Is the practical major really the best?
If I could go back in time, the first thing I would change is my college major. During my time in school I changed my major five times. In my struggle to “find myself”, I bounced around from graphic design, fine arts, international affairs and german, until, much to my parent’s relief, I eventually graduated with a very practical, applicable marketing degree. But there is only one problem. I don’t really like marketing.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind marketing and I’m glad that I understand it and can apply it to my career. But, I don’t really LOVE marketing. And for me, I really have to love what I do. The other problem is that marketing is a very subjective skill. When you graduate with an accounting or a graphic design degree, it shows that you have a specific skill that requires education to learn. A marketing degree is just a peice of paper that says you understand the basic principles of business. And I’m here to tell you that peice of paper doesn’t mean you will get a job. I had a horrible time finding a job after I graduated and it wasn’t until I had really proved myself in the business world that I could get in the door for an interview.
Anyway, if I could go back, this is what I would do:
1) Don’t worry about making money, major in something you really have a passion for. I was so afraid of not being able to get a job, that I didn’t pursue what I really loved. Now that I am older and wiser, I realize you can make money doing anything as long as you love it and are really good at it. To give you an example, three years after I graduated, I was miserable making 30K working 60 hours a week at a marketing firm while both my personal trainer and my hair dresser were making more than twice as much doing what they absolutely loved. When you love something and are really good at it, people will pay for it.
2) Get at least a Minor in business. You can’t make money doing what you love unless you know how to sell yourself and make a profit. I would also suggest taking as many finance and accounting classes as possible. People who understand money, control the world. Whether you work on Wall Street or raise money for AIDs in Africa, you still need to know how to balance a budget and save money on taxes.
3) Learn a skill you can’t learn on your own. I could have learned almost everything I learned from my $60,000 college education by just getting an internship at a marketing firm. But, if you major in video game design or geology or finance or information technology, you will learn a skill that you may never have a chance to learn again. Once you start working, its really hard to go back to school, so even if you aren’t going to major in it, try to learn it.
4) Get as many internships as possible. Work is very different than school and the best way to find out if you like your major is to really try it out. Additionally, internships are hands down the best way to get a job after school. The contacts you make are worth their weight in gold.
5) Listen to other people. Follow your heart, but also understand that experience is the best teacher. My whole life, my dad told me I should go into accounting or at least take some accounting classes. But, of course, I thought I knew better and now I regret it. I am starting a business and have to deal with finances nearly every day.
I have a ton of other suggestions, so if you have any questions please feel free to comment or send me an email at [email protected].
