Hellobee Boards Topic: What year of college did you pick your major?

Hellobee Boards Topic: What year of college did you pick your major? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:30:09 +0000 Mommy Finger on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980386 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 12:31:05 +0000 Mommy Finger 1980386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Junior year. . . . . of High School Mrs. J on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980374 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 12:24:45 +0000 Mrs. J 1980374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I decided in high school--Secondary ed, English (minors in Spanish and Theatre). I almost switched to history and I almost switched to elementary, but never pulled the trigger. yellowbird on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980265 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 11:39:03 +0000 yellowbird 1980265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I started as a chemistry major with biology minor and I switched to biology major chemistry minor my sophomore year after I decided I wanted to go to dental school. More core classes i needed were in the biology department. MaryM on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980263 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 11:37:49 +0000 MaryM 1980263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I started out as a math major, took one look at my freshman calc teacher and thought "what the hell am I doing???" and switched to communications two weeks in. I think part of the higher education crisis today is that fewer kids are going to college because they want to make money. They're not choosing degrees because of earning potential. Many are going because it's just what's expected, and many more (than in the past) are wanting to do something that really "means" something to them. Yet...the costs have increased so dramatically that they can't even fathom what that will mean when they graduate and have to start paying for it. Eminthevalley on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980248 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 11:30:24 +0000 Eminthevalley 1980248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I changed my major twice, the last time being my senior year...but my Master's degree is in a different subject entirely. Never too late to change again, I say! Oh, by the way, I'm a college counselor :happy: I wish studies like this would use a more holistic measure of success than salary. Quality of life, time off, benefits, etc. I do not make what a petroleum engineer makes, but I have a lot more time off, and that is more valuable to me than any paycheck. I also grew up with elementary school teachers as parents, so my idea of the amount of money you need to be happy is pretty modest. swurlygurl on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980117 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:34:38 +0000 swurlygurl 1980117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I always knew I wanted to be a Structural Engineer (Middle School, I think), but then changed to Construction Engineering Sophomore year of College because I got lazy. I regret the switch :( looch on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980103 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:29:39 +0000 looch 1980103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think what that NPR graphic indicates is that the days of going to college and studying whatever you are interested in and still landing a great paying job in another field are over. MapleMoose on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1980036 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:55:52 +0000 MapleMoose 1980036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I picked my undergraduate major before attending college. I chose my graduate major after working a year in the field. ILoveLettie on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979909 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:55:36 +0000 ILoveLettie 1979909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I picked mine 2nd semester of freshman year as well. I came in as a theatre major (big earning potential, I know :P) and was the world's worst theatre major. Seriously, I was awful at tech, I was awful at acting...I never cared too much about earning potential because I knew I wanted to go to grad school and be in a field I loved, but I didn't love theatre anymore! So I switched to Religion (I know, just as big earning, right? :P) and it was the absolute best choice. I am now pursuing my Master's and working as a Children's and Youth Pastor. I didn't have to major in Religion in undergrad--there are people of all majors, including, like, veterinary science, in my grad program--but coming in already having a strong basis of theological knowledge has been a huge asset in my grad program (and also helped me get a scholarship to grad school!). mrs scrapbook on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979871 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:28:22 +0000 mrs scrapbook 1979871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went in declared physics, and part of the teaching program. So I'd ended up with a bachelors in physics and a masters in education in five years. DH and my brother also went in declared...none of us changed our majors! Mamaof2 on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979860 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:19:13 +0000 Mamaof2 1979860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went in as Pre-Med but then found out I needed all these chemistry classes to graduate and was sucking at chemistry so I switched my sophomore year. Then all of a sudden chemistry came to me and I decided to minor in it - lol - but I didn't go back to pre-med - I stayed with Environmental Science looch on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979827 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:26:21 +0000 looch 1979827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sophomore year. We had a liberal arts core and then a school of management core to complete, do there wasn't a lot of wiggle room to experiment. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979826 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:24:25 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1979826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I always stayed within the business school, but I changed my major three times. My final major was declared my junior year. ETA: my husband was a computer science major (not part of the business school), but he realized he made a poor choice for him. He ended up wiggling his way into a bank internship and stayed on a financial analysis track. What he didn't get in coursework he made it up in experience. blackbird on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979820 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:12:49 +0000 blackbird 1979820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't find this gap very surprising and have long been aware of it. Petroleum engineers make some serious bank. They often have to live on rigs for weeks at a time, though. No thanks I picked my major in high school, but changed my minor junior year ValentineMommy on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979810 