Can you help me choose a college major? Your opinions needed :)

Question

Hey everyone. I'm having a really tough time choosing a college major. I will tell you a bit about myself and my goals and I'm hoping (and would really appreciate it!) if you could recommend a major from the list I'll post a bit further down in this message.

My greatest interest of all is wildlife. I also am very interested in the environment, followed by earth sciences and biological sciences. In a future job, I would like the job prospects to be pretty good. I'd also like my job to be with something I love (Who doesn't? lol) and it to be a well-paying job OR have the opportunity for travel, not necessarily both. An important thing to me is having something versatile, i.e. a job where I could live in a large metropolitan area or in the boonies.

My ultimate dream would be to have a hands-on job with wildlife as well, but this isn't necessarily something I need, just something I'd absolutely love. I can't think of anything else that would make me more happy. When you think of me, think DNR uniform or zoo. :P I know these jobs are few and far between, which wouldn't fit me, but this describes my top interests perfectly.

My worst weakness in school and out is complex mathematics. I don't get it, I never have and never will.

As for the list, I've narrowed it down from my school's catalog. My school has a national reputation for agricultural related fields especially (I would mention where I go but feel a bit awkward about it on the 'net, if you really would like to know I can PM it to you lol.) My #1 choice would be Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, but I'm afraid of the job prospects and pay. I was thinking maybe I could eliminate the worry by going for Environmental Management. (Could I do something with wind, solar, etc. power with this perhaps? If it's that versatile that would be great. I'd go for this, but then my ultimate dream of having hands-on work with wildlife and working in a zoo setting is basically null.) My two other choices are Agronomy and Geographic Information Sciences, but I'm not quite as interested but they look good on a practical level and could tie it into my interests of the environment, earth and bio, etc.

If you could recommend honestly what a fun and wise choice would be I would appreciate it more than anything! At this point I'm only looking at a bachelor's degree, maybe a master's if my grades and finances hold up but the latter isn't a good guarantee at this point. Where could I go with a B.S. in one of these? Could I make it fit me? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

I know this won't help, But what working in a zoo/vet part time? to give you a bit more time to think about it. Contact your local college and arrange to speak with a careers advisor there they wil be able to advise you and help you find the right courses for you.  

Answer 2

Major in biology. Just plain biology. Then, you can get a job at a zoo, go to medical school, be a biologist (like my friend) or teach. It's general enough, solid enough and you'll make good $ whatever you do. Plus, it's a recognizable degree that will hook potential employers. Envioronmental Science or something like that may not hook people as much as a solid biology degree.

Answer 3

Environmental management sounds like a winner! We'll need it!!!

Answer 4

Go to the occupational handbook online. It is from the government, and they take a look at all jobs, gives you a salary outlook, and if it is a growing market for jobs. You will get a good idea of what kind of opportunites are out there and then you will be able to make a decision on what you want to major in. Good luck!

Answer 5

Environmental management would be good, but be sure you have enough quantatative courses (research design, statistics) so you are more employable.  You WILL probably need graduate school, unless you go into something more science-y.  I just met someone who did the fish & wildlife route, got on with the federal government, and they paid for her masters degree.  With a strong science background, you will be fine.  A masters program might provide a stipend if you teach UG science classes!  

Answer 6

I think Wildlife and Fisheries would be the closest to what you'd want to do, but I heard the pay is c**p.

Perhaps you could be a veterinarian for wild animals? (If that exists.)