I need help choosing between two majors

[nietsdoen]

One major will take me the standard two years and the other major will take me three years, but I don't want time or money to be a factor, because what I choose now has an impact on my life later and I don't want to have chosen just because I wanted to be done faster. I'll have my transfer degree in less than a month and transfer to a university in the fall. I don't have any prerequisites for either of the majors because I was still deciding. But now I think I've got in narrowed down to either Psychology or Environmental Studies. I love the natural environment and would love to work to protect it (forests mainly). However, I would also love to help people and help them become the happiest they can be. In addition, there's a good chance I'll just start an intuitive reading business and psychology would help with my understanding of people. Of course I would have to go to graduate school to do anything in counseling or therapy, but I'm fine with that.

I'm pretty interested in psychology, but I'm also pretty interested in anthropology and creative writing, and I'm not majoring in those (but perhaps a minor since the psychology program is only 70 credits). But environmental studies would be a direct pathway to a job that I would enjoy. Anyway, What's your advice on picking between two majors? How did you? Thanks! Any help is much appreciated.

[SatvikBeri]

My two cents:

1. The major you pick doesn't have a major impact on your happiness as long as it's something you pick because you want (e.g. not because your parents want you to be a doctor). This is very surprising for a lot of people. But it means you can relax a bit, because even the "wrong" choice will still be a good one.

2. Based on the above, I would pick the major that gives me the most options in the future. Eg I picked Math rather than Computer Science because Math majors can generally shift to programming but not vice versa, and this has paid off quite well, even though I work as a programmer now. So consider what kind of opportunities each major gives you, and go with the one that will give you the greatest number of appealing opportunities.

[nietsdoen]

Thanks! That really helps me. Psychology, while a BA in it won't prepare me specifically for a job, opens more pathways to later job education whereas environmental studies is pretty specific and I wouldn't be able to enter a graduate program in psychology.

[Dulma]

If I were in your shoes, these points would spring to mind:

Psychological theories change, it's a field of study that's constantly shifting. What you learn today may be outdated in thirty years. While it's something that fascinates me, I've never thought about studying it in school because I feel like my own perceptions and conclusions allow me to form my own opinions on human nature and behavior in a way that's more fulfilling and fun. Of course, I can't become a therapist with a degree from the University of Dulma's Brain in Observation and Analysis of People I Come Across in Life.

Environmental studies seems more concrete and applicable. Concern for the environment has been increasing exponentially lately, so the market is likewise expanding, which means this could be the more practical path.

Finally, I'd arrive at the conclusion I always arrive at when I'm considering my own major (I'm an upcoming college sophomore): regardless of whatever I study in school, if I really want, I can always embark on a new career and do whatever my heart desires if I am willing to commit to that path. So I might as well be lighthearted in my approach to this decision. I would choose according to my values. I personally value financial abundance and intellectual exploration so I chose a major that isn't as "impractical" as English or Architecture or Comparative Literature (things I love) but is still endlessly fascinating to my curious mind, the major being International Relations with a focus on Political Economy and Development.

Good luck.

[Clint Cora]

I think it would be helpful to talk to working professionals already in those fields you are interested in. What you get exposed to in school is not always like what the field would be like once you start working. Many former law students for example, ended up hating working as lawyers.

When you get a better idea of how the professionals in these fields spend their time, you will be in a better position to decide which field you would rather spend a career in.

[180]

I wish someone told me this, but forget all the goody two shoe crap and FIND out, what is easier to get a job. Look economy is 9.1% unemployment.

If you graduate with a degree you cannot use or find a job in your local, (or where you want to live) you're screwed.

This happened to me, I graduated in Finance, thinking I could get a job in Finance, I got pretty good grades and recommendations from a top Tier 2 college, (and top 15 business school)

The only jobs I could find were in accounting (which is totally different) and all the finance majors like me were equally screwed and doomed forever to do accounting.

Now I HATE and ABHOR accounting. I had to make a huge shift and now my degree is worthless.

Here's steps you need to take.

1) Find out how availble jobs are in those sectors, ESPECIALLY after graduation. I was also a psych major but later I learned that 30% couldn't find jobs after undergrad, What made me stupid was not checking the numbers for a finance degree. I just ASSUMED i could get a job in that field, but that was stupid.

2) Talk to people who've graduated in those fields. I never talked to finance majors to find out. The deal with my major is that you either are the top or the bottom. The bottom get trapped in the rat race and never advance. The top work to death and die early around 55. In psych, I've heard it's incredibly hard to enter any work without internships or connections. You usually need a grad degree to get a job. I've heard some good things about enviromental studies, but that's in my area, the demographics matter a lot.

3) Ask everybody. Including professors in those fields. One of my finance professors admitted that the degree was a waste of time. Finance is actually smoke and mirrors (which it is) and a bunch of theories that never are proven or show to work in reality. Wish I learned it BEFORE I commited myself senior year.

[AngelPsychic444]

In addition, there's a good chance I'll just start an intuitive reading business ......

I would not put this off, once you become highly intuitive after having done many readings... you'll just KNOW what to choose in the future. I find myself in this place now... using my intution more and more to make major decisions.

