5 answers
Stephanie
Student
Wellesley, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
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How do I choose my major if I'm passionate about two different things?
I'm really passionate about film and education, but am struggling on which to major in. I enjoy the education class I'm currently in more than the film theory class I took last semester and feel that it's the reason why I feel conflicted on my prospective major, but I also want to become a director and feel that it's important to immerse myself deeply in classes that pertain to it.
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5 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1179
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Stephanie !
I would say to study both film and education and would love to advise some paths you can take for a wonderful blend that will allow you to be versatile.
My advice is to Major in Education and minor in film. Once you get your bachelors degree, you can get your teaching credential. You will have to see how prepared you are for the teaching credential at the Bachelors level or go for your Masters in Education. The Bachelors would allow you to work in pre-school and elementary school and the Masters would be good for high school and college teaching.
If you major in Education and minor in Film, your minor classes can be handpicked by you. I would suggest that you delve into the Directing course offered by the Theatre Department, too. You'll learn a lot even though it is for the stage. Take acting and screenwriting courses in the Film department, too. Also, try not to judge your one Film course too harshly. We all have to take required courses in our subject that may not be structured in the most inspirational way. There are some things that you will need to know before you get work as a film director, even though you do not need a degree in it.
Keep in mind that you should major in what you expect to do after graduation. If you major in Education, you may be expected to do student teaching which will take up your time and keep you unavailable for film opportunities. Explore what type of out of class work is expected of an Education major. You will definitely have out of class work expected of you for film.
With your degree in Education you can become a teacher but if you get your degree in film, there's no telling what opportunities will be presented after you graduate. So a good way to maybe decide is to figure out exactly what you want to do after graduation. Do you find Education interesting and Film is your passion, or have you had a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher and film seems like a good hobby or side job ? You will definitely make a decision sooner or later and it's good to have two interests. Now is the time to explore and weigh them both out. You can teach film, you can direct educational films for companies, you can do many other things with the film/education blend.
If you really want to get into directing film, spend a lot of time in the Film department getting to know student screenwriters, actors and directors, also editors and other people. You will find out if that is where your focus is. It's great to have two interests, I did and made careers out of both my major and minor.
I hope that this is helpful and informative. I wish you all the best !
I would say to study both film and education and would love to advise some paths you can take for a wonderful blend that will allow you to be versatile.
My advice is to Major in Education and minor in film. Once you get your bachelors degree, you can get your teaching credential. You will have to see how prepared you are for the teaching credential at the Bachelors level or go for your Masters in Education. The Bachelors would allow you to work in pre-school and elementary school and the Masters would be good for high school and college teaching.
If you major in Education and minor in Film, your minor classes can be handpicked by you. I would suggest that you delve into the Directing course offered by the Theatre Department, too. You'll learn a lot even though it is for the stage. Take acting and screenwriting courses in the Film department, too. Also, try not to judge your one Film course too harshly. We all have to take required courses in our subject that may not be structured in the most inspirational way. There are some things that you will need to know before you get work as a film director, even though you do not need a degree in it.
Keep in mind that you should major in what you expect to do after graduation. If you major in Education, you may be expected to do student teaching which will take up your time and keep you unavailable for film opportunities. Explore what type of out of class work is expected of an Education major. You will definitely have out of class work expected of you for film.
With your degree in Education you can become a teacher but if you get your degree in film, there's no telling what opportunities will be presented after you graduate. So a good way to maybe decide is to figure out exactly what you want to do after graduation. Do you find Education interesting and Film is your passion, or have you had a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher and film seems like a good hobby or side job ? You will definitely make a decision sooner or later and it's good to have two interests. Now is the time to explore and weigh them both out. You can teach film, you can direct educational films for companies, you can do many other things with the film/education blend.
If you really want to get into directing film, spend a lot of time in the Film department getting to know student screenwriters, actors and directors, also editors and other people. You will find out if that is where your focus is. It's great to have two interests, I did and made careers out of both my major and minor.
I hope that this is helpful and informative. I wish you all the best !
Thank you for your advice, it was helpful! I'm at a liberal arts college right now so I have the liberty to take classes in any subject that interests me and try not to be to harsh on that one film class.
Stephanie
That's great ! I'm happy to share advice !
Michelle M.
Kristen Brown
Product Photographer
2
Answers
Quincy, Massachusetts
Updated
Kristen’s Answer
Hi Stephanie!
This is such a great question and something that a lot of people struggle with.
I also have a passion for teaching and ended up majoring in Commercial Photography in college. It comes down to trying both out and seeing what you have the most interest in. Personally, I think an internship over the summer is a great way to determine this. Talk to people in your community to see what they love about their jobs and vise versa. You can email professionals and tell them you’re in college, are interested in their work, and ask advice. The worst that happens is they don’t respond or say they don’t have time. I gained some awesome information that way in college.
