Blah, colleges and majors.?

Question

I'm a junior in high school, and I know this is basically the most important year of schooling. I have no clue what to do, what college to apply for, or what for. I was considering journalism, since it lets me write, and I enjoy writing, and also film, because... I like film. I don't know though, I'm not completely excited about either one.

I'm also looking for something practical. I'd like to study psychology, but it's a fairly saturated major with what seems to be like a pretty weak job market. What good's a degree in that?

So help me out here. What should I pursue? Also give some general advice about college etc.

Answer 1

Maybe you should consider getting your AA at a community college first, then transferring after two years.

That way you'll complete the basic courses as well as think about what you want to do later.

Answer 2

Hello! I am a first year student at a journalism school here in America and one thing that I love about journalism is that it is such a flexible major. Much of the curriculum is based on liberal arts so you can take classes in psychology, photography, or any other subject that intrigues you. And if you find that you like it more, perhaps that's a road that you might consider taking.

With broadcast journalism, you're  allowed to get hands on with camera's and the school that I go to allows the students to produce our own news broadcasts that are actually shown here locally on television. But journalism is not an easy major (at least not here where I go). It's extremely hands on, you're constantly involved with the outside world, it's not so much text reading and memorizing dates and such.

Many college students change their major within their first year, but the best advice I can tell you is to go with the subject that makes you happy. Something that you are really passionate about. And it's okay if you decide to change your major it happens. Apply to some universities that offer a very broad variety of curriculum. I'm not sure if you're more interested in ivy league universities but do some research on them to see if its what you like. A few schools, such a Princeton, do not allow the students to take on a double major even if you are passionate about both subjects so take that into consideration.

You're doing well by starting early. My advice to you is to stack up on those scholarships right now. College money is a little scarce these days. So that should also be a top priority for you.

You've still got time to decide what you want to do in life, so just take some time this junior year to explore your interests.  

Answer 3

If you dont totally know what you want to do, go to a community college to fulfill your general ed requirements. you dont have to have a major picked out when you apply- you can go in undecided, many people do.  

Answer 4

Don't chose a major before you take at least a semester of college classes.  If you don't have a passion yet (and you clearly don't) then you should enter as an undeclared major and take something of everything.  Take a film class, a english class, a psych class, and something else you like (I would recommend poly sci or philosophy).  Then you can feel it out from there.  Most schools give you until you are a sophomore to choose a major so play around with it freshman year - you can find your passion.  Even if you are undeclared all of freshman year you will be filling some Gen Ed course requirements with your breath of courses and hence you won't be behind in finishing your degree.

Other college advice I would impart - if you can afford to, definitely live on campus.  It's a must for socializing.  Majors that may seem common can be applied to many different things (i.e. psychology majors can go to grad school for neuroscience or psychology, can become human resource directors, statistical experts, etc.) and to get a list for each major contact your career development center at your university.