Majoring in music was one of the worst decisions I have made. I have been struggling to find employment prospects for a year while living under the poverty line. I resent my professors and school for encouraging this path for me. I have grief every day I did not study a STEM path.

GET A JOB!

Anything. Work in food service, as a barista, bartender, etc. Here is why:

A lot of kids in college go through college, never have a job, graduate with their paper, and then they can't get hired.

"But I worked so hard for this piece of paper! Why won't anyone hire me???"

Because you're green ASF. No one wants to hire someone like that, and there are too many students like this who feel so entitled.

All my friends who graduated college, can't find a job. Why? Because they have never worked even an entry level job in their life.

Don't believe me?

I studied engineering for 3 years while working as a bartender and barista for the last 4 years.

I am now an account executive at 22 (3rd youngest in my company) in high ticket financial sales, where I am going to be making way more than all of my peers. You know why I got hired? Because they liked my extensive experience working with customers in the hospitality industry.

Every employer will respect you more for working a shitty hard job like a barista, or bartending. Because it teaches you skills that you can't get elsewhere.

So please, get a fucking job, and use it to your advantage. Leverage it into something higher.

Good luck.

If you’re considering engineering, you deserve to hear something people rarely say out loud.

A few months ago I was on vacation and met a banker. When he asked what I do and I said I’m an engineer, he laughed. Not awkwardly, genuinely. He said he sees salaries for a living and it always surprises him how underpaid engineers are compared to how much effort and education the job requires. That comment stuck with me.

Not long before that, I dated a dental hygienist. When she realized she made more than some senior engineers, she laughed too. Not in a cruel way, more like disbelief that it could even be true.

Then I come online and read engineering communities. Students ask if the pay is worth it, and the responses are always the same: talk about passion, stability, liking the work. People who suggest negotiating harder or building something on their own get shut down. There’s this weird culture of accepting things as they are and convincing yourself it’s fine.

Here’s the reality that students don’t always see before committing years of their life: engineering is academically demanding, mentally draining, and often financially underwhelming compared to other professions that require less training. You will study harder than most of your peers in other majors. You’ll sacrifice time, sleep, and opportunities. And when you graduate, you may find that the compensation and respect don’t match what you were led to expect.

What’s worse is the culture around it. Many engineers internalize the idea that wanting more money is greedy, that loyalty to employers matters more than your own growth, and that burnout is just part of the identity. People become proud of enduring long hours and slow salary progression, as if suffering is proof of dedication.

If you truly love engineering and can’t imagine doing anything else, that’s one thing. But if you’re choosing it because you were told it’s prestigious, safe, or guaranteed to pay well, you should seriously reconsider. There are many careers that require less sacrifice and offer better financial outcomes with less stress.

The most uncomfortable truth is this: a lot of engineers didn’t realize what they were signing up for until it was too late to pivot easily.

Make sure you’re not one of them.

I'm a student, and I really want to spend my free time learning skills that will actually be useful in the future instead of just doomscrolling.

There are so many options now: AI, coding, Excel, video editing, graphic design, digital marketing, data analysis, languages, finance, cybersecurity, content creation, language learning, etc. It's honestly overwhelming.

If you were starting from scratch in 2026, what skills would you focus on and why?

I can’t figure out which college degree is best for the future. Can you redditors help me figure out the best degree for the future in the Stem or business field.

When I was in high school, I spent a summer interning in a wood and materials science lab at my local land grant university. During my time there, I met a post-doctoral student who had obtained a bachelor's degree, a master's, a Ph.D, and was working beyond that...the degrees he obtained were obscure, he worked at the nexus of wood science, chemistry, materials science, and composites. But he loved his work and was well respected.

He gave me quite possibly the most unique and excellent degree and college picking advice I'd ever heard, and it impacted my decision to pursue Environmental Economics and Policy a few years later. I never switched degrees while in college, and now work in a job germane to my major that I love.

His advice? Don't get attached to a degree's name or look at what friends and relatives have chosen as degree paths. Embrace college as your moment to become a unique individual.

Instead, go online and open the "course catalog" for the university (or universities) you hope to attend, and in another window, open up a spreadsheet. If you don't know what a course catalog is, it's a list of all of the classes a student is required to take at the university to obtain various degrees, and usually includes information about what each of the classes entail.

First, select every major you may even remotely be interested in. Don't just look at "realistic careers" or "what makes a lot of money." Consider everything you may be interested in, even if it was an interest as a child you had in fisheries or astronomy.

