For those of you who don't already know, I'm currently a freshman enrolled in a community college taking general ed courses. The problem isn't that I don't have a clue what I want to major in, but instead I'm torn between two opposites who couldn't be further apart. On one hand I have English, which I have always excelled in, even at an early age. In this subject, I was always either best or second best in all my classes. However, most careers I've researched don't seem to pay much in this field. On the other hand I have computer science (networking). I can't say I'm an expert in this field, but I know enough about computer systems thanks to a few classes I've taken years back and from what I've learned from the internet, so I have some experience in this area. Plus, the pay is very good. If I can get a career in this field, I could be doing something I love and making more than enough to keep me content. However, to obtain a degree in comp sci, I need to take intensive courses in advanced math (which I hate with a passion) and science. So it's come down to talent vs passion. If I can resolve this issue soon, then the next four years of college should fly by for me.

To top things off and add to my frustration, these two majors aren't even compatible with each other. For a while I was thinking of getting an AA in one, then switching majors after transferring, but this doesn't seem like something that would work out for me. If anyone could recommend me minors for any of the two fields listed, it would also help me immensely.

Hopefully, your responses should help steer me closer to my goal of finding a major. Once again, thanks in advance.

I like to think you should do what you do best when it comes to a career. There's no point in learning something you're not gonna be good at and will probably hate further down the road. English seems more broad than computer science too.

Double major or make one a minor. Do what you are passionate about but have a plan to make money. Look at the economy. People are losing jobs and jobs are getting cut. Choose something smart.

Erm, I'm not really an expert with this stuff, but I think that computer science is REALLY saturated in North America... And I feel as if a lot of jobs are moving to Asia anyway (and by Asia I mean CHINA and INDIA... people who will work for less and probably better at their jobs... haha no offense.) Have you looked into that at all? Find someone who studied computer science and inquire a bit first if you haven't already. I think it pays a lot, IF you can get the right job.

I know a few people doing IT and they get paid heaps (starting salary out of uni was $60K if I remember correctly) but they had to change their entire life to suit that one job opportunity because it was the only one they got and they knew they had to take it.

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How do you feel about journalism? Don't know much about the job market, but it's APPLIED use of the English language... Seems like a faster way to get a job related to a field you like. English majors become something rather unrelated, like teachers... Unless you're looking for an easy way through uni and not really looking to have a career related to creative writing (in that case, take English and then become a teacher).

I don't hate computer science, I love it. What I hate is having to take advanced mathematics to receive a degree in this field. And I don't think I'm horrible in this area, just inexperienced.



So you think I should choose both, even if they're unrelated fields? I guess I could give it a try to see which I like more from the two.



I know that programming is moving to Asia, but if someone loses their jobs overseas, I think it's because they weren't good enough. I met with a few network administrators already in my town, and they say it's easy money if you have a passion for it and study hard. There's nothing I'd like more than to get paid a decent amount of cash and at the same time love the job I'm doing.

Can you explain to me exactly how the people you knew had to "change their entire life" for a job opportunity?

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I don't like the idea of working as a journalist; they pay isn't great, although the job sounds interesting. It is definitely something I wouldn't mind doing. Anyway, I was thinking of working as an editor for a short time, but I still don't know exactly what I want just yet.

Do you think linguistics would be a good choice for a minor if I choose to be an English major?

You're a freshman still. Best thing for you is to see your options and take the classes early. By the time you transfer or have enough units to declare yourself a Junior, the institution will want you to officially declare a major. And by that time you'll have a better insight in what you think you should do. Get to know the councilors under your major and you'll see your options (And there's usually more than one councilor to talk to and I highly recommend getting more than one opinion. They may direct you to the professors instead and this is good too.) Talk to others in the classes or better yet, the grads. You can read up as much as you want but the people who really know what's going on and what you can expect in the real world are those who have gone down the path you are considering.

As a freshman, it's easy to take college for granted. Get on top of your shyt early, man. You won't regret it.

Changing their entire life consisted of moving to New York. To you, maybe not that big of a deal, but it meant they had to move countries (just from Canada, mind you) away from their families and all, knowing that if they were to move there, they'd have to stay there for at least 5-10 years since it's a pretty good job. I woulda thought getting tied down to something THAT fast would be a bad idea. I can't make those sorts of decisions that early in the game. It was kind of weird for them because they were right out of university. They were also dating and decided to move to the same city and get the same job TOGETHER... I thought that was kind of stupid, but they're still together and that's kind of beside the point haha.

