Does your Major Matter?

Hello again! It’s intern Megan back in action. I’m writing today to ask a serious and valuable question to all of you professionals out there in the world of patch. As a college student, we are faced with the task of declaring our major early on and working towards getting a degree in our field of choice. I have always been envious of those who know from the get-go that they were born to teach elementary education or to be a nurse. Those guys have it made; a plan from day one to graduation. What about those of us who don’t have enough patience to teach little kids or are a little squeamish around needles? I long ago ruled out those career paths, so my options seemed pretty limited. Philosophy? Psychology? Political Science? All of these sound like great options, but at the end of the day, how employable are those with these general, less focused degrees? This is my question to all of our patch readers.

If you can’t tell, this is a question that has been on my mind for quite some time. I have done a little bit of research on my own and have come up with mixed reviews. On one hand, the more specific majors tailor their students to one career path, in which they will be very prepared for. The downside to this is these students don’t have much wiggle room and will have a tough time branching out, if they decide they are looking for something different. On the other hand, majoring in a broader field can provide the student with more versatile skills that they can apply to a variety of fields. The challenge here is they might be competing with other graduates who are specifically trained in that area. This is a fine line to walk and kids like me need all the input we can get before making a final decision.  

This is where successful members of the workforce, LIKE YOURSELF, come in! Did you feel like your major adequately prepared you for finding a career? What would you recommend for students and upcoming members of the workforce? As an employer, what are your thoughts on majors/college degrees?  We would love to hear what you have to say about the topic and we appreciate all the input we can get. Hope to hear from you!

-DCR Intern, Megan