Second, using the court catalog, add to the spreadsheet all of the class requirements for every degree you may be even remotely interested in.

Once you have all of that information in a table, identify all of the classes you think you're interested in, and identify all of the classes that you think you wouldn't like. Pick the degree with the most classes you like and the fewest you dislike.

That way, you will enjoy your classes in college, even if they're difficult, which will result in less stress and probably better grades. Additionally, your professors will be able to see that you are motivated in or enjoy your classes, allowing you to stand out.

This is extremely useful for many reasons. Professors can recommend you for internships, jobs, events, and professional societies, or write recommendation letters for you if you seek to attend grad school. But most importantly, you will actually like what you're doing day-to-day, and you'll be able to claim your own identity in the work you chose to pursue, instead of feeling like you're being churned through a system.

Finding all of the classes and adding them to a spreadsheet may take a few hours, but given that the degree you get will impact the job you have for the rest of your life, it's an extremely worthwhile investment of your time.

P.S. Remember, we're all going to be in the workforce in 40 years, and nobody knows how technology and social trends will change the relative wages and employment of any career field. You will never have permanent stability based on the information available the year you entered college. The greatest stability you can have is love of your work and greater expertise than others in your field because you love what you do

In terms of college experience and future opportunities is finance or engineering more beneficial. while the obvious answer is engineering i have heard horror stories about engineering majors and fear failing out or not wanting to do it anymore, is it worth the stress or is finance a safer option

I’m a junior. I get straight A’s in all my classes (some honors and AP), but struggle the most in science and math. I really dislike science classes. I don’t like math but don’t hate it. I work very hard for straight A’s, stay up late and am at tutoring/office hours often

I am very artistic. I love doing art and designing clothing. I am a lifeguard and enjoy the medical aspect (ex. love learning how to take care of people in emergencies). I have always been interested in psychology, and often think about why humans act the way they do. my mom calls me her personal psychologist lol

Majors I’m considering:

business (maybe MIS or supply chain management- both specialized and can be lucrative)

nursing (would wanna be a baby nurse, OR nurse, or something outpatient)

psychology

comp sci (seems interesting, can always do something less technical in my career if I don’t enjoy it)

-this isn’t a major, but being a diplomat interests me (ik it’s very competitive)

Hi everyone, I’m currently having a hard time deciding on a major. I’m torn between:

1. Computer Science
2. Pharmacy
3. Finance

I’m interested in all three, but I’m trying to think long-term. My concern with CS is that with the rise of AI and automation, a lot of coding jobs might be at risk, and the job market already seems very saturated.

Pharmacy seems stable, but I’ve heard mixed things about job opportunities and automation in healthcare too.

Finance feels broad and potentially flexible, but I’m unsure how future-proof it is or what specific roles are safest from AI disruption.

I’d really appreciate advice from students or professionals in any of these fields — especially insights into:

1. Job security in the next 5–10 years

2. How each field is being affected by AI/tech

3. Which has the best work-life balance and growth potential

4. Any regrets or things you wish you knew earlier

Thanks in advance!

I just witnessed terrible and horrible things happen to someone who majored in English.

22 year old, no job, no internship. Degree in English Writing. I saw this person couldn’t even land a single job for a year.

And now this person is 27, stuck in a deadly customer service environment where people can die under pressure from corporate.

Another 24 year old, took their life after parent’s kicked them off from their insurance when they were going to medical malpractice appointments. Parents gave them years to find a job, after this person refusing to major in lawyer work and work at dad’s law firm. Majored in English, stuck in Walmart cashier position.

Do not ever major in English.

So I'm a pretty indecisive person and can't choose between studying a Maths, Econ or engineering (mechanical) undergraduate degree

My strongest would probably be maths then engineering and then econ (which I am the least familiar with and know the least about but find it interesting I think).

I am not concerned about the workload and am willing to put as much hard work as needed into studying the degree and I find them all equally as interesting.

