8 answers
Diya
Student
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
3
Questions
Asked
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Thinking of dropping a degree and going for another one, I mean should I? After giving it a year.
I'm in my first year of a BA degree, my subjects are Psychology, English Lit & Education.
Things are not working well for me, I am not liking it so far, disappointed with my college and myself.
All I think of is working in the media field, taking interviews, hosting shows, working in publishing companies in abroad.
A reason I choose English Lit & Psychology at the first place, plus options are very limited here, their isn't much choice for a degree and I can't move out yet.
It's so freaking confusing!
Should I drop this degree and go for a media degree instead? Is it too late? Is the media field safe?
What if I loose everything and ruin my career? Family disappointment is another issue :-(
Failure scares me so much.
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8 answers
Molly Sly
Talent Acquisition Manager
31
Answers
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Updated
Molly’s Answer
Hi Diya,
This is a tough one, and only you can decide what path is right for you. But, I'll share my thoughts and my experience. My degree in college was Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. What was I thinking?!? I realized Junior year I should change it, but changing my degree so late would surely tack on at least one more year of college. As I was paying it myself, I didn't want that. So, I focused on the Management piece and found a job upon graduation where I was doing Marketing for a tourism agency. And from there I moved in to recruiting based on a friend recognizing that it was a great fit for me.
I would think with an English Lit degree you can still find careers in digital media. Many companies hire for content type roles. That said, if you know digital media is where you want to be - and switching degrees isn't a problem - I would recommend it. Life is too short to be doing something you aren't enjoying. And there will also be career opporutnities in digital marketing/media. With digital media degree you could be looking for roles at advertising agencies, PR agencies, really any corporation within their branding and creative departments. Positions you could look for are endless, but if you want to include your love of writing, you could be looking for roles as a Creative Writer (at ad agencies), Content Specialists, Copywriter, Content Strategists, etc.
I wish you all the best!!
Molly
This is a tough one, and only you can decide what path is right for you. But, I'll share my thoughts and my experience. My degree in college was Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. What was I thinking?!? I realized Junior year I should change it, but changing my degree so late would surely tack on at least one more year of college. As I was paying it myself, I didn't want that. So, I focused on the Management piece and found a job upon graduation where I was doing Marketing for a tourism agency. And from there I moved in to recruiting based on a friend recognizing that it was a great fit for me.
I would think with an English Lit degree you can still find careers in digital media. Many companies hire for content type roles. That said, if you know digital media is where you want to be - and switching degrees isn't a problem - I would recommend it. Life is too short to be doing something you aren't enjoying. And there will also be career opporutnities in digital marketing/media. With digital media degree you could be looking for roles at advertising agencies, PR agencies, really any corporation within their branding and creative departments. Positions you could look for are endless, but if you want to include your love of writing, you could be looking for roles as a Creative Writer (at ad agencies), Content Specialists, Copywriter, Content Strategists, etc.
I wish you all the best!!
Molly
Anna Matetic, M.A. Technical Communications
Technical Writer
8
Answers
Rochester, Minnesota
Updated
Anna’s Answer
Hello from another English major!
Even in the US, people don't realize the power of an English major. I work as a technical writer for a large software company. I might not make as large a salary as some of the programmer/developers, but I am not very far behind them! If you enjoy English and writing and are curious about technology, you would do well as a tech writer. Psychology would also help because you are trying to write for the audience who will use the computer technology you are writing about. There are so many things you can do with the degrees you are talking about:
Technical writer
User design/User experience
Instructional design
Good luck with your studies!
Even in the US, people don't realize the power of an English major. I work as a technical writer for a large software company. I might not make as large a salary as some of the programmer/developers, but I am not very far behind them! If you enjoy English and writing and are curious about technology, you would do well as a tech writer. Psychology would also help because you are trying to write for the audience who will use the computer technology you are writing about. There are so many things you can do with the degrees you are talking about:
Technical writer
User design/User experience
Instructional design
Good luck with your studies!
Cheryl Guerrero
Marketing Manager
5
Answers
Brentwood, California
Updated
Cheryl’s Answer
Hi, Diya. Your thoughts and thinking are all valid points and you should never feel that you are a failure! A lot of people go into college thinking they want to do one thing but then realize in the middle of their college years that it wasn't something they really wanted to do. It's okay to change paths and it's never too late to do so. If you think you're on the wrong career path, and there is something else that you're interested in, don't be afraid to try those classes. Maybe try one or two classes, and talk to instructors and students to get more of an idea of what a bachelors degree in media/broadcast/journalism means to them. If it still interests you, you can always change majors!
Mojibola Odurole
Shoemaking tutor/instructor
2
Answers
Abuja (F.c.t.), FCT
Updated
Mojibola’s Answer
Hi,
It's so amazing we found ourselves sometimes doing courses we tend not to find fulfilling. For someone like me, I wanted to study pharmacy but got admitted into science laboratory technology department with the hope have changing to pharmacy later but that never happened. I suddenly found myself loving education which is how I got into training students globally on shoemaking with a totally different school background.
I will suggest you continue with your course while you try to apply for your most preferred course, when you are admitted then you can quit your ongoing BA degree.
I will suggest you put your best in your present course, am sure you will find it valuable if not now but soon.
