In picking a major, passion exerts most critical influence

BRH_8249By Jonathan Coronel

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Econ — yes, definitely; I’ll study econ. Wait, no — supply chain sounds better; I’ll go with that. No, no. I’ve got it: I’ll do history (I love history!). Wait — I can’t get a job with that degree. Maybe I’ll…

This torturous line of thinking is typical of many, perhaps even most, of today’s college students.

In fact, for some — myself included — this is actually an abbreviated version of the nerve-wracking process that comprises choosing a major.

It’s hard to blame college students these days, particularly this year’s nearly 11,000 incoming freshmen, for switching their major. The freshmen who pick an area of study and never waiver from their choice are the exceptions rather than the rule.

Fact is, it’s incredibly difficult at age 18 to commit to something you could be doing for the rest of your life. Factor in all the other distractions that college brings, coupled with an increasingly volatile job market, and a student can quickly become overwhelmed.

There seem to be two schools of thought when it comes to picking a major.

There’s the “dreamer” advice that suggests studying what you love so that, no matter what the future holds, you’ll never have to think of it as work. Then there’s the “practical” approach that essentially says to study something you can make money with. Whether or not you love it is largely beside the point.

In today’s world it is fashionable to deride dreamers — often liberal arts majors — and to push students toward STEM (our acronym for science, technology, engineering and math) majors, where most of the jobs await — this based on the common misconception that it’s impossible for a liberal arts graduate to ever find a real, paying job.

Although degrees matter, the person is much more important than the piece of paper.

The political science major who networks extensively, runs three clubs and does internships every summer will be in a much better position to get a job after graduation than will the student who, no matter how technically proficient, fails to understand the power of making connections, pursuing them with vigor and keeping those relationships alive, aka the admonition to “never burn a bridge.”

Thus, to assume that college credentials alone will open doors to the best jobs would be making a serious strategic mistake. The truth is, any college major requires skills and commitment that extend outside the classroom. If a student doesn’t work hard to market learned and inherent skills, and be able to convince employers he or she is the one for the job, the major will be largely irrelevant.

Still think liberal arts majors can’t find a job? Think again.

The CEOs of YouTube, Starbucks and HBO all were liberal arts majors. Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, is now running for president. The common thread linking all of these people is the hard work and passionate approach they brought to their careers.

I recall one of my favorite high school teachers addressing the class one day and reminding us that, for most of our waking hours for the rest of our lives, we would be working, so we’d better choose our paths wisely.

As college students wrap up the first half of fall semester and pick their courses for the next, they should think long and hard about the path they have chosen. Choosing something you can’t stand just for the money is a bad investment.

The key is to find something you enjoy but that which you also can make a living pursuing. Place your bet on yourself—your tenacity, your networking skills, your personality—rather than a piece of paper. You’ll be happier, and eventually your hard work and passion will pay off.

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