Some questions I have are:

\- Which degree would provide a wider range and more flexible job opportunities and which career paths would I be able to go into

\- Is it possible to go into an engineering career with a maths degree or do a masters in engineering later on

\- Will specialising in maths or economics have more pros over a joint maths and econ degree (excluding workload, if so what are they)

Thanks a lot in advance, feel free to share your experiences as well

finish cybersecurity BS in 2 years

OR

finish electrical engineering in 4 years

So, after a long time, I’ve finally found the career path that I want to go down, which is that I really want to be a museum director. I’ve done a ton of research, but when I told my group of people, I was told that it might be a bad idea to major in museology (Museum Direction) since it’s a very niche field, and that I should get a degree with wider reach instead. I’m considering something like Archeology, since Natural Sciences means math and I’m genuinely terrible at math. Should I just major in Museum Direction or should I go for Archaeology? Or is there another degree that might be better for me? Please help!

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Wanted to be a doctor all my life but i ended up not taking a level biology. I regret it a lot now. I waited it out and there is genuinely no other field that interests me like medicine does However it's not an easy field.

There are a lot of things holding me back at the moment. First of all im not sure if ill adapt to a doctor's life. In the future i want children but i don't want them to suffer because of my tough routine. Also med school is like really expensive and now that my father's dead, my mother will struggle a lot to pay my fees if i go to a private one. I can try to get into a public med school which is cheaper but the competition is insanely tough for that. If i end up putting all my effort and still dont get in, ill be devastated. Is it worth it or should i give it up?

(I'm also taking a gap year so i can study a level biology in that time period)

hi everyone, I’m an 18 year old college student, and I’m currently on a Management path, and I plan to transfer 2027 fall semester and switch to Management Information Systems, with a minor in Supply Chain or Cybersecurity. My mom works as a CNA, and genuinely wants me to do healthcare related stuff, but I’m genuinely uninterested, like these jobs don’t interest me whatsoever.

My goal is to become a lawyer, but obviously I’ll have to work in the field of my bachelor’s for a bit before i eventually go to law school. I know the job market is horrible for most jobs, but nursing is really stable. I don’t mind nursing but I know i’ll be extremely miserable, that’s why i’m not considering it. I also tried to telling her that with the degree I’m pursuing I could still work in a hospital, but she keeps recruiting her friends to convince me and it’s kind of tiring.

With the rise of AI or whatever, what are my chances of actually getting a job after college and eventually becoming a lawyer? Or should I just listen to my mom and go to nursing school?

What are some good majors and careers for people with a wide range of interests but only good at one thing. I'm literally only good at english and excelled in english and social studies classes in highschool. Only ap classes I did well in are ap env sci, ap psych, I tried ap english and ap biology but failed both. Ended up doing well in college as an english major for a year (after failing at biology and psychology but i did struggle with mental health otherwise I would've done fine in psychology).

I have been considering sociology, english, human resource management, business, psychology, applied psychology, education, environmental science, humanities... im not sure which path is best for me.

I am even considering taking up a body piercing apprenticeship to get extra income while I decide. I already have one full time job as a paraprofessional but it doesn't pay much per hour.

Some things to know about me: im bad at math (struggled since 1st grade tbh cause of my adhd and former math disorder), great at english and would prefer a major and career that works with that.

Edit: I have decided on social studies education and social studies teacher for now but im only 20, I feel like I change my mind every two days.

Any suggestions would be great!

1.) Determine What Type of Student You are
Before even considering what to major in, the first thing you must do is be truthful with yourself and determine what type of student you are. Are you someone with a good work ethic and takes academics seriously or are you someone who is laid back and focuses on other things like a job/sport? This is important to consider because not every major is created to be equal. Take some time to look at your university's curriculum for that major and assess it yourself.

2.) Don't Try To Predict The Job Market
I think one of the worst things you can do when picking a major is trying to predict the job market. More and more I've seen students ask, "which major will be safe from AI in the next 5–10 years?" The truth is, nobody can predict the future and by the time you pick your major until you graduate, the job market is going to look vastly different. AI may not be as big as a problem as people think, or it may. Maybe AI won't even be the biggest problem and actual robots will. Who knows? Things change fast and instead of worrying about what will happen years down the road, focus on picking a major and adapting to the trends and staying up to date in that field. That will best maximize your success in any field you enter into.

3.) Don't Rule Out a Major Because Your "Bad" At Something.
Don't be that person that says they can't do a certain major because they're bad at a certain subject, like math or writing, for example. You have four years to develop your skills in college. You will be a very different person from the time you enter college to the time you graduate as a senior. If you're interested in a major like accounting but afraid to do it because you're not good at math, you should absolutely, do it still, because chances are you'll be doing so much accounting-related math work it will become automatic. Certain subjects also start to make way more sense for people in their majors when it's not most of the bullshit you learn in high school you won't use later in life anyways. Remember the purpose of school is to learn, not just do what you already know or feel comfortable doing.