I suppose it's an ideal choice if you just want to go to university and then get a job and then enjoy the money you get from said job. Me, I still want to know I have options I guess. (Mind you, based on what I'm studying, I'll never be making that much money...)

I don't think it's a question of talent or passion. Or at least, that's not the problem I'm discussing. You seem to have some passion for English as well. It's more like SECURITY vs OPTIONS. Who knows where you could be if you take English. THat's the scary part. You have a relatively good idea of how you'll be doing in 10 years if you take comp sci. Once you get into the high level math courses, hire tutors and as long as you pass the course, you get your degree. A couple of math courses are going to seem insignificant in the long run if SECURITY is what you want.

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IMO, English + Linguistics = Not really. I suppose it depends on the job you want and what field of linguistics you want to study. Some parts are based more on cultural aspects of language (and you end up writing articles about the blah blah blah of x language and making $0) and others are based more on the physiology involved in speech and you do speech training and such... or just the plain old grammar and you could teach ESL... I don't think you need a minor in linguistics to teach ESL though, and I would think you need a major in linguistics to do speech therapy.

I shied away from majoring in linguistics because there were no well paying options that I liked. The money is there... just in boring places. I'd rather go to Papua New Guinea to examine some relatively undocumented language than fix some girl's lithp. But in any case, if it's the money you're after, COMP SCI COMP SCI COMP SCI.

Go with CS. As for the Math requirement, you just need to take Calculus, Discrete Math, and Statistics.
I work in IT (software engineering), although it gets a little boring at times, the pay is pretty good.

I'll give you my 2 cents.

Do English if you are absolutely convinced that you passionate for the subject. Yes, the job outlook is bleak compared to say commerce, but it is not impossible. If you really passionate about the field and wanted to find a career in it, you will work as hard you can to take in every possible opportunity to advance your career, and that means sacrifices. If you are hesitate about going into english and does not want to buckle down and work as hard as your possibly can to maximize your chances of finding a career in it, then don't do it. Is a harsh reality, but if you are really passionate about it, then you will find a way. Most people fail to do this as they are convinced they are in love with the subject but does not have the willingness to go pour all their energy into the subject so they can find a job in the field. Are you one of them? Just because you get high marks in the subject and thinks that you "love it" (ohhhh how the idealism of youth makes fools of us all) doesn't mean you are really passionate in the subject. Remember, once you REALLY get into it, only the truly passionate survives, as each year thousands of idealistic people like you find out that they did not have what it takes to pursue the subject deeply. (why do you think so many people change majors)

Now for the computer science, same thing applies here. If you are really passionate about the subject, you will work hard to improve your math.

I originally wanted to go into History then Music, both of which offers offer slime chances of employment. The Music I poured so much of my passion into it but ended up failing due to personal injuries. when I was working toward my goals in music however, I was so passionate for the subject that I could've cared less if I made any money, as i was so deeply in love with the art.

After a period of about 3 years of struggle, I had to forcefully give up my pursue for music due to injuries, i was devastated. This caused me so much pain that I barely graduated from High school and is forced to find another alternative when I was so convinced my heart would not allow me to do anything else.

Now I am finishing my 2 courses that I need to go to university in Night school as a result of pursue for music. In the end, I found another subject that I was interested in... me and my culture.

Luckily for me, 2008 was perhaps the best year to be a chinese, and it made me finally realize that I loved my country and my heritage. Everyone knows that the PRC is "bad" and people are suffering in it, but there is so much beauty in my heritage. Now I was interested in social science (wanted to go into history), and knew that if I was to understand my country so I can change it for the better, I need to understand economics, as it accoutned for the tremendous change that has happened in the past 30 years.

So here comes my second choice, Economics.


Like like computer science, economics needs Math; but just A LOT more. When i was in dazzle with music in high school, i was unluckly swept into the crowd of people that thought they did not need math and it was useless. Now that I realize what I have to do to achieve my goals, I need math.

Of course I am a little scared, but if you really wanted to do something, You'll find a way. I am actually even considering of double majoring in Math/Economics when I go to university (yea i know). But my desire for understanding out weights my fear for math. (And plus I can say that I have a degree in Math AHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAHHA BEAT THAT 98% OF THE POPULATION AHHAHAH)..... sorry

so in the end, you have to ask yourself, just exactly who are you and what do you want to do; whether, if you have the strong enough to go through with it. Now of course, you'll have choose something, you'll have to decide, and like I 've given you examples, I been through both of your scenarios and discriminate against none. Would I still do music if I had the chance, possibility, as I find only more to be love with in economics as I dig deeper.

