If you were to start college tomorrow, what would you major in?

[Anonymous]

I'm old, so this is sheer curiosity. If you were just now graduating HS and enrolling in college, what major would you choose for a good paying and stable career? Common wisdom is "STEM" but what specifically? I also wonder whether the jobs that are cash cows for recent graduates today will still be cash cows for recent graduates in 4 years.

[Anonymous]

(1) Finance;
(2) Pre med -- ONLY if the kid will actually go to med school and not change his mind bc bio majors are a dime a dozen.
(3) STEM ONLY if you're doing computer science or bio engineering. I'm sorry but having grown up in a mechicanl engineering household w/ lots of civil/structural engineering friends -- that work is REALLY easy to outsource to other countries with top math skills even if they don't speak the language; somehow those on the stem bandwagon don't get this.

[Anonymous]

I'm 39, with a liberal arts degree. If I had to pick right now, knowing what I now know, I would pick something in the medical field and go ahead a get a masters and/or MD.

[Anonymous]

I would no question get the same degree. Philosophy.

Different? I would have finished my other majors (Math and CS) and not gotten arrogantly kissed at the respective departments about silliness.

[Anonymous]

Probably computer science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would no question get the same degree. Philosophy.

Different? I would have finished my other majors (Math and CS) and not gotten arrogantly kissed at the respective departments about silliness.

Uhh... what?

[Anonymous]

I'd probably still study economics, but I'd try to go somewhere way better for grad school. Better and warmer.

That was a waste of two years even though it was free.

[Anonymous]

Mining engineering

[Anonymous]

My alma mater just added a major in Data Analytics, and I would have done that with a double major in Environmental Studies (my actual major).

[Anonymous]

Business or engineering

I was so damn good at math, but I was worried about not making straight A's, so I chose an easier major. D'oh

[Anonymous]

Computer science. But I would never be motivated by job potential, just what I'm interested in. So sad. Education no longer is considered a value unto itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(1) Finance;
(2) Pre med -- ONLY if the kid will actually go to med school and not change his mind bc bio majors are a dime a dozen.
(3) STEM ONLY if you're doing computer science or bio engineering. I'm sorry but having grown up in a mechicanl engineering household w/ lots of civil/structural engineering friends -- that work is REALLY easy to outsource to other countries with top math skills even if they don't speak the language; somehow those on the stem bandwagon don't get this.

Finance -- which was my own major back in the day; lots of utility across industries, you can go get an MBA or JD or not etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would no question get the same degree. Philosophy.

Different? I would have finished my other majors (Math and CS) and not gotten arrogantly kissed at the respective departments about silliness.

Uhh... what?

I was 20. And got pissed at the Math/CS department over some silly administrative crap. So with 2 classes to go, I said FU.

Just because I was smart doesn't mean I had the sense to come in out of the rain.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't change it, I majored in Finance. My second option would be Economics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(1) Finance;
(2) Pre med -- ONLY if the kid will actually go to med school and not change his mind bc bio majors are a dime a dozen.
(3) STEM ONLY if you're doing computer science or bio engineering. I'm sorry but having grown up in a mechicanl engineering household w/ lots of civil/structural engineering friends -- that work is REALLY easy to outsource to other countries with top math skills even if they don't speak the language; somehow those on the stem bandwagon don't get this.

Finance -- which was my own major back in the day; lots of utility across industries, you can go get an MBA or JD or not etc.

I agree with (2) but (3) doesn't make any sense. It's not easier to outsource civil engineering work than computer science.