Passion or Practicality?

[Cerberus]

Did passion or practicality play the bigger part in deciding your major?

[SamuraiLostInTime]

Passion... and I didn't want to overstay my time in college.

I enjoy philosophy (and like a graduate student might, have strong interests in certain fields), too bad no job requires any of it. Sometimes if a major is a passion... might be worthwhile to pursue graduate studies unless you already have a career job...

[Amocholes]

I once was engaged to a girl who wanted more than anything to be a National Park Ranger. She studied Biology and everything else having to do with becoming a Naturalist. She worked as a NPS Ranger for about 4 years and got tired of telling people that the restrooms were outside and to the right. She has been teaching High School Biology for about 2o years now. Her philosophy: "Always have a Plan B"

[kikachuck]

Definately practicallity. I sort of like economics, but meh, I wouldn't say it gets me passionate.

[mismac]

Passion. I went the practicality route and it made me miserable.

[Kelly]

Both. You know my astronomy story - that was my passion. Choosing history was more practical in the sense that I was no longer failing classes, but it's not exactly a practical major in itself, because you can't really get a job in it unless you go to school for the rest of your life.

I was a psych major for about two months and that was probably the most practical major I've had, but I really liked history more, so I changed it. (Yes, I got the double major in history and psych, but I haven't used the psych degree, so I guess it doesn't count.)

Have a nice day,
Kelly

[Christian]

You know you have to have passion. If you don't, you're not going to feel like it's worth it.

[Blue Oval]

i guess a little bit of both, maybe 60% practicality because i like money, and 40% passion because i like science

[person86]

Both.

I'm in electrical engineering. I love applied math and I love circuit analysis, so I'm happy. I don't think I'd be doing what I'm doing if there wasn't money in it, though. I'm a greedy son of a gun.

[Cerberus]

As you may have realized, I'm still confused as **** as to what I'm going to major in. I've heard a few things that make a "practical degree" seem almost pointless since the majority of adults switch careers multiple times throughout their life. Sure, I'd like a practical degree, but what's the point when your passion isn't all that strong. Then again, how do I know my passion won't die out if I choose a passion-based degree that's useless for finding a stable high paying job. I'd like to go to graduate school, but I have no idea if that's what I'll want to continue doing.

I'm so f--king confused!!!

[Blue Oval]

Just find a job that makes money, because everythings a lot easier when you have money. As for the passion part and being happy, thats what hobbies are for. Like if your passion is working on cars, you can either make it a job, making crap and working on other people's nice cars wishing you had the same. Or get a job that makes tons of money and at night or on weekends wrench on your badass beast of a machine.

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by Blue Oval

Just find a job that makes money, because everythings a lot easier when you have money. As for the passion part and being happy, thats what hobbies are for. Like if your passion is working on cars, you can either make it a job, making crap and working on other people's nice cars wishing you had the same. Or get a job that makes tons of money and at night or on weekends wrench on your badass beast of a machine.

That's the other thing: I'm not too concerned with making a ton of money. I just want to be comfortable; I don't need a big boat or house. Plus, if you can make a hobby into a living, you're going to be in a pretty damn good place.

Right now, all I can say is that both sides have some good points. I'm torn, but I'll eventually figure it out. I hope I figure it out soon because I don't know how many more nights I want to stay up worrying about this.

[deoxygenated]

I would choose practicality over passion, probably because my parents brainwashed me.. They pretty much planned everything out for me, I just have to follow it and survive. I know that sounds like I'm doing all this for my parents, but I don't really know what else I can do. I'm not particularly interested in anything that I can make a career out of. I don't know if I'll regret it or not. I just realized the field that I'm in requires that I kinda overcome my SA and deal with people, but I don't wanna give up now cus I'm halfway done w/ this program.

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by deoxygenated

I would choose practicality over passion, probably because my parents brainwashed me.. They pretty much planned everything out for me, I just have to follow it and survive. I know that sounds like I'm doing all this for my parents, but I don't really know what else I can do. I'm not particularly interested in anything that I can make a career out of. I don't know if I'll regret it or not. I just realized the field that I'm in requires that I kinda overcome my SA and deal with people, but I don't wanna give up now cus I'm halfway done w/ this program.

Wow. Not to be presumptuous or anything, but I'd get out of that if I were you. Exploring your interests rather than deferring to your parents is necessary to attain anything resembling satisfaction.

Or maybe your parents know better? What the f--k do I know? However, I do know that people who have taken that path have regretted it. And I know of a few who realized they should have repudiated their parents sooner, after returning to school to major in something that captures their interest.

[archaic]

Passion. My father hates my major and sighs, rolls his eyes, and makes some comment about what a waste it is every time I mention it. So it's useful in that it irritates him, heh.

Practicality and passion.

I started out physics and liked it somewhat but not really.

I took business classes and enjoyed them-- financial analysis etc. It is a very competitive field and I did an internship and didnt enjoy it. Plus much of that cool financial analysis Black Scholes equation stuff, valuation is done automatically by computer programs like DealMaven or Goldman Sach's modified version that no one can get hold of except for them. For that they have computer programmer quant guys working for them.

I am doing an internship in business/tax law some securities stuff, tax returns, estate planning. I like it a lot - can be difficult because it is very technical, lots of rules, and in volume.

I'm also a greedy son of a ***** and it pays a ton of money. But since I like the field its good. So a mix of practicality and passion. However, I urge practicality.

I hear too many stories of people having tough times getting jobs with their majors. Unless you are really really realistically good or at a top school I urge you to stay away from the more liberal arts majors unless you plan on law school or medical wih science prereqs. Hate to say your parents told you so.

We live in an expensive capitalist society for which there are great opportunities and benefits. There are also disadvantages. For the people who work steadily and choose the route less taken, well needed, and harder there will always be tons of payoff.

Your dreams will take time.

I have thought of stuff like having a tax/estate planning practice in a place like Aspen or Steamboat Springs or Park City, Utah but it will be many years before I can do that. I LOVE to ski and that would be a dream. Might not happen until I am 45 or 50.

[whiteclouds]

I've was passionate about being an artist my whole life (since I was five or younger), but after two years in art school, my passion disappeared in a puff of smoke. I got to the point where I hated it so much, and it felt so horrible, that I dropped out of school with only one and a half years until graduation. That sucked. I haven't done any artwork since then. I'm definitely choosing practicality, next time.

I'd say it depends on what your passion is. There's got to be at least some practicality in it. I think the trick to picking a major is to find one that's practical and one that you can tolerate. As long as you don't hate it with every fiber of your being, than you'll be alright. Sometimes, a special person can do very well in a passion field, but if you're a regular Joe, it's much safer to go practical. You gotta think about financial survival, first and foremost. Especially if you're planning to support a family someday.

[Gerard]

Practicality

if you are book smart and speak well you could go so far in life without having a degree or formal education.

[LastChild]

I haven't yet, but if I do it will be practicality because I'm not passionate about anything.

[Drella]

I couldn't think of anything else. I don't care what I do.