ut to meet tons of new people and get your first taste of independence. You are finally going to live on your own ... even if that means sharing a 12' x 14' space with a roommate. And the best part is? You can stay out as late as you want to -- Even on a school night!With all these exciting things going on, it can be easy to forget other factors that will impact your college career. Like, say choosing a major. I remember going off to college and not really having a clue what I wanted to do. Who can be absolutely sure of the best use of their skill set at the tender age of 18?
I entered my freshman year with a business undecided major with the intention of choosing the details later. The more business classes I took, I realized that I would be best suited for marketing major. But this decision did not come easily. After an internal debate between marketing, communications and the other business majors at my school, I finally made my choice.
It turned out that I made the right decision, but it certainly was not an easy choice. I thought it would be interesting to see what the most searched for college majors were on AOL Search. If I had such a hard time making decisions others have to be in the same boat.
A major in government came up at the top of the list. I thought it was very interesting that people were searching for colleges with dance majors next. There are a lot of music focused programs that people are searching for from songwriting majors to jazz music and commercial music majors. I also think that a having a broadcasting major could be very fun!
Did your major make out list? Try searching for college majors on AOL Search to see what is out there.
Hot College Majors on AOL Search:
1. Major in government
2. Colleges with dance majors
3. Business forensics major
4. Songwriting major
5. Neuroscience major
6. English major
7. Broadcasting major in college
8. Biology major
9. Colleges with jazz music major
10. Colleges with commercial music major
More Sponsored Links For: college majors, accredited colleges, college degree
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
21. I have spent the last 24 years as a Human Resource hiring manager for (2) large corporations. After reading this list, I was laughing my head off. You'd better marry money or have rich parents who plan to continue to support you - forever - or until you wake up and return to school for a second degree! You'd better research a major that will help you find a JOB.
Posted at 10:13AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Lucille Calvert
22. "2. They better think twice before going into some of these majors if they want to find a job that pays anything"
Posted at 6:57AM on Dec 20th 2007 by jiapaul
Regarding this comment........you must be one of those kids that couldn't get into college, or took the 'alternative' route you ignorant idiot..... I went to an institution with one of the pre-eminenent neorscience majors (for conversation's sake since it's on the list above), and these kids are going to be making six figures after they complete their residenices.... i'm a '99 graduate... u do the math.
and as for Government Majors....i was a Gov. Major and I work in Consulting.....I'm 25 and am going to make above 100K this year.
think before you speak moron....
Posted at 10:36AM on Dec 20th 2007 by chad
23. # 18 (Betty) The reason people are cross about poor spelling and grammar are posts JUST LIKE YOURS !! Filled with misspellings (even 'grammer') And this IS in keeping with the topic - higher education, which you obviously didn't have. My hubby and I both had double majors in college, so if one didn't work out, we had the other to fall back on. AND...we finished school in 3 years, so double majors doesn't make it more difficult. My initial major was in voice, but knowing it would be difficult to make a career of that, my 2nd major was in English teaching. As a mother, teaching is the very best job out there, for time, money, and fringe benefits - not to mention job security if you're good at what you do. But that's true of any job - be good at what you do.
Posted at 10:43AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Ann
24. You can't earn a decent living with an undergraduate degree and an 18 yr old isn't sufficienly experienced with life to decide at that early age what to do with the rest of it. My recco is to use your undergrad experience to get a broad and general overview of various things and acquire a cultural understanding of life; i.e. liberal arts. During undergrad years discuss with lots of people the types of work there are, what skill sets are needed, what the future of that work might be and your it's attractiveness to you. Make a decision on a life career a bit later, like as a junior or senior, and then find a grad school to advantageously prepare you for that work. I recruited college kids for years at my company and found far too many who had an unrealistic idea of what the work was about.
Posted at 10:44AM on Dec 20th 2007 by michael dane
25. Well . . . I'll bet they ALL can make more than I can with a masters in secondary math ed! Nobody seems to appreciate teachers. Even though I love what I do, if I didn't have my husband to depend on, I would have to quit what I love and go make money at something else! Something's very wrong with that . . .
Posted at 10:53AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Joanne Beebe
26. [snip #24]
"so double majors doesn't make it more difficult."
Ouch. And you're an English teacher. Now I see where the problem originates.
Posted at 10:56AM on Dec 20th 2007 by lucy
27. PERSONALLY,
I'd rather be fulfilled career-wise by doing a job I love, over a job I hate that pays well.
And no matter how cliche, I stand by that.
Posted at 11:14AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Em
28. I graduated with a biology degree, couldn't even get a job at Long John Silvers ('you're overqualified') and luckily got picked up by a professional school after 2 scary (and jobless) months! whew!
