9 answers
Treya
Student
Flint, Michigan
1
Question
Asked
1921 views
I’m needing a little help with rather or not my choice of study was the right move I initially was studying digital media with a minor in journalism for 2 years in community college and when I transferred to university after a semester I decided to switch over to public relations I’m a little on edge because I don’t really know what to do I love being able to be creative and create stuff but I also want to be in a field of study that offers a livable salary do you think my decision was smart and what other fields would be recommended to me?
I really love tech and media and things of that nature
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9 answers
Logan Leal, M.A.
Communications Consultant
6
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Logan’s Answer
Hi Treya,
Let me start by saying your decision was smart. I was in your same shoes. When I chose PR as a major, I did it because I wanted to express my creativity in a way that allowed me to help people. I got a lot of pushback from my parents for this decision, like "What are you going to do with your major?" You are not alone in feeling this way. I live in California and often times really did not think I would be able to afford to live here after college.
Personally, I think you should stay the course. Here's why:
- High-Demand Skill Set: Public relations majors develop expertise in strategic communication, media relations, and brand management—skills that are highly valued in media and technology companies, often leading to lucrative roles such as communications director, digital strategist, or brand manager.
- Creative Storytelling Opportunities: PR professionals are at the forefront of crafting compelling narratives and campaigns, allowing them to express creativity through content creation, social media, and digital marketing initiatives that shape public perception and drive engagement.
- Pathways to Leadership and Entrepreneurship: The combination of communication skills and industry knowledge equips PR majors to advance into leadership positions or launch their own agencies, both of which can offer significant financial rewards and creative autonomy within the fast-evolving media and tech sectors.
My last piece of advice is to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to your professors, the university staff, and anyone in your sphere of influence about how you can improve your resume. I spent a few years meeting with Academic Deans, Faculty, University HR Staff, Student Affairs Staff, and friends in order to get my resume to the point where I could get a rewarding job I am passionate about. I hope this helps and feel free to find me on LinkedIn if you have any other questions!
Let me start by saying your decision was smart. I was in your same shoes. When I chose PR as a major, I did it because I wanted to express my creativity in a way that allowed me to help people. I got a lot of pushback from my parents for this decision, like "What are you going to do with your major?" You are not alone in feeling this way. I live in California and often times really did not think I would be able to afford to live here after college.
Personally, I think you should stay the course. Here's why:
- High-Demand Skill Set: Public relations majors develop expertise in strategic communication, media relations, and brand management—skills that are highly valued in media and technology companies, often leading to lucrative roles such as communications director, digital strategist, or brand manager.
- Creative Storytelling Opportunities: PR professionals are at the forefront of crafting compelling narratives and campaigns, allowing them to express creativity through content creation, social media, and digital marketing initiatives that shape public perception and drive engagement.
- Pathways to Leadership and Entrepreneurship: The combination of communication skills and industry knowledge equips PR majors to advance into leadership positions or launch their own agencies, both of which can offer significant financial rewards and creative autonomy within the fast-evolving media and tech sectors.
My last piece of advice is to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to your professors, the university staff, and anyone in your sphere of influence about how you can improve your resume. I spent a few years meeting with Academic Deans, Faculty, University HR Staff, Student Affairs Staff, and friends in order to get my resume to the point where I could get a rewarding job I am passionate about. I hope this helps and feel free to find me on LinkedIn if you have any other questions!
Brianna Schrader
Public Relations
1
Answer
San Diego, California
Updated
Brianna’s Answer
Hi Treya - I think you made a great decision. I have been in the field of public relations for almost 15 years and I love everything about it - there is certainly an element of creativity baked into your everyday work, and I work along side digital media analysts, creatives, marketers and journalists every day. I started with a PR agency that really exposed me to a lot of different types of PR and brand. I then went on to focus on consumer products and entertainment in Los Angeles, then a creative company solely focused on Apple, and today I'm in corporate communications at Deloitte. A career path I wouldn't have seen coming in college but exactly where I want to be.
One thing I learned after college was the major you select is really just opening the door to a career field, but by no means do you need to stay in that field your whole life. I've seen journalists become PR professionals, social media majors venture into advertising and so much more. So try to not be so hard on yourself and just stay curious - ask questions, network with everyone and anyone to understand their career journey. Industries are evolving more than ever with the inception of new media formats, new technology like AI and more - so the possibilities are endless!
One thing I learned after college was the major you select is really just opening the door to a career field, but by no means do you need to stay in that field your whole life. I've seen journalists become PR professionals, social media majors venture into advertising and so much more. So try to not be so hard on yourself and just stay curious - ask questions, network with everyone and anyone to understand their career journey. Industries are evolving more than ever with the inception of new media formats, new technology like AI and more - so the possibilities are endless!
