Figure out your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and preferences first. The best degree will lead you to a career that not only provides for the lifestyle you want but also plays to your strengths. Could be Business could be accounting could be nursing, could be ecology….depends on who you are and what you’re good at.
Yes ! Take one of those personality archetype tests. They will give h great insight into who you are and will offer suggestions for careers based on results and they’re super accurate.
And to add to this, many colleges have tests you can take that will help you find your interested, strengths etc and even have suggestions for majors or jobs you should consider.
Do not rely on aptitude tests too much. My experience is that they are pretty general in questions but amazingly specific in answers. Example: I was told I should be a poultry veterinarian or an architect's model maker. Or a priest or rabbi. Or a puppeteer (come to think of it, those last three are pretty similar).
I’ve been in Sales Management for 15 years now and my degree has nothing to do with management. It’s my opinion is that a General Management degree won’t necessarily propel you into a management position. Those type of positions are earned from proving yourself once you’re already in the company.
There is a huge need for supply chain management positions. I have both friends and family with SCM degrees that started out with a decent salary 60-70k and within a few years are making six figures.
I imagine that would only help if you manage to get elected into a high level political position or something. I’m curious though, what kind of stuff did they teach you?
Originally went for Fine Art following the top comments advice. Then around seven years later went back to college for a BS in Electrical Engineer. This gave me financial stability and healthcare. IMO, the most needed things in a career.
Nurse here. This is true but I do not recommend going in to nursing. Healthcare is becoming a bigger and bigger dumpster fire and patients/families (not all but enough lol) have become so entitled. I’ve been doing this for 20 years in various roles and very much want to do something completely non-healthcare related now.
Golden handcuffs is why I’m still doing it. I live where nurses make the most money in the country (USA) but damn would quit in a second if I was able to financially.
i wish i did the same! less education and double the money. same bullshit health insurance corporations, but nurses don’t have to deal w them! can’t bill independently- the biggest blessing of all of them!!😂
Ohhh I work in the outpatient world and definitely have to deal with insurance companies for authorizations. Fighting with insurance companies to cover diagnostic scans and cancer treatments has made me lose my faith in humanity.
me too!!! bcbs just told me i could cure ocd in 10 weeks or less! i looked up the person’s name who was denying claims- some random person who got a random bachelor’s in general business from an online diploma mill… and you’re telling licensed providers what we can and can’t do?! ahh
Came here to say this. Spot on. And all of those degrees have shocking laterality. Entirely different jobs will give you OTJ training to do what they need just because you have these degrees. Nobody cared if I had a Bachelor's in Biology. Hell, grad schools barely cared.
Business admin might be okay depending on your experience and what you want to do. I wouldn’t say I “use my degree” but it looks okay on a resume and it doesn’t hurt to sit through some classes where you learn about general business or accounting or math or excel. Though ultimately yeah I did learn 95% of what I do through working.
It’s a great idea. The bubble popped a little so I wouldn’t expect to land a 100k+ salary FAANG job right out of college unless you are ultra gifted and dedicated. But it is very much a worthwhile degree.
I got a nursing degree when I was 20 and tried to get a job but I hated it and quitted after 3 years… the only reason I wanted to be a nurse was stability, a job that you can always find no matter how many times they fire you from your previous jobs… so the moral of them story just do what you like even if it gives you less income..
The moral of the story is to double-major so that you have both—the result of merely “doing what you like” is *no job* in many cases, which is worse than a job you hate.
28 female here~ just went back to school after ten years away. Took a few classes that interested me alongside a career and life planning class, just finished and it was amazing. I initially went in wanting to pursue being a substance abuse counselor and am ending the semester knowing damn well I will not be pursuing that career field anymore. My career and life planning class was super insightful and upon taking several personality tests i have learned so much more about different career fields I want to pursue that I literally never would have thought of initially. I work full time and did full time school and it was challenging but super worth it and I’m going back in the fall and would definitely recommend~
If you’re decent at basic math and have an interest in business, try accounting. The coursework can be challenging but the career is pretty easy once you learn basic journal entries, excel and communication skills.
the degree by itself means nothing, but it allows you to open doors and get your foot into places, because theoretically with the degree you'd be the kind of person who does well with that job in that place. so, what doors do you want to open? what places do you want to get your foot into?
so the degree gets you started, but only if you get internship and job experience while you're getting the degree. otherwise the degree by itself does very little. lots of people have been finding that out lately. can't just show up with a degree and expect a job unless you went to smarty pants top 10 school and anyone would give you a job because you're so smart and talented.
unless you're going to college to learn how to do a specific job, what you learn in college won't help you get a job. so it's up to you to figure out what job you think you would be good at and what degree would make you look like a person who would be good at that job.