Think especially about the types of job options and advancement that is capable in those careers. Some careers are just more capable of better salaries or stability than others, and there's always risk factors to always consider, but don’t let this hold you back too heavily if you love something. Personally, I found that focusing on my creative career first was what I wanted to do, then I could go back to get my masters later in life and teach college if I desired. The funny thing I hadn’t realized before is how many avenues there are for weaving education into your creative career without needing a bachelors. You can become a mentor, teach photography classes/workshops, and even consult for brands. I’ve found these things to be very fulfilling so far.
It’s really up to you on what you want to do but whatever it is, follow those big dreams! I don't want to sway you because you should do what you feel is the right fit for you, but I will say studying a creative field in college was hard work but an absolute blast. You have a whole lifetime ahead of you and so many people switch careers later in life. What you choose in college does not have to dictate what you do for the next 40 years :)
Wishing you the best of luck! And feel free to ask any additional questions!
This is such a great question and something that a lot of people struggle with.
I also have a passion for teaching and ended up majoring in Commercial Photography in college. It comes down to trying both out and seeing what you have the most interest in. Personally, I think an internship over the summer is a great way to determine this. Talk to people in your community to see what they love about their jobs and vise versa. You can email professionals and tell them you’re in college, are interested in their work, and ask advice. The worst that happens is they don’t respond or say they don’t have time. I gained some awesome information that way in college.
Think especially about the types of job options and advancement that is capable in those careers. Some careers are just more capable of better salaries or stability than others, and there's always risk factors to always consider, but don’t let this hold you back too heavily if you love something. Personally, I found that focusing on my creative career first was what I wanted to do, then I could go back to get my masters later in life and teach college if I desired. The funny thing I hadn’t realized before is how many avenues there are for weaving education into your creative career without needing a bachelors. You can become a mentor, teach photography classes/workshops, and even consult for brands. I’ve found these things to be very fulfilling so far.
It’s really up to you on what you want to do but whatever it is, follow those big dreams! I don't want to sway you because you should do what you feel is the right fit for you, but I will say studying a creative field in college was hard work but an absolute blast. You have a whole lifetime ahead of you and so many people switch careers later in life. What you choose in college does not have to dictate what you do for the next 40 years :)
Wishing you the best of luck! And feel free to ask any additional questions!
Faith Rojas-Taylor
Consultant
5
Answers
Baltimore, Maryland
Updated
Faith’s Answer
Hello Stephanie,
You can pursue more than one passion. If you're interested in both, but find yourself gravitating towards education, I would stick on that track as your course load only intensifies as you progress through your degree. You can look at a minor in film study which will allow you to also take additional courses in film.
Or if possible, you can even dual major. One of my close friends dual majored while in school. It is a large task and takes a lot of time and dedication, but she graduated with two degrees and went on to become an educator and get her masters and PhD in Education. It's all a matter of how dedicated and passionate you are about the subject/major itself and what you're willing to sacrifice in the present to prepare for your future. If you're looking to become a director, taking some of those foundational film courses may be crucial in guiding your career as a director. If you choose not to pursue a dual major or film at all in school, I would load up on as many elective film courses as you can handle throughout your time in school to provide yourself with a strong foundation if you decide to go back and get a degree in film later in life.
You can also look for internships around film study that will give you real world experience if you don't want to pursue film from an educational aspect. You may end up becoming an educator but pursuing film as your passion in your spare time which is a great outlet from teaching which can be demanding and stressful at times. You have a ton of flexibility when choosing your educational path in college.
Your advisors can set expectations for you in terms of the course load, credits/hours needed, and help guide you on the best fit for your collegiate education moving forward. And lastly, when thinking about what you want to do, think about yourself as a person and what works best for you (are you willing to sacrifice some of your personal times, activities, etc. to get a dual major, would you rather have a higher course load now or come back to education later on in life?, etc.). You know yourself best, you know what you can handle and what your priorities are.
Lastly, research the careers of influential directors, especially those you admire. Successful individuals in general come from all walks of life and backgrounds and many have little or no formal education. However, you should definitely get a degree, the experience alone is invaluable! Also, there are several individuals who began life in one career and completely pivoted successfully achieving the education/degree they needed later in life. Being diversified in more than one aspect of life also gives you a unique perspective which can translate to film. Having a unique eye for film based on one's own life experiences are what appears to make iconic directors the most successful as they provide a perspective that others can't replicate or provide to viewers. You'll likely find in your research that many individuals don't take a straight or traditional path to success and still become successful. Saying all of that to stay, if you don't initially pursue a degree in film study, that doesn't mean you won't be a successful director one day. Think about what kind of director you want to be and what kind of film/media you'd like to direct and create, find a well-known director who directs similar pieces of work and study their path to success (their background, upbringing, schooling, etc.)
