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Picking a Major: For Love or Money?

By Charlene Carter
Black College Wire

Students must sacrifice in times of economic hardship. For some, it's as simple as giving up a monthly shopping spree. For others, it's giving up the pursuit of dreams for more practical careers.

Given the reduced availability of jobs during economic downturns, students might feel pressured to pursue careers in which they'll be able to find a position. For some, unfortunately, their interests don't always correspond with what's available.

Tiffany Williams, a freshman elementary education major at American University in Washington, D.C., said the ever-present need for teachers might create incentives for students to become education majors.

"The teacher loan forgiveness programs would become an extra incentive for students," she said.

According to Derek Furukawa, an academic adviser at the University of Maryland-College Park, students can become unhappy with their majors if the choice is based on job availability or because it helps fund their education.

Furukawa assists students at the University’s School of Education. "Most often, students come to the School of Education after being unhappy with other majors," Furukawa said. But he also notes that some students become education majors because of the wide availability of jobs after graduation, as well as for the help in repaying student loans.

Some advisers contend that during these times, liberal arts educations are most fitting, as they allow students to explore different areas of knowledge while gaining the skills necessary to perform well in their careers.

"Employers in business, nonprofits and government are more often concerned with you as a person, your skills, interests and professional curiosity. What you will see is that there is not a direct correlation between major and first job out of college," states a report by officials at Tufts University, which has campuses in Boston, Grafton, Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts and in Talloires, France.

"The major alone will not determine your success. Graduates in every discipline, from humanities to natural or social science, have obtained well paying jobs in a variety of job industries. Many of the skills employers look for are those that are transferable and useful across every field," the report says.

University advisers note that liberal arts programs offer students a flexibility that other majors don't provide. Trinity College, the sole women's institution in the District of Columbia, is a liberal arts college. "We believe that a liberal arts education is the best preparation for achieving your professional and personal goals in today's rapidly changing world," Trinity officials said.

Robin Weinstein, a junior liberal arts major at George Washington University, agrees, and said that's part of the reason she chose her major. "I wasn't exactly sure what to major in, but liberal arts lets me explore a little bit of everything," Weinstein said.

Despite students' worries about choosing majors that do not correspond with careers in the job market, career service experts suggest that it is better to consider one's interests, skills and values, rather than employment trends when choosing a college major.

"Studies have shown that within 10 years after graduation, most people are working in careers that are not directly connected to their undergraduate majors. Just as some students change their minds about their majors, some graduates change their minds about their careers," according to career service representatives at GW.

While some students switch majors for economic incentives, others change in response to current events. The publicity of political scandals has increased student awareness in politics, just as the Enron and WorldCom scandals appear to have surged interest in business majors.

"I always knew I would be a business major, but after the Enron scandal broke my decision was solidified," said Clay Shwery, a finance major at Georgetown University.

Charlene Carter is a student at Howard University who writes for The District Chronicles.