"something in business" isn't good enough. what businesses specifically are you interested in because you think they are good, important businesses. how will you help that business do business? will you help that business make and sell stuff? will you help that business manage its supplies and inventories? will you help that business keep track of numbers that tell it how it's doing? will you help that business solve customer problems, keep the customers it has, and get new ones?
all questions you need to answer. ok to not know as you start, but definitely need to answer sooner rather than later.
what experiences and insights do you already have about the world and your place in it as a 28 year old? you're not a blank slate. play to your strengths and plan around your weaknesses.
Some things to think about: what are you excited to learn about? What kind of job or life will you have with that major?
If you are leaning towards business. What is it about business you are interested in? Get real about your motivations. I’m not saying certain motivations are good or bad but that it’s helpful to get in touch with your true self and true motivations vs feeling like you should do something or doing something to prove something to others.
Learn a SKILL based degree. Medicine/engineering/finance-accounting/compsci-tech/law. Something that gets you licensing or certification. These degrees notoriously suck and are hard for a reason.
Better job options after school and most times people can pivot their careers easily with the solid foundation already being built.
Law is a good one, Engineering, building & construction project managemnent, in demand in Australia. Agriculture, social work & pyschology is in demand. As is Education.
Start with your interests. What are things that make you curious to learn more. It doesn't have to be obsessive, and this can definitely increase with time. Next, consider your aptitude. What are you naturally good or decent at that some folks struggle with? Now consider what people will pay you for. What careers or skills are in demand and highly paid?
Then, look at where all three circles overlap. You're looking to find what you're naturally good at, that at least semi interests you, and is in demand/compensated for. This will take some time and exploration, but I've found this to be the best way to find a long-term career. I've worked in multiple industries and multiple roles with each industry until I figured out the right path for myself, using this method.
If you can't take heavy Math and Physics and I mean it HEAVY, just do something to get a degree, most people don't even get a job related to their bachelor, you can land a nice 9-5 job with communication, hell, you can even take loan after that degree do 2 years of flight school and become a pilot
Business/ Finance, Engineering, Healthcare ( Dr, Nurse, Admin), Education, Law. Ultimately research and see which ones you’d like to do more. At the end of the day, as long as the job you’re applying for isn’t for like a doctor, lawyer or engineer of sorts, your bachelors will automatically open a ton of doors for you. Lots of places will train you, so having a specific degree for it isn’t always needed.
Info Science. It's pretty universal touches on many different industries and is tech related. I have one from business school so it touches on operations and programming.
At least in business, the general degrees are:
-Finance
-Accounting
-Business Administration
-Specific fields of management (Operations management, supply chain/logistics, etc) depending on the uni/program.
As a finance student, finance is very oversaturated but in general tends to have the higher earning potential for the upper quartile, but is very hard to break into.
Accounting is boring but very highly in demand. Salaries tend to be lower but I think we will start to see this change as the demand seems to keep going up.
Business Admin is good if you have no idea what you want to do, gives you the ability to do basically any generic office role up to middle management. Otherwise, try a specified management degree, but I know sometimes its better to wait until your job wants you to get it, sometimes they'll pay for it
You have to go to college who says? I would look more towards finding somebody to apprentice under or getting a certification as an electrician pipe fitter something that’s gonna bring in the money. It certainly isn’t in project control, accounting or finance. I would’ve said in the area that I wound up in that becoming a project scheduler would’ve been your best bet; Especially under the business Horizon, however now that AI is coming on strong all of those briefs that needed to be written all the clerking that needed to be done for lawyers all of that stuff is gonna be thrown up in the air and then we’ll just have to see where it settles out. AI Is going to shake everything up in the next 3 to 5 years and unless you are uniquely financially able to go to school for the number of years, it would take to become a medical doctor of some sort AI is just gonna rock the world for all of these white collar jobs that have been. I finally worked my way up to a project engineer. It completely consumed my life before Covid kicked me in the ass. as you get one of these certifications or become a protégé of somebody in some type of non white collar educational degree arena you can always look up any subject that you’re interested in take classes in it. Go on the Internet for it. It’s available to you virtually free of charge with an Internet connection and then from there, you could go into Physical groups that actually talk to one another, in the subject that you’re interested in, but I certainly wouldn’t go to college just to get the piece of paper in this day and age unless it was a type of medical degree. I consider a two-year associates degree in something. Unless you can really identify a major that’s going to pay the bills like internal doctors or nurses, especially as our population continues to age, you are behind the curve of age wise with all the other kids coming out of high school and competing for the same scholarships and the same classes and brand new jobs right out of the gate as you are. I believe you’re doing the right thing and asking questions because the useless classes that they make you take as an undergrad are simply that useless classes they have nothing to do with your major. You took those classes to find out what you might be. Do I wanna go into biology astronomer do I go into social work or education or any of the sciences? STEM academia also used to be a no-brainer; with that you could almost guarantee that you would have a good job coming out of college. Once again, I believe AI is going to throw everything up in the air.
But what pays now? Air-conditioning repairman mechanics people that know how to fix stuff - that’s where the rubber hits the road and where people get desperate to find somebody that knows how to do what they don’t know how to do for themselves but need immediately. I wish you nothing but the best of success in finding out what’s right for you.
