Choosing a College Major Using 3 Paths as a Starting Point Guide (Podcast Version)

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Update 10/14/24: Added Podcast style audio that explains this guide
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/5...ff20/audio

There are generally two schools of thought that fall on both sides of the extreme.

1. Your degree choice is a life or death decision that must be carefully considered among the hundreds of majors.
   
2. Don't worry at all about your major choice, and pick any major you think you might be interested in.
   

This guide falls somewhere in the middle of these two schools of thought.

My personal philosophy on online college majors centers around the idea that for fields with diverse career prospects, there are three distinct paths to consider when selecting a major.

There are 3 general types of college paths to choose from

1. STEM
   
2. Liberal Arts
   
3. Business
   

STEM

Science  - Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physics
Technology - Computer Science, Software Development, and IT
Engineering - Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, etc
Mathematics - General Mathematics and Statistics

Science - Not every STEM major can earn a high income. For example, graduates majoring in the most popular science field, biology, earn less than those studying sociology, psychology, and English.

Technology - The computer science degree is among the most popular and respected technology degrees, as it is usually more rigorous than other programs. Many computer science majors will go into research, software development, or IT. WGU offers the only recommended software development degree.

Engineering - Engineering requires both hard and soft skills. Most engineering programs demand a strong foundation in math and logic skills. Earning this degree online is hard to find and would be very expensive.

Mathematics - Math is one of the most important skills for a STEM career, as it's extensively used in all four STEM fields. Mathematics is also applicable to business.

Liberal Arts

The major categories within the liberal arts and the most popular degrees are:

Humanities - English, Literature, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy
Social Sciences - Psychology, Criminal Justice, History, Geography, Political Science, and Sociology
Creative Arts - Theatre, Painting, Music, Graphic Art, Video, Speech, and Creative Writing

Approximately 75% of liberal arts students will major in Social Sciences or Communications/Creative fields.

Liberal arts degrees are often looked down upon due to low starting salaries and the perception that they don't lead to specific job opportunities. However, individuals with high creative talent and/or strong communication skills can excel with this degree.

Business

A business degree offers various specializations, such as finance, marketing, accounting, economics, and leadership.

This degree can lead to numerous high-paying jobs. It's also suitable for entrepreneurs and individuals seeking to understand retirement planning. Even if you pursue a job unrelated to your degree, a management position may become available later in life.

Which majors offer the highest pay, and which ones experience the most underemployment?

• Liberal arts majors (excluding STEM) typically start with around $40,000 in salary.
  
• Business and Math majors generally start with around $50,000.
  
• Technology and Engineering majors usually start with around $60,000.
  

The underemployment rate for Technology, Math, and Engineering majors is approximately 20%. Business and Liberal Arts majors have an underemployment rate of around 50%.

Criminal Justice and Performing Arts have the highest underemployment rates, at 63% and 73%, respectively, indicating that individuals often end up in careers unrelated to their degrees.

For more information, refer to:
https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/coll...s-by-major

Advantages of going for multiple majors

1. Open doors to more employers and career paths
2. To help balance majors with their passion and skills.
3. More bang for your buck. 

In some instances, pursuing a double major or adding a minor may not significantly increase the time or cost of your degree. It's akin to visiting an all-you-can-eat buffet and sampling a bit of everything.

Some popular paths people take here on DF:

Pierpont BOG concentration IT (STEM)
UMPI Business Admin (Business)
UMPI Liberal arts major or minors (Liberal Arts)

TESU AS Math (STEM)
TESU Computer Science (STEM)
TESU Business Administration (Business)

Keep in mind some colleges will add extra courses you take beyond your degree requirements to your transcript.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-co...at-to-know

Advantages of a general degree

The primary advantage of a less specific degree is that it avoids pigeonholing you into a particular career. Predicting the future job market and the creation of new roles is challenging. Additionally, your preferences may change over time.

Specialization in college or after college?

For instance, obtaining a business administration degree in marketing doesn't limit you to marketing jobs. You can acquire new skills, certifications, and apply for different roles.

With a computer science degree, a few months of software development training may be necessary to meet employers' requirements.

Suppose you hold a general IT degree and aspire to enter data analysis or cybersecurity. Gaining relevant certifications wouldn't take an extensive amount of time.

Once employed, you'll likely need an additional 2-3 months to master the skills required for your job.

Specializing in college saves time on post-graduation studying. Nonetheless, it's essential not to overthink your degree choice.

Exceptions to the rule

Exceptions to this rule include professions such as plumbing, teaching, or nursing, where specific education and licensing are required for a particular job. These professions fall outside the three basic paths.

Wrap Up

Students frequently grapple with the paradox of choice. Simplifying options to 3 or 5 major types can be beneficial. This guide aims to streamline the degree selection process and boost students' confidence in their choices.

Your major doesn't limit you to a specific career path. According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, only 27 percent of college graduates work in fields closely related to their majors.

This guide is intended as advice, not an absolute fact.