Social Anxiety Support

BTW · 10-22-2009, 06:13 PM

I’m considering 3 majors, and I think I can do 2 of them. They are ‘politics and international studies’, ‘philosophy’, and ‘history’. I do not know what job I want to do, and I know that this degree is probably useless for getting a job. I need to look into that more, but it’s not like there is really anything else I could do right now.

I have heard that politics has more career potential out of the three, and that philosophy would be better than history because it shows you know how to ‘think’. Could this be true? I have no idea I just heard it around.

I am probably most fascinated by philosophy out of these three, but unlike the other two I can see how philosophy could lead to learning no actual real world knowledge at all, even from a non-career related perspective. Anyone have any experience with this?

I am thinking of doing philosophy and politics, because I just find philosophy so interesting, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be a historian, so I don’t think I will be cutting away any options by not doing history.

JMX · 10-22-2009, 06:17 PM

My suggestion would be to take an aptitude test, not to have that decide your major, but generate some other potential majors that you may not have considered. I would also look into the courses required for the major. For example, I considered a civil engineering major, but that would require an immense amount of physics and upper level math courses such as differential equations, so I decided not to do that.

Breakfast0fChampions · 10-22-2009, 06:21 PM

Philosophy could lead to law school, if you have the ambition. When people study pre-law they usually have quite a bit of philosophy courses because, as you said, it teaches you how to think and also how to argue.

Besides that, I would say go with your gut. Also - I don't think most places care what kind of degree you have, just that you have a degree. Or so I've heard/read.

coldmorning · 10-22-2009, 06:44 PM

There isn't going to be a lot of difference between those majors in the eyes of an employer. From those three, pick what you think you'd like or even which professors you think you'd learn more from. Your major isn't what teaches you how to think as much as your teachers, your curiosity, motivation and other random factors will. And your career success will ultimately depend on personal factors far more than a few words on a piece of paper will.

10-22-2009, 06:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
BTW Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Male Age: 19 Posts: 29	Need to decide my major soon – any advice? I’m considering 3 majors, and I think I can do 2 of them. They are ‘politics and international studies’, ‘philosophy’, and ‘history’. I do not know what job I want to do, and I know that this degree is probably useless for getting a job. I need to look into that more, but it’s not like there is really anything else I could do right now. I have heard that politics has more career potential out of the three, and that philosophy would be better than history because it shows you know how to ‘think’. Could this be true? I have no idea I just heard it around. I am probably most fascinated by philosophy out of these three, but unlike the other two I can see how philosophy could lead to learning no actual real world knowledge at all, even from a non-career related perspective. Anyone have any experience with this? I am thinking of doing philosophy and politics, because I just find philosophy so interesting, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be a historian, so I don’t think I will be cutting away any options by not doing history.

10-22-2009, 06:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Breakfast0fChampions Status: Resist. Unlearn. Defy. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In My Tree Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 674	Philosophy could lead to law school, if you have the ambition. When people study pre-law they usually have quite a bit of philosophy courses because, as you said, it teaches you how to think and also how to argue. Besides that, I would say go with your gut. Also - I don't think most places care what kind of degree you have, just that you have a degree. Or so I've heard/read. __________________ I'mma do the things that I wanna do I ain't got a thing to prove to you - Weezer, Pork and Beans Had my eyes peeled both wide open, and I got a glimpse Of my innocence... got back my inner sense... Baby got it, still got it - Pearl Jam, In My Tree Facebook - SuperBetter! A multi-player way to beat SA - Writerly

10-22-2009, 06:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
JMX Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 299	My suggestion would be to take an aptitude test, not to have that decide your major, but generate some other potential majors that you may not have considered. I would also look into the courses required for the major. For example, I considered a civil engineering major, but that would require an immense amount of physics and upper level math courses such as differential equations, so I decided not to do that.

10-22-2009, 06:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
coldmorning Status: Add water and shake Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northern California Gender: Male Posts: 2,125	There isn't going to be a lot of difference between those majors in the eyes of an employer. From those three, pick what you think you'd like or even which professors you think you'd learn more from. Your major isn't what teaches you how to think as much as your teachers, your curiosity, motivation and other random factors will. And your career success will ultimately depend on personal factors far more than a few words on a piece of paper will.