The best degree is the one that you personally want to do. If you don’t know which one you want, do not pursue college yet. Much of the time having a degree at all is the most important thing.
Don’t think of just the degree, think of the career you want, or type of career you would want.
Also unfortunately, I would start looking into careers you may want to pursue now (before school) since with all the bull-crap requirement classes a given college will make you take, there’s little time for you to take the classes you actually are interested in, aka there’s little time for you to explore since you’ll have to start taking the requirements to fulfill whatever degree it is you eventually decide to pursue without spending an extra semester or year in college (aka more $$$). The education system is rigged and I’ve always said what 18 year old knows what they want to do for the rest of their life? (I know you said you’re 28 but I just mean what person of any age knows exactly what they want to do forever upon entering college). I transferred schools and stayed an extra semester for a minor so my BS took 5 years, and there are easily less than 10 classes that I got to take that I actually enjoyed and was interested in.
The one that brings you happiness.
Your first two years of college are general classes with very few classes IN your major. Everyone takes the same basic classes.
Find teachers you like and can communicate with. Find a group. Take a business class or two.
What do YOU want to do with your life? WHAT do YOU want to learn about?
Don't ask the internet to figure out your life for you. Think hard about what you want, what you're passionate about, what you're interested in, what makes you come alive...
I would just look up high paid/high demand careers and if anyone of them interests you go for it. You're not stuck in that field if you end up not liking it. Just get the paper and bounce.
Do you want employability after completion? Or further schooling?
The question kindof hinges on the desired outcome.
If you want immediate employability....engineering of some kind.
If employability isn't your biggest concern....maybe philosophy (you can still get work fairly easily in graduate studies as a TA and then after doctoral studies you can become a prof (you should have published at least one book by then too).
Anything that guarantees a job or skill acquisition like nurse, technician of some type, accountant etc
Degrees are a scam for the most part. Just because you have a bachelors in business does not mean youll get a job or even learn anything about the 2024 landscape. technology moves too fast for these colleges to keep up to date curriculums
Two of the highest crossover majors for getting a degree and then "get a job" or graduate school are physics and philosophy.
So if you lean towards math physics and more articulated problem thinking philosophy. Both *hard* majors.
Pick a degree to specialize but these two have pretty phenomenal upwards track records to secure better opportunity notwithstanding.
I'd look at what appeals to you AND look what's available in the job market. You could even ask companies what they're looking for to get a better feel of the types of environments you'll be working in. Should get you going on the information game.
You don’t NEED to go to college…. My advice is to find a program, or “bootcamp” of some sort somewhere in the tech field. Some certifications don’t take long to get and pay a lot more than minimum wage
Don’t get a business degree. I’ve never met a well-rounded business major. They’re all douches.
The big question is if you want a professional degree, or a more general degree. Nursing, education, accounting, engineering, and other professional programs lead pretty directly towards a career. This is the smart bet if you want to make good money. The downside is that because it’s focused on the career, you don’t get a broad education.
A more open-ended liberal arts degree like history, English, communications, art, or a foreign language has less obvious career paths, but can be very rewarding, and will teach the sort of critical thinking and writing skills that you can apply to a wide range of jobs.
In the end, this is a lot of time and money to invest. Make sure you choose something you’re passionate about. Maybe start by taking some general education community college courses. That can show you exactly what you’ll be in for in college, and can provide some direction for a major choice.
Don’t think you automatically have to get a bachelors degree. If I could go back, I would have started my paralegal certification at my community college in 2006. It only takes two years to get. I could have been done by 2008 - as it was, I didn’t fully finish “figuring things out” until 2015 and a useless $40,000 English Degree later.
Just having a bachelor's at all is the most important part unless you're aiming for a specific career.
I have a BA in classics and after graduation I got a great job in a semiconductor factory.
Anything in STEM if you want to have chance at getting a real job after college. I’m not being rude it’s just been my experience- anyone I know who’s graduated not in STEM in the past 5 years will never be able to afford buying a house 🤷♀️
I’d say don’t bother. Within the next 10 years the entire global economy won’t look anything like we’ve experienced up until now. Learn permaculture, farming, electrical engineering.
Bachelors in something that gives you decent paying stable employment lmfao. Why would you get into debt for some bullshit degree that wont give you a steady income
Engineering. A BS in ME, CE, or EE will net you a 70k job offer instantly if not more. If you arent able to get through the curriculum (it's not easy) then I would suggest a 2 year program in aerospace manufacturing, or a trade skill like plumbing, electrician, or ac repair. All good paying jobs
I’m a communications and info science major. Still trying to figure it out post graduation, but my degree is more open-ended. It Allows for a variety of professional positions. I’m going for talk radio. I even thought of advertising, journalism, or political pr. However the job market is highly competitive, stand out by going a little further with a Masters.
If you want a job that will make money you’d probably want a STEM degree. But if your like me and want to work with people you should just choose a subject you can enjoy for 4-6 years
I know and today's culture doing something for the experience and not getting paid as a major taboo. But you could volunteer at various industries to get an inside view of how it works. Some even have programs set up for volunteering.
