Marketable College Majors 5-7 years down the road

[mamacatnv]

Funny DH and I were discussing this topic today. Our DS is leaving in 4 days to begin his Sophomore year. He remains undeclared and IMO I think he is a little lost. He is currentlly looking heavily at Community Health which could lead him into a couple of different directions. EMT, a Physical Therapist or a athletic trainer on the high school level. He is also "exploring" wildlife management.

We don't necessarily have any influence but it is something we all discuss in an effort to help him sort himself out. My DS wanted to fly helicopters in the Coast Guard but at 6'4" 265#'S he is too big. He really doesn't have a clue what else he wants. He did not start college knowing with any conviction what direction he wanted to go in so we encouraged him to start exploring and so far that is what he is doing.

 

[yoopermom]

As a teacher coming from a family of teachers, I am strongly recommending to DS14 (h.s. frosh) NOT to even consider teaching! Luckily, he took a weeklong college course at MSU this summer in pre-engineering and just loved it, and also is intrigued by foreign languages. I'll second the thought that kids need to get out and see the realities/meet the people involved with any majors they're interested in while still in h.s.

Terri

 

[crazelion]

I major in Information Systems in college and have not found a job in my field at all. All the IT jobs went overseas. I fell into teaching by accident because at the time they was looking for someone to teach computers. The job got cut and they offer the Pre-K teacher job to me and I took the job.

Teachers does not make whole a lot money.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

This thought is interesting to me. Do most of you not help your college-age student choose a major? I feel like I have a say since I am footing some of the bill, know the real world,care about this person's well being, etc. But maybe I am way off base here. My nephew went to a very expensive school and majored in philosophy. He graduated with a ton in student loans and no job. His mom now says she wishes she had said something back then.

I would never have expected my parents to tell me what to major in. My passions, my life, etc.

You only have one shot at life, and I wanted to by happy! Why would I want to major in something that I did not want to - just for money?

Not me.

 

[ladycollector]

I'm a senior this year and my major is Accounting... I sure hope it's marketable!

Everyone has told me I'll always be able to find a job... we'll see.

 

[metalis4ever]

I graduated in 2006 with a double major of Cultural Anthropology and Business management and I found a great job in Finance a year after graduating in 2007 right before the economic cliff dive. I would not recommend the Cultural Anthropology part I did that out of passion, however I would recommend Business Management or Finance after all the economy will turn around and jobs will be available.

Having said that as others have stated there is no point in majoring in something in which one has no passion or interest for. As I stated I majored in something I had a passion for and something I liked and knew would provide me with a career.

I would also look into growing fields such as Environmental Anthropology and any of the Biological Sciences especially since Scientific and Medical research is going to be heavily funded going forward with a Liberal majority in power.

 

[lucigo]

I have 2 in college and DH just graduated. Four years ago VA voc rehab thought it was a great idea fom a retired military man to become a middle school math/science teacher....who would have thought just 4 years later it would have a horrible outlook. (Luckily he did find a job at an alternative school - yikes). My DD is in graphic design/advertising, hoping she will be able to find a job when she is done. DS starts his freshman year next week. He thinks either pharmacy or "something with math". Luckily both have Bright Futures scholarships, hoping they can find careers they will love and still get paid!

 

[momof1princess]

this is just my personal experience, but i wouldn't recommend anyone go into education right now. i have a friend who is a very friendly, caring, personable soul who graduated college with an education degree 2 years ago and she can't find a job, and a former high school classmate who had to accept a teaching job in another state and drives back & forth each day. it's just not looking good for teachers in the south these days.

 

[Angelhalo]

This thought is interesting to me. Do most of you not help your college-age student choose a major? I feel like I have a say since I am footing some of the bill, know the real world,care about this person's well being, etc. But maybe I am way off base here. My nephew went to a very expensive school and majored in philosophy. He graduated with a ton in student loans and no job. His mom now says she wishes she had said something back then.

