What to major in? (bachelor's, doctorate, associate degree, psychology)

[lilsoccerplayer]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if from personal experience, you had any advice what you would recommend a college student to major in. I'm basically open to anything, except accountants. I want good money, but also jobs that are needed in the economy. Originally I was thinking a dental hygienist or radiologist, but after researching some, it seems there are too many people in those professions as it is? If you could do it again, what would you major in? Any advice is appreciated.

[Crashj007]

When did college get to be about getting a job? It should be about getting an education and becoming a useful member of society. Lots of people with specialized degrees can't find a job today. Lots of business major are flipping burgers for a living.
Take a lot of courses and become a well rounded individual. Learn a new language; Chinese, Arabic, or Spanish will be very useful. Study some economics, take a little pre-med. Audit some tough math classes. Get some basic physics and chemistry. Geology should be interesting. Learn some art and music history. Oh, and take a typing course ASAP. The keyboard we will have with us always . . .
The two jobs you mentioned are not college level anyway. Dental hygienists attend a tech school, radiologists are MDs, unless you mean the guys who take pictures, who are technicians. Wild guess is neither job will exist in 15 years due to technology advances.
Nobody really knows where the good jobs will be in 10 years because the best positions do not even exist today. You can look it up in history. :-)
Personally I think a well rounded person will see that some sort of home based business is better than a job, but I am prejudiced about that subject.
Just go get an education. It is what the schools are there for.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by lilsoccerplayer

Hey guys,
I was wondering if from personal experience, you had any advice what you would recommend a college student to major in. I'm basically open to anything, except accountants. I want good money, but also jobs that are needed in the economy. Originally I was thinking a dental hygienist or radiologist, but after researching some, it seems there are too many people in those professions as it is? If you could do it again, what would you major in? Any advice is appreciated.

Chemical engineering. Great money and rumor has it, demand is increasing faster than supply. By the time you graduate, it should be a sellers market.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by Crashj007

When did college get to be about getting a job? It should be about getting an education and becoming a useful member of society. Lots of people with specialized degrees can't find a job today. Lots of business major are flipping burgers for a living.
Take a lot of courses and become a well rounded individual. Learn a new language; Chinese, Arabic, or Spanish will be very useful. Study some economics, take a little pre-med. Audit some tough math classes. Get some basic physics and chemistry. Geology should be interesting. Learn some art and music history. Oh, and take a typing course ASAP. The keyboard we will have with us always . . .
The two jobs you mentioned are not college level anyway. Dental hygienists attend a tech school, radiologists are MDs, unless you mean the guys who take pictures, who are technicians. Wild guess is neither job will exist in 15 years due to technology advances.
Nobody really knows where the good jobs will be in 10 years because the best positions do not even exist today. You can look it up in history. :-)
Personally I think a well rounded person will see that some sort of home based business is better than a job, but I am prejudiced about that subject.
Just go get an education. It is what the schools are there for.

Hmmmm? Last time I looked, having a job was part of being a useful member of society and one of the goals of getting an education. Just how do you think getting an education that leaves you without employment options serves society?

[Sudcaro]

I think you should major in something you really love - think ahead, money is not everything, you also have to be happy doing what you do!

[fierce_flawless]

Where I live, x-ray tech and dental hygiene programs are both 2 year, Associate Degree programs at community college, but the dental hygienists often have better luck with a Bachelor's degree.

Neither one is exactly just "trade school"....

Do what you love is great advice within reason. Combining what you love with something marketable is even better. My best friend has a Psychology degree and it's basically useless... because she didn't go on to get her Master's or Doctorate. She's working as a cocktail waitress.

Check out some of the free online career aptitude tests and personality tests. Some of them actually have good info on possible career paths, and can at least get you thinking about where you'd like to go. If you are already attending a college or university, the counseling center should have similar testing available.

[Braunwyn]

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

Chemical engineering. Great money and rumor has it, demand is increasing faster than supply. By the time you graduate, it should be a sellers market.

I read a couple of articles today saying similar about the life sciences even though the recession has come down hard on a lot of life scientists. A BIO study (Apr 20009 [IIRC]) stated a shortage of life scientists is expected in the future due lack of interest from high school students and poor industry preparation in colleges. OTOH, the market is saturated with ph d's, but looking good for BS and MS holders.

[CollegeGuy9]

I majored in subjects that deeply interested me. I'm quite pleased with the results. Do something you love and the rest will follow.

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by lilsoccerplayer

Hey guys,
I was wondering if from personal experience, you had any advice what you would recommend a college student to major in. I'm basically open to anything, except accountants. I want good money, but also jobs that are needed in the economy. Originally I was thinking a dental hygienist or radiologist, but after researching some, it seems there are too many people in those professions as it is? If you could do it again, what would you major in? Any advice is appreciated.

Fire Protection Engineering.

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by Sudcaro

I think you should major in something you really love - think ahead, money is not everything, you also have to be happy doing what you do!

I beg to differ.

I will agree at 23 and single money isn't everything but 7 years later with a wife and two kids money becomes everything especially if you don't have any.