University: Choosing a Major

[restless]

Hi,


In October, I will probably go to University.
My major interests are music (playing the drums) and computers (programming). However, I don't want to study music or computer science.
So I have doubts about which major to select.
My favorite field of study would be physics, but I fear that this would lead me astray. It would mean less time for my other interests, which are very important and take several hours a day.
How can I possibly decide if it is right for me to start something new, i.e. study physics? What criteria could I apply here? I have no clue what I should do with my life or what kind of work I should do.


restless

[RT Wolf]

You're not choosing for the rest of your life. The average american worker has 4-6 careers in their life time. IE, they change their field entirely.

My advice? You can't decide sitting on your ass. Start uni, pick whatever program (any program, you're almost garunteed to be wrong) and sit in on random classes that seem interesting. You may find a major there. Pick great profs using sites like ratemyprof.com and sit in on those (nobody does attendance), avoid bad profs like the plague. I've really enjoyed courses that I was only sorta interested in the course material with great profs.

If I recall correctly at my uni 75% of students change their majors. So, don't be afraid to change and be wrong and choose a different one. I can almost garuntee that there's at least three other programs out there that you would be interested in but you don't even know about yet. So get out there, sit in on random classes, talk to people and find things that are interesting and follow them. When you find a topic that interests you so much you spend your own time reading about it, whether on the internet or books, you can stop searching and choose that major. For me it is psychology. I spend my own time looking up psych and take classes with some of the best profs in NA and just have a blast in classes for the most part.

Finally, don't think of university as a gateway to getting a job. What university you graduate from or even what degree matters very little more than 5-10 years after graduating and your previous work experience matters a lot more. Think about uni

Also, read Study Hacks and get his book, "How to Become a Straight-A Student". Add to RSS feed or sign up for email updates: Study Hacks. I used his techniques to get a 92% (A+ or 4.0) on a major term test with less time and hassle studying. Far as I'm concerned, if you're in university and you haven't read and applied this book, you're wasting the thousands of dollars you're spending.

Also check this out:
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A lot of scholarships don't get a single application so they don't pay out. That's free money! you could well pay for your entire uni cost entirely through scholarships, bursaries, etc. I've seen people grind away at crappy jobs that pay 8 an hour to pay for university, when they could be making as much as a hundred an hour applying for scholarships. Get started now! The first one is the hardest. You don't have to be a A student to get scholarships, and let them tell you you won't get it, don't just assume it.

more here: Some people think there’s only a limited amount of money « I Will Teach You To Be Rich

[Lupe]

According to a self-employed janitor intellect, college may not be the best choice: Education

[restless]

Thanks for your advice, I have made my decision!