My parents completely paid for my college education. They never tried to steer me toward anything or away from anything. The choices I made were completely my own because it was all about what I wanted to become and what I wanted to learn. Not, what they were paying for.

Again, not saying your thought is wrong or anything, just very strange to me.

Strange to read all the posts against IT as well. My husband has a degree in IT and has never had a hard time finding a job Maybe its because he is a programmer and DBA rather than a help desk person

 

[wendy46001]

I graduated in 2006 with a double major of Cultural Anthropology and Business management and I found a great job in Finance a year after graduating in 2007 right before the economic cliff dive.

Just wanted to say hi to another anthro major
I went with Forensic Anthropology
then fell into a research position

I normally suggest someone at least minor in Business or else have plans to go on to grad school...LOL

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

The current economic climate has caused many to rethink their career choice. It has also caused many in college to rethink their choice of major. If your child was heading to college this fall, what majors would you want them to look at? What college major/majors do you feel are most marketable and will be in 4-7 years?

I was also wondering how much input you provide your college-age child when they are choosing a major? How do they decide on a major? I know that many change majors at some point during college but how do you help your child decide what they are good at and then balance that with what is marketable?

We talk to our 10 and 9 year olds about college already, mostly from the point of view that the choices they make now affect the options they'll have later on. They both understand that "work" is work, and fun is fun. We won't be paying for them to have "fun" at college. Both DH and I spend a lot of time exposing them to math/science fairs, programs, books, and other opportunities to find interesting facets of the STEM world (science, technology, engineering, math). DD10 is very interested in genetics right now, DD9 spends time designing roller coasters.

They also do things for "fun", writing, acting, dancing. These are not where their gifts lie, however, and they understand about not squandering their gifts. This may change when they're teenagers, but at least for now they understand that you don't spit into the wind when you're figuring out what you want to do with your career.

When marketability is a priority (translation: when you haven't inherited money and when living comfortably is a priority), majors worth encouraging in no particular order: math. economics. computer science. any kind of engineering. physics. chemistry. statistics. finance. geoscience. maybe biology, ideally a quant biology or biophysics. If your kid has the heart of a teacher and a benevolent soul, nurse practitioning. If the kid is truly stronger at the verbal and qualitative, comparative literature (with fluency in at least one foreign language, ideally two) or East Asian or Near Eastern studies (learning Mandarin or a Middle Eastern language).

Majors I'd dissuade include those that aren't powerfully marketable without a graduate degree: psychology. English. sociology. anthropology. classics. architecture. history. art history. politics or political science. Romance and Slavic languages. nutrition. archaeology. urban studies.

Majors I'd dissuade because unless you're a superstar, you're almost always going to wind up underpaid and often bitter: art. music. journalism. communications. public relations. education. social work.

Majors I'm neutral on in terms of marketability: business. accounting. marketing. The reason I'm neutral: they're marketable, but as they have no real theoretical component, they don't encourage or teach abstract thinking. Because they're solely tactical, they're easier. When I hire I'd always prefer to see economics or math over business. This is the same reason I like to see biology over kinesiology, or a theoretical discipline over education. I'm looking for people who can reach into the abstract to cultivate new ideas.

Also, never, never, never major in pre-med or pre-law. These majors are viewed very poorly by elite medical schools and law schools, respectively.

Dsisinlaw majored in poetry for her undergraduate and then went on to get a JD from NYU and has an incredible job in NYC. Dbil has a phd in chinese languages and a jd, he can't get a job. A LOT of it comes down to the individual, and what you do with that degree and how hard you work.

I told DS that I wouldn't recommend computer programming, I saw too many jobs going overseas. I am currently unemployed (Masters in MIS) and am having a hard time finding a job.

