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Recent research has shown that the pandemic — and its effect on the U.S. economy — has affected Gen Z's thoughts on college majors, and since a lot of readers were in college in 2007–2009 during the Great Recession or during 2000 when the dot-com bubble burst, we thought that looking at the topic in general would make for a great discussion today.
If you were going to college right now, what major would you choose, and why? Do you regret your choice of major and/or grad school degree, or do you know you made the right choice? Did the economy affect your decision, or would you have chosen your major no matter what? Related: Did you consider a gap year before college?
Here are some interesting findings about how COVID is affecting Gen Z's choices about what to study:
1. The National Research Center for College and University Admissions used their admitted-student research to compare academic major interest from 2019 to 2020 — here's a graph showing each major's positive or negative growth rate. It's no surprise that majors related to industries that took a hit during the pandemic, e.g., aviation/aerospace (-24%) and culinary arts (-56%), became less popular choices. The humanities/liberal arts and education declined, while majors seeing a bump in popularity included environmental science, criminal justice, and visual and performing arts.
2. Here are some stats from a survey of college students in July 2020: “While 42% of respondents strongly disagreed that the pandemic has caused them to rethink their major, 15% indicated that they strongly agree or agree to changing directions in their academic careers. The leading factors for that segment include job flexibility (57%), stronger job security/outlook (51%), and a change in values (39%). In fact, having seen the economic impact of COVID-19, one-third of all respondents believe it is “very important” to pursue a career in a field that is considered ‘essential.'”
3. An Inside Higher Ed op-ed noted, “A recent survey of Gen Z teens sponsored by the nonprofit corporation ECMC Group found that '61 percent believe a skill-based education (e.g. trade skills, nursing, STEM, etc.) makes sense in today’s world.' The survey also found that a slight majority (52 percent) believe they can ‘succeed in a career with postsecondary education other than a four-year degree.'” (The author of the piece disagreed with “describing only certain credentials as ‘skills based.”)
Considering your life and career experiences since getting your college degree (and graduate degree, if you have one), would you have chosen a different major if you could do it again? What advice would you give to high school and college students choosing a major in 2021?
Anonymous
I majored in journalism but would do speech pathology today instead — my son has a language disorder and SLP/SLT seems like a fun area. Occupational therapy too.
Anonymous
accounting / maybe with an eye to being an actuary
Anonymous
I second this. I work for a public accounting firm (in marketing; I’m not an accountant) and I think it’s a good field to go into these days. There is a serious shortage of accountants so the pay and career prospects are good. If you can suck it up and work in Big 4 for a few years to get that name on your resume, it will really set you up nicely for whatever you want to do next.
anon
I majored in journalism because I absolutely loved writing, editing, and publication design. I don’t regret it and have done well for myself, but I realized pretty quickly that the typical journalist’s life was not for me. I did not have the stomach for interviewing people in their worst moments and chasing the stories that make a career. I transitioned to the communications/PR/marketing side, despite being completely guilt-tripped by all the professors who told me I was selling my soul. (I sleep just fine at night, thanks.) I would strongly caution anyone going to J-school now to know their options and to realize that the job market is shrinking and is tough on people in general. If you like having control over your life and finances, don’t go into this field. Social media has made the work itself less fun and gratifying, though not everyone feels that way.
If I were going to college now, I would do something related to landscape design or horticulture. I haven’t pursued this because I want to keep it a hobby. At one time, all things related to writing, editing, design, etc. WERE my hobbies. They’re not anymore.
Anon
AI and machine learning. I’m a tech fanatic, and if we’re all going to be replaced by robots then we’ll still need people to service the robots.
Anon
I majored in Russian Area Studies in the early 2000s – our department was so tiny at the time. There’s no way to know how the world will turn out – something I loved turned into something extremely relevant. BUT I do wish I had more faith in myself as a woman in my STEM classes and more awareness of the job market to build more technical skills in college – coding, statistics, etc.
As for what I’d love to go back and study purely out of interest: philosophy, linguistics
Sloan Sabbith
I majored in political science. I wish I’d majored in public administration, I think I’d have liked it more. I didn’t dislike poli sci but I also didn’t really care. I went to law school after that and that was always my plan so it would all have probably shaken out about the same way.
Anon
Degree is in engineering and I would encourage students who have the aptitude to study engineering. It opens doors to other fields, especially if the student snags a liberal arts minor on the side. When in doubt, it shows that you’re smart and motivated, and to be entirely cynical, much of the value of a college education is a signalling mechanism.
Most importantly, I think you learn a LOT – an entirely different way to think, how to study harder than you’ve ever had to, how to do a lot of higher-level thinking.