[nietsdoen]

Originally Posted by 180

I wish someone told me this, but forget all the goody two shoe crap and FIND out, what is easier to get a job. Look economy is 9.1% unemployment.

If you graduate with a degree you cannot use or find a job in your local, (or where you want to live) you're screwed.

This happened to me, I graduated in Finance, thinking I could get a job in Finance, I got pretty good grades and recommendations from a top Tier 2 college, (and top 15 business school)

The only jobs I could find were in accounting (which is totally different) and all the finance majors like me were equally screwed and doomed forever to do accounting.

Now I HATE and ABHOR accounting. I had to make a huge shift and now my degree is worthless.

Here's steps you need to take.

1) Find out how availble jobs are in those sectors, ESPECIALLY after graduation. I was also a psych major but later I learned that 30% couldn't find jobs after undergrad, What made me stupid was not checking the numbers for a finance degree. I just ASSUMED i could get a job in that field, but that was stupid.

2) Talk to people who've graduated in those fields. I never talked to finance majors to find out. The deal with my major is that you either are the top or the bottom. The bottom get trapped in the rat race and never advance. The top work to death and die early around 55. In psych, I've heard it's incredibly hard to enter any work without internships or connections. You usually need a grad degree to get a job. I've heard some good things about enviromental studies, but that's in my area, the demographics matter a lot.

3) Ask everybody. Including professors in those fields. One of my finance professors admitted that the degree was a waste of time. Finance is actually smoke and mirrors (which it is) and a bunch of theories that never are proven or show to work in reality. Wish I learned it BEFORE I commited myself senior year.

This is excellent practical advice. One thing I've got to say in response is that I don't want a job I'll hate. I've basically gone through the list of majors, considering what job each one would give me, and none other than psychology and environmental studies interest me. However, I looked last night at jobs environmental studies could give me. There was one that really captivated me -- park naturalist. But the growth rate is 5% compared to 9% average and there are 10 openings a year in my state. The other jobs that environmental studies and science majors get didn't interest me at all, really. MAYBE park ranger, but I really don't think I'd want to be a park ranger..

With psych, the whole idea is that I WOULD go to grad school unless I had my own intuitive reading business. At least a master's degree in mental health counseling, in which the prospects are good enough.

Originally Posted by AngelPsychic444

I would not put this off, once you become highly intuitive after having done many readings... you'll just KNOW what to choose in the future. I find myself in this place now... using my intution more and more to make major decisions.

This is excellent advice, thank you. well I have about 60 free readings that are in succession 2 months late (started getting fatigued, etc), so once this quarter is over I'll start back up again (already feel terrible for them being so late). Anyway, well the thing is, my intuition points to psychology degree, even though it's less practical.

[kylenelson]

When I was a freshman I was having the same problem but mine were a bit closer in relativity. It was either Agriculture Business or Business with an option in entrepreneurship and management. Once I began taking classes in both it really helped me figure out which one I wanted to Choose.

I choose Business because of one intro class I took in the subject. This was a hard choice for me because my university is in the top 10 business schools for entrepreneurial studies and top 10 Agriculture schools in the nation so both intro course were very convincing.

Then I looked at the facts and when it comes down to it Business majors have one of the highest employment rates after graduating.

What I would do is take a intro course in each, maybe talk to some of the professors and ask them more on what you can do with that degree. Take the classes during summer or winter session though, you dont want to get to behind, especially with the rising tuition prices around the nation.

[nietsdoen]

Thanks, kyle, and everyone else.

Despite what most people here have told me, I decided to go with psychology. The reason is that I'm young and will graduate young (19 or 20 depending on how long I decide to go). And there is plenty of time for at least a master's degree in mental health counseling if I so decide.

The other reason is that the majority of bachelor's degree holders end up doing something different from their original major. Since I don't have a passion for environmental science, it sounds like too much of a wager to go into that since I probably won't be doing it after a few years anyway.

And, If I decide grad school is too much for me, I'll just get a job as a secretary and go to trade school.

[curiouslyrandom]

Psychology BA's are a dime a dozen, and barely employable. You'll have to get a Master's if you want a decent paying job in the field. However, since you said it doesn't matter, then go for it! The experience might lead you into something really useful/positive/enjoyable.

That said, I'm an ongoing Anthropology major because the field fascinates me. I work as a freelance writer, so a degree isn't as important as my actual skill in writing and editing, neither of which I trained for.

[pyrogen]

Psych is good background for a number of other fields - law school, social work, medical school, business school, org psych, human resources, teaching, psychology - if you plan to move on to grad school or get additional training and/or certifications. It's a broad field that can give you exposure to a number of different disciplines. It'll also qualify you to get a state job above the ranking of Office Technician/Office Assistant, but for that matter, any Bachelor's will.

If you're expecting to get a job right out of college - well, then, it's not the major for you. For that matter, that's true of most social science and liberal arts majors.

[nietsdoen]

Originally Posted by curiouslyrandom

That said, I'm an ongoing Anthropology major because the field fascinates me.

High fives all around!! I'm 10 credits away from a minor in anthropology. I was going to major in that, but decided I'd rather help people =p

And yes, once again.. I realize grad school would be required for a decent paying job after a BA in psych.