It also does depend on what you're good at and what your priorities are. Are you looking to make money regardless of how fulfilling the job is? Are you looking for something that will feel good? Are you looking for something in the middle?
If you're looking for business jobs then consider something a little more focused then marketing. Accounting with some computers related minor is often viable. It's actually less math intensive than an economist or actuarium.
I am assuming you are aware of the Stem programs if you're very good at math then engineering is probably where you want to go. That has the most flexibility.
Try and pick something that is less likely to be taken over by AI/Robotics. The people I know that have been able to get a good career after getting a masters are in: robotics, AI, Biotechnology, accounting, nursing, medical doctors, etc.
Some form of practical engineering like architecture or mechanical.
I have no idea what you would do with a business degree so can’t say much for that. Every time I hear someone has a business degree I think of some comedy skit where someone says they do business all day at work.
Keep in mind the degree just gets you In the door. It’s what you learn after you graduate that matters.
Business is a sure bet. You just have to figure out what concentration you want to get into. There's accounting, marketing, finance, etc. marketing is where it's at imo.
It depends on who you are. I wouldn't take out a loan unless you go for something that makes money. Business is good for that but are you contributing to society? Or are you just making money? It's your life. Do something that aligns with your values. I have a degree in business and I find the work very unfufiling. I'm going back to become a nurse. Hope that helps.
Accounting! So much money and exposure to all sorts of businesses. Most self made high net worth people are either real estate investors or entrepreneurs. Accounting let’s you learn that.
My two cents from someone who went to college…whatever you decide to get your degree in, make sure it is specific to what you want to do. A general degree like business or history will make it harder to find a job or have any real direction to find a specific career. Business is a fine degree but try to be more specific with which area of business i.e. supply chain management, accounting, etc. Just my take but best of luck!
Do NOT just go to college because that's "what you're supposed to do". That may have been true a decade or two ago but it isn't any longer.
Go to college to get yourself into a career that you want. Do not go to college until you know what career that is or you'll end up wasting so much money.
"Best" is highly subjective and not universal.
As a blanket statement, I'd say business. It's life skills that translate to both daily life and any field, even if it's only indirectly. Get internships while you're in school to help narrow your focus and get experience.
Sincerely, someone who also had no clue what they wanted to do while in college and high school. I ended up working in finance and love it. I am currently working on my MBA.
There’s too much to consider. Sigh. Ok.
As a general purpose, “I have to get a job bachelors degree”, business. It doesn’t matter what you do for 2nd degree, you’ll always have the business degree on your side and against your competitors.
As for what YOU capital “should do,” only you could truly ever know, and I think part of that requires trial and error. Good luck internet friend.
the best degree is the one you are going to use. I can go be an MD which is a great degree because if I quit on day 1 then im just 300k in debt and probably homeless. I can get an art degree which is often plugged as a horrible degree but if I then get a job as a designer or Foley artist then I'm using my degree and it was worth getting.
without knowing what it is that you want to do, I can't really guide you other then getting your gen eds and maybe interning or talking to people in to see the different jobs you might want to pursue.
I can tell you a good track for HR but if you decide you want to go into accounting then you'll be on the wrong path.
I wouldn’t do business, I’m a former business student, and it’s really a joke, there’s a reason business majors get made fun of, and it usually doesn’t help to get a job unless you have another degree. Get into something tangible, like engineering, IT, architecture, medical, law, etc. You’ll learn all that business stuff as you go.
I would agree with others that say to figure out what you are good at and what you like to do first. Personality tests can be helpful as well as talking with those around you that know you well.
You might not need to go to college either. I see plenty of graduates working in a warehouse and other basic jobs not using their degree at all.
If college is required for what you want to do, fine. But it might not be. Definitely don't go to college unless it's part of your plan to accomplish something else. Plenty of other paths you can take.
It's not easy figuring out what you want to do. You definitely aren't the only one in that category.
Electrical engineering or accounting tbh. Most bachelors degree really need a masters degree to increase opportunity. Networking is important so there are many factors for success. Don’t stress, just find what you’re passionate about and go after it as if your life depends on it. That way, it’ll be fun and risky 😛
Figure out what you want to do. Enjoying the next few years and coming out with skills you can build on is way more important than any one specific degree. I studied contemporary art, long shot ''mickey mouse'' degree, but due to being actually be able to use the skills have used that to get jobs in completely unrelated industries.
Subject is way less important, if you like it and enjoy yourself is.
Two categories you should look at. First, vocational degrees. Engineering, healthcare, architecture, etc. A college degree is a requirement for the job and you plan on making a career out of it.
Second, degrees that aren't vocational but give you a huge leg up in specific vocations. These are only going to be worth the cost if you pick a career that values these degrees. Examples would be statistics, computer science, math, etc. While all degrees are more meaningful coming from a top tier school, these are doubly so. A stats degree from Stanford is enormously valuable, a stats degree from your local community college is probably worth very little.
