Tests to determine major?

[A Glass]

Are there any good tests to help decide what major I'd be well suited for? I've come to the place where I need to start taking classes specified towards my major. I have a lot of interests and can't settle on just one, so I'm looking for some tests to maybe help guide me a little. Thanks.

 

[Mr Dave]

What are your interests?
What subjects have you chosen to study so far?
Do you know what career you would like to go into?

If there's a few different subjects, do you know where you would like to study? The location can make a massive difference, and that may limit your options?

 

[A Glass]

What are your interests?
What subjects have you chosen to study so far?
Do you know what career you would like to go into?

If there's a few different subjects, do you know where you would like to study? The location can make a massive difference, and that may limit your options?

I live in Michigan and the schools I have considered are:
Ferris State University
Grand Valley State University (most likely)
Michigan State University

As far as a career I would like to go into, my Jungian Typology is a INTJ, and I think it best state how I feel. I would like to work in an environment that allows me to work alone, and sometimes (rarely) with others. I want a job that avoids routine, and can preferably contribute to society as a whole (I feel a need to make a difference where I'm working). I do not wish to be a "leader" or a boss.

The careers I am considering are: English (Professor), Biology (professor, or Zoologist -- but worried about conflicting studies with my Christian beliefs), Computer Systems Analyst (Computer Engineering), Philosophy, Religious Studies, Mathematics, and Environmental Science.

I would most enjoy Philosophy or Religious Studies -- for education, but post-Ed, I don't think I would like it as much (i.e. whatever job I'd end up in, I'd probably hate). English has been a consideration for sometime, as I love writing, and I'd love to be an English professor. Mathematics/Sciences has me most interested, but this interest hasn't developed until recently. Computer Engineering is not my top pick, but is probably one of the more practical options, and I know people within the industry (i.e. @ Google), who would be of help in finding a career, etc.

The only reason I am hesitant on Sciences is because of my lack of interest until recent years, and the conflicting views I may find about scripture. Not to mention, anytime I look for a book on science, it seems they are consumed with "disproving" God then they are about studying science.

 

[K9_Trainer]

English, religious studies and philosophy are going to be extremely impractical degrees. Make absolute sure that you're going to enjoy teaching before you spend 4 years getting that degree because it will essentially be useless for anything else. Those fields also often require higher degrees, like a masters or even PhD before they become practical. So you have to really be dedicated and you better like teaching, don't take it just because you like the subjects.

Biology/zoology....Not sure where to start with that one. First, expect to be taught evolution essentially as fact. Whether you believe it happened on its own or happened at the hand of God is a different story. But if you have issues accepting the theory of evolution, then you will have a hard time getting through it and you may have a barrier to employment too...Especially if you go into education or public resources. If you get hired as a professor, you will be expected to teach evolution as the primary, supported theory on the origin of life and diversity. If you can't do that with a clean conscience, then I'd reconsider. I'm a biology grad student and in my college (which I've been at for 5 years now), we've yet to spend even a minute discussing whether God is real. We don't care. We might have some creationism bashing sessions, but I don't think a single professor would say that proving or disproving God is within the realm of science...God is supernatural, science doesn't deal with supernatural. So that's going to depend on your school and professors.

Computers/math...can't go wrong with that tbh.

Environmental science...Not sure what field of environmental science you want to go into, but it will probably be biology heavy unless you study atmosphere. Could work.

 

[A Glass]

I appreciate your help.

Currently it looks like my options have narrowed down to English and Biology. So, I will go into more depth of why I would choose each of these, and maybe someone, or yourself, can offer me insight.

English, as you have said, has nearly ALWAYS been my fall-back degree. That is, I will debate about majors I would like, but I nearly always end up back on English. Why English? Well, I love reading, I love writing. However, I have always thought I would love to be an English teacher or professor.

If I went onto English I would more than likely pursue at least a Masters and potentially a PhD. So, while you said this would be almost necessary, this is my plan. Whatever major I get, I plan on getting at least a Masters. Though, I know my plans are susceptible to change over time, I've never saw myself without a Masters, if not a PhD.

