Help me decide on a major

[AtheistCreed]

Noooo, obscure advice eludes me and confuses me further.

Thank you for your good intention though

It's actually clear as a bell, but you're a young'un still. You can curse me in twenty years when upon reflection it suddenly makes sense.

My heart says "well it would be cool to be a psychologist, to sit in your office and discuss people's problems, help them cope with life, find happiness... it would also be cool to earn $100,000 working at a financial establishment in charge of their records... or business management and start my own business or assist in someone elses... oooh but I love science, what if I could be a cosmologist and learn about the origins of the Universe and assist in the research that makes breakthrough discoveries, but how much is that going to pay.... maybe a college professor but that is long term requires PhD etc... argh how about a computer science degree? That does sound like something I enjoy, I type very fast but I'm not sure ... maybe biology? working in a lab, a science degree... decent salary... but would I be exposed to a deadly virus and the government assassinates me to keep it under cover?"

Then my heart takes a breath and begins some more...

[Jackalope]

Choose based on what you love, not what will statistically make you the most money. Money is nice and all, but it cannot buy you happiness. Rent, perhaps - but not buy.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

I'm in USA, pineapplebunnybounce (awesome name btw).

Yeah, when I think like that (learning from books because of my expansive interest) then I think to just go after a high salary job, but then I don't want to be unhappy, and so this terrible cycle begins

I suppose a degree in Psychology can't hurt, even if I don't become a psychologist it can still lead to other fields I'm interested in.

I was just worried if it's too hard to get into, I have heard that once before that it's a hard field career wise. That puts me off, in this economy, I need something reliable.

My theory is if you keep doing things you like, you can't end up too far off.

I'm not sure if psychology can lead you to other fields, I'm afraid. I'm of course, not too sure, since I'm not a psych major, but a psych major does significantly less core science courses than other lifesci majors. For example, chem, physics, genetics, physiology (for the medical sciences) and labs. Labs significantly affect your ability to work in a bio lab as opposed to a psych lab.

Always have a plan B that you can switch to when something goes wrong with plan A.

Neuroscience is the best of both worlds, no? Unless you cannot transfer into psychology with a B.S. in Neuro?

I personally think that psychology will eventually give way to neuroscience anyway, you can't shy away from the brain if you want to understand human behaviour. Like diseases of the brain (depression, schizo, alzheimers', etc.), I'm not waiting for psychology to churn out a solution, I think most people know that neuroscience and pharmacology will probably get there first.

[AtheistCreed]

I'm in USA, pineapplebunnybounce (awesome name btw).

Yeah, when I think like that (learning from books because of my expansive interest) then I think to just go after a high salary job, but then I don't want to be unhappy, and so this terrible cycle begins

I suppose a degree in Psychology can't hurt, even if I don't become a psychologist it can still lead to other fields I'm interested in.

I was just worried if it's too hard to get into, I have heard that once before that it's a hard field career wise. That puts me off, in this economy, I need something reliable.

My theory is if you keep doing things you like, you can't end up too far off.

I'm not sure if psychology can lead you to other fields, I'm afraid. I'm of course, not too sure, since I'm not a psych major, but a psych major does significantly less core science courses than other lifesci majors. For example, chem, physics, genetics, physiology (for the medical sciences) and labs. Labs significantly affect your ability to work in a bio lab as opposed to a psych lab.

Always have a plan B that you can switch to when something goes wrong with plan A.

Neuroscience is the best of both worlds, no? Unless you cannot transfer into psychology with a B.S. in Neuro?

I personally think that psychology will eventually give way to neuroscience anyway, you can't shy away from the brain if you want to understand human behaviour. Like diseases of the brain (depression, schizo, alzheimers', etc.), I'm not waiting for psychology to churn out a solution, I think most people know that neuroscience and pharmacology will probably get there first.

That is a very good point, I didn't think about it like that.

I'm going to do some research on Biochemistry.

Then maybe pharmacology and neuroscience

Thanks!

[pineapplebunnybounce]

Glad that was helpful, I went through almost all your thought process (except the part about getting infected by viruses) just a few years back, XD. I also considered marine biology, avian biology, all sorts of things. I do regret not considering engineering. But anyways, , I'm sure you'll find something you like that pays well.

[Captain Colostomy]

Keep in mind that loving something doesn't necessarily mean you want to do it all the time. (Like conjugals with my wife...). I 'love' eastern philosophy, but a thorough, disciplined education based on it alone would kill the joy.

Are you more a people person, introverted, extroverted, prefer things or ideas, hand's on/off, immersive experiences or play it loose, have expensive or modest tastes, focused, good/bad w/discipline, etc., etc? Honestly answering questions such as these can really help you seperate the wheat from the chaff.

And my final piece of advice-

Male stripper. Think about it.

[AtheistCreed]

Keep in mind that loving something doesn't necessarily mean you want to do it all the time. (Like conjugals with my wife...). I 'love' eastern philosophy, but a thorough, disciplined education based on it alone would kill the joy.

Are you more a people person, introverted, extroverted, prefer things or ideas, hand's on/off, immersive experiences or play it loose, have expensive or modest tastes, focused, good/bad w/discipline, etc., etc? Honestly answering questions such as these can really help you seperate the wheat from the chaff.

And my final piece of advice-

Male stripper. Think about it.

Oh good questions, and male stripper hmm lol

I would be a male stripper if I were a Greek god, but I'm not.

Some days I'm very introverted, some days I'm extroverted... I like ideas but I also like things... Hands off preferably... Play it loose I guess? Modest tastes... Focused when I'm entertained by something... 85% good with discipline...

I don't think I would like engineering, I could be wrong though.

I imagine a good job would be one where I can be in a group setting, discussing with other professionals... Going over ideas and plans...

I don't like mechanics, I don't want to work with tools.

I view academia as just that, if I'm going to invest my time and effort in studying, I want to become an expert in my field and be a trailblazer... Standing in front of people delivering speeches, making fascinating discoveries....

I really want a career where I can feel accomplished and impact the world in a good way, or at least impact my field.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

I view academia as just that, if I'm going to invest my time and effort in studying, I want to become an expert in my field and be a trailblazer... Standing in front of people delivering speeches, making fascinating discoveries....

I really want a career where I can feel accomplished and impact the world in a good way, or at least impact my field.

I think you sound like you want to be a prof. Doing your own research is how you can be a trailblazer, for that you'll need to be able to "own" a lab and dictate what sort of research your lab is doing.

[AtheistCreed]

I view academia as just that, if I'm going to invest my time and effort in studying, I want to become an expert in my field and be a trailblazer... Standing in front of people delivering speeches, making fascinating discoveries....

I really want a career where I can feel accomplished and impact the world in a good way, or at least impact my field.

I think you sound like you want to be a prof. Doing your own research is how you can be a trailblazer, for that you'll need to be able to "own" a lab and dictate what sort of research your lab is doing.

Well what I want sounds pretty unrealistic for now lol

I think a FML is overdue, so ... 'fml'.

Can't someone just tell me what to do and let me bite the bullet. I'll probably like it.

I'm too indecisive.

If you could do any degree, what would it be and why?

[Captain Colostomy]

I'm no counselor, but I think septic tank cleaner can be safely scratched from the short list now.

Pineapple nailed it, it sounds. But I hafta emphatically state...you gotta want it. Any waffling and you're toast. Just make sure your sure and make it a reality.