Posted at 11:15AM on Dec 20th 2007 by jilly
29. I am currently at a University studying as an English major. It is my "dream" major and I do worry about job prospects when I get out of school. However, just because you pick a humanities major does not mean you will be a bum on the street. Having great communication skills for instance is something that a lot of companies are looking for in an employee. You just have to know how to market yourself well and look for internships in fields that interest you. Not everyone measures their success by having the same bank account as a doctor or lawyer. I won't be making oodles of money, but that's fine with me.
Posted at 11:16AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Lucyfan1121
30. The Biology majors probably are pre-med and anyone with any sense does not go into teaching anymore or if they do, they don't last. Teaching always paid poorly but the teachers were treated with respect. Now with that gone andmore and more CRAP piled on them, only the ones that have been in the system so long stay there. The rest leave while they are still young enough to get a job that pays and treats you decently.
Posted at 11:21AM on Dec 20th 2007 by michelle
31. College is a scam, it's just another business trying to make money teaching people how to scam society farther, like doctors prescribing useless drugs that just supress your body functions, and factory farming that only has 2 goals, make money & make sales and does it without regards to the damage. Same with engineers that work for war suppliers and sales and marketing who just brainwash people into wasting their money. God forbid we allow this to continue in America.
Posted at 11:30AM on Dec 20th 2007 by kevinbeair
32. Dance, songwriting, various music and even broadcasting majors...what an incredibly self indulgent waste of time and money. If this AOL user list reflects overall reality, then not only are this kids in for a rude awakening, the world will end up with a boatload of poor, probably for the most part talentless, musical, entertainment wannabes and losers. To spend a college education on careers that are this popular, over-crowded, competitive, filed with clueless dreamers, and I'm sorry to say - as much as I love music, media and the arts - flat out useless, is an insult to all the people who could have benefitted from the money and time who will never have such luxuries. The music industry alone has never been in a worse state. The number of artists who were ever able to even modestly support themselves in music and even moreso in dance, is like a stone on a beach compared to the numbers who think they have it and take a run at it. At the very least, have some self respect for the process if you want to make music...you don't need to go to college to do it, you need to practice and play...period.
I had careers related to all these fields back in the day when there were better chances than today and the audience for music was larger and more passionate about it than they will ever be in the foreseeable future and the chances of "making it," were depressingly small even then. I worked with independent bands, singers, songwriters, promoters, major labels and their artists, in radio and later in television and I can tell you firsthand, the passion of music doesn't happen in a classroom, it happens in basements, garages, apartments, houses, clubs and concert halls. And then only for the privledged few, or even more sadly, the connected few. Talent alone is rarely enough.
As for broadcasting...to spend a college career to get a illustrious career in media is about as worthwhile and useful as having a down winter coat in Florida. Just what we need, more assholes clogging the airwaves with their pontifications and prognostications. Here in the internet age where anyone, everyone and their dog can have their "report" available and broadcast to the world in less time than the average bowel movement it's really important to have more talking heads telling us what to think as they spread their bias through any and all outlets available. Like squishing mayonaise through slices of swiss cheese.
And the number one choice...government! My God, what will the world become! We will be stuffed full of more corrupt, useless bureaucrats wasting tax dollars trying to support the millions of talentless deluded dancers and music people out there and a whole new crop of mindless broadcasters telling us how great life is and why any of it matters. We're doomed.
College age people should do the world a favor and major in something that will have some real value to humankind and the planet. Where are the green scientists and engineers? Where are the doctors? Where are those studying global politics and international relations? Why not take a few years before college and volunteer for Vista or the Peace Corp and learn something about the world and some of the poor people in it before you self indulgently waste your parents hard earned or the publics student loan money on becoming dancers, musicians, government drones and otherwise wastes of time and space?
Posted at 11:35AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Sammy C
33. Hmmmmm, Tom is a Dork!
Posted at 11:39AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Jerry Bryant
34. A balance can be had. I've told my children to study for a career that they are interested in "working" in, and save the "passion" for your hobbie. Example, for the musically passionate there are community bands/orchestras, theater companies that need musicians, etc. By being a dentist (or whatever) during the day allows you the financial freedoms to play with your passion in your off time. Besides once the passion becomes work, then is it really fun anymore? It becomes "work". My brother loves sailing, thought at one time of owning a marina. Even looked at one to buy, then realized his love of boats would now become work. He looked elsewhere for a job and saved sailing for evenings, weekends and vacations ... it is still his true love.
Posted at 11:43AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Awg
35. Sammy C
well said, your right on...