Those jobs are coming back; India has recently instituted a new law that makes it very difficult for US companies to send a majority of their IT work offseas. Also, many IT companies that farm their work offshore are finding it penny-wise, pound foolish because the quality of the code is not where it should be, as is the oversight-the managers over here are not getting the code they need in a timely manner from overseas companies, and are finding it more cost-effective to bring it back in house. The code monkeys are comin' back home!

 

[SC Minnie]

SO interesting that you mention this! I was at a wedding last night where we were seated next to a couple, both bariatric surgeons, and they were FASCINATING. We had a very deep conversation about eating in America, the psychology of it, the rate of increase in their business, and the fact that every single person who visits them for a consult starts to cry in their office. They cry out of fear, and hope, and hopelessness, and gratitude, and regret, and relief that change might be in sight. There's a ten-week wait to get an initial consult at this practice. I was really quite captivated by them. It made me think that had I rewound my life ten years, I might've gone a totally different route post-college and into medical bariatrics (surgery isn't the only path in that field, there's also nursing specialized for it, dietetics, PT, and more all devoted to an obese audience).

DD (a soph in HS) wants to go to culinary school. DH and I want her to get a degree in something else before going to culinary school so she has something to fall back on. I am trying to pursuade her to look into a degree in Nutrition Science or something along those lines. With what you have said here it makes perfect sense that this would be a marketable choice.

I would never choose her major or career path but I think it is up to us as parents to help steer her or at least show her the long term potential of a chosen career.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

Those jobs are coming back; India has recently instituted a new law that makes it very difficult for US companies to send a majority of their IT work offseas. Also, many IT companies that farm their work offshore are finding it penny-wise, pound foolish because the quality of the code is not where it should be, as is the oversight-the managers over here are not getting the code they need in a timely manner from overseas companies, and are finding it more cost-effective to bring it back in house. The code monkeys are comin' back home!

I hope you're right. I've been job hunting for more than 2 years since I relocated. My former company absolutely experienced the problems you describe with outsourcing code overseas. The rest of us who didn't get laid off were wishing that we had...since we were stuck not only doing our own work, but cleaning up all the outsourced stuff. I left because I got married and moved to my new DH's home state...but I was glad I was leaving. The irony is that now I can't find a job.

 

[minkydog]

Sadly most kids I know in college or heading to college have stars in their eyes and heads in the clouds. Everyone seems to want to major in music, art or theater. Ugh.... can't talk them out of it. They seem to want to do what they were good at in high school. The recession is completely meaningless to them. One of these kids is my niece, and I am desperately trying to get her to not major in music. Not sure what else to suggest, though!

.

People go into art, music, and theater because they just *have* to. It's like the breath they breathe. None of them go into it thinking they're going to hit the big time. My sister was in pre-med. She's brilliant. However, after working one summer in a hospital lab she realized that she really hated working around sick people. Oops! No more pre-med. She turned to her one true love, music. She has been happily teaching music for the past 25yrs. She'll never be rich but she is extremely satisfied with her work.

As a teacher coming from a family of teachers, I am strongly recommending to DS14 (h.s. frosh) NOT to even consider teaching!

Ditto. Having worked in schools I see how much work it is and how much abuse teachers have to take. You have to really love teaching to stick with it.

I would never have expected my parents to tell me what to major in. My passions, my life, etc.

You only have one shot at life, and I wanted to by happy! Why would I want to major in something that I did not want to - just for money?

Not me.

I agree. I don't get the concept of parents influencing the child's major. Sure, if my child comes to me for guidance I might tell them to consider healthcare, engineering, business, or sciences. But the idea that because I'm paying I get to say what they major in? No. If I'm paying I retain the right to see their grades. I retain the right to only pay for X years of college.

I tell my kids "do what you love and it won't feel like work."

DD (a soph in HS) wants to go to culinary school. DH and I want her to get a degree in something else before going to culinary school so she has something to fall back on.

