hits on all the things I'm looking for.

And I get the impression that med schools would eat this like cake at a birthday.

Thoughts?

P.S: Link to program "checksheet" aka the classes I need to take:
http://www.sts.vt.edu/HST/HSE2012.pdf

 

[catatonic]

Just quit my job and now i'm a graduate student of industrial engineering.

 

[CLOfriendOSE]

I started in Mechanical Engineering, but it wasn't for me. I had an interest in alternative energy and acoutics, but I realized that realistically I'd be working on planes and engines (since, when doing copyright research my freshman year I realized basically everything I thought needed to be invented already existed but was either being locked away or "undesirable" to businesses). Not so much fun.

Now I'm about to finish a degree in Voice/Opera with a focus in Pedagogy. It's much more rewarding, and basically encompasses everything I want to do.

~Langauges (Italian, French, German, Russian, Sanscrit)
~Anatomy/Physiology
~Physical Rehabilitation/Yoga
~Consciousness/Alexander Technique
~Philosophy/Aesthetic
~Chromoacoustics
~Composition

I'll most likely complete a Masters in Vocal Pedagogy, finish prereqs for an MS in Speech Pathology, and then go about being what the vocal community is calling a "Singing Voice Specialist". I'd get to work with a hospital, with professional singers, and have a chance to do research that quantifies the benefit of voice training (Quite frankly, increased Vital Capacity [on average 20% increase in singers] should be linked to ATP production which should link to overall quality of life...).

For all that fancy technology that's out there, people need to learn that they cannot buy a healthy body.

 

[cghhmnrtt]

I am working toward a degree in IT with a tentative plan to become a systems analyst. I may give up altogether and study biology so I can be an entomologist or herpetologist.

Civil engineering seems very interesting to me, but having never gotten past high-school-level Algebra I, I doubt my ability to be able to handle the advanced maths associated with the career.

I would not be at all surprised if my self-doubt and inability to make up my mind winds up making me work menial service jobs til the day I become utterly sick of it and commit suicide. Gee golly, what a thought.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I am now a proud Physics major. College is considerably more fun than I had imagined. Almost none of my classes have had the kind of busywork that made High School annoying.

 

[TriflinThomas]

I'm majoring in economics

 

[intpz]

I've got a better major than you all!

Spoiler

A major in not going to drilling, mind-numbing, individuality-erasing place called college.

 

[hablahdoo]

I've got a better major than you all!

Spoiler

A major in not going to drilling, mind-numbing, individuality-erasing place called college.

I considered not going back to my current second year of college because of this frustrating process of learning through rote. So I spent the summer considering the alternative possibility of teaching myself the same information through the intertubes to allow me to put more time and depth into my understanding. I decided it is certainly possible using the many open courseware and similar sites. That at least in the short term this was a more efficient way to learn than school.

But a few things convinced me to come back for my second year in Comp Sci.
1. It's easy to skim the surface of fields but as I learn more information will become more scattered, and the utility of college neatly packaging it will become more apparent.
2. I can learn all the other stuff anyway if I am smart with my strategy.
3. There are people at my college who are very intelligent. I can learn from them and shake my world views. More importantly just being around people is vital for my happiness as much as I hate to believe it.

 

[intpz]

If I was an F with my thoughts, I'd feel bad for you.

 

[hablahdoo]

Nah I am content with my decision.

 

[nschlaff]

Double Major in Business Administration and Quantitative Economics. Debating whether to drop economics and do psychology. i'm really interested in creativity and intelligence. But I also like physics, neuroscience, sociology, and philosophy.

 

[Inceptacon]

I am being catapulted towards a BS in Agronomy and Soils. I started out in Biosystems engineering, but it was too much mechanical stuff that I simply wasn't interested in. So biology is what I'm sticking with, since I know for sure that I love nature. I want to be there to help usher in the future of agriculture (whatever the hell that might look like [and still be economically possible]). I say do what you love, love what you do. The only problem is that I over think things always and seem to make simple mistakes that most people don't. I need to learn how to learn without thinking too much and just freaking knowing what I have to know. But the fact that I get to learn about plants and the way they grow and all that keeps me going I guess. Otherwise I'd totally drop out because college is just not my thing. I need problems to solve. If anyone wants to share any wisdom about how to subtlize your mind to learn that'd probably do us all some good, seeing as how my post accomplishes nothing for anyone, oops.

 

[Bhagavat]

I haven't decided my major yet, but I'm considering philosophy.

 

[Valentas]

Why Americans decide their major in university? Aren't you wasting money during that time? Or am I wrong here?