God forbid if we let this continue in America. The purpose of founding america was not to make money, it was to be free from tyrany of others, free to speak, to be free of others trying to control and scam and brainwash you. Today that freedom is all about gone as most the world worships nothing more than the all mighty dollar and corporations make the rules. And college and Public education? That's how they brainwash you into believing this is still american life.
Posted at 12:00PM on Dec 20th 2007 by kevinbeair
36. yea...just drop out of college and go work. You will find your dream job if you work towards it...and youll make money along the way
Posted at 12:06PM on Dec 20th 2007 by kastonie
37. I am 56 yrs. old, and I have alomst 5 degrees of higher education in both sciences and religion. I wonder if this poll included a research of private religious schools. If not, then we must realize that the most read and studied book in history, year after year, month after month, day after day is the Bible. The New York Times popular books of the month no longer includes the Bible because it always tops out the poll. I am a pastor now, tired and retired, and glad I have two degrees in religious studies, BA in Biblical literature, and M.Div. degree in seminary. We need to have a balanced education, and to marginalize religion is a huge mistake. I have used my science degrees to make money through work as a lab technician for a major oil company in the USA. But please consider me as a conflictual Christian who loves a good debate. As Socrates said, "The more I learn, the more I am amazed at my own ignorance."
Posted at 12:43PM on Dec 20th 2007 by CHRISTOPHER
38. I majored in Secondary Education because I enjoy teaching & thought kids of the 80s would be the same as they were in the 50s when I was in school. I found they had changed for the worse. After a few years I regretted my decision. You can offer a kid an education, but you can't make it want to learn. In the old days, a community had to sacrifice to build a school & hire a teacher. The teacher usually boarded with a family. Kids went to school to learn. If they didn't, their parents encouraged them (sometimes with a belt.) Education wasn't free. If you pay for something, you will value it more than if it's forced upon you. I'm against free public education. I went to poor rural schools, but we learned even though our books were ancient. Throwing money at schools doesn't solve any problems except those of administrators, who get richer. If you must teach--teach college or adult classes.
Posted at 12:45PM on Dec 20th 2007 by rosenrob
39. I'm in a kind of grumpy mood this morning, but it's a good opportunity to vent about majoring in Biology. An awful lot of Biology majors choose that major because it's perceived as "easy". Easy why? Because it doesn't have all that "icky" math like Chemistry or Physics.
Granted, the math requirements for a Biology degree are lower than other sciences, and the degree can be relatively easy to get, but it just plain TICKS ME OFF when people perceive Biology as "easy". Real biology isn't easy. Life science research is messy, frustrating, and a lot of hard work. That's also not to say that I don't love the life sciences: I got one of my bachelor's degrees in Biology (the other in Chemistry), and just spent the last 9 years in life science research. I'd rather be in biology or a related field than anywhere else.
I was surprised to see Neuroscience rate so highly in searches, because it DOES make Biology look easy. Those 9 years in research? They involved the same techniques and genes as basic neuroscience research. Quite often, the only papers available on the genes I studied were neuroscience papers.
I don't want to scare anyone away from the field, because it's definitely interesting and rewarding. Just don't expect it to be easy.
Are Biology or Neuroscience majors which have good employment potential? Not really. In Neuroscience, you will be part of a very small world of scientists. If you want to work in biology research in a more general sense, there are more openings, but right now life science research is suffering from a terrible funding crunch. Research grants are being cut or eliminated every day. If you have nothing beyond a generic Biology bachelor's degree, you will need some kind of "kicker" to get hired: a minor in Biochemistry or Chemistry can help. Laboratory experience definitely helps. Recommendations from other researchers and scientists who actually KNOW your work help.
Posted at 12:54PM on Dec 20th 2007 by Lisa
40. It is a funny thing in the U.S.everyone has switched gears. One of my coworkers spent $3000 on his daughter's volleyball coaching and the like but I doubt if he spent even $300 on books or tutoring of her studies. Now, we see people looking for music majors and song writing majors, which is fine. I Majored myself in Astronautical engineering and minored in figure art. While it is importaint to keep well rounded and close to those things that make you happy it is also reality that only 1 in a million actually make money in art or music. So as some might say go for it, you will never love your job if your not doing what you enjoy. I say push yourself to be braud for your not going to love your job when you working at some grocery store barely making it by only to be confronted with the $300 per month school bill with only a degree to keep you warm. We live long lives, enjoy the things we love and never stop learning. But nothing says misery like digging through garbage cans for food because your homeless.
Posted at 12:54PM on Dec 20th 2007 by Mike