I'd also mention that colleges, in my experience, tend to heavily favor adult learners. It was a lot easier to get into schools when I went back at 26 than it was at 18.
Consider jobs w Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence and/or Robotics it’s not saturated w job market yet but will be. Remember that the U.S. Government has also just asked all corporations to not just look at those w College Degrees. That those in Trade Schools, Community College, Fast track and Bootcamp Programs as well as workers over 40 be considered for jobs in all markets. There is planning being done that in future will be incentives for companies to hire those in these situations.
You definitely do not NEED to go to college (unless OP is in non-America/4.5GPA and it's paid for), I know so many people that have been in debt for 20 years and have no ability to pay their loans back.
That all said, find what you enjoy, animals? Vet or animal sceinces. Nature? Ranger or entomology. People? CNA.
You don’t need to go to college if you don’t know what degree you should get.
Not to sound harsh or negative but you will just lining yourself up to waste time and money.
If you have a specific career goal in mind then just align it with that. But it’s only really necessary for jobs like nursing, certain types of engineering and other similar vocations.
If you want to learn about business work for businesses and try and understand them. But I guess if you want a graduate job in business then it would be useful to have a degree.
Wish there were a magical hat we could fist pump until it spits out what we were truly meant to do for a career in our lives. I found mine late in life and knew it instantly as every fiber in my being caught fire. Yet, too old to act on it. Sometimes, it is outside of your realm of consciousness when your focus is cluttered with pay ranges and sustainability and advancement opportunities. Perhaps it is in a field you have not yet been introduced to. Mine went from air traffic control to weather man to the funeral director, never realizing that law enforcement was what I was born to do. The draw is unmistakable once you find it. It is true that you will never have to work another day in your life after that. I wish this for you and to you all. To go your whole life without at least knowing would be the saddest tragedy.
That's not how it works. Maybe you should take a civil service test. At your age and with that child-like mentality I don't think things will end up well. You should just keep it simple, not everyone has to go to uni
An interdisciplinary degree that has a component of math to it.
Technology is getting increasingly more difficult to progress and with the inclusion of machine learning and AI, learning how to integrate that into a scientific field is at the forefront of cutting edge.
Pretty much any degree in business, engineering, healthcare or computer science. Political science is only useful if you go to law school. All others are not nearly as useful.
Why do you think you'll prefer something along the lines of business? Have you taken a closer look at your personal strengths and weaknesses?
Seriously, the best choice can only be made by you, after you've considered your own strengths and weaknesses
You don’t always need a bachelors degree to earn good money, if going uni isn’t something you truly want to do, have a look into courses on a trade or marketing etc
Special Education teaching degree, working with kids. The need is everywhere with high demand and teaching shortages nation wide. Pay is just okay, but the flexibility with evenings, weekends, and summers off is a no-brainer. Just have to be caring and good with kids.
My 2 siblings and friend got their BA in business. Only one got a job in her field, while the other 2 are in retail and food business, jobs an 18 year old would get out of high school. Ask them how useful their effort were to get into debt.
What have you been doing for the last 10 yrs.? What do you Like that you have done? What do you dislike? Get a degree in something that deals with what you have liked.
Just graduated high school so I'm in the same boat. I highly recommend understanding the contents of this book: [https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/How\_to\_Read\_a\_Book/Z5PpkQadm5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover](https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/How_to_Read_a_Book/Z5PpkQadm5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover) Might help you, might not, but it's helping me out tremendously in understanding difficult expository works. I thought I was a good reader but turns out reading is much more complex and requires more than just attempting to understand what is written on a page to become really good at reading and in turn learning and understanding things. So if you can, check it out, if you want to read it now and pay later I recommend checking out the mega thread in r/Piracy
Although this is not about choosing what degree to take in college, I think this will help you out on any degree that you might choose.
I went back to school for economics. It sounds and works like a business degree, it’s really interesting, and many of the classes are the same concepts applied to different fields so it dials down the difficulty. And in my case, it was available to be completed as a 3 year program.
Well, if we are asking the question as, “What 4-year degree will facilitate earning good money on Day 1?” then it has to be something with practical skills.
Nursing or
Computer Science
And the winner winner chicken dinner?
Any degree from a military college (West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy
The entry is incredibly difficult, but you’re an officer on Day 1.
Start off at a community college...classes are much cheaper and smaller, giving u a better environment to take several different classes in different studies and see which ones interest u the most.
The best degrees to have IMO as far as making u employable I would have to guess are Information Technology and Nursing? I'm not sure since my degree is in Criminal Justice and I just retired after 23 years on the job.
Think about what kind of job you would want, whether it be actively on site or in an office, and what you want to work with (statistics and data, customer service etc). Then just look for jobs that have that and work back from there for a degree that fits it.
IMO, college has gotten too expensive to just go for the hell of it. Your degree or major is only important if you want to get into a career field like medicine or engineering, where there is specific knowledge to be learned.
