Would you change your own major if you could go back?

[Anonymous]

Majored in Philosophy & English. Instead, may have done Astronomy & Biology.

[Anonymous]

English and History, no. Loved them both, and the skills I developed have served me well. If anything, I wish I had packed in more classes.

[Anonymous]

I'll add that I then got a MA and JD. Might still get the JD given a do-over. OTOH, might have pursued Astronomy more or medical school (psychiatry). Oh, well. -- OP

[Anonymous]

No. Majored in physics at a great school for it. Then got a master’s in engineering, at a great engineering school.

[Anonymous]

I liked my major but I would have studied a language more.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I should have majored in English. I actually knew this from the start, but had it in my head (reinforced by my dad) that English degrees aren't useful and I would never get a job. Wound up changing my major from psychology to poli sci. I was young and dumb and getting bad advice-- there is nothing inherently more marketable about psychology or politics sci! I should have just done English (actually *gasp* Creative Writing) and figured it out. I would have been happy as a high school English teacher, and actually am English degree would have been fine for my eventual career (JD, law).

As a parent, I will lety kid choose their major without trying to backseat drive. You get one shot at college, study what you want.

[Anonymous]

What I would have changed is I would have attended a different school, better suited to the major I got my degree in, than the school where I first started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
As a parent, I will lety kid choose their major without trying to backseat drive. You get one shot at college, study what you want.

It's one thing to do that when college was cheap decades ago, but now college costs an insane amount of money, "study what you want" is frankly stupid.

[Anonymous]

I considered business, psychology/business, and finally ended up in economics.

The major and the thinking process was fine. I later got an MBA. There were many stumbles along the way. But the major was not the issue. I actually loved my university experience and enjoyed taking distribution requirements from art history to genetics.

My secret love was medieval history but I knew that job opportunities would be nearly non-existent and felt that the only frontiers in scholarship at that were more in the area of marginalized community studies. Fine if that suits your interest but I was concerned about finding cutting-edge topics that would interest me for the time needed to get a PhD. I don't regret it. I enjoy my current career and my interest in medieval history has waned while other interests from my 20s have increased.

[Anonymous]

^at that time were

[Anonymous]

Yes would have chose different major. Probably different school too.

I am just the sum of many bad decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes would have chose different major. Probably different school too.

I am just the sum of many bad decisions.

You’re not alone! I wasted my undergrad and had to go back again (masters degree so just some extra credits ) because I was unmarketable. I really wish I had known about different career options when I was 20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As a parent, I will lety kid choose their major without trying to backseat drive. You get one shot at college, study what you want.

It's one thing to do that when college was cheap decades ago, but now college costs an insane amount of money, "study what you want" is frankly stupid.

But so is forcing your kid into a major they don't want-- they won't ever get the value out of it because they won't work hard at a career in a field they hate.

It has to be balanced. They can choose their major but need to have a reasonable plan for employment/career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I should have majored in English. I actually knew this from the start, but had it in my head (reinforced by my dad) that English degrees aren't useful and I would never get a job. Wound up changing my major from psychology to poli sci. I was young and dumb and getting bad advice-- there is nothing inherently more marketable about psychology or politics sci! I should have just done English (actually *gasp* Creative Writing) and figured it out. I would have been happy as a high school English teacher, and actually am English degree would have been fine for my eventual career (JD, law).

As a parent, I will lety kid choose their major without trying to backseat drive. You get one shot at college, study what you want.

PSA: Political Science degree doesn’t help w/ law school or being a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I wouldn’t have majored in education.