Why not go to culinary school first and us that as your fall back? Even in bad economies people eat. Hospitals, schools, retaurants, hotels, airports, all need well-trained chefs. In fact, I would suggest that she go ahead and get her credentials, then if she wants to go back to college, use her culinary skills to pay her way.

 

[LoraJ]

I would never have expected my parents to tell me what to major in. My passions, my life, etc.

You only have one shot at life, and I wanted to by happy! Why would I want to major in something that I did not want to - just for money?

Not me.

I totally agree. So many people in this threa seem to be all about money. Where I work we have people who want to work in this business and have a passion for it. They thrive here and enjoy every minute. Then there are others who got the job because it's a job and they need money. Their attitudes stink along with their work.

I don't understand forcing someone into a major that they do not have a passion for just so they can find a job easier when they graduate. Who says they will even like that job and find happiness in that career?

I'm so happy that my parents supported me in my choices. I ended up dropping out of college but went to a trade school. I am now finishing my degree in Communications. I'm glad that I have a career that allows me to be creative and I can't believe I get paid for something that I really enjoy.

 

[SC Minnie]

Why not go to culinary school first and us that as your fall back? Even in bad economies people eat. Hospitals, schools, retaurants, hotels, airports, all need well-trained chefs. In fact, I would suggest that she go ahead and get her credentials, then if she wants to go back to college, use her culinary skills to pay her way.

DD's college education to a 4yr state school is already paid for- Culinary School is not. She thinks she will go to culinary school and end up with a show on Food Network upon graduation. From what I have read most chefs don't make a ton of money starting out and a lot burn out after a couple of years. I know DD. If she goes to Culinary School first she will want to work in that field leaving little time and energy to go back to school. I want her to be rational and not regret foregoing more education when she is in her late 20's/early 30's, with a family, and burnt out on being a chef. DD enjoys cooking but has a starry eyed view of what it will be like in the real world.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

DD's college education to a 4yr state school is already paid for- Culinary School is not. She thinks she will go to culinary school and end up with a show on Food Network upon graduation. From what I have read most chefs don't make a ton of money starting out and a lot burn out after a couple of years. I know DD. If she goes to Culinary School first she will want to work in that field leaving little time and energy to go back to school. I want her to be rational and not regret foregoing more education when she is in her late 20's/early 30's, with a family, and burnt out on being a chef. DD enjoys cooking but has a starry eyed view of what it will be like in the real world.

I don't think I could pay for it knowing that there is a state school that's already paid for. However, after the first year of college I put myself through school, so if it really is her dream, then maybe she needs to make it happen on her own?

 

[onelilspark]

I have a finance degree. I graduated with honors. Half way through I thought about changing tracks, but decided against it because I might have had to take classes over the summer or gone an extra semester. Wish I would have. Finance is kind of useless right now...or at least it's not a stable industry. I graduated in 07.

I have a job, I have a good job. Not concerned about lay offs. But it has nothing to do with my degree and it's not really what I want to be doing.

My boyfriend has an engineering degree. While things might be kind of tough, good engineers will always be in demand.

Oh, and unless I asked for advice, my parents didn't comment on my career or degree.

 

[helloirishkitty]

I just got my PharmD in May (2+4 program... 2 years of undergrad, then 4 years of pharmacy school) and I'm so happy that I stuck with it. I had a job lined up six months before I graduated

I tell everyone to go into healthcare. Nurses, Pharmacists, Doctors... we're always needed.

 

[Dreamer04]

Hey all. My DS is entering into his Junior year in College and he is majoring in philosophy...( I know, I know).

Even though I don't like his choice, it is his life. He is studying Eastern religions and really reaching outside the safety zone of his childhood. I am very proud of him. Will he be rich? Probably not. But he is shooting for making a difference in people and personal satisfaction.

My DH and I differ on this. While I am not a very open-minded person, I love my son. So, I am reading the literature he is so into. Keeping those lines of communication open. DH just derides our son's choices. Not cool.

So, there you go. My son is awesome!