 

[Kdosi]

Architecture.
Because it helps people without the real need to interact with them other than on business level. Because it is difficult. Complex problems, merging patterns.

Because it is mathematics, physics, language, music, art and history alltogether.

Because it can allow you to make the world a little better just by using your brain.

I guess I´m mad.

 

[pjoa09]

Why Americans decide their major in university? Aren't you wasting money during that time? Or am I wrong here?

yeah... its a bit stupid i think... like, why study all this random shit if you didn't want to know about it in the first place?

 

[snafupants]

Why Americans decide their major in university? Aren't you wasting money during that time? Or am I wrong here?

@Valentas

You're not really wrong. Twenty years ago college may have been a financially worthwhile endeavor and, indeed, most of the debt was self-liquidating. Here's the deal - US college tuition has gone up around 600% since 1980 while real wages have basically stagnated; college loans are another scheme but that's not relevant here.

Anyway, since everyone and their brother has a college diploma it doesn't translate to as many high paying job opportunities as yesteryear. The bubble's definitely burst on college - you know it's a bubble when credit (e.g., student loans) are intricately involved.

Unless there's a really specific niche you're after which requires specific training, I'd nix college. The way the hierarchical system works, you basically need a Bachelor Degree to attain a Master's, and a Master's to attain a Doctorate.

The whole thing's a colossal waste of money, time, and energy. I'd rather live my life, thanks.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

@Valentas

Unless there's a really specific niche you're after which requires specific training, I'd nix college.

The point of college nowdays is to obtain recognized certification in a certain field of study. At least in the U.S., most professionally skilled jobs require Bachelor's Degrees or higher, and pretty much it's those jobs that allow upwards financial mobility.

There're different reasons for seeking college education, and while I'd agree the actual education should be not have to be one of them, it can't be overlooked that certification is nearly necessary if one wishes to get anywhere career-wise without having to rely on largely uncertain and uncontrollable factors in entrepreneurship.

The whole thing's a colossal waste of money, time, and energy. I'd rather live my life, thanks.

Agreed.

 

[VII]

Music science.
Quite intresting actually, it covers music technology, live engineering as well as production and music psychology.
I also minor in astrophysics.

 

[Mr. Skulk Duggery]

So far, I'm looking at Virginia Tech

OH! I went there!
Nice campus, nice location, good food but the football team is good. That means you get a bunch of football fanbois who had dreams of being engineers (they drop out of that major after the first year and take up something less trying, bless their souls). They beer guzzle and shout and generally be douchebags. But that is just the social climate, which may or may not mean anything to you. There are good people too.

VT sure ain't bad for sciences. Anyway, I think its good you are choosing to go unspecified for your Bachelor's, especially since its science (biology) based. I took a look at your course work req., looks interesting. I actually like it a good amount. Combining the humanities and social sciences will help teach you how to think. A big issue with hard science undergrads is they just memorize and never learn to really think. Looks like a good bachelors. The sciences for the degree is all natural sciences. I suggest using your electives to take some more biology/biochem courses outside of natural science (since you are interested in the med).

 

[Mr. Skulk Duggery]

Oh, and I'm not currently in school but I majored in English (Creative Writing) and Psychology. Planning to get a little more hard science the next time. I'm very into neuroscience (realized VT didn't have neuroscience after I started going there, hehe).

 

[kora]

Phiosophy. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, i just studying it. I figured I can always go on to do something else as it's a very broad subject. I seem to have a natural aptitude for the way you have to think in philosophy. Possibly an INT/FP trait?

Anyway, it's a good thing I'm not interested in being rich

 

[kvothe27]

I'm studying computer science. I'm planning on a master's, but if I can get a job before then, I might just settle for a second bachelor's.

 

[Spin Doctor]

First semester I've been focusing on business and I hate it. I am switching to liberal arts because it is a degree I know I can accomplish. Unless you're going into a specific field a specific degree isn't required.

I'm undecided and therefore will take what the degree gives me. I aspire to be rich but I don't think the traditional business route is the best for keeping my stress levels down.

 

[mu is mu]

I'm pursuing a BA in sociology with a minor in communication studies and have three semesters left. Sociology interests me because it oftentimes pertains to matters which many individuals and societies directly experience but devote little thought towards. Communication studies (and linguistics) is a related field that interests me for similar reasons. Ultimately my goals are to expound on the many destructive habit traps that many people fall into such as shortsightedness and poor communication.

But I also hold interests in specific areas of metaphysics, logic, biology, astronomy, and psychology.

 

[Nezaros]

Currently training to be a pilot at a community college, still undecided on what to get a Bachelor's in after that. Thinking astrophysics or the like.