You should enjoy your collegiate experience and your major should be a compliment to your personality, your future goals, & feel authentic versus merely classes and credits needed to get your degree. Take a few more courses in both studies and connect with your professors during their office hours or after class. They may have insight and additional advice that can help grow and shape your interests. Also, look for clubs that focus around education and film, you'll likely find upperclassmen that can provide an outlook on what the courses and degree looks like in your junior and senior years which may help you make a decision. Good luck!
You can pursue more than one passion. If you're interested in both, but find yourself gravitating towards education, I would stick on that track as your course load only intensifies as you progress through your degree. You can look at a minor in film study which will allow you to also take additional courses in film.
Or if possible, you can even dual major. One of my close friends dual majored while in school. It is a large task and takes a lot of time and dedication, but she graduated with two degrees and went on to become an educator and get her masters and PhD in Education. It's all a matter of how dedicated and passionate you are about the subject/major itself and what you're willing to sacrifice in the present to prepare for your future. If you're looking to become a director, taking some of those foundational film courses may be crucial in guiding your career as a director. If you choose not to pursue a dual major or film at all in school, I would load up on as many elective film courses as you can handle throughout your time in school to provide yourself with a strong foundation if you decide to go back and get a degree in film later in life.
You can also look for internships around film study that will give you real world experience if you don't want to pursue film from an educational aspect. You may end up becoming an educator but pursuing film as your passion in your spare time which is a great outlet from teaching which can be demanding and stressful at times. You have a ton of flexibility when choosing your educational path in college.
Your advisors can set expectations for you in terms of the course load, credits/hours needed, and help guide you on the best fit for your collegiate education moving forward. And lastly, when thinking about what you want to do, think about yourself as a person and what works best for you (are you willing to sacrifice some of your personal times, activities, etc. to get a dual major, would you rather have a higher course load now or come back to education later on in life?, etc.). You know yourself best, you know what you can handle and what your priorities are.
Lastly, research the careers of influential directors, especially those you admire. Successful individuals in general come from all walks of life and backgrounds and many have little or no formal education. However, you should definitely get a degree, the experience alone is invaluable! Also, there are several individuals who began life in one career and completely pivoted successfully achieving the education/degree they needed later in life. Being diversified in more than one aspect of life also gives you a unique perspective which can translate to film. Having a unique eye for film based on one's own life experiences are what appears to make iconic directors the most successful as they provide a perspective that others can't replicate or provide to viewers. You'll likely find in your research that many individuals don't take a straight or traditional path to success and still become successful. Saying all of that to stay, if you don't initially pursue a degree in film study, that doesn't mean you won't be a successful director one day. Think about what kind of director you want to be and what kind of film/media you'd like to direct and create, find a well-known director who directs similar pieces of work and study their path to success (their background, upbringing, schooling, etc.)
You should enjoy your collegiate experience and your major should be a compliment to your personality, your future goals, & feel authentic versus merely classes and credits needed to get your degree. Take a few more courses in both studies and connect with your professors during their office hours or after class. They may have insight and additional advice that can help grow and shape your interests. Also, look for clubs that focus around education and film, you'll likely find upperclassmen that can provide an outlook on what the courses and degree looks like in your junior and senior years which may help you make a decision. Good luck!
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1512
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am to hear that you have interest in both film making and education. However, it might be difficult to have a career to do both at the same time. Perhaps you can consider to product films with education purpose.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Find out more about these 2 careers. There are plenty of information online.
2. Explore intern opportunities working in film industry and education.
3. Speak to someone who are working in these 2 careers.
4. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
5. Decide which career path you would to pursue and explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Find out more about these 2 careers. There are plenty of information online.
2. Explore intern opportunities working in film industry and education.
3. Speak to someone who are working in these 2 careers.
4. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
5. Decide which career path you would to pursue and explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
KELVIN ALORDZINU
Senior Researcher
2
Answers
Virgilina, Virginia
Updated
KELVIN’s Answer
Good Day Stephanie, How are you doing today? I hope this answer meets your needs, I have always had a passion for Agriculture and Teaching since I was in 7th Grade but did not know how to Blend the two, this was a challenge for me until I got to high school where I majored in Agriculture but I still felt I was incomplete because I was thinking of how can I become a teacher without forgoing the Agriculture, so at the University I applied to read Agriculture Education and this made me have professional teaching training so now I can do my Agriculture and still impact the agriculture Knowledge to students and farmers as well so I think following your passion and attending relevant carrier conferences will also help you to shape your carrier path thank you and have a wonderful day I wish you all the Best.