I want to kick off my first blog post of 2013 with one of the biggest issues I am facing this semester. It’s an issue that I know many of you and other college students around the globe are also facing. It’s an issue that appears in numerous movies, TV’s, and books. So, obviously it’s not an originally issue, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult.
I am talking about choosing the right major. I have read plenty of articles that focus on the age old debate of whether to pick something that is practical in terms of economic outcome or to choose something you are passionate about. I think we can all agree that pursuing a higher education is not exactly cheap. So, if we are going to spend all of this money getting the proper training we need to enter the work force, then naturally we would want something that would give us our money’s worth in the end. This is why many people choose careers that have been statistically observed to produce individuals with higher incomes.However, what’s the point in making more money, but despising what you do. This is where following your passions come in. Even if you choose a major that typically leads to lower paying careers, but it makes you feel fulfilled and like you have a purpose, then isn’t it worth it?
Recently, I read an article that changed my perspective on the process of choosing a major. It was written by a former graduate of the Harvard University. In the article, the author explains that it isn’t about money or passions, it’s about the education. After all, that is why we’re here. He expanded on this by saying that what we really need to focus on are things like cooperation, adaptability, flexibility, and most importantly global knowledge. According to him these are things that employers across many fields want out of potential employees. His advice to choosing a major? Don’t worry about it. Focus on learning life skills, not skills that lead to specific careers. He also mentions that it’s best to choose a major that you know you are capable of mastering, but that also challenges you to grow as an individual.
Therefore in conclusion, I want to say that regardless of your major or your career field it is possible to be a leader, it is possible to make a difference, and it is possible to evoke social change. Instead of focusing so much on what will be printed on our degrees, let’s focus on building ourselves as individuals and just let the rest fall into place!
January 30th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
This is such an excellent topic for a blog, because of its obvious relevance to our own education and future careers. My Communications 200 professor already assigned us a project to go to an academic advisor and plan out our next two semesters. Also, we were discussing the importance of choosing a major in the Comm class itself this morning. We were discussing how Comm is such a great field, because of how broad of a major it is and the relativity to it in each job career. Comm used to be a major under the Business/Marketing departments of colleges and now it falls under the liberal arts schools within each college. George Mason has a unique Comm department in the fact we do not focus on one specific area of Communications. We, as students, have the flexibility to concentrate and take classes for the Comm degree to specify. If you have not chosen a major yet, I definitely recommend a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. It is one of the top ten most popular majors for careers on various news sites as well. If you have any interest in Communications, you should talk to an advisor or see me directly!
-Lauren
February 5th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
This was such a cute blog! I really liked how you put the topic of finding a major. I know that I came into college with a decided major already but I am not completely sure about it. I really came into college with the mind set to get educated on a degree field that will pay off in the long run, and I decided to throw pleasure out the window. Now that I have started to take course I have released that maybe it would be more beneficial to follow my dreams. I hope to finish out my first year with a better idea of what I want to do, but as I take classes like leadership and I develop skills that can accommodate any major I just enjoy the moment and hope for the best. After all I still have three more years.
February 6th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Comparing majors based on ecomomics and passion is something every student faces, especially when your major becomes challenging. But I agree with your comment on choosing a major that sparks your passion. Going into a filed you have no interest in would be unfulfilling. I also think that college is the time in one’s life where you get to see things from a different vantage point. I know that I have learned a lot of things about the world, adapting and definitly cooperation. These skills in conjunction with education are what employers look for. But it is highly important to stay true to your dream and what will bring you the most happiness.
February 6th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
I really like the topic you picked. When I first came to GMU, I thought that I knew what I wanted my major to be. But as the semester went on, I have second thoughts about that major. That article that you talked about really said something. Its hard not worrying about the money, because college is expensive. Then the next part was huge for me. It was how the author said that it was about the education and life skills. Then, you will fall into the right major for you.
February 18th, 2013 at 5:04 am
‘We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are!’
There is no right or wrong answer to this ‘what should my major be?’ question!
Your major should be related to what you want to do when you are out of college!
‘College can split up categories into different majors, but all knowledge is connected with each other!’
What majors can Basketball relate to? Biology? Computer Science? Physics? Mathematics? Communications? Yes, to all majors!
‘All knowledge intertwines!’
College may limit what you study, but that doesn’t mean you should place the same limit yourself! Study what interests you – and you can never go wrong!
But if you want the most secure and most valuable position – it is undoubtedly computer science + computer engineering. Algorithms run the Internet today. In 10 more years, they will run the world.