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How do I decide what major I should pick?

I am a third culture kid who has lived all over the place. I really love people and working with children , especially kids who come from rougher situations. I was looking into going in as a #psychology major but then I wanted to study more of the medicine aspect. But then I realized I love talking to people and asking questions and considered a #news related career path. #college-major #college #medicine

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Subject: Career question for you

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Dana’s Answer

Hello Bethany, If you think you would like to go into psychology, medicine or the news I might suggest try an internship. They are a great way to see those jobs you are looking for in action as well a building relationships with individuals in the field. You will get a better idea if there is something you like and by building those relationship they maybe able to help guide you with picking a major. A guidance counselor should be able to assist you with setting up an internship or at least point you in the right direction if this is something you would like to do.
Thank you comment icon Thank you that’s a really helpful response! Bethany
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Alecia’s Answer

Follow your passion. Start your college career with core classes that work for either major, that will give you time and flexibility to decide. Internships are great too. Depending on your high school, you may be able to do something during your senior year too.
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Aika’s Answer

Hello Bethany,

You have a unique background!
I would advise you to look into liberal art colleges, or colleges that have flexibility in choosing your major.
In liberal arts college, often you will need to declare before junior year.
Until then, you can select courses you are interested in and have deeper understanding of the specific topics relevant to a major.
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Jillian’s Answer

Don't limit yourself. You can do many things and combine it into one field. I would advise speech pathologist. You can help parents and families cope with autism, but also help a child learn. In this field you will need to study a lot about medicine and neurology. However; I'm sure it is rewarding in the end.
Thank you comment icon Thank you this is also a helpful response! The rewarding aspect is definitely tempting. Bethany
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Linda’s Answer

Hi ! I would agree with the answers already provided to take a variety of courses and find the ones that you enjoy (so much that you don’t mind all the homework in them). With your background in a number of cultures I would also suggest for you to look into being an English as a Second Language teacher. (ESL). Most of my ESL colleagues started with an undergrad degree in English, psychology, linguistics, a specific ‘foreign’ language area, education, history ( and probably even some tech-y courses too). You can find a job with a Bachelor’s degree but to get a job with ‘meaningful’ income you would need a Master’s degree. And believe me, you can get a job ANYwhere!
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Sergio’s Answer

Hello Bethany,

When deciding what to major in, it is important to look at two main things:
1) What majors are currently high in demand and lucrative
2) Is this major also going to bring me happiness

You definitely want to make sure you are studying something that will help you obtain a career right after college and also make sure that you are happy. People work 40 hours a week and you want to make sure you are enthusiastic and happy.
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Savannah Grace’s Answer

Hi Bethany! What I would say is that there is no wrong answer here. I would recommend psychology because in my opinion, it relates to a wide range of careers and can be helpful in any path you may decide to take! What it comes down to is doing what interests you most, because that will provide you with the most authentic path. Best of luck!
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Jason’s Answer

I would suggest looking into a psychiatric career path. You'll get a background in the medicine and also the behavioral sciences that will allow you options within the field. You may find something that you never considered somewhere in the field that would be rewarding.
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Aj’s Answer

Hello Bethany,

Ms. Dana captured exactly what i wanted to say about Internships helping you make your decision about what to study.
and Julian's answer is great as well.

Find out
what makes you happy? what type of job/work do you excel in? what would you do today even if you do not get paid for it? Ask family and friends what they think your strongest skills are?

Note that it is possible to have a number of interests and that sometimes your interests may change as you get older and that's OK.

I have seen medical doctors who are state governors.
I have seen medical doctors who are poets.
I have seen medical doctors who are great in classical music and can identify symphony composers.

Psychology, Medicine or the News and helping kids from under-served communities are not as unrelated as you may think.
I bet if you search you would find someone who is a doctor, a psychologist, news anchor/writer/editor/contributor etc. and helps kids in under-served communities.

let me know when you find them.

HINT: How about this show https://www.thedoctorstv.com


Good-luck!


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Kaitlyn’s Answer

Hello Bethany,

This a good question and don’t think you’re alone, a lot of people have this question. Write a list of things you enjoy and do a little research on them.
Example , if you like writing what can i major in that I can get a job from. If you are still unsure, do general studies while in college until you find something you love.
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Richard’s Answer

In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.

Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.

Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses.

Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters


Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.


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