Tiana Haddad
10
Answers
Kissimmee, Florida
Updated
Tiana’s Answer
Hi Montreya!
Your being thoughtful about both your passion and future. And yes , it is a smart move . Switching to public relations (PR) is not necessarily a bad step. Public relation still involves creativity , and working with media and digital platforms. It's more firecrly connected to communication.
If you love being creative and enjoy the tech side of things, you might also want to explore adjacent fields such as digital marketing, content strategy, or UX/UI design—all of which blend creativity with technical skills and are in high demand. Roles in product marketing or communications within tech companies can also be a great fit, offering a mix of storytelling, branding, and innovation. You don’t necessarily need to switch majors again, but adding relevant internships, side projects, or certifications can help you pivot or specialize as you learn what excites you most. Ultimately, your passion for media and tech puts you in a great position, you just need to experiment a bit more to find the right niche.
Get hands on experience ( internships or projects)
Build a personal portfolio
Take extra courses online to build your knwelege
Good luck!
Your being thoughtful about both your passion and future. And yes , it is a smart move . Switching to public relations (PR) is not necessarily a bad step. Public relation still involves creativity , and working with media and digital platforms. It's more firecrly connected to communication.
If you love being creative and enjoy the tech side of things, you might also want to explore adjacent fields such as digital marketing, content strategy, or UX/UI design—all of which blend creativity with technical skills and are in high demand. Roles in product marketing or communications within tech companies can also be a great fit, offering a mix of storytelling, branding, and innovation. You don’t necessarily need to switch majors again, but adding relevant internships, side projects, or certifications can help you pivot or specialize as you learn what excites you most. Ultimately, your passion for media and tech puts you in a great position, you just need to experiment a bit more to find the right niche.
Tiana recommends the following next steps:
Brittany Kamson
Sales
5
Answers
Somerville, Massachusetts
Updated
Brittany’s Answer
Hi Treya,
I love that you're thinking about your long-term goals and what kind of career you're interested in. That being said, it's difficult to predict what will happen in the future and there's never really a "best" choice, it's about what makes sense right now and what kind of work gets you excited. What's awesome about being in college is that you have an opportunity to really try out and explore different classes to figure out what excites you. You can also do internships in both digital marketing and PR to get direct exposure to what a career in those fields would look like.
At the end of the day, you can make a livable wage off of either career path and you can ALWAYS change what kind of work you're doing no matter where you decide to begin your career after college. Just make the best decision for you right now and if that's continuing to take PR classes, then do that. You'll get a good marketing foundation no matter what at your university and you can decide where you want to take it from there.
I love that you're thinking about your long-term goals and what kind of career you're interested in. That being said, it's difficult to predict what will happen in the future and there's never really a "best" choice, it's about what makes sense right now and what kind of work gets you excited. What's awesome about being in college is that you have an opportunity to really try out and explore different classes to figure out what excites you. You can also do internships in both digital marketing and PR to get direct exposure to what a career in those fields would look like.
At the end of the day, you can make a livable wage off of either career path and you can ALWAYS change what kind of work you're doing no matter where you decide to begin your career after college. Just make the best decision for you right now and if that's continuing to take PR classes, then do that. You'll get a good marketing foundation no matter what at your university and you can decide where you want to take it from there.
Justin Capella
10
Answers
Updated
Justin’s Answer
Hi Treya,
I was in a very similar position to you when entering my first year of university and I believe you made the right choice. I loved the idea of working in sports television and envisioned myself directing major sports broadcasts. I quickly found that while it is an incredible field to work in, it is difficult to find work that pays a livable wage. I switched to public relations and have been working in corporate communications for nearly ten years. The work is incredibly fulfilling and companies across a variety of industries need professional communicators to help tell their story! I started my career in aerospace (something I knew nothing about) and fell in love with it, so its always good to be open to industries that you may know nothing about.
Being in public relations, you have the ability to transform how a company is viewed by the public, utilizing a variety of creative tools and methods to tell their story. As you go through your classes, I recommend paying close attention to your writing - strong writing is a skillset all public relations professionals need.
Best of luck!
I’m needing a little help with rather or not my choice of study was the right move I initially was studying digital media with a minor in journalism for 2 years in community college and when I transferred to university after a semester I decided to switch over to public relations I’m a little on edge because I don’t really know what to do I love being able to be creative and create stuff but I also want to be in a field of study that offers a livable salary do you think my decision was smart and what other fields would be recommended to me?
