Posted on 11/04/2010 9:59:58 AM PDT by tysonbam
Having trouble deciding what major to pick? Then you have probably been told by an adviser, parent or a well-intentioned friend to "pick something you love."
This simple, seemingly sage-like advice has been around for ages and is too often taken to heart. You need to pick a major that won't make you miserable and can support the lifestyle you intend to have. This means balancing your passion with probable earnings and job demand.
Looking at potential earnings, the common thread found between top-paying majors is they require math skills. The top 10 majors, using mid-career median pay, include seven engineering majors accompanied by applied mathematics, physics and economics, according to Payscale.com. The National Association of Colleges and Employers finds new college graduates earn an average starting salary of $49,307. Graph A shows how a few majors stack up against others and whether they are above or below average. Keep in mind the salaries are entry level and some majors have higher earning growth, but as a general rule the more you start out earning, the more you will end up earning.
Salary isn't the be-all-end-all when deciding your major. High entry-level salary or mid-career median pay doesn't mean you will get hired. Nothing is more disheartening than spending years in college only to discover companies don't need your skills. Consider t.u. According to the Center of Complete Speculation by me, the University of Texas has the highest number of baristas with degrees per capita in the U.S. Job demand must factor heavily into your degree choice. Entering a job market with unwanted skills makes you little better off than a high school graduate and likely with tens of thousands of dollars more debt. The top 10 majors by demand according to NACE (Graph B) show significant overlap with the top-earning majors. This is natural considering the relationship between salary and demand. CNN Money found that engineering and computer science majors each make up 4 percent of all graduates. Social sciences and history each comprise 16 percent of graduates. As a result, fields like social work, English and communication command significantly lower salaries. Engineering and math-oriented majors are heavily represented in salary and demand. Making strong showing in job demand are more technical jobs involving computers and information technology. These observations are a good starting point, but keep in mind a lot can change in four years. The hot jobs today are not necessarily the hot jobs of tomorrow. Lists like this might not accurately represent all majors, such as supply chain management, which is in high-demand because of the small number of graduates in the field. Keep up-to-date with hiring trends to give yourself the best opportunity to graduate in a high demand field. This is particularly important in a lackluster economy with meager growth and high levels of unemployment.
This brings us back around to finding a job you love. You're in luck if one of these fields sets your heart on fire, but if not, you realistically need to consider what job your degree can offer. A psychology degree isn't likely to put you in the BAU, living out episodes of Criminal Minds. Without an advanced degree you're likely to be a school counselor toiling away for a pittance. A theatre arts degree isn't going to matter to a casting director and considering you have attended college, you are already behind the kids who started building acting resumes at 18 or younger, while making real connections in the business. You'll be lucky to get a job teaching theatre arts for pennies and performing community theatre.
An English degree isn't going to help you get that novel published or that dark enigmatic poetry you have been slaving over. You'd be better off majoring in something that pays well while providing you more free time to pursue your passion during off hours. However, if you really want to become an English professor and spend hours trying to publish an obscure analysis of Thoreau in some academic journal few will read and fewer will care about, you're in luck. Majoring in something you love doesn't mean you will end up doing something you love. It often means you won't be able to afford to do what you want at work or in your free time. Choosing a major is probably the second most life-changing decision you'll make in your life after picking Texas A&M. Make sure your time and money are well spent. Learn what kind of jobs your major provides. Find out if those jobs are attainable, and figure out if the earnings can provide a lifestyle that will ultimately make you happy.
considering the current political and economic climate and what the future holds as a result of the policies currently in place, Anyone entering college today should Major in Survival Skills with a Minor in Farming.
Titles are nice.
I’ve been telling a bunch of kids I’ve been counseling to “pick something you love”. OTOH, these are kids trying to get into MIT, so I figure it doesn’t really matter what they major in there, someone will hire them when they get out. There’s a few nutball majors in the School of Humanities, but that’s not generally what kids go there for.
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