advice for choosing a major...

[Bolshevik***]

you want to pick something you're good at (first and foremost) then you'll want to look up which positions are the most common wherever you want to work.

 

[markulous]

If you want math, then go with an accounting major. It's dull, but if you like math then go for it. It's a practical degree.

What I did was look at a few lists of the top 100 (or so) jobs that are growing the most and then find ones that I thought I'd enjoy. I decided to choose the IT field.

I disagree with the above poster saying go with something you are good at (first and foremost). I've known people that are good at things that they didn't like at all. Go with something you enjoy, even if you are mediocre at it.

 

[UFCfightman**]

I studied math and minored in cs as a undergrad. You probably have little idea of what upper level math courses actually entail, very little arithmetics involved and all proof based. It signals to potential employers that you are smart but unless you are interested in graduate degrees then there's little practical use.

Computer science can also be theoretical if you study at certain schools or take certain courses but in general CS majors are innumerate and most of the proofs you will work on are very simple conceptually compared to math. But you will be able to learn many useful technical skills that will translate directly to the workforce.

So I recommend you go with CS.

 

[mister who]

Sounds cliche but you should pursue something you love. Education should be about bettering yourself and the pursuit of knowledge. I am majoring in mechanical engineering because I was told it was a safe bet to get a job after graduation. But I hate every moment of it. I can't imagine doing this once I finish school. But I am so far into the program it would be a complete waste of time and money to switch to something else now.

I know I will be in the minority but don't get a degree in something just because you think it will lead to a stable career path later on. So many people are trapped in jobs they hate because they were forced into choosing a career early in their lives. Happiness>money all day, everyday.

 

[Bubble Bath]

weusemath.org/

Good site.

 

[usmctanker242]

Sounds cliche but you should pursue something you love. Education should be about bettering yourself and the pursuit of knowledge. I am majoring in mechanical engineering because I was told it was a safe bet to get a job after graduation. But I hate every moment of it. I can't imagine doing this once I finish school. But I am so far into the program it would be a complete waste of time and money to switch to something else now.

I know I will be in the minority but don't get a degree in something just because you think it will lead to a stable career path later on. So many people are trapped in jobs they hate because they were forced into choosing a career early in their lives. Happiness>money all day, everyday.

Having a BS as an ME can work wonders though in many different fields in the work force. Even if you're applying for a job outside ME, that degree says something pretty significant about what you can accomplish. Good luck with it man, I'm working on my BS in Materials Engineering, but I love it. Looking to get into body armor, or just armor in general.

 

[mister who]

Having a BS as an ME can work wonders though in many different fields in the work force. Even if you're applying for a job outside ME, that degree says something pretty significant about what you can accomplish. Good luck with it man, I'm working on my BS in Materials Engineering, but I love it. Looking to get into body armor, or just armor in general.

I like material science as well. I took ceramics and composites as my tier 3 electives. Way too much chemistry though. Nice change of pace from the math heavy courses that I normally take.

 

[usmctanker242]

I like material science as well. I took ceramics and composites as my tier 3 electives. Way too much chemistry though. Nice change of pace from the math heavy courses that I normally take.

Materials is fun and interesting, and when I started, I had a tough time with Chemistry, but I'm getting much better with it as time goes on. I got sick and tired of physics though after the Gen Physics II, I had enough of that shit. My buddy is working on his aerospace Eng. BS, and his head is spinning from all of that shit. haha As for math, how far did you have to go? I'm doing Diff Q I now, need Diff Q II, and I'll probably take Linear Algebra and Engineering Stats for my electives.

 

[mister who]

Materials is fun and interesting, and when I started, I had a tough time with Chemistry, but I'm getting much better with it as time goes on. I got sick and tired of physics though after the Gen Physics II, I had enough of that shit. My buddy is working on his aerospace Eng. BS, and his head is spinning from all of that shit. haha As for math, how far did you have to go? I'm doing Diff Q I now, need Diff Q II, and I'll probably take Linear Algebra and Engineering Stats for my electives.