Those are the pros, in my eyes. The cons, is as mentioned, I don't find much of a job market for it beyond teaching. Though, I've considered teaching many times before, and if it were college level classes (even at a CC), I think I would enjoy it.

My wife believes of the two, I should go for English. She feels that if I were to go for Biology or Math it would only be out of fear, but she knows how much I love Literature and writing. Even if I were to get a biology major, I would still get a minor in Literature.

With that said, let me move onto biology.

Biology has been a growing interest to me. Actually, science in general. With my personality, I feel biology would be a good fit because of the numerous of possibilities within the field. I wouldn't be stuck with one job. And needless to say, money wouldn't be as much of a problem as it would be if I were a English major. Though, money isn't much of a concern to me. I just want a job I'd enjoy. I'd be fine making minimum wage, so long as I enjoyed my job. I think that biology has more of a practical result, in that I would be benefiting society. Which is something I would like my career to do.

Now for the cons. The con with biology is I don't really accept evolution. I've done my research on it, and while some would call me intellectually dishonest, I realize that from a science standpoint evolution is more or less a fact. However, I do not have a dogmatic stance on evolution. That is, God could have used evolution, or He could have just created everything. It doesn't really matter to me. But, I tend to side with the latter. I guess I'm the person Richard Dawkins usually bashes for knowing evolution is a fact, but denying it because of an ancient book.

I don't have any logical reasoning for this, and perhaps it is indoctrination I've received, but as far as the origins of life, I don't see that this really matters.

Now, let me say, I do accept things like speciation, micro-evolution, and such, but I don't necessarily agree with a common ancestor. Though, I'll admit, it is possible.

I would probably have a problem teaching a common ancestor as fact to students, so I don't know that I would, and to some degree, I believe majoring in biology would hurt my conscience.

So, this somewhat leans us towards environmental sciences. I believe I would enjoy this, but not far as much as biology/zoology, or any animal biology. My reasoning for ever becoming a biologist would be to work with animals and the like.

 

[Marcus Constantine]

With your undergrad, it helps if you know what field you want to eventually go into, but it's not really required. Someone can do English for an undergrad and then go into Theology or just about any humanities subject for their masters. The same with Religious Studies. Someone with that background can go into graduate-level studies in a humanities subject, but many also go into social work or psychology.

If you don't know that God has called you to something specific, I would say follow what you'd enjoy doing. If you think you're going to be miserable doing something as a career, I'd not recommend studying to do that. I'd also consider sitting down with your pastor or another spiritual leader in your life and have them discuss it with you and be in prayer with them and your wife about the decision.

The only other thing I'd mention is work hard in whatever you do. In the end an employer would much rather have someone with the ability to learn and that is a hard worker, than someone that has a degree in that field of study, but is lazy.

 

[A Glass]

I do not know if G-D has any particular calling for me. I am rather uncertain if He as ever "spoke" to me. However, my family and people around me feel I need to do something with teaching of some sort. They believe I have a wealth of knowledge that I should share with others. While I disagree with this, I think my family knows me better than myself. I am currently uninvolved in a local church, I cannot find one. I live in "a spiritual wasteland," as my uncle would nearly call it.

I believe that I would do well in a teaching environment, my family seems to think some sort of teaching in a church or English in other countries on a missions filed. They believe, as I said, to think that I have a lot of biblical knowledge, and think I need to pursue something in that way. Perhaps not as a career, but to help. However, I don't believe this. I believe I memorize things that I read fairly well, but I don't claim to know what the Bible says. To be quite honest, I am sometimes uncomfortable sharing my opinions about the Bible because I know I will be judged for what I say. I don't want to mislead anyone, so I don't feel I have a particular "calling" in that regard.

I believe a teaching environment (even tutoring), would be best suited for me, or a career where I had multiple options, like biology. I just think Spiritually, English would be more comfortable to me, while Biology would be more of a physical gratification so-to-speak.

