If You Went to College, What Was Major? If You Didn't, What Would It Have Been?

Updated on August 04, 2016
M.P. asks from Chicago, IL
36 answers

Just to switch things up from talk about kids!

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L.U.

answers from Seattle on

Social and Human Services....I graduate with my AA in 4 weeks. IF I decide to get my Bachelor's it will be in social services.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

I started college as a double major in psych and political science. My last year, I dropped my psych major (with 6 credits left!). I ended up with a Ph.D in Philosophy of Education, Educational Policy Studies.

At one point I explored library science. I think I'd like to be a librarian.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I have a bachelors of science in marketing and a Masters of Business Administration. I am an artist now though.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I went straight to college for 4 years. My degree is in merchandising and design with heavy focus on business. Looking back, I would have stayed with business/marketing as well.

I use my degree. I've been outside sales rep (cold calling and built a market in NC), marketing at a major snack food company, and I own my own company which is in the raw materials (plastics) industry.

My husband started with accounting and moved into raw materials pretty early in his career. We moved to TX from NC in 1989 after he got his MBA from Duke. About 9 years ago, we started our own company in raw materials (plastic). We are brokers/distributors/consultants and it has been something we are very proud to have built and watch it grow.

In October 2015, he died suddenly of a heart attack and I have continued the business on my own. We have no employees other than my daughter, we have managed high volume on our own through our niche market.

My main focus with our company was all of the financials and bookkeeping. At this time, there are parts of it I am learning as far as "his" job of negotiations/consulting/sales but my customers and vendors have been very supportive and our business is continuing to grow. My next dilemma is deciding to sell it or not for retirement purposes. I don't know what I would do if I sold it though.. I love it. I have been approached and I will look at offers, you can't make that decision without getting more information! I also volunteer to give back to my community.

I just hope I am making my hubby proud to continue our company successfully and I do believe he is happy with me!!

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I started trying for a pharmacist degree.
Organic chemistry culled me out my sophomore year.
After a semester of taking intro to everything (I learned I could draw!) I discovered I really liked programming.
It was an Artspeak class - instructions on punch cards to move a pen in a plotter to draw designs and pictures.
I then learned Fortran and Pascal - and although I enjoyed them what I didn't like was scientific programming.
So I transferred schools to one that had a good business programming major, learned Cobol and graduated with a BS in Information Management.
I was a Cobol Programmer in the aerospace industry for 20 years and then was a Business Analyst for 7 years before getting laid off.
I didn't leave my job(s) - my job(s) left me and were sent offshore.
I got to train (was required to actually) my replacement.
I'm sort of on hold for now (working at the school cafeteria) until our son goes off to college and then I need to figure out what to do next until I can retire in about 10 years.

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J.F.

answers from Las Vegas on

Undergraduate degree- psychology. Master's and doctoral degrees are in Clinical Psychology.

Was able to have an amazing career of more than 20 years before stepping away to stay at home and be a full-time parent. During this time away from my chosen field, I've been very active in my community and have served as a board trustee, on select work-groups, and have been very active at our son's elementary school, both in the classroom and for many years as PTA president, vice-president, and treasurer.

I'll be heading back into the professional world in the next year or so. Our youngest starts middle school in the fall. I've kept my license fully active by on-going professional development and taking all of the required continuing education.

After being home for so many years and being truly grateful for this time, it's also exciting to think ahead to a "second round" to my career.

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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

I majored in Math, but had no idea what I wanted do. Worked for an insurance company, taught high school and then decided to get my Masters Degree in Theology so that I could be a college campus minister. Did that for 4 years and loved it!!! But it's a lot of evenings and weekends and not very conducive to having a family. I did learn that I love working with college students, so now I teach math at a university. Much easier on the family :-)

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T.R.

answers from Milwaukee on

Started out Theatre tech/communications, & realized after 1 year I really only enjoyed it through the club @ my high school. The next year, went after pre-vet, because I love animals. Failed every science class I took - had no study skills!

Took some time off, helped my dad with his business & he asked me to take some accounting classes to help him (I think he had a motive!!). Found out I enjoyed it & was good at it. Went to school part time while working & getting married to complete a BA Accounting.

With that degree, I wanted to start my own non-profit business, Hoof & Woof, a place for disadvantaged kids to come work with animals & gain life skills (kinda like 4H), but husband's field was in disarray after 9/11 so we didn't have $$ for me to quit working & sink money into the venture. So I took a position @ the hospital group I was working at in the corporate office doing finance analysis.

Loved what I did, but got nothing back from it. Took 3 years to explore what I wanted, needed & wasn't getting - through helping a friend in a medical emergency & ongoing care, was told I'd make a great nurse. Not for me, but it got me thinking in the medical field, & pharmacy was right up my alley with my current skills & medical interest.

