Do people just follow their heart when they choose their major?

Question

I know people who major in liberal arts majors like sociology, psychology, fine arts, and linguistics. As we know, for such majors, you don't get guaranteed job upon graduation because job market is not really big.
Majors like engineering, medicine, science are sure to give u a job upon graduation compared to liberal arts majors. I understand people's wanting to major in something they love but I wonder if they consider other aspects as well when they choose a major.
Do people consider job prospects/reputation/salary when they choose their major or do they just follow their heart?

Answer 1

There are different kinds of people:

(1) many follow their interests and disregard the career prospects of their majors.
(2) many go after what the market wants, eg. business and finance, engineering, law, accountancy, medicine
(3) some strike a balance between their interests and the needs of the job market.

Answer 2

I am encountering this problem right now. I am trying to decide between a teaching career and a criminal justice career. I think I would like teaching because it seems fun, I like to help people and the vacations are great. I have always been so interested in criminal justice, but I don't know if I should follow it because I am not really sure what I could do with it. Money is very important, but don't stick yourself in a job that you hate so you can make a little bit more money.

My mom always said up until she was about 45 that she still wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life. That was when she bought her audiology practice, and now she is pretty happy.

I say follow your heart. At least you will be happy with yourself

Answer 3

I find job prospects,salary and reputation very important,and I took all of that into consideration before I made my decision.However,I still think that people should think about their personal interests when choosing a major.Because you're gonna live with your career for the rest of your life,so it better be something you like!.You don't have to go with the highest paying job,but try to find something that pays well and happens to be suitable for you.

I chose to become a medical laboratory technician,and I'm planning on specializing in genetics,bacteriology or virology.I won't be as rich as a doctor,but I'll still be well payed!,not to mention I'll be doing something I'm into.

Answer 4

When I chose my two majors I knew that I wanted to go into teaching high school. I picked English and religion because they are the courses that I loved most in high school and thought that I could bring something new to it. Is teaching the best profession in the world? Probably not. But no matter what you choose to do you need to follow your heart. Your job has to be something you love in order to want to do well.

Answer 5

I'll tell you what. People will always be sorry if they don't major in what their heart would prefer. I was, so that's why I told myself to forget anything else and just focus on what can be done with my preferred degree if I only apply myself all my life. A psych major can go on into other fields, especially if they are scientifically inclined and live in an area of great need of help. I'm not worried now that I'm not sticking with a traditional field for my family--teaching. Psych's the way to go for some...they just have to know what they are doing and not be a drifter.

Answer 6

I was a student advisor for 3 years for freshmen and sophomores. The biggest piece of advice I give: unless you are going into accounting or engineering, it does not matter what your degree is in. It is the skills that you pick up. Employers and grad school advisors don't care what your major was, just that you can hack it in their environment. Just as many people get into med school with english and finance degrees as people with science degrees. Just as many people get MBAs (master's in business administration) with a science or psychology degree as people with finance or management degrees.

Answer 7

no matter your major you are not guaranteed a job upon graduation. just make sure no matter what you chose you can live with the job you end up with.

Answer 8

Depends, if you follow your heart, will you be able to survive financially. If not, you need to change that to a minor.