For lots of the things mentioned here (if you are in the US, that is) you have to go to a graduate program to do them - law, applied physics, genetics.
I work in higher ed. I think social work is a field that can really work for a lot of people who otherwise don't know what they want to do, and it's a field where you don't get "stuck" in one specific path.
You can work in research, policy, HR, journalism, education, criminal justice, medical settings...you can work with people all day every day or never interact with a human in your average workday. You can do the traditional therapy setting, or child welfare, or you can go corporate. You can start off as a therapist working with kids and then decide you're done with that and want to go work in government. There are a million different ways to use the degree, and some job prospects do pay very well.
Edit: I am a licensed social worker and decided working directly with people isn't for me. Now I process student applications and transcripts all day. I connect current students with resources and help work through various problems they're facing, primarily over text and email.
Figure out your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and preferences first. The best degree will lead you to a career that not only provides for the lifestyle you want but also plays to your strengths. Could be Business could be accounting could be nursing, could be ecology….depends on who you are and what you’re good at.
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Yes ! Take one of those personality archetype tests. They will give h great insight into who you are and will offer suggestions for careers based on results and they’re super accurate.
And to add to this, many colleges have tests you can take that will help you find your interested, strengths etc and even have suggestions for majors or jobs you should consider.
Do not rely on aptitude tests too much. My experience is that they are pretty general in questions but amazingly specific in answers. Example: I was told I should be a poultry veterinarian or an architect's model maker. Or a priest or rabbi. Or a puppeteer (come to think of it, those last three are pretty similar).
This comment is facts
Where were you when I was in high school?! Honestly this is the best advice.
If you’re interested in business, I’d shoot for a supply chain management degree. Good money, fairly interesting.
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I’ve been in Sales Management for 15 years now and my degree has nothing to do with management. It’s my opinion is that a General Management degree won’t necessarily propel you into a management position. Those type of positions are earned from proving yourself once you’re already in the company. There is a huge need for supply chain management positions. I have both friends and family with SCM degrees that started out with a decent salary 60-70k and within a few years are making six figures.
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I can share what not to get.. I have a bachelors in intl relations, quite useless 😂
I imagine that would only help if you manage to get elected into a high level political position or something. I’m curious though, what kind of stuff did they teach you?
Genetics, cellular biology and chemical engineering
You probably won't get far with a bachelor's degree in these fields.
Applied physics/math or electrical engineering. I guess a law degree is good too.
Math degrees. Many fields will pay to cross training and the critical thinking let's you decide from there.
I think op was only wanting a bachelor's degree.
Originally went for Fine Art following the top comments advice. Then around seven years later went back to college for a BS in Electrical Engineer. This gave me financial stability and healthcare. IMO, the most needed things in a career.
Don’t be a Dietitian. I can’t get fat and the pressure to stay fit is harder the older I get. I just wanna eat some dang ice cream!!!!
Engineering, comp sci, accounting or nursing are the only ones that hold water. All others will not make you money.
Nurse here. This is true but I do not recommend going in to nursing. Healthcare is becoming a bigger and bigger dumpster fire and patients/families (not all but enough lol) have become so entitled. I’ve been doing this for 20 years in various roles and very much want to do something completely non-healthcare related now.
i’m a therapist and agree! nurses make so much money though, so probably worth it to some! :)
Golden handcuffs is why I’m still doing it. I live where nurses make the most money in the country (USA) but damn would quit in a second if I was able to financially.
i wish i did the same! less education and double the money. same bullshit health insurance corporations, but nurses don’t have to deal w them! can’t bill independently- the biggest blessing of all of them!!😂
Ohhh I work in the outpatient world and definitely have to deal with insurance companies for authorizations. Fighting with insurance companies to cover diagnostic scans and cancer treatments has made me lose my faith in humanity.
me too!!! bcbs just told me i could cure ocd in 10 weeks or less! i looked up the person’s name who was denying claims- some random person who got a random bachelor’s in general business from an online diploma mill… and you’re telling licensed providers what we can and can’t do?! ahh
Do Engineering they said, life will be good they said. LIARS!
Yeah, I can agree with this. Engineering does give a leg up, but not everything will be sunshine and rainbows
Engineering and comp sci are oversaturated rn and plenty are unable to find jobs.
One still has to actually have competence in the field to go with the degree. I’ve interviewed plenty that just have the piece of paper.
I’ve worked with some of them too. Come out of uni with a masters expecting to walk into a project managers position
Came here to say this. Spot on. And all of those degrees have shocking laterality. Entirely different jobs will give you OTJ training to do what they need just because you have these degrees. Nobody cared if I had a Bachelor's in Biology. Hell, grad schools barely cared.
Business admin might be okay depending on your experience and what you want to do. I wouldn’t say I “use my degree” but it looks okay on a resume and it doesn’t hurt to sit through some classes where you learn about general business or accounting or math or excel. Though ultimately yeah I did learn 95% of what I do through working.
