Comments on: Yahoo column: Take these small steps in college for a big career later

By: klein

klein — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:25:59 +0000

My best advice for college. If you ever plan on getting your Master's degree do it immediately! No matter how burnt out you feel by your senior year of undergrad, push through and get that masters.

It is REALLY DIFFICULT to get back into the mindset of being in college again after you've been out the real world for even a year.

By: College Major Decisions | Educated Nation | Higher Education Blog

College Major Decisions | Educated Nation | Higher Education Blog — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:54:32 +0000

[...] NPR: What’s Your Major and Does It Matter? Take These Small Steps In College For A Big Career Later [...]

By: Sherri

Sherri — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:33:18 +0000

Where was this advice when I was in college? This is a great article. My stepsister will be entering college next year, so I'll be sure to pass this on to her.

When it comes to picking a major, I struggled. It seemed like all of my friends had a clear plan that began sometime in high school. I was more of the "can't I try everything?" type. I rushed right into a major in college for the sake of having one and ended up changing it (okay, maybe more than once). It's okay to not know what you want to do. Take the core courses, learn everything you can, and pick a major when you're ready.

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:35:36 +0000

I have to disagree a bit with number one. Not every person is going to go to grad school. For most jobs grad school is not necessary. I have a great job, and only with a BS. I got excellent grades, and paid extra attention to course work that would help me get ahead in my field.

I would suggest that for the first three semesters students explore, get a good basic education, learn to communicate, to write to read. After that, adult starts and college is for getting a job. I know far to many people who followed step one, and are now stuck in a dead end job or worse, still working in food service.

They are angry to not be setting the world on fire, or even a clue as to what they want to be when they grow up. Still stuck in the bedroom they grew up in.

By: Lola

Lola — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:12:47 +0000

I definitely regret not studying abroad and not choosing an easier major. Nothing worse than killing yourself for an engineering degree then graduating in a tough job market with no job. I I'd known I would end up unemployed I would have just done a liberal arts major which would have been less rigorous and allowed more time for extracurriculars.

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:34:14 +0000

Somebody remind Asian parents of #1, please. Again and again if needed. My biggest regret is not bucking parental pressure on both my college and my major. I managed to make the best of it in a small technical school studying engineering (both chosen by my parents) instead of going to the large state university I wanted to attend. My school barely had any offerings in the liberal arts, and the classes they did offer were watered-down "English for Engineers" courses. Terrible for a closet liberal arts lover like me.

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:58:23 +0000

All good advice, especially #1. Nobody cares what you majored in. Everyone cares (a) what you know, and (b) what you can learn, as well as how "fun" you seem to be around (which is where #4 fits in, though there are a lot of routes besides "cheerleading" to get there). Take it from a girl who majored in Creative Writing. Major in what you want – just figure out how to justify it and diversify it later.

I think the best is #8. I agree that vulnerability (the correct amount) is crucial to success, peace, and happiness. I wish I'd done more in college to that degree. I never stopped to consider what I wanted to get out of those 4 years internally (my goals were grades, no debt, good job, etc). As such, I left a lot more "work" for myself in later life.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:05:50 +0000

The biggest regret I have about college is that I didn't socialize more. I graduated this past year (2007) and though I went to way more parties and dinners and formals than I can count, I still always put school first and missed a lot of really great memories because I was dead set on getting every A I possibly could. More than just missing out on some cool things, I developed a very black/white way of looking at my work which made things hardly enjoyable. Now that I'm starting to work full-time I'm trying to change my attitude (perhaps to the dismay of my new employer) and make my relationships a priority.

By: Erin Hallstrom-Erickson

Erin Hallstrom-Erickson — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:03:56 +0000

I wish I would have studied abroad in college 10 years ago. It seems now like it would have been so natural and less stressful than it is now that I've got the career and the house, husband and kids.

I also wish there would have been a mandatory course called "real life" that you were required to take that discussed how to handle office politics, asking for a raise, standing up to the office bully and nosey folks.

By: Reflective Counsel

Reflective Counsel — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:11:36 +0000

1 & 2 are very good advice, but only when well thought out. Picking a major that is useful down the road is better than a major you hate or something un-marketable. The worst major you can pick is "pre-law" – you are qualified for nothing but law school. Going to law school is a decent choice for practicing law or not; however, knowing the costs are critical. Law school can successfully launch you into a "non-lawyer" career and may even give you a step up on the competition. It is not cheap, but for me has proven to be a good profession with many opportunities – both leagal and non-legal.