Anon
Finance, engineering or computer science (or whatever current version of the early 2000s version of computer science is – coding? AI? no idea. Basically, a major that translates in to employment with a strong salary and long-term career prospect. Def not liberal arts/follow your passion, which is about all I was coached to in 2003.
Seventh Sister
Liberal arts grad who went to law school – was a history and political science double major, and kind of wish I’d majored in English instead of political science. Being a history major was surprisingly useful in legal writing – a lot of what I did then and do now is amalgamating a bunch of semi-boring sources into a coherent paper/memo. I think I’d be a better writer if I’d taken more English classes – the ones I did were really helpful in that regard!
That said, I was a kid who liked math and science stuff in the 1980s & 1990s but had the self-confidence of a pea. I wonder if I might have done something more STEM or computer related if I’d had stuff like Khan Academy or even decent access to a math tutor/study group. My daughter adores science and math, I’m hoping she’ll do something with it.
Also Anon
I majored in political science, I was a wide-eyed idealist who thought she was gonna go into politics and fix everything. In hindsight, I should have looked into something more practical, in either business or computer science, OR at the very least, I wish I’d done a better job laying the foundation – building the office skills, making those connections, getting the experience in early so I would’ve stood a chance when we were all competing for co-op jobs.
pugsnbourbon
+1 to being a wide-eyed idealist. I majored in Anthropology because I wanted to learn about people and change the world … definitely cringey looking back on it. I loved the coursework, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not exactly a pipeline to a career outside academia.
I’d probably still major in anthro if I could do it all over again, but I’d add a minor to lay the groundwork for an MPH.
Anon
I majored in Econ and now wish I had majored in something more interesting and writing-focused, like English. By far the most important skill I gained in college was thinking through and writing coherent arguments.
Anon
I majored in international relations. Loved it, got a job in my field (I was one of 3 people from my major to do so, everyone else “sold out” and went into business). When I wanted to leave DC I was able to pivot from the international version of the government work I did to the domestic version and now work in local government.
If I had to do it again, I’d study the same thing / aim for the same career progression but I’d add in a stint in the military – either enlist after high school and use the GI Bill for college or attend a service academy and serve after college.
Not only works free college be a huge financial win but also I work with the military regularly and having that experience would be helpful
Christen
Graduated in 2002-Spanish and Poly Sci double with a Diplomacy and Interstate Relations Minor. I originally thought that I wanted to go into Foreign Service or something similar. I worked in politics in campaigns from 2002-2006 with some non-profit work with senior citizens in between. The non-profit work is what led me to law school, but even now I do mostly family law now vs. my initial plan of estate planning. I’m not sure I would change majors, but would consider Public Administration also. My university (Indiana) has a great school for it! I also wish I had more career planning options for liberal arts (my PS advisor told me that I was the only graduate not going to law school as I was near graduation–as if I going was my only option). I went to law school 5 years later when it was right.
My husband has a journalism decree from smaller public university with known J school. He worked it in for years before going to work in a factory. Didn’t pay enough even after he moved to a paper with less hours and more flexibility. He doesn’t like his job but it’s hard for him to find a way to transition to something else journalism-related.
Anon
I actually majored in Biology and Political Science for undergrad and went on to get a Master’s in Public Admin.
I think about this a lot. I think I might have really enjoyed doing an undergrad degree in nursing (I almost actually switched to a program to do this…) and then being a nurse anesthetist or getting my NP degree. I feel like I would really like being a mid-level healthcare practitioner – NP or PA specifically. Having talked with several MD/DO friends, at least a couple of them would have preferred to go that route in hindsight.
Anon
I would do my same writing degree again and go into communications, and not go to law school.
Anon
I went to law school and ended up switching into communications after practicing law for 6 years. It’s a very unusual career path, but it’s possible, if you’re interested!
Doc
Double majored in biology and a creative field. Would never go into Medicine again. Instead… cybersecurity.
Anon
What I wish I did: Majored in business and worked for the FBI in financial fraud investigation before going to the private sector.
What i actually did: Got my MPH, used it for a few years and then moved into financial services as I realized my earning potential was capped if I didn’t move. Have spent the last 15 years explaining my move and advocating that all 15 years of experience are relevant to my specific function within a corporation. Had no regrets to not be part of the public health field during Covid – it is one of the most underfunded parts of our government.
Anonymous
If I was doing it over again, I’d major in biology and then probably get a masters/PhD in something related to genetics (genetics/cell bio was my best grade in college, and I find genetics fascinating).