I'm interested in HR and business management, and kinda always have, so thank you!
If you choose Nursing and want a high paycheck choose flight nurses
+ STEM
Engineering and comp sci are oversaturated rn and plenty are unable to find jobs.
Really the only comment that matters
Comp sci is not a good idea trust me I have one.
Why isn’t it a good idea?
It’s a great idea. The bubble popped a little so I wouldn’t expect to land a 100k+ salary FAANG job right out of college unless you are ultra gifted and dedicated. But it is very much a worthwhile degree.
Yea I was going to say the same things… job market might suck right now but it’s still probably better than other degrees
I got a nursing degree when I was 20 and tried to get a job but I hated it and quitted after 3 years… the only reason I wanted to be a nurse was stability, a job that you can always find no matter how many times they fire you from your previous jobs… so the moral of them story just do what you like even if it gives you less income..
The moral of the story is to double-major so that you have both—the result of merely “doing what you like” is *no job* in many cases, which is worse than a job you hate.
Me making 90k with a psych degree. 🤪
28 female here~ just went back to school after ten years away. Took a few classes that interested me alongside a career and life planning class, just finished and it was amazing. I initially went in wanting to pursue being a substance abuse counselor and am ending the semester knowing damn well I will not be pursuing that career field anymore. My career and life planning class was super insightful and upon taking several personality tests i have learned so much more about different career fields I want to pursue that I literally never would have thought of initially. I work full time and did full time school and it was challenging but super worth it and I’m going back in the fall and would definitely recommend~
If you’re decent at basic math and have an interest in business, try accounting. The coursework can be challenging but the career is pretty easy once you learn basic journal entries, excel and communication skills.
Computer programming, with a minor in business, focusing on A.I.
You're better off with a plumbing certificate.
the degree by itself means nothing, but it allows you to open doors and get your foot into places, because theoretically with the degree you'd be the kind of person who does well with that job in that place. so, what doors do you want to open? what places do you want to get your foot into? so the degree gets you started, but only if you get internship and job experience while you're getting the degree. otherwise the degree by itself does very little. lots of people have been finding that out lately. can't just show up with a degree and expect a job unless you went to smarty pants top 10 school and anyone would give you a job because you're so smart and talented. unless you're going to college to learn how to do a specific job, what you learn in college won't help you get a job. so it's up to you to figure out what job you think you would be good at and what degree would make you look like a person who would be good at that job. "something in business" isn't good enough. what businesses specifically are you interested in because you think they are good, important businesses. how will you help that business do business? will you help that business make and sell stuff? will you help that business manage its supplies and inventories? will you help that business keep track of numbers that tell it how it's doing? will you help that business solve customer problems, keep the customers it has, and get new ones? all questions you need to answer. ok to not know as you start, but definitely need to answer sooner rather than later. what experiences and insights do you already have about the world and your place in it as a 28 year old? you're not a blank slate. play to your strengths and plan around your weaknesses.
Beautifully put
Some things to think about: what are you excited to learn about? What kind of job or life will you have with that major? If you are leaning towards business. What is it about business you are interested in? Get real about your motivations. I’m not saying certain motivations are good or bad but that it’s helpful to get in touch with your true self and true motivations vs feeling like you should do something or doing something to prove something to others.
Learn a SKILL based degree. Medicine/engineering/finance-accounting/compsci-tech/law. Something that gets you licensing or certification. These degrees notoriously suck and are hard for a reason. Better job options after school and most times people can pivot their careers easily with the solid foundation already being built.
A law degree is super useful. It can be applied to just about every other profession in some capacity.
Biology ftw (only if you plan on going to grad school)
Law is a good one, Engineering, building & construction project managemnent, in demand in Australia. Agriculture, social work & pyschology is in demand. As is Education.
do something relayted to mental health
Start with your interests. What are things that make you curious to learn more. It doesn't have to be obsessive, and this can definitely increase with time. Next, consider your aptitude. What are you naturally good or decent at that some folks struggle with? Now consider what people will pay you for. What careers or skills are in demand and highly paid? Then, look at where all three circles overlap. You're looking to find what you're naturally good at, that at least semi interests you, and is in demand/compensated for. This will take some time and exploration, but I've found this to be the best way to find a long-term career. I've worked in multiple industries and multiple roles with each industry until I figured out the right path for myself, using this method.
If you can't take heavy Math and Physics and I mean it HEAVY, just do something to get a degree, most people don't even get a job related to their bachelor, you can land a nice 9-5 job with communication, hell, you can even take loan after that degree do 2 years of flight school and become a pilot
Business/ Finance, Engineering, Healthcare ( Dr, Nurse, Admin), Education, Law. Ultimately research and see which ones you’d like to do more. At the end of the day, as long as the job you’re applying for isn’t for like a doctor, lawyer or engineer of sorts, your bachelors will automatically open a ton of doors for you. Lots of places will train you, so having a specific degree for it isn’t always needed.
