Marketable College Majors 5-7 years down the road

[dancingdisneygirl]

I personally think it's ridiculous to choose a major based on how much money one might make. Why go to school wasting money on a subject that you dislike. That's what's wrong with the world today people are obsessed with money. A career should be something you love not what pays the most money. Sure a little guidance from parents is fine, I've talked with my mom numerous times when I was "stuck" but she never told me not to do something she said follow your heart and what you love.

 

[Tess]

I graduated in 2006, before this recession business was on anybody's mind. I was a biochemistry major, and everyone from my major has found something to do. Some are in medical school, one is working as a forensic scientist with the NYPD, some are getting PhD's. And teh PhD programs are free for the students, and they get a stipend each month as well. There are still others working in industry right now, food, drug, cosmetic, etc. Nobody has had a problem finding a position.

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.

Good to hear our son may have chosen wisely based upon the opinions above.

Our son is beginning is 4th year, but won't graduate until 5th (2011). He is a chemistry/mathematics major with a biology minor. Originally he planned to apply to a school for pharmacy after his undergrad. Now, he is thinking about a masters in chemistry, perhaps a PhD. He knows he will need to go beyond a B.S. and does plan to continue on after graduation. He is just undecided what type of work he wants to do in the field--he is leaning toward some type of research although thinks he would enjoy teaching at the college level.

Our daughter is a business admin major and is undecided on a minor. She is thinking foreign language or perhaps communication. After graduation (she's entering her sophomore year) she plans to proceed with her master's work. She feels (at this time) she would love to go into hotel management with a major chain. While her school doesn't offer a "hospitality" major--we and she felt that the business admin degree might be more marketable especially if she found that the hospitality industry was not all she expected.

We had very little input into our children's choice of majors. They each decided what they would pursue while in high school and neither have wavered. Obviously, we had many discussions along the way about their talents, likes and preferences. We proferred suggestions, gave opinions,etc. The decision, however, was ultimately up to them.

As parents we are hoping the economy turns around before they enter the job market.

 

[Aisling]

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.

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.


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

My nephew is majoring in drama, and he definitely thinks he's going to hit the big time. He believes that just because he's passionate about acting, and is talented, he's going to be a rich, famous movie star when he graduates. Maybe he will, but he's in denial that there are thousands of other passionate and talented aspiring movie stars out there, and the chances of making the big time is SLIM. He definitely needs to hear that he should be smart enough to have a solid career/education to fall back on if he doesn't make it.

My own son will be starting his senior year in HS, and wants to major in Film when he goes to college. We live in NYC, and I've known so many unemployed "film makers" that it's just sad. He has to be practical as well as follow his dream. We're guiding him to find something more hirable as well as film making, otherwise he may have his dream degree with no job. What good is that?

My other son has a Masters in Political Science, straight 4.0, did a semester in Italy, all with the dream of working for the FBI, CIA or the State Department as an Intelligence Analyst. Guess what, the government isn't hiring in anything close to his field. So he's working in a warehouse while continuing to send applications to government agencies.

My point is this: some college age young people need guidance to help them see the real world through their dreams. Encourage their dreams, but sit them down and help them figure out a backup plan. In my house, that's part of a parent's job.

 

[kpm76]

I majored in English and don't regret it. I graduated from a good high school, took all Honors courses and thought I knew how to write. Not until my Freshman year of college did I realize I had an issue with comma splices. Who knew? Certainly my high school teachers did not. My point is that top notch students are going to college lacking basic writing and communication skills. The critical thinking, analytical and communications skills I developed over four years have served me well and I have never been been un or underemployed. Currently, I am doing consultant work while I raise my family and I have learned that it is quite lucrative. Aside from the financial aspect though, I learned such a great deal in my study of English. If you cannot effectively communicate, which is part of what English majors master, you are never going to reach your full potential.

 

[Stinkerbell's Daddy]

Answering this question isn't quite that easy. A student's individual talents, desires, and motivations must play an important part in deciding which course of study to follow. Encouraging a numbers challenged student to major in mathematics doesn't seem to make much sense.

I am also a firm believer that what you learn in college isn't always as important as how you learn when earning your degree. A PP mentioned how she prefers to hire employees who can demonstrate abstract thinking. Learning how to learn is just as important as specializing in a field you may be interested in. The degree will get you in the door, but explaining how you can benefit an employer through excellent communication skills is what will land you the job.