What did I do instead? Majored in political science and went to law school. Don’t ask me why. I had a vague idea I was going to work in politics. I did, for a hot second. I do work on a lot of cases with scientific/medical issues now, which is why I constantly think I should have just done something more directly science related.
Sunshine
Double major – French Language and Latin American Studies. Useless degree from the standpoint of getting a job, but I enjoyed the subject matter. If I could do it over again with an eye to a career, maybe psychology or computer science, or some type of engineering degree (my Uni was heavy STEM so my liberal arts focus was unusual). As it is, I started in advertising, then some accounting work, and ended up in law school without any desire to practice law – I wanted to learn critical thinking.
Oh so anon
Hi, fellow French major! I majored in French Lit, and I loved it. It has been really useful in my career. If I were to do it all over again, I would double major in French and English.
Anon
Did major in: math
Would major in: math
Anon
What do you do now? My husband is a math professor, so I’m always curious where math majors end up.
Doc
I know several in finance.
Anon
I’m an actuary!
Sorry just saw this
Anon
Computational biology and bioinformatics. I loved biology but I wasn’t as interested in bench science and I didn’t want to be a doctor or get a PhD which seemed like the main things to do with a bio degree. Computational bio was just becoming a thing but wasn’t on my radar. I think I would have loved it and it opens more professional doors than a regular bio degree if you don’t want to get a PhD. Computing is so important in any area of science now; I will definitely emphasize that to my kids if they have any interest in science or math.
Anom
I majored in biology, then got a PhD in bio, then law school. Now I do IP law. I’d still major in bio because it really was interesting and rewarding. But if I were going back to school, I’d do a masters in public health. I never had interest in medicine and still don’t. But I find health policy issues incredibly interesting.
Anon
I already “did” my “would”.
First degree in my 20s was in economics. I worked in government in my country and hated it. In the meantime, discovered comp sci through friends and was sorry I hadn’t known about it sooner.
After coming here in my 30s, I did a new bachelor degree, his time in computer science. Left achool at 38, now am 44 and have had significant career success in this new field.
n
Anon
Good for you!
Anonymous
I double-majored in Computer Science and Management.
If I were to do it over again: Major in Computer Science, drop the management degree but still take classes (and a wider variety than what the degree requirements called for).
If you’re not super into liberal arts, engineering/computer science is definitely a better choice w.r.t. career options. You can stay technical, or go into one of a bunch of semi-technical roles (project management, product management, engineering management, tech writer, VC, industry analyst… OK the last few are more niche but all of these benefit from a technical foundation).
Cleveland Person
Did: double major in history and political science. Loved it. Took a gap year, then went to law school. Am deeply in student loan debt. Started out at legal aid wanting to change the world, but needed more stability and bigger paycheck, now, after a number of jobs, think I finally found my “right fit” job that is both enjoyable professionally and pays the bills…but my husbands income is a big factor in that equation.
Would do: computer science to be a programmer, which is super in-demand, and sorely lacking in women and minorities. I could have also still gone to law school, while making mad cash with side projects and not gone into such debt, and would have been able to go into a more in-demand high-paying field like IP law. People don’t realize that the average lawyer salary is UNDER 6 figures, and its an over saturated market….
Chef
What I did: Majored in English then went to culinary school. Now I work for a hunger non- profit which I LOVE!!!
What I wish I did: Majored in Food Science and would still be in the “hunger” space but maybe at a large corporation where I could make a more major impact.”
Peach
Did: Majored in electrical engineering, got law degree and now work in-house doing IP law. The field is interesting, high paying, and flexible. I’ve loved learning about the latest technologies and trends. However, I have some reservations about recommending it. The Supreme Court has really harmed IP law in the last decade with a lot of judge-made law. It is a mess. It is not a predictable system anymore, which can be frustrating.
Would do: Probably wouldn’t change what I did. Biomechanics and gait analysis are interesting and likely to be in high demand. People are sitting all day with poor posture and messing up their bodies. Figuring out what is the root of their problems and how to solve with physical therapy would be interesting. Plus, the satisfaction of making someone’s life better would be great.
Rachel
Majored in Classics/Archaeology and got my master’s in museum studies. I wanted to be a museum curator. I ended up landing in digital marketing. If I got a do-over, I’d keep my undergrad major but get an MBA instead of an MA.
The best advice that I got (that I didn’t take) was from my Dad when he said to try working for ‘the man’ (a bank, large corporation, big accounting firm, etc) early in your career. The higher starting salaries, educational benefits, and retirement savings set employees up in a different way than non-profits or smaller employers can. I’d skip working for marketing agencies (large or small) altogether!
Maria
A lot of kids nowadays choose IT and everything IT related. I think environmental studies are the future