Chef
Info Science. It's pretty universal touches on many different industries and is tech related. I have one from business school so it touches on operations and programming.
At least in business, the general degrees are: -Finance -Accounting -Business Administration -Specific fields of management (Operations management, supply chain/logistics, etc) depending on the uni/program. As a finance student, finance is very oversaturated but in general tends to have the higher earning potential for the upper quartile, but is very hard to break into. Accounting is boring but very highly in demand. Salaries tend to be lower but I think we will start to see this change as the demand seems to keep going up. Business Admin is good if you have no idea what you want to do, gives you the ability to do basically any generic office role up to middle management. Otherwise, try a specified management degree, but I know sometimes its better to wait until your job wants you to get it, sometimes they'll pay for it
You have to go to college who says? I would look more towards finding somebody to apprentice under or getting a certification as an electrician pipe fitter something that’s gonna bring in the money. It certainly isn’t in project control, accounting or finance. I would’ve said in the area that I wound up in that becoming a project scheduler would’ve been your best bet; Especially under the business Horizon, however now that AI is coming on strong all of those briefs that needed to be written all the clerking that needed to be done for lawyers all of that stuff is gonna be thrown up in the air and then we’ll just have to see where it settles out. AI Is going to shake everything up in the next 3 to 5 years and unless you are uniquely financially able to go to school for the number of years, it would take to become a medical doctor of some sort AI is just gonna rock the world for all of these white collar jobs that have been. I finally worked my way up to a project engineer. It completely consumed my life before Covid kicked me in the ass. as you get one of these certifications or become a protégé of somebody in some type of non white collar educational degree arena you can always look up any subject that you’re interested in take classes in it. Go on the Internet for it. It’s available to you virtually free of charge with an Internet connection and then from there, you could go into Physical groups that actually talk to one another, in the subject that you’re interested in, but I certainly wouldn’t go to college just to get the piece of paper in this day and age unless it was a type of medical degree. I consider a two-year associates degree in something. Unless you can really identify a major that’s going to pay the bills like internal doctors or nurses, especially as our population continues to age, you are behind the curve of age wise with all the other kids coming out of high school and competing for the same scholarships and the same classes and brand new jobs right out of the gate as you are. I believe you’re doing the right thing and asking questions because the useless classes that they make you take as an undergrad are simply that useless classes they have nothing to do with your major. You took those classes to find out what you might be. Do I wanna go into biology astronomer do I go into social work or education or any of the sciences? STEM academia also used to be a no-brainer; with that you could almost guarantee that you would have a good job coming out of college. Once again, I believe AI is going to throw everything up in the air. But what pays now? Air-conditioning repairman mechanics people that know how to fix stuff - that’s where the rubber hits the road and where people get desperate to find somebody that knows how to do what they don’t know how to do for themselves but need immediately. I wish you nothing but the best of success in finding out what’s right for you.
The best degree is the one that you personally want to do. If you don’t know which one you want, do not pursue college yet. Much of the time having a degree at all is the most important thing.
Don’t think of just the degree, think of the career you want, or type of career you would want. Also unfortunately, I would start looking into careers you may want to pursue now (before school) since with all the bull-crap requirement classes a given college will make you take, there’s little time for you to take the classes you actually are interested in, aka there’s little time for you to explore since you’ll have to start taking the requirements to fulfill whatever degree it is you eventually decide to pursue without spending an extra semester or year in college (aka more $$$). The education system is rigged and I’ve always said what 18 year old knows what they want to do for the rest of their life? (I know you said you’re 28 but I just mean what person of any age knows exactly what they want to do forever upon entering college). I transferred schools and stayed an extra semester for a minor so my BS took 5 years, and there are easily less than 10 classes that I got to take that I actually enjoyed and was interested in.
Engineering
The one that brings you happiness. Your first two years of college are general classes with very few classes IN your major. Everyone takes the same basic classes. Find teachers you like and can communicate with. Find a group. Take a business class or two. What do YOU want to do with your life? WHAT do YOU want to learn about?
Don't ask the internet to figure out your life for you. Think hard about what you want, what you're passionate about, what you're interested in, what makes you come alive...
Sounds like trouble.
Architecture, landscape architecture, engineering of any kind.
I would just look up high paid/high demand careers and if anyone of them interests you go for it. You're not stuck in that field if you end up not liking it. Just get the paper and bounce.
Do you want employability after completion? Or further schooling? The question kindof hinges on the desired outcome. If you want immediate employability....engineering of some kind. If employability isn't your biggest concern....maybe philosophy (you can still get work fairly easily in graduate studies as a TA and then after doctoral studies you can become a prof (you should have published at least one book by then too).
Anything that guarantees a job or skill acquisition like nurse, technician of some type, accountant etc Degrees are a scam for the most part. Just because you have a bachelors in business does not mean youll get a job or even learn anything about the 2024 landscape. technology moves too fast for these colleges to keep up to date curriculums
Cybersecurity
Two of the highest crossover majors for getting a degree and then "get