Why do so many people major in something they don't enjoy or aren't good at just because of the money?

Question

So many people don't enjoy chemistry/math and they still major in engineering or biochem. I think that it is what you enjoy you do best in the subject. So many people are becoming materialistic and they just want to be buried in money. My major is environmental science and I am really passionate about the subject but a trillion of people are in bio thinking they will all become doctors....

Answer 1

I think in your personal perspective lies the biggest problem. To get into Med school, Biology is the #1 major. So throught your study you will see a lot of Bio majors that could care less about Bio except to use it as a stepping stone to get into Med school. All you can do is continue your course of study and be curious, and know that you will always be happier in your decision than they will. Also make a note that about 75% of you Bio classmates that are bound for glory as a doctor won't ever make it through upper division Biology, much less Med school. Good luck.

Answer 2

Because these people believe (at least for now) that money is more important to them than a career they would enjoy more. Depending on their personality, they may change their mind after they've been in a job they don't like for awhile, but all of this gets more into psychology rather than sociology.

From a sociological perspective, perhaps the culture these people are in places a much higher value on being a doctor (or on having more money) than on other careers they might otherwise consider. These societal influences lead them to choose what they perceive as the more respected and/or more financially profitable path.

Answer 3

I understand where you are coming from on this. Money and materialistic desires is the driving force behind these type of people. I obtained my college degrees while in the military at various institutions around the country, but i didn't pursue the private sector i stayed in the military for 34 years would still be serving if it weren't for some jerk with a college degree and no common sense at the pentagon saying i was too damned old to continue serving in combat.
I started my service in the jungles of vietnam, went to grenada, bosnia, 1st gulf war, somalia, afghanistan, and iraq. I was replaced by a 28 year old with no combat experience whatsoever, I'm told by my men who served under me that this in-experienced jerk off has cost them so many members of the unit through death and injuries that the unit has been decimated.

There ought to be a law against appointing people to certain occupations and positions.

Answer 4

That's an age old story sometimes of not being able to get a job and pay your bills doing the work you love. The classic example is the truly gifted artist who is trying to sell his work but can't because nobody values his paintings etc. The bottom line is whether you can get a job you like when you graduate. Almost any college degree puts you way ahead of high school graduates, but some degrees are more valuable than others. Engineers do get good starting salaries of $50,000 or more, whereas English majors get less in general.

Answer 5

There is a common response that they do it for the money. Society tells us that we should aspire to be successful, for many the only way to measure success is in dollar amounts. Another important thing to remember is that they, or someone else, is spending a lot of money on their college education. Nobody wants to come out of college and have to pay student loans for forever. Another motivating factor is not always the kind of money they can make but what programs offer the most scholarships and grants, in order to keep costs down.

Finally, it's not always up to the student what they're doing in school. Some are forced into a certain path by their funders, usually parents.

Answer 6

You put the answer to your question, in your question...
''...because of the money?''
Well thats not always the case. I too study biology at the moment and will be starting med school in September. I came to my decision late and after already having done a Bachelor in Liberal Arts. While there are many people who just want a career with a cushy lifesyle, there are also people that I've met who get their whole life paid for by their parents while they study science. For many of them, if they quit or don't study science, their parents will cut them off. Sounds shallow, but I can understand why they trudge through it half unwillingly.
But yes, there are also those who just want to be plastic surgeons or whatever so they can drive a Maserati to the golf club for brunch on sundays.

Answer 7

It's the money and when they don't enjoy the work after they become doctors, they will be overqualified for jobs outside the field of medicine - but if they aren't happy as a doctor, they could always teach or go into hospital administration or the military.

Answer 8

I find most of my wealthier, spoiled friends major in things they are not good at because it sounds cool to them. IE: Art majors, music majors, and chefs. I know a few chefs that could not cook before school, and cannot cook after school. But it was what they enjoyed and did not feel money was important. Now that they are not making any money and being supported by their parents they have gone back to school for more profitable degrees.

Answer 9

People like to follow the crowd...I used to intend to do Actuarial Studies in my 1st year of uni, & lots of ppl wanna do it too, but then I realised the maths is impossibly difficult, so I dropped out & I'm now into Finance (which is much easier)...
Societal expectations/stereotypes may also play a role...many ppl assume that doctors & lawyers are clever/smart/intelligent/respectable/impeccable/upper class - u name it - and scientists & tech ppl are nerdy while business people are rich & greedy, etc...

Answer 10

the problem is the way we are taught. people don't want to major in mathematics-rather in engineering. they do this because it's applied mathematics. people are afraid to responsible for themselves-if you major in history (just go with it) then you are responsible to decide your career. with a history major you could become a teacher, historian, author, preacher, archeologist, tour guide, you could even have a job in the white house-buckingham palace, etc. But people don't really major in history-they major in sociology because being a sociologist is a high paying job and very versitile. people are just afraid to be responsible. some of those people might be in bio for really noble reasons even if it's not their passion. don't forget ashton kutcher-he was on the fast track to dr. when he started modelling. all because of his kid brothers death.