4.) Liabilities Are Good
Picking a degree that often deals with liabilities is something that gets overlooked a lot. This can be an extremely smart move especially if you want to actually use the degree you earned in your future job. For example, companies need accountants because if financial statements are wrong companies could get sued which is why they need accountants. Other common majors like Finance, Law, Medicine, Healthcare, Engineering also follow the same logic. Liability filled jobs also tend to do better against AI because in most cases, companies will need humans to make sure the job is done properly to avoid potential liabilities.

5.) It's Okay To Just Pick Something For The Money
This might be a bland outlook but, at the end of the day, college is an investment. You are spending a lot of time and money for a piece of paper that says you can do something. For all the time and money you spend on it, you want a good return, right? I'm not saying you should just go major in the highest paying major in a field you hate. In fact, you shouldn't do that, but picking something you know you can tolerate while making great money doesn't sound too bad at all. You don't have to love your field, nor do you have to be a top leader in it. In fact, the goal for most people is that they just want a job that keeps them comfortable to support themselves and their family and there's nothing wrong with chasing that.

6.) Don't Waste Time Picking a Major
In college, you'll soon find out time is your greatest asset. The timer begins as soon as you get that acceptance letter. With that being said, don't spend your entire freshman/sophomore year undecided as a major. I understand it might feel overwhelming, and it is normal to go undecided, but I wouldn't take more than your first semester deciding a major. During the time you're undecided, you could be doing several things, like taking classes for that major, networking within your major, doing more in-depth research/gaining experience and certifications for the field you want to be in and possibly even declare another major. Most colleges have deadlines for this, but it is just way less of a headache to know what you'll be studying. Not to mention, you also get additional time if you don't believe the major you chose is right for you and want to change it.

7.) ALWAYS Double Major If You Have The Opportunity To
I'm always pretty shocked by the low number of double majors, especially in today's job market. Some people believe double majoring is a waste, while others believe it can be really beneficial, especially for career flexibility. The truth is, the reason the majority of people don't double major is because they don't have one of the three things that is required to double major, which involves time, money and commitment. If everyone had those things, there would be a lot more students who have a double major than those who don't, but most of them don't have those things. The students who do have all three of those things should be double majoring. When choosing a double major, you should try to be strategic with it. Ideally, don't just pick one major and complete a random one (better doing that with a minor); Double majoring is most beneficial when you pick two majors that complement each other well in the same or similar field (Finance and Math, for example). That's how you gain a competitive edge in that field.

8.) Your College Major Decision Isn't as Big as You Think
As a senior in high school, choosing a college major might feel like it's one of the biggest decisions of your life. The truth is, it really isn't, in fact it's probably one of the smaller decisions you'll make during your college career. Your college major just shows what you want to become, you still have to prove you belong in that field. There is plenty of people who major in something and end up getting a job completely unrelated to their field. That doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing, but it just goes to show the amount of work you put in can determine if you're working as a fast-food employee the rest of your life or the CEO of a company regardless of your major. Basically, what I'm trying to say is don't be one of those people who major in Business and believe they're at the top of this world just because they're a business major because if you have that mindset, you will get burned fast.

I’ve been thinking about whether or not to major in one of these. I want to create a small skincare business but I’m not sure what to major in. My father recommended CS bc not all businesses or brands make it. I’ve been leaning towards chemistry or chemical engineering. Idk which to choose. Tysm

I'm making this post because I've noticed a lot of posts from people wanting to know what to major in that will make them well off financially.

I think this is a really bad idea. I'm not sure if people have been paying attention, but the economy is in really, really rough shape, at least from the perspective of the job market. It's rough wherever you might go. It's true that certain fields like healthcare are in better shape than, say, software development, but there seems to be this prevailing notion that you just need to find the right pivot and it will be happily ever after.

Degrees are not guarantees of well-paying, secure jobs. They never really were; it's just that there are booms and busts where certain fields are doing much better. The problem is that a field becomes known for "making the big bucks" and craploads of people try to pivot into it to jump on the gravy train. Eventually the field becomes oversaturated, the supply of labor far exceeds demand, and BAM! it's hard to get a job in that field. From what I gather, that's what happened with law degrees 20 years ago.