In the end, the age old saying holds true... Is up to you.


"You have got what it takes, but is going to take all you got"

And by the way, I really don't care for people just want to do a major just because they want money and nothing else.

Of course you need money, but jesus christ people, is that all you want to do in life? This has driven part of my passion for music as it was able to remove me so far from the people that just wanted to get a bachelor in commerce or what have you so they can have a good income job and not have to learn anything again.

Then you ask me, what about economics? Is full of the people that you so claim to be disgusted by. Yes, I still do, and I have no intention of making much friend in the subject as most of them will be "show me the money assholes" that's why I tend to take some music performance courses in university so I can find a girlfriend that I actually likes.

my vote goes to underwater basket weaving

how is PRC bad? if PRC is bad USA is downright evil if you look at it objectively

a liberal arts major allows you to become a manager at the gap
I really can't recommend a liberal arts major unless you have connections, or you're some type of prodigy.

way comment on the most irrelevant part of my post dude

This post is for JC's use, otherwise I wouldn't bother.


Not really. The area of one's undergrad degree doesn't amount to much these days with the exception of a few areas. I have two friends that were English Majors in undergrad that are going to Law School (one's at UPenn, the other is at IU), a friend that was an English Major in undergrad that's now getting his Master's in Urban Development at UMich, and a friend that got a Computer Science degree in undergrad that's currently going for his MBA. I also know a couple people with Accounting degrees (bachelor's, CPAs, one has an MBA with a concentration in Accounting, the other has a regular Master's in Accounting) who can't get work. It has much more to do with motivation and finding an area to apply one's degree than it does the area one's degree is in, as LuckyRice alluded to. What Jake's undergrad degree is in is relatively irrelevant unless he plans to pursue it passed undergrad. At which point, if he chose to continue pursuing English (he'd probably switch to a particular area of Literature study), he would only do so if he had gotten accepted somewhere where they're willing to give him an Assistantship through his Doctorate (with which you're pretty much assured that you're going to have a relatively nice tenured Professorial position within a few years of having achieved your Doctorate).

Most people with only an undergrad degree work as managers at the Gap, or some likewise depressingly soul-sucking place. Not that most people who make considerably more than that have jobs that are any less soul-sucking. It's just that they had to get a few more degrees to afford the Porsche they're too busy to drive. What their undergrad degree is in is inconsequential. That said, if you plan to stop at an undergrad degree (which I wouldn't recommend if you're capable of going on to a higher degree--particularly if you can get an Assistanship like I have, in which case they're willing to pay for your tuition & give you money for an apartment, food, etc), I would recommend you go the CompSci route over the English route. Before my friend went back for his MBA, he had a relatively decent job with just the bachelor's in CompSci. Whatever area of concentration you look into though, I'd recommend working hard during your undergrad degree so that you have a variety of options for your Master's.

some questions i need help with thx..

1.any advice for someone who doesn't think he's good at anything? haha..

2.my passion is music and music only but that aint gonna get me anywhere once i graduate. so i don't know what my permanent major is gonna be..

3.is it a good idea to get all the GEN ED classes out first or take the classes that the university i want to go first? i don't know if i made the right choice by taking the classes that the university want and not finish all the GEN ED classes...

please help with all 3 questions.. thx.

An English degree, like poli sci, is very general. It's not touted towards a specific trade that say, legal studies or comp sci or mcb is. They fill in positions that don't really have majors. For example, being an ambassador, or a diplomat, or a consultant, etc etc may require different skills. I can only recommend that you stick with your GE classes first, and once you find out what major you want to focus on for sure, to just go for that. Get the GEs out of the way, and think long and hard about what you want to do with your life.

you don't have to get gen eds out of the way. you really don't want to be taking all major classes when you're a junior or senior anyway, it gets monotonous

hungry hungry hippos, it's an eating race

business ftw.

i suggest MIS (management information system)...requires less math and more computer relates courses with a few business emphasis.

Why don't you major in a Computer Engineering and minor in English?

Thanks. I'll look into it.



That was what I was going to do originally... I'll try it and see how things work out.

burger flippin' engineering sounds good for you

but MIS wit a english minor sounds better IMO....i think in business english does matter on how you word business related sh!t @_@