What major do you most recommend?

Question

Hi! I am currently a freshman at a university in Texas, and I am having a rather difficult time deciding on my major. I am actually stuck between two: communication and mathematics.

I really enjoy both fields, and I know both of them offer a lot of different opportunities in the job market. I've taken courses in both and done pretty well in all of them, so I am rather confused.

With my communication degree, I'd like to go into television broadcasting, public relations, marketing, or teaching. In contrast, with a math degree I'd like to teach or do something else; I know the degree lends itself to a lot of different things.
I would like to know which one you think is the best.

Which one do you recommend and why?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, I'm a math guy, so I personally would recommend math. It certainly is a degree that opens up a LOT of different job options. It makes a decent amount of money too (because almost nobody can do it, and computers can't do everything, despite what people like to think). Assuming that the UT you go to is UT Austin (you just say UT, and not which campus), you guys have a fantastic math department (I believe John Tate is there, although he's gotta be like 80 by now) and so you would be very desirable in the math world with a math degree from there (should you decide to apply to grad school, for instance). So I recommend math, although you are really the only one that can answer this kind of question (without knowing you personally I can't really make a better assessment than I already have).

Answer 2

Why don't you just wait to decide? Most universities won't even let freshman declare a major specifically for this reason. Also, you could double major or minor. I personally discourage all people from majoring in communications because the course work is disreputably easier than psychology or business classes (degrees that would get you in those same jobs). Get a degree in math and do something like biostatistics or research. I recently read an article on the fact that America is running out of good statiticians and they do such meaningful work. It seems like the jobs in the mathematics field would be more interesting. But, then again, I will be entering a quantitative psychology grad. program in August, so I am slightly biased.

Answer 3

Personally, I would go with mathematics, but that's because I enjoy math a lot. In the final analysis, you need to ask yourself which you enjoy more. Then go with your heart. Don't go into a field because it has good professional prospects. Go into it because if holds your interest and excites you personally. What good is a profession if you are miserable doing it? Too many people do this and they are miserable their entire working life, even though they may be earning big bucks while doing it.

Answer 4

It depends, if you're unwilling to get a graduate degree get a communications degree. If you're willing to go to get a MS/Ph.D, then go for the math degree.

I'm reccomending that because it's impossible to teach anything in math without at least a MS (unless you just want to do high school or lower).

Answer 5

Doesn't really matter what your major is unless you're planning to do graduate work. Do as many internships as possible and experience what a particular field is like for yourself.