My advice, for what it's worth, is to encourage your student to challenge themselves. I believe it is ok to offer suggestions in courses of study. You don't stop being a parent when your children head to college. But ultimately, you're only providing guidance. Your student must decide for themselves what will be the best for them. Yes, you may be paying for their education. But you're paying because you can and it's the right thing to do to prepare your child for the world. You're not paying to control their decisions. Your advice can be very valuable. But it is just advice. Ultimately, if your child has a degree in Underwater Basket Weaving, but has learned how think critically, they will be marketable. In turn, if your child earns a MBA but does not learn critical thinking skills, he or she will suffer when seeking employment opportunities.

 

[ZachnElli]

I'm no expert in this, but I wanted to tell everyone having a hard time finding a job in education that in my area, they are definitely needing teachers. In fact, my kids' school district is opening a new high school next year and the counselor told me we will be pre-enrolling for next year in Sept so they know how many teachers they need to hire so they can get started in the hiring process. We don't have problems passing school bonds here that other areas have. Our high school is not at capacity yet, full, but not at capacity or over flowing and the new high school is almost done. Sure, we have the school districts fighting over who gets state money and a new "learning community" forcing the districts to share, but there is no cutting of teachers, programs or anything going on here.

 

[minkydog]

My nephew is majoring in drama, and he definitely thinks he's going to hit the big time. He believes that just because he's passionate about acting, and is talented, he's going to be a rich, famous movie star when he graduates. Maybe he will, but he's in denial that there are thousands of other passionate and talented aspiring movie stars out there, and the chances of making the big time is SLIM. He definitely needs to hear that he should be smart enough to have a solid career/education to fall back on if he doesn't make it.

My own son will be starting his senior year in HS, and wants to major in Film when he goes to college. We live in NYC, and I've known so many unemployed "film makers" that it's just sad. He has to be practical as well as follow his dream. We're guiding him to find something more hirable as well as film making, otherwise he may have his dream degree with no job. What good is that?

My other son has a Masters in Political Science, straight 4.0, did a semester in Italy, all with the dream of working for the FBI, CIA or the State Department as an Intelligence Analyst. Guess what, the government isn't hiring in anything close to his field. So he's working in a warehouse while continuing to send applications to government agencies.

My point is this: some college age young people need guidance to help them see the real world through their dreams. Encourage their dreams, but sit them down and help them figure out a backup plan. In my house, that's part of a parent's job.

Of course a young adult has to believe in themselves and have a tough skin to make it in the entertainment industry. My DS23 wants to go to film school, too. It's $100,000 for the school he wants. Given his past record of wasting his time and failing grades, we will not be funding that. At the moment he is waiting to be discovered in the Atlanta suburbs without an agent and with no effort on his part.

On the other hand, DD16 has planned to be a performer since she was 7yo. She has worked diligently to learn to dance, sing and act. She studies foreign language. She sends her resume to anyone who will take it. She's researching agents. She auditions for everything at her school and she's talented. She plans to go to college, then move to NYC and give theater a go. And she has a back-up plan--as she says "If this whole getting famous thing doesn't happen I'd like to open up a school for dance & theater arts" like the one she attends now. Personally, of my two kids I can see DD being more successful in her chosen field than DS because she is driven.

 

[browneyes106]

I agree with other posters a graduate degree is needed in sociology, English and other similar subjects. The medical field is very marketable but it isn't for everyone. I have knew people in college who dropped out of nursing programs. Today a lot of career fields are suffering a bit. My cousin is an IT/electrical engineer and he lost his job in May 2008 and has had trouble finding work and he lives in northern California. He could get a jobs in other states but he is divorced and has a four year old daughter that he doesn't want to leave behind. I have a degree in marketing and finance and I was able to get a job a few months after graduating. But other college classmates haven't been so lucky.

I think with majors in music, theater and acting it's good to have some sort of backup plan.

 

[browneyes106]

I agree with other posters a graduate degree is needed in sociology, English and other similar subjects. The medical field is very marketable but it isn't for everyone. I have knew people in college who dropped out of nursing programs. Today a lot of career fields are suffering a bit. My cousin is an IT/electrical engineer and he lost his job in May 2008 and has had trouble finding work and he lives in northern California. He could get a jobs in other states but he is divorced and has a four year old daughter that he doesn't want to leave behind. I have a degree in marketing and finance and I was able to get a job a few months after graduating. But other college classmates haven't been so lucky.

I think with majors in music, theater and acting it's good to have some sort of backup plan.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I personally think it's ridiculous to choose a major based on how much money one might make. Why go to school wasting money on a subject that you dislike. That's what's wrong with the world today people are obsessed with money. A career should be something you love not what pays the most money. Sure a little guidance from parents is fine, I've talked with my mom numerous times when I was "stuck" but she never told me not to do something she said follow your heart and what you love.

I think the issue is more "finding a job" than "how much money will I make". Most people in STEM aren't driving around in Lambroghini Superleggeras. (we prefer toyotas ).