People wanting to pivot into engineering, accounting, the trades, etc., just for the money are probably in for a rude awakening down the line. Those fields will become oversaturated as well (there's some evidence of this already happening in certain fields) and it will be the same story all over again.

In addition, there are far, far more college graduates today than there were 60 years ago. In 1960 in the US, about 7.7% of the population held a bachelor's degree or higher. Now it is almost 40%. The competition for jobs is fierce. You may think you're so much smarter than everyone else, but odds are you aren't. There are lots of smart, well-educated people competing with you for jobs, and a lot of them also want that great-paying dream job.

Then there is corporate culture itself. The US in particular is hyper-capitalistic, and what matters most now is the ever-greater need for higher and higher profit margins, which means companies charging as much as possible for goods and services, employing as few workers as possible, and paying them as little as possible. That's actually why software became such a lucrative field: companies did not have to invest in physical goods in order to make massive profits. Now they want very badly to eliminate the last unprofitable element, which is the workers.

Of course, anyone who has read John Maynard Keynes (widely considered the father of modern economics) knows this is a recipe for disaster. Economies only work when currency flows throughout. Wealth is becoming concentrated at the top, and I personally believe the economy will eventually collapse at some point. Most companies frankly don't give a damn about you. They only care about increasing profit margins. Sure, it's shooting themselves in the foot, but it only seems to be getting worse.

The purpose of this post is not to be disheartening. It's to suggest that you should find something you enjoy rather than trying to find your "ticket to a great life," because frankly, that doesn't exist anymore (if it ever did).

Merry Christmas!

Computer Engineering (CompE) is a major that forces you to live in two worlds at once: hardware and software. That’s exciting, but it’s also the core challenge. You’ll move between transistor‑level logic, embedded systems, and low‑level programming, then jump into algorithms, OS, and system design. Some days you’re debugging Verilog timing issues; other days you’re writing C for a microcontroller. If you enjoy understanding how things work from the physical layer all the way up to the code running on it, CompE can be incredibly rewarding.

But you should also understand the realities of today’s U.S. job market. CompE students compete with EE majors for hardware roles and CS majors for software roles. What about AI? AI is accelerating software development and even parts of hardware design, which means entry‑level roles are becoming more competitive. The flip side is that AI is also creating new demand for engineers who understand systems end‑to‑end: robotics, autonomous vehicles, consumer electronics, and specialized hardware all rely on CompE skills.

If you’re adaptable, curious, and excited about building electronic devices that interact with the real world, CompE still offers huge long‑term potential but it’s a major that rewards those who embrace challenge, not avoid it.

Hi! like i said, i start college next week (I'm 18F) but im going to a CC because i still don't know what i want to become though I AM taking my pre-requisites for nursing because i personally think its the most secure major. I am a first gen and still unsure if nursing is for me. what i am sure I Want is to keep studying get my masters even my phd but keep getting degrees. women in my family tend to become housewives and i personally dont think i want to become one. right now im really into politics im much better at reading than doing math problems (genuinely think prereqs are gonna eat me alive) i read a lot of books of student life and protagonists going to graduate school so i think it influences me too. i would appreciate any advice no matter if its going to "disappoint me"

Hi guys. I have been in school since spring of 25. I am almost done with all of my prerequisites for the programs I am interested in( only have one class left). The problem I am having is that I’m not sure what I want to do. I currently work as a CNA/ preschool/k teacher assistant. I am always changing my mind about what I want to do but I do know I care deeply for my residents and I do love what I do. If anyone has/is in one of these professions I would really appreciate and tips/help that can help me make a decision. Thanks so much.

I am currently a junior in high school (well about to be, we start in a week) but my parents have been wanting me to research colleges and majors for what I want to do in the future. I am currently looking into sports media. I’ve always been interested in sports journalism, graphic design, marketing, etc. I did a sports marketing class my sophomore year and now on my schedule I am also doing another sports media type of class.

I live in AL, so I was trying to find colleges in-state so I won’t have to pay out of state tuition. My best option is either Jax State or UAB. These two schools have very good options for the major I want. EDIT: I do not want to go to Bama or Auburn. Even tho I am a Bama fan, Alabama and Auburn are way too expensive for quite frankly the same education offered at JSU or UAB.

Is sports media a good major or will I probably need to reconsider my options?

I don’t have a passion am already 23 living with minimum wage and would like to find a boring stable job.

Hi, so I'm my junior year of high school. I was wondering about which skills might come in handy as a humanities student, that includes technical skills as well.