Choosing what to do with your life is not an easy task for most people who have just graduated high school and are preparing for the exciting new step of heading to college. While some people come into college freshman year thinking they have their major, their four years at school and the rest of their lives all planned out, many don't fall anywhere near so sure. With so many options and such a big decision, it can feel like you might never figure it out. Should you choose what you are most passionate about or something that will make you the most money in the end? Depending on who you ask, you will probably get very different answers.
If someone were to ask me which I think is the way to go, majoring in something you're passionate about or something that will provide you with the most opportunity to succeed in the future, I would say, why not both? Of course, it sounds too idealistic to think that you could choose a major that you're passionate about while still being practical. However, I don't think it's too much of a stretch. In my opinion, you have to find a place in the middle. Find something you're good at and that you enjoy learning about, but something that you can also use to pursue a future career.
I chose my major because it combines what I'm passionate about while still leaving lots of doors open in the future. I chose to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and pursue a minor in Spanish because I'm passionate about political issues and hope to someday end up in a career that allows me to make a difference, whether that's related to law, politics, or education. Having only known I wanted to be a PPE major since last fall, I've already taken so many classes that genuinely interest me while fulfilling major requirements, such as reproductive ethics and contemporary political thought and I'm really looking forward to taking Global Justice and Philosophy of Law in the fall. However, I didn't only choose this major because it fits with my personal interests. PPE majors also go on to work in a wide range of fields from communications to consulting to government to education to law and more.
Choosing a major simply because it's something your passionate about might not be so great in the future if you can't do anything with it and on the other hand, no one wants to be miserable going to work every day, or at least I know I wouldn't. While it can seem like an impossible and lofty goal, considering your passions and the practicality of a major can be extremely helpful when you're trying to decide what to spend your four years at school studying.
Bottom line: Don't sacrifice what you really want to do for practicality, but make sure what you're studying will actually help you get to where you want to be in the future.
Jobs taken and grad schools attended by PPE majors: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/undergrad...
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First Jobs and Grad Schools by Major: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/undergrad...