I was in a very similar position to you when entering my first year of university and I believe you made the right choice. I loved the idea of working in sports television and envisioned myself directing major sports broadcasts. I quickly found that while it is an incredible field to work in, it is difficult to find work that pays a livable wage. I switched to public relations and have been working in corporate communications for nearly ten years. The work is incredibly fulfilling and companies across a variety of industries need professional communicators to help tell their story! I started my career in aerospace (something I knew nothing about) and fell in love with it, so its always good to be open to industries that you may know nothing about.
Being in public relations, you have the ability to transform how a company is viewed by the public, utilizing a variety of creative tools and methods to tell their story. As you go through your classes, I recommend paying close attention to your writing - strong writing is a skillset all public relations professionals need.
Best of luck!
I’m needing a little help with rather or not my choice of study was the right move I initially was studying digital media with a minor in journalism for 2 years in community college and when I transferred to university after a semester I decided to switch over to public relations I’m a little on edge because I don’t really know what to do I love being able to be creative and create stuff but I also want to be in a field of study that offers a livable salary do you think my decision was smart and what other fields would be recommended to me?
Tony Roig
Volunteer
91
Answers
New Hope, Pennsylvania
Updated
Tony’s Answer
Hi Montreya,
The future is always challenging to predict but it's good for you to think about it and prepare yourself. Personally, I think you interest and background in both a science (technology) and an an "arts" (communications), is an ideal path for many future occupations and careers. So I encourage you to pursue these as they both share and need your creative talents a d you will be better prepared what the future. I would suggest taking career assessments offered at your college to drill down and identify specific occupations that match your profile (including preferences, interests, aptitude, ability,personality,etc ) within each field and look for jobs, clubs, volunteer and other activities that allow you to gain experience in both fields. Also, consider a science type minor if you stay in communications or vice versa. Hope that's helpful. Good luck!
Tony
The future is always challenging to predict but it's good for you to think about it and prepare yourself. Personally, I think you interest and background in both a science (technology) and an an "arts" (communications), is an ideal path for many future occupations and careers. So I encourage you to pursue these as they both share and need your creative talents a d you will be better prepared what the future. I would suggest taking career assessments offered at your college to drill down and identify specific occupations that match your profile (including preferences, interests, aptitude, ability,personality,etc ) within each field and look for jobs, clubs, volunteer and other activities that allow you to gain experience in both fields. Also, consider a science type minor if you stay in communications or vice versa. Hope that's helpful. Good luck!
Tony
Ava VonderHaar
2
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Ava’s Answer
Hey Treya! I think you made a great choice switching to Public Relations. I am also a PR major and what I love about it is how versatile the work can be. It really gives you the opportunity to get a job in any field. The biggest piece of advice I have is to not let your major define you: I have interned in sales, design, and marketing with my PR major. There are so many doors that open with that degree and so many different areas and fields you can work in. I think that it is extremely creative and will allow you to do whatever you want!
Kori A. Green
Communications
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Kori A.’s Answer
If you enjoy the coursework, stay on this path, Treya! I graduated with a B.A. in Social & Behavioral Sciences and have worked in PR ever since. Your degree - and internships - will help open doors, and once you're inside, speak up! Don't be afraid to raise your hand and try something new. PR is an excellent field for the intellectually curious that will allow you to go in many different directions.
Deirdre Leahy Hart
Public Relations and Communications
1
Answer
Cornwall, New York
Updated
Deirdre’s Answer
Hi Treya,
It's great to see you planning your education and career with such care, balancing what you love with what can support you financially. This approach will lead you to success, no matter what path you choose!
Having worked in public relations for over 15 years, I can assure you that this field is full of creative opportunities. The rise of new platforms and tools keeps the work fresh and engaging, and it offers good earning potential to support a family.
Consider blending public relations with other areas you find interesting, like technology, business, or healthcare. Learning to use AI tools can also give you an edge, as they are becoming crucial in this field.
Every industry needs PR experts who can be trusted advisors and help leaders face new challenges. Many PR professionals work across different industries because their skills are so valuable. It's an exciting career, and I wish you all the best!
It's great to see you planning your education and career with such care, balancing what you love with what can support you financially. This approach will lead you to success, no matter what path you choose!
Having worked in public relations for over 15 years, I can assure you that this field is full of creative opportunities. The rise of new platforms and tools keeps the work fresh and engaging, and it offers good earning potential to support a family.
Consider blending public relations with other areas you find interesting, like technology, business, or healthcare. Learning to use AI tools can also give you an edge, as they are becoming crucial in this field.
Every industry needs PR experts who can be trusted advisors and help leaders face new challenges. Many PR professionals work across different industries because their skills are so valuable. It's an exciting career, and I wish you all the best!