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 06:53:40 +0000 ValentineMommy 1979810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I started in Psychology. After some traumatic events freshman year, including my grandmothers passing, I switched to a BFA (art). My grandmother always thought I was a good artist and should pursue it. So I did! I ended up getting a masters in Interior Design after that, since I did realize that art wasn't going to make me much money. mrs. bird on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979807 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 06:49:44 +0000 mrs. bird 1979807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Which time?? Haha. First I was a social work major, then sociology & elementary Ed (double major is required for elementary Ed), and now I'm back in school as an allied health major trying to get into the nursing program. :D I guess I change my mind a lot. Or I'm just becoming more realistic about what will support a life I want & hours I'd like to work (or not work!) Rainbow Sprinkles on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979742 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 00:22:21 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1979742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I started as music performance my freshman year and then switched to journalism my sophomore year. I have a minor in music. :) lamariniere on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979739 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 00:20:20 +0000 lamariniere 1979739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I applied to my school because of the program it offered and I stayed in it. So, I was a senior in high school. Corduroy on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979738 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 00:20:04 +0000 Corduroy 1979738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I applied as an engineering major. I changed to food science my third year because I didn't find an engineering career that looked attractive to me. My parents and advisors told me I was making a terrible financial decision. My engineering advisor told me I would never make any money if I switched to a "predominantly female field." Ouch. Fortunately she was wrong. renee on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979720 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:54:50 +0000 renee 1979720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I applied to college as a psychology major. After my first quarter of school (my school was on a weird 10-week quarter system), I chose Feminist Studies and Sociology. Basically I never wanted to make money ever lol… I eventually graduated with a BA and decided to become a teacher. I now have my M.Ed. in Secondary Social Studies Education and I've been teaching U.S. History to 11th graders for 3 years. I knew all along I wouldn't make much money, but I don't regret my decisions. As a teacher I don't make nearly what I think I deserve, but I make a decent living. :happy: Really interesting article on NPR though! fairy on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979712 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:48:15 +0000 fairy 1979712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I chose Psychology before I even got accepted. Adira on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979697 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:30:16 +0000 Adira 1979697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I picked my major when I applied and stuck with it. I thought about changing majors my sophomore year, but it would have resulted in me needing to take an extra year and I knew my parents wouldn't help pay for that! I'm glad I stuck with my original major though! loveisstrange on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979676 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:12:21 +0000 loveisstrange 1979676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: DH was in the Air Force and they moved us there. We lived in England, just north of London. mrbee on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979674 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:10:41 +0000 mrbee 1979674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @loveisstrange: I knew it! :) On a serious note, I didn't know that you went to Europe for three years! That is seriously awesome... how did you swing that? loveisstrange on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979672 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:09:08 +0000 loveisstrange 1979672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: Totally, right? Im greedy like that. mrbee on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979669 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:06:06 +0000 mrbee 1979669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @loveisstrange: History... Theater... Secondary Ed... admit it, you're just in it for the money! loveisstrange on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979667 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:04:25 +0000 loveisstrange 1979667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I changed it twice! lol. I went in as a History major, then changed to Theatre w/ an emphasis in Secondary Education. I dropped out for 3 years to move to Europe and then came back and decided to go plain Theatre for the fastest way to graduate. lol. My degree is on the least lucrative list. Oh well... Mrs. Pen on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979665 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:02:04 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1979665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Well I finished a two year general education degree because I couldn't decide! lol took a break to figure it out and now back at it! So I guess after three full years? But almost 7 years after graduating high school :-P mrbee on "What year of college did you pick your major?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-year-did-you-pick-your-college-major#post-1979655 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 22:55:58 +0000 mrbee 1979655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went into college thinking I would major in math/CS but switched to Economics by the spring of Freshman year. I was interested in business, and Economics seemed like the closest major available. Turns out that it really doesn't have much to do with business at all. In retrospect, I wish I had stuck to my original major! There was a recent episode of Planet Money that pointed out that peoples' choice in majors can have a huge impact on their earning potential. <<Sure, some college degrees lead to higher paying jobs than others. But what's shocking — at least, it was shocking to us — is just how big the gap can be. The most lucrative majors typically lead to jobs with salaries over $100,000 a year. The least lucrative lead to salaries of around $30,000. >> <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/09/11/221417806/episode-485-whats-your-major" rel="nofollow">http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/09/11/221417806/episode-485-whats-your-major</a> Totally obvious in retrospect, but at the time I was just picking topics that were of interest to me! What year of college did you pick your major... and why did you pick it?