College major- HELP!!!?

Question

I'm entering my senior year in high school and the pressure is more than ever to start figuring out what to do for the rest of our lives. My problem is, I'm those type of people that are good at everything, great if I work harder at it: sports, writing, hobbies, anything. Some people might think that these type of people are lucky. Not so. First, a lot of people can identify themselves with what they do. Dancer. Rapper. Athlete. Genius. So they have a better sense of self. People like me, we have a harder time describing ourselves in one word. So, I've been thinking for the last couple years to major in a science. Chemistry, Psychology, Neuroscience, etc. But I've been doing some soul searching and I've just been recently thinking about majoring in fashion design. I love watching America's Next Top Model, and shows on Bravo and TLC, so I learned a lot. But my main obstacle are my parents. They aren't the type that already have my life planned out for me, but they always emphasize on me going to school and having a good education. I don't know how they're going to react when I tell them about my change of mind. Any suggestions? And how can I be really sure this is what I want to do? I have to make a decision soon! Thnx :)

Answer 1

Majoring in science is going to be hard work, although you will probably have very nice job prospects when you get out.  So it will be a challenge to stick with it if you feel ambivalent.    I was the same in high school (could do anything but sports) and college, but didn't realize that my affinity for science (makes a lot of sense to me) meant I should keep going.  I ended up becoming a teacher and then 20 years later went back to grad school and did science in education (a PhD)--sort of the long way round.  I wish I had pursued it right out of college.    You want to do what you are best at--and what you love, but you'll be more successful if you do something that you can do well and not many other people can do as well.  You should take some classes in fashion design--to see if you have any talent and if you love it enough to work hard at it.  And take some science classes while you are at it, for the same reasons.  Try to get a summer job in fashion without dropping out of school.  Think of it as dating both prospects and see which one you fall in love with.  Hope that makes sense.  And know that you can always change your mind--most of us do change careers several times in our lifetime.  Oh, and watching fashion shows on TV is bound to be easier than studying science, so you don't know yet how much your interest will carry you.      

Answer 2

Go to a community college and take some courses that vary in your interests. Take a class in fashion design, a Chemistry class, and some other classes that interest you. You will earn your AA (or AS) and by the time you get out, you will have some idea of what interests you.

Answer 3

Good news:  You do not have to make this decision right now!  You can go to college undecided or undeclared, meaning you do not have to have your major picked out at the time you enter into college.  You can attend for 2 years and take your general education courses and a couple of introductory courses each semester and feel out the courses that would pertain to each of those majors.  By the time you reach your junior year, you should have a pretty good idea which major would be right for you.  Now, the only trick is to find a college/university that offers courses in fashion design along with the sciences, so that you can get the best of both worlds and figure out what works for you.  Good Luck!

Answer 4

Think about this. Do you already 1.Draw exceedingly well and 2. sew exceedingly well? Have you designed and produced any of your own clothes thus far? If you answer "No" to any of these, chances are fashion design is a passing interest and not a calling. Since only the very best (who should already be showing extreme talent by high school) can make a living at fashion design, you should probably consider another major. Unfortunately, a lot of fashion design majors wind up selling clothes at retail stores in the mall.

The first two years of many majors are nearly interchangeable, so use the first two years to take core courses that apply to several majors and explore your options. Whatever interests you about fashion design (creativity, glamor, travel, money) is probably available in other fields as well that have better future prospects. Visit your local community college and take some aptitude tests, look at various job descriptions, and visit with professionals in those fields to help you narrow your focus a little.