I also believe you can start hosting shows now by creating a personal YouTube channel where you interview your fellow students every week on a particular topic. That's a good ground to start while you continue with your course and begin applying for courses related to media.
I hope this helps!
It's so amazing we found ourselves sometimes doing courses we tend not to find fulfilling. For someone like me, I wanted to study pharmacy but got admitted into science laboratory technology department with the hope have changing to pharmacy later but that never happened. I suddenly found myself loving education which is how I got into training students globally on shoemaking with a totally different school background.
I will suggest you continue with your course while you try to apply for your most preferred course, when you are admitted then you can quit your ongoing BA degree.
I will suggest you put your best in your present course, am sure you will find it valuable if not now but soon.
I also believe you can start hosting shows now by creating a personal YouTube channel where you interview your fellow students every week on a particular topic. That's a good ground to start while you continue with your course and begin applying for courses related to media.
I hope this helps!
Rube Garduno
Supervisor
18
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Rube’s Answer
Ultimately the decision will be yours, but it sounds like you are panicking and overwhelmed. That is okay as this happens to everyone. We overthink what everyone else would think about our college decisions and if what we are doing is what we want to do. I went back and forward debating whether to major in business or mechanical engineering.
I think you should ask yourself some questions about your major such as, do you see yourself enjoying what you are doing ten years from now? I would advise you to choose something that you love doing. You do not want to study something that you do not like doing. If you are passionate about something, you will enjoy your future and find a way to succeed in this topic because it's something you want.
Lastly, it's never too late to change your major. If you decide to, it's better to change late than never and be stuck doing something you do not enjoy.
I think you should ask yourself some questions about your major such as, do you see yourself enjoying what you are doing ten years from now? I would advise you to choose something that you love doing. You do not want to study something that you do not like doing. If you are passionate about something, you will enjoy your future and find a way to succeed in this topic because it's something you want.
Lastly, it's never too late to change your major. If you decide to, it's better to change late than never and be stuck doing something you do not enjoy.
Eric Harper
Supervisory Officer
3
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Eric’s Answer
Hi Diya,
It is not too late to change your major if that is what will be best for your career. You are very early in your college career & still have a lot of time to ultimately decide what you want to do. I changed my major right before Junior year, and although I had to work really hard to catch up in my new Major (Finance) it was one of the best decisions of my life because this is the field I want to be in. More important than being fearful about the downside of changing your major/career is discovering what you want to do with your career and which steps you need to take to get there. The rest will come together with time. I wish you all the best!
It is not too late to change your major if that is what will be best for your career. You are very early in your college career & still have a lot of time to ultimately decide what you want to do. I changed my major right before Junior year, and although I had to work really hard to catch up in my new Major (Finance) it was one of the best decisions of my life because this is the field I want to be in. More important than being fearful about the downside of changing your major/career is discovering what you want to do with your career and which steps you need to take to get there. The rest will come together with time. I wish you all the best!
Reshmi Subramanian
Strategy & Sales Operataions
1
Answer
Singapore
Updated
Reshmi’s Answer
Hi Diya,
I am sure you are putting your mind through a turmoil and have only negative thoughts cropping around the course and the college.
My advice to you would be to just take a step back and think through, keep all peer and family pressures outside and think of all the positives and negatives your current course can provide you as a platform for your passion . Do something similar to a SWAT analysis. Then once you have done it yourself, reach out to a friend or family to review what your thoughts are and get their perspectives (get multiple, so you remove any biases). If you have someone you know in the media field, talk to them, understand how they started what helped them practically.
Keep in mind you are in your first year of bachelors degree and you can always pick up on some key foundations in these 3 years and then step into a focused masters degree (either right after bachelors or after getting some work experience in).
While the course you take and learn are important and act as a foundation, practically you will have to have bits and pieces from across various learnings in your life to help you become what you want to be.
So once again think through, review, understand and ultimately take a decision that you feel you are confident and comfortable with.
Hope this helps you a bit. All the best!
Reshmi
I am sure you are putting your mind through a turmoil and have only negative thoughts cropping around the course and the college.
My advice to you would be to just take a step back and think through, keep all peer and family pressures outside and think of all the positives and negatives your current course can provide you as a platform for your passion . Do something similar to a SWAT analysis. Then once you have done it yourself, reach out to a friend or family to review what your thoughts are and get their perspectives (get multiple, so you remove any biases). If you have someone you know in the media field, talk to them, understand how they started what helped them practically.
Keep in mind you are in your first year of bachelors degree and you can always pick up on some key foundations in these 3 years and then step into a focused masters degree (either right after bachelors or after getting some work experience in).
While the course you take and learn are important and act as a foundation, practically you will have to have bits and pieces from across various learnings in your life to help you become what you want to be.
So once again think through, review, understand and ultimately take a decision that you feel you are confident and comfortable with.
Hope this helps you a bit. All the best!
Reshmi
Luke Garrett
M&A Consulting
46
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Luke’s Answer
It sounds like you want to make a practical decision with your major based on job placement and income - which is a good place to focus on for the choice you'll make. Failure is scary for all of us, but what is reassuring just as I'm reading this is that you are being proactive. You're in a great spot and still very early on in your college career. I had a few friends in college that switched majors after their 3rd year and 4th year. Both friends are doing great.