So now, I just started my 3rd year in pharmacy school. Two years from now, I'll have a doctorate degree, 25 years after graduating HS. T. :)

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C.W.

answers from Santa Barbara on

My major was Biology with minors in Chemistry and Zoology. In the middle of that I got a degree in Veterinary Technology so I could work as a technician in a clinic while finishing school and hopefully give me a leg up in getting into Veterinary school. With only 28 vet schools in the country at the time it would have been much easier to become a physician.

That "failure" let me to my true passion. I have been in Laboratory/Medical/Research sales for 25 years. I'm in CA and all of my companies have been located on the East Coast so I have my command center set up here at home. Love seeing clients and coming home to my office.

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S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

I went to secretarial school in New York City after high school and completed two years of education in one with credits that would transfer to a regular college. My working career was in the insurance industry. I switched jobs to a the local university and medical school. While working there I started a degree program in English (as long as I matriculated, the university would pay for it). During my second semester, I got married and moved from NJ to AZ. Not knowing how long I would be in AZ, I decided to hold off on my degree. This was back in the 70s when fields were not as open as they are today for women.

While we were stationed overseas, I started back with going into law for a paralegal or such. When we came back to the states, the area we were in did not have a need for paralegals and I switched to medical. Getting sick caused issues and I did not finish.

My dream at one time was fashion and to create a line for the thin or heavy child. My son was larger than the average sized and I made him blue jeans to wear for school. I still sew and make clothes for children with the emphasis on military fabric. This week I am working on a bridal gown to alter and it is a challenge trying to find out how the dress was put together and to complete the alterations in the next two weeks while working full time.

I am back at a university in the communications department (television and radio) and working with students of all ages and love it. You are never too old to go to school or learn. One of my bosses told me many years ago that you should learn something new each day. What you learn does not have to be huge just something you did not know before. Learning keeps your mind active and keeps you out in the world of people.

the other S.

PS When I retire in the next few years I will continue with sewing thread and yarn needles.

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N.Z.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have a B.A. in psychology with a minor in philosophy -- I was intending on getting a Ph.D. in psychology, but never happened. Now, I'm an attorney wishing I had become a nurse instead (though that would mean I would've never met my husband).

If I had to do it all over again, I would probably still get a degree in psych, but with a focus on developmental psychology and/or industrial psychology (consulting on employer-employee relationships), and double majored in art history with a minor in philosophy. After that, become a RN, NP/PA.

What about you?

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

My first major was Social Sciences...I switched when I realized that wouldn't really provide the way I wanted it to. I switched to Economics/Finance. I went right out of high school and graduated in four years. I would still pick the same major if I had to do it over. I also have a Global MBA, focused in international business. I use both of my degrees for my profession.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

Majored in journalism and minored in government. The journalism major doesn't exist anymore in most universities. I've used my degree every day of my career, whether I've been in public relations, journalism, content marketing or freelance writing.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

I did a dual-degree program at a university where I was able to enroll in two different colleges and earn two bachelor's degrees at the same time. My primary degree was in Mass Communication Practices and the one I added was in English Literature. Mass Comm was my "practical" degree as I intended to go grad school for investigative journalism. English was really just because I love to read and decided that if I ever wanted to teach, I would pursue teaching high school English so the English degree would have made it easier for me to only have to take courses related specifically to teaching.

In reality, I had a baby instead of going to grad school and have been working in finance for 17 years so I don't use either degree professionally, but knowing how to write well has been a great professional asset.

If I could go back and do it again, I would have pursued an accelerated Master's degree instead of a second Bachelor's. I had enough credits to graduate in 3 years and a lot of those credits were in graduate-level courses so I could have used that 4th year to earn a Master's degree.

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B.P.

answers from Chicago on

Undergraduate degree in psychology and history. Graduate degree in library science. I was the first person in my family to attend college, grew up in a working class town, and chose the safest course. Most of my female peers from high school got married and didn't attend college or became nurses or teachers. Becoming a librarian was an act of rebellion! Worked in business libraries for 5 years, and really enjoyed the business aspect, and no so much the library aspect. Made a transition into research for a consulting firm and loved that. I am now a business consultant. Always love books...which is why I founded the organization cited in my profile.

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S.L.

answers from Savannah on

I have a Bachelors in French (no I don't speak it), Masters of Library Science, and a Certificate in Archives management. I have worked in the library world but currently am a tour guide at a historic home.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

I have a BA in Psych! I do plan one day to go back to school for some sort of Masters. Probably in some discipline of Psych.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

BA Liberal Studies/English. I'm glad I got a liberal arts degree, because I feel like I was exposed to a bit of everything, and I'm REALLY glad I concentrated in English because I LOVE reading, writing and discussing books!