 

[A Glass]

To be honest, I would love to major in English, I just fear I may regret it. And that is my struggle. I need to get out of the career I am in (I am miserable here), but I don't know that a English degree would lead me elsewhere, as even teaching seems unstable currently.

 

[Rhizobium]

I think majoring in English during college is fine. There are plenty of jobs with a serious writing component, and majoring in English will give you the skills you need to be a decent writer or editor. Getting a Ph.D. in English is a terrible idea though. The job market for English professors is so saturated that you'll have a hard time finding a job that isn't soul-crushing.

I'd like to give you the link to Thomas Benton's article, "Graduate School In the Humanities: Just Don't Go". Unfortunately my post count isn't high enough to do this, but if you Google it you'll find it pretty quickly. You should really read it.

 

[A Glass]

I am assuming that a Masters would be just as worthless?

 

[Rhizobium]

I'm not sure about a Masters degree. A Ph.D. in the humanities can take six full-time years or longer, while a MA usually takes two years. So at least the opportunity cost is way lower. As far as its usefulness, I don't have enough knowledge on that particular subject to give you any advice.

Sorry.

 

[blackribbon]

Have you considered looking into Technical Writing?

And whatever you do, make sure that whatever loans you take out can be paid back with the career path you choose. It matters because as you get out of school, you may be looking to move into that next stage of your life that includes buying a home and having kids...and sitting on tens of thousand dollars worth of loans can really make your life difficult.

 

[Christianmilitaryofficer]

Are there any good tests to help decide what major I'd be well suited for? I've come to the place where I need to start taking classes specified towards my major. I have a lot of interests and can't settle on just one, so I'm looking for some tests to maybe help guide me a little. Thanks.

To paraphrase Gurney Halleck, "Interests are things for cattle and loveplay".

I would recommend a career that will gt you paid. I studied history, but I went to a US Service Academy. My employment, post education, was guaranteed. As such it did not matter what I studied. Had I time to do it over again I would be an engineer. Not because I care about engineering, I have a MS in engineering now, but because people want to see engineering on a piece of lambskin before hiring you. This is silly. It is stupid. But it is reality.

I am a huge advocate of the Humanities, I think learning how to think by studying English or History to be unsurpassed in training the mind. I would prefer an English major to an engineer almost any day of the week, but I am wrong. People do not hire English majors. Again, this is silly. It is stupid. But it is reality.

So I would enjoy literature, but pick something that has the potential for long term employment. Biology has some interesting possibilities, provided you pursue it with directive intent. It is a different world we live in, and one that requires certain efforts to maintain employability, and this is difficult.

 

[Pravda]

Biology has been a growing interest to me. Actually, science in general. With my personality, I feel biology would be a good fit because of the numerous of possibilities within the field. I wouldn't be stuck with one job. And needless to say, money wouldn't be as much of a problem as it would be if I were a English major. Though, money isn't much of a concern to me. I just want a job I'd enjoy. I'd be fine making minimum wage, so long as I enjoyed my job. I think that biology has more of a practical result, in that I would be benefiting society. Which is something I would like my career to do.

Please don't go into science for the money. You can make better money waiting tables. I don't know where the notion that scientists make good money came from, but it is inaccurate, especially in biology. If you do choose to pursue a PhD that would definitely have a positive impact on your earning potential, but you're looking at 8-9 years of college plus a post-doc.

I would really recommend figuring out what kind of career you want, and then basing your major on that rather than the other way around. Is there someone who's job you would love to have? Find out what they did to get there.

Have you considered political science or business? I find a lot of people who like english enjoy these fields as well, and they have more definable career options. If you like the academic world, you could also look into some administrative specialities.

I didn't know what I wanted to do going into college either, so if it takes you a year or so to figure it out, that's not unusual. It may take trying general education classes before something sticks.

Good luck!

 

[A Glass]

As far as money is concerned, I am not worried about money. I simply want a job I enjoy. Even if that means making minimum wage. I just don't want to dread going to my job every day. I am concerned, however, with my hireabilty. Which is why I think science would be more practical.