I disagree that a career should be something you love. It should be something you do well and can succeed at. Love is for your family, your hobby, and of course, Disney World.

I think it does children a disservice to tell them to follow their hearts, I think they need to use their hearts for falling in love and their heads for building a career, imo.

Very, very few of us get to do what we love for a living. Even those who do, don't love it all the time. I don't love writing when I'm on a deadline. But it's my job. I don't love being a parent all the time, either, but that's my job, too. And I make sure I'm good at it (that's my head talking).

 

[MrsPete]

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'm with you! My parents were very hands-off when it came to college, and I just sort of bungled through my what-to-study decisions. Of course the counselors in high school and the professors in college don't point out to anyone that a philosophy degree, an art history degree, or a psychology degree is not likely to lead to a paying job! Some guidance would've been very helpful.

One of my daughters is talking about an art career, and I'm trying to help her understand that something you love doesn't necessarily turn into a great career; it might just be a wonderful hobby. Also, she doesn't really have the type of talent that it'd take to be competative (though I don't say that to her quite so baldly.)

 

[MrsPete]

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!

Perhaps she could see the value of a double major? Music plus something more realistic?

 

[Teacher03]

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!

My son sounds identical to yours! He will graduate in December with a degree in philosophy and religious studies. I have no idea what he will do, and we talked many times about the job outlook, etc., but I would never tell him what to major in because my husband and I pay his tuition. Am I worried he will get a job after graduation? Yes, but right now, I am worried for many college graduates.

My son has worked very hard for his degree, and I think he is awesome as well!

 

[MrsPete]

I would encourage a high school student (and a college student if he/she hadn't done it yet) to volunteer or get a summer job in a field that interests him or her. I know too many kids who majored in what they thought they wanted (or that their parents wanted) without doing so and are very unhappy. A little bit of research can save a lot of heartache and frustration.

Excellent advice! As a high school teacher, I know tons of students who pick majors for very lighthearted reasons. Some choose law or medicine simply because of the potential to make oodles of money, some choose teaching because they want summers off, some choose certain majors because their parents suggested them. Kids need guidance when deciding what to do with the rest of their lives.

A story in illustration: My college roommate took her first two years of nursing classes (mostly Biology and Chemistry classes) and was tip-top amongst her peers. When she began student nursing as a junior, she HATED the atmosphere of the hospital. It reached the point that she woke up crying because she dreaded her day, and she came back to the dorms crying out of relief that one more day was behind her. For a time she told herself that she just needed to adjust and learn her way around, but finally she told her dad that she couldn't continue . . . and she dropped out of school. She was SO GOOD at the classroom part; she would've made a fantastic high school science teacher, but she never finished college.

My own daughter is very interested in the medical field, so I encouraged her to sign up for a vocational class at the high school in which they learn about various jobs in medicine. When she's a senior in high school she'll spend a portion of her day at the hospital, and by the time she's a high school graduate she'll KNOW whether it's for her or not. She might not know whether she wants to work with babies or heart patients, but she'll know whether medicine is for her.

 

[MrsPete]

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 . . . 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 is very much like what we're teaching our daughters. They are capable of doing many things, and it's wise to choose to study one of the things that they enjoy AND will earn them money in the future. My oldest "gets it". My youngest doesn't, but I still have years to help her understand.

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.

Oh, you're absolutely right that it has to do with what the individual does with the degree . . . but at the same time, it's wise to stack the odds in your favor and choose something marketable!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm no expert in this, but I wanted to tell everyone having a hard time finding a job in education that in my area, they are definitely needing teachers. In fact, my kids' school district is opening a new high school next year and the counselor told me we will be pre-enrolling for next year in Sept so they know how many teachers they need to hire so they can get started in the hiring process. We don't have problems passing school bonds here that other areas have. Our high school is not at capacity yet, full, but not at capacity or over flowing and the new high school is almost done. Sure, we have the school districts fighting over who gets state money and a new "learning community" forcing the districts to share, but there is no cutting of teachers, programs or anything going on here.

I will pass this along to all the teachers they are cutting here in FL!! Many where I live are being cut due to the drop in enrollment. Our population has declined in the entire State. In my school alone, we lost 6 teachers this past June.. and that is not including the Art & Music teachers of which our County is making us "share" them with another school just to keep the arts in Elem Schools.. we will not have them full time at each Elem School anymore...
Our County tried doing it with PE teachers too but the State said we have to provide x amount of PE time to the kids every week or we would have part time PE teachers too

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I have to say, I don't think either DH or I will be paying for what we would consider a poor choice in colleges or majors for our kids.