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E.A.

answers from Erie on

I have a BA in Philosophy. I now own a restaurant :)

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V.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

I have a BS in occupational therapy and an entry level masters in nursing science. If I had to do things over, I think I may have bypassed the health care field for so many reasons (although I do love my patients). I probably would have become a teacher or maybe gone the business route.

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L..

answers from Seattle on

BS in psychology, MA in forensic psychology.

I love my field and am glad I chose it. If not that then I would have gone into med school. Fun question!

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

Interesting question!

I started college several times and mostly for the wrong reasons. After my youngest started school, I went back to college for ME.

I have a Bachelor in HR/Labor Relations. I have worked in Union and Non-union manufacturing facilities. I am currently an HR Manager.

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A.L.

answers from Atlanta on

I went to college with three possible majors: biology, anthropology and classics (Latin and Greek). The bio was for a possible pre-med route, however after a year, I figured out that I really loved anthropology and classics. So, I double-majored in classics and anthropology. I ended up getting a Ph.D. in anthropology, which I am using by teaching at a college. I always wanted to teach college, so I consider myself extremely lucky because I get to do just that. I actually have no regrets or alternative vision of what I could/should have studied. Shout out to the high school teachers: I wanted to study biology and classics more because I had GREAT teachers in those subjects in high school! Also, I wanted to teach in a college because I had great teachers both in high school and college. So I deeply appreciate the work that our public school teachers do!

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S.R.

answers from Phoenix on

MBA, but I think nursing would have had more flexible job opportunities.

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T.D.

answers from Springfield on

went to college, have an associates in early childhood education. (the year i graduated they changed the requirements and all kindergarten and pre-k teachers in schools had to have a bachelors, not just an associates)

if i could go back i would of done nursing instead focusing on pediatrics.

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M.F.

answers from Chicago on

I started college pursuing a visual communications degree (graphic design), but bailed out when I hit an intermediate-level ad design course that I couldn't understand. Changed majors and graduated with a BFA in illustration. I've worked in graphic design for the past 35 years. I'd like to go back to school for an MFA in drawing or printmaking after I retire.

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T.H.

answers from Philadelphia on

Pre-Nursing initially. Then I switched to Communications which I absolutely loved!

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A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I went for Fisheries and Wildlife, but didn't finish. I wanted to be a conservation officer, maybe park ranger, something like that.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I was an accounting major in high school and went into college with that intention. Switched to double major of management and marketing with an English minor. I actually never finished due to several factors, one of which was lack of funds.

If I could do it again, I would NOT go into business. I would have pursued a tech career or if it was friendlier to women, an electronics career.

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S.W.

answers from Detroit on

My BFA was in art history. I live in a suburb of Detroit....a cultural wasteland (forgive me if that's offensive to anyone but that was my experience). I went on to attain an MS in clinical psychology. No one seemed to feel the need to mention that practicing at a masters level was, how should i put this...., improbable and more than challenging and I should have gone through with the PhD.

Clinical work for me was a really bad fit. Working clinically was heartbreaking for me. After a few turns in the maze of my professional life, I'm now working on the administrative side of the healthcare industry. It's a much better fit and the work helps to provide the financial stability my family needs and feeds the tuition dragon that will continue to live in my house for at least the next 4 years. Go class of 2020. :-)!!!!!

great question M.. S.

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

Spanish. I've used it in every job I've had since, from a women's health educator to a teacher to several jobs as administrative directors to (believe it or not) Jewish community service, and now as an educator in nutritional epigenetics. I've also used in while traveling and in everyday life (from errands and being out in the community to singing in several choirs).

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Wow there are a lot of smart women on this site!!!

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K.M.

answers from Fayetteville on

Bachelor's in Elementary Ed; Master's in Guidance and Couseling

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J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I majored in History.

Updated

I majored in History.

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B.E.

answers from New York on

Ha! Good question. In high school I loved English and hated math. I attended an Ivy League school and majored in English Lit. Everybody asked if I was going to teach when I got out. Well, I'm not much of one for teaching. Somehow or another I wound up in the financial and IT side of business, which is very ironic considering my old hatred of math. However, I have never regretted the English major. At work I am always "volunteered" into taking on difficult writing assignments or editing colleagues' correspondence. It's given me an important niche in the company and has probably helped me hang onto my job for so many years when others were let go. People often say degrees in English or History or the Arts are a waste of time and money, but that has not been my experience. The same goes for friends and family who received similar degrees.

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

BA in English, minor in Spanish.

I was a bartender with an English degree who had no idea what to do with my life.

So I went back and got a teaching certificate. I've taught English and Spanish (and religion and career classes). I love it! This year will be my 21st year teaching!

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