Business doesn't interest me. Political science has, though. But, I haven't considered it something I'd want to major in, or a field I would want to work in outside of teaching.

 

[Christianmilitaryofficer]

As far as money is concerned, I am not worried about money. I simply want a job I enjoy. Even if that means making minimum wage. I just don't want to dread going to my job every day. I am concerned, however, with my hireabilty. Which is why I think science would be more practical.

Business doesn't interest me. Political science has, though. But, I haven't considered it something I'd want to major in, or a field I would want to work in outside of teaching.

Money is certainly not the end all of existence, but it is necessary. I have been in school, of one form or another for most of my life, simply to maintain some form of economic viability. I could easily make twice what I make now outside of the military, but I am staying for the time being, but once I get out, I am very concerned about employment, so I am going back for an MBA.

Money will not make you happy, but you do need to do some things (eat, shelter, see the Avengers, etc...).

 

[A Glass]

Lol, well, my wife and I live comfortably making $7.90/hr ea. Which, is like 20 cents above minimum wage. And we are paying her student loans, only 6K more.

 

[Christianmilitaryofficer]

Lol, well, my wife and I live comfortably making $7.90/hr ea. Which, is like 20 cents above minimum wage. And we are paying her student loans, only 6K more.

I would caution against the materialistic society that many become entrapped in, but your minimum wage job would likely not cover health insurance, and could hardly prepare you for retirement, children, or any of the many nuances of life.

Choose something you like, but do not ignore the realities of the modern economy. Economic viability is a necessary prerequisite in todays world.

 

[A Glass]

Our work provides health and dental insurance. It also has the equivalent of a 401K, which I've known many people to invest in for a few years, with only 4% of their check and have a hefty amount in there. Despite this, as I may look at this later on in the road, while I plan to have savings, I do not plan to retire.

As far as children, well, not anytime soon, so I do have to plan for that, if we do.

But, these things, of course, all may disappear, as they have for my grandpa. My grandpa was relying on his retirement benefits, they took away his pension, his medical insurance (but he is a retired vet, so now he has the VA -- but like I said, this isn't for me, nor could I join with medical issues I've had, and I don't want to even if I could... I was on the DEP for a year thought to become a corpsman).

I'll keep in mind these things. But while I am making near minimum wage, I don't intend to stay at this level. I was simply stating, I do not MIND it. As time progresses, I will have to adjust accordingly, which is why I am not doing something like art school Quite honestly, I just want to get out of retail. And where I currently live, well, that's not really an option. There's people with masters degrees working at my store because they are the only jobs on the market out here. And the lot of them have a bachelors or associates.

I would like to teach, it just seems an unlikely route. It's difficult because I feel I should go for English, and so does my family. But I realize the issues majoring in this may bring.

 

[Christianmilitaryofficer]

Our work provides health and dental insurance. It also has the equivalent of a 401K, which I've known many people to invest in for a few years, with only 4% of their check and have a hefty amount in there. Despite this, as I may look at this later on in the road, while I plan to have savings, I do not plan to retire.

As far as children, well, not anytime soon, so I do have to plan for that, if we do.

But, these things, of course, all may disappear, as they have for my grandpa. My grandpa was relying on his retirement benefits, they took away his pension, his medical insurance (but he is a retired vet, so now he has the VA -- but like I said, this isn't for me, nor could I join with medical issues I've had, and I don't want to even if I could... I was on the DEP for a year thought to become a corpsman).

I'll keep in mind these things. But while I am making near minimum wage, I don't intend to stay at this level. I was simply stating, I do not MIND it. As time progresses, I will have to adjust accordingly, which is why I am not doing something like art school Quite honestly, I just want to get out of retail. And where I currently live, well, that's not really an option. There's people with masters degrees working at my store because they are the only jobs on the market out here.

I would like to teach, it just seems an unlikely route. It's difficult because I feel I should go for English, and so does my family. But I realize the issues majoring in this may bring.

what minimum wage job provides medical and dental?