While we would support them emotionally if either of them decided to do majors we didn't agree with, we wouldn't pay for it.

Decades of working our heinies off (really, I'd like to use the correct term here but I respect the dis), does not mean our daughters get to choose basketweaving as their profession and have us pay for it.

We would, however, be very clear to them about what we can/will pay for and what we won't. If they have a decision about what they want to do with their future that doesn't jive with what we've raised them to do, they are welcome to do it with our love-they will just have to make it work on their own.

 

[MrsPete]

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.

I hear you, but no one's saying, "Go do something you hate just so you can have a steady paycheck." Instead, it's very realistic to say, "Your favorite hobby probably isn't going to pan out into a paying job. What can you do well that'll lead to financial success AND contentment in life?"

Balance is a good work for this. You need to like what you do, but you can get by just fine in the workplace even if you don't jump out of bed awaiting what new challenges the workday may bring. You do your job well even if you don't find ultimate personal fulfillment at the office.

The reality is that making poor educational choices often does lead to unemployment or underemployment, and not many of us are going to be happy-happy-happy in our personal lives if we're broke. Not many of us are going to continue to love our jobs if they don't also bring us financial success.

Examples are always good:

Let's say you have a daughter who LOVES ballet. She's good at it, but you know that very few ballerinas will ever be employed as dancers. More will have jobs teaching dance, but that's often just a part-time job -- a sideline. I'd recommend talking to her about that passion AND her other talents. Look for a way she could use her love of dance AND find a job that's likely to pay. Perhaps she's also a great math student. A double major in business and dance could be a great choice. She'd see enough in college to know whether she's competative in the dance world, BUT -- much more likely -- if that didn't work out, she would have a business degree that's useful in a wide variety of fields. It could eventually lead her to open a dance studio of her own, which would combine her talent for business and her love of dance. MUCH more realistic than saying, "Just follow your heart" because we all know that few dancers, even those with massive talent, will make it big.

There are many ways to address your passion other than a career. A person who loves acting can find an outlet for that in community theater. A person who lives for music might become the leader of the children's choir at church. A person who adores pottery or other artwork might make those things into a great sideline job (knowing that this isn't likely to pay the mortgage). Loving a certain thing doesn't make it a great career.

 

[minkydog]

A story in illustration: My college roommate took her first two years of nursing classes (mostly Biology and Chemistry classes) and was tip-top amongst her peers. When she began student nursing as a junior, she HATED the atmosphere of the hospital. It reached the point that she woke up crying because she dreaded her day, and she came back to the dorms crying out of relief that one more day was behind her. For a time she told herself that she just needed to adjust and learn her way around, but finally she told her dad that she couldn't continue . . . and she dropped out of school. She was SO GOOD at the classroom part; she would've made a fantastic high school science teacher, but she never finished college.

You would be surprised how common that is. I have a friend who when all the way, 4 years of college(back when you didn't need 4yrs to be a nurse.) She discoverd about 3 weeks into her first job that she just hated nursing. She had a lot of student loans to pay off, so she stuck with it for about 8 months. Then she quit and let her DH pay off the loans. Made me want to shake her and say "how did you graduate nursing school and no know you would be working with sick people?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

My DD went to college and got her degree in Para Legal Studies and cannot find a job (only her AS), so she continued on & got her AA so she could enter the University at a Jr level since they would not take all her AS credits & accept her as a Jr (so basically 3 years after high school graduation, she has an AA & her AS in Para Legal Studies). She planned on going on to Major in English then onto Law School. She started the University over the summer and took their Eco required course.... She is having second thoughts now about Eng. She is thinking of maybe something that she can fall back on in the event she doesn't get into Law School & an English degree really will not get you a particular job... while it is great to study English, it will not get her anywhere. She is totally confused as of today. She actually thought maybe going back to the local Community College & taking the Radiology program, which would be another AS That is when I told her.. not another AS degree.. I will not pay for another Associates.. She already has 2 of them.. and she doesn't need a third.. at least not on my dime... While I am not telling her what to major in, I am telling her, I will not pay for her to get another Associates...She would not have to go for the full 2 years since she has the basic requirements for an AS, she would only have to take the medical end of it.. but still.. another AS... the medical field is really one of the few that isn't too bad here.
I did suggest that since she likes law, wants to be an attorney & does already have her Para-Legal, maybe she should do Criminal Justice.. that way she can at least become a Police Officer or work in the Corrections facility, or do something in the Justice System in the event she doesn't go to Law School. She already has the starting background...and we all know there will never be a shortage of criminals.. and they never get shipped over seas ... who knows, a Criminal Justice degree may actually help her in getting a Para Legal postition too...