I had to take calc 1->3, stats, lin algebra, diff eq and numerical analysis. I only had to take chem 1->3 but tons of physics courses. I think mat science and mech eng switches the chemistry for physics. Which makes sense since your discipline is highly based on chemistry and mine is highly dependent on math/physics.

I find it all very tedious though. I wish I was talented artistically. Like be a musician or painter. That seems way more my speed than this. I'm already used to living in poverty so I think that lifestyle would suit me well too.

 

[usmctanker242]

I had to take calc 1->3, stats, lin algebra, diff eq and numerical analysis. I only had to take chem 1->3 but tons of physics courses. I think mat science and mech eng switches the chemistry for physics. Which makes sense since your discipline is highly based on chemistry and mine is highly dependent on math/physics.

I find it all very tedious though. I wish I was talented artistically. Like be a musician or painter. That seems way more my speed than this. I'm already used to living in poverty so I think that lifestyle would suit me well too.

HAHA good stuff man. It does sound pretty much like the chem is switched with physics. More power to you buddy, I just got so bored to tears with it all, I used to love physics, but Gauss really turned me off to everything beyond the mechanics side. haha

The chem doesn't seem so bad, but organic is currently whooping my ass. My buddy has his PhD in Chemistry, so he's keeping me alive through that course.

 

[lion paw]

Sounds cliche but you should pursue something you love. Education should be about bettering yourself and the pursuit of knowledge. I am majoring in mechanical engineering because I was told it was a safe bet to get a job after graduation. But I hate every moment of it. I can't imagine doing this once I finish school. But I am so far into the program it would be a complete waste of time and money to switch to something else now.

I know I will be in the minority but don't get a degree in something just because you think it will lead to a stable career path later on. So many people are trapped in jobs they hate because they were forced into choosing a career early in their lives. Happiness>money all day, everyday.

Its not really cliche.Honestly,I used to enjoy writing.the downside is,I haven't done it in years due to different situations.Im looking for a career in which I can use in order to support my writing.As a result,if my writing fails,I can still make a living.Right now,Im "studying".Its frustrating,but I'll make it.

 

[Quanta]

I studied math and minored in cs as a undergrad. You probably have little idea of what upper level math courses actually entail, very little arithmetics involved and all proof based.

Depends on the class. There are upper level math courses with very little emphasis on proofs.

 

[Poatan Power]

Computer science, man. That can go so many directions.

Throw in a C.J. degree with it and you can be launching nukes. Or something.

 

[Turismo]

The pedigree of a good maths degree will probably be enough to get you into finance, economics and STEM related fields.

Even if you couldn't enter a specific career directly with a maths degree, the skills acquired through studying mathematics should be enough to allow entry into these fields with some extra study.

If you're not sure what you want to study. Here's my advice.

Either pick a degree that is almost a certain requirement into a specific profession.
Or pick a subject thats useful to society and yourself.

CS and mathematics both seem like pretty useful skills to me. So take your pick.

 

[Thai Otoshi]

Choose anything that will get you a JOB, high paying, in your field, and in the shortest amount of time possible.

 

[Charles Brown]

In all honesty, I'd suggest changing your vo-tech concentration. Learn how to do something that people will want to pay you to do. Learn to weld. Learn to weld under water.

 

[lion paw]

In all honesty, I'd suggest changing your vo-tech concentration. Learn how to do something that people will want to pay you to do. Learn to weld. Learn to weld under water.

I did 2 semesters of welding.I admit it's fun but I couldn't do it.That and the stress of working graveyard shifts.However,horizontal welds are pretty easy compared to overhead and vertical welds.

 

[janky fish]

pick the one with the most hot girls

focus on networking, it really is all about who you know, easiest way to get ahead

 

[Morozevich]

How much experience did you have in computers prior to studying your major?

Some, but this is irrelevant.

There is a 39 (!) year old man in most of my classes with no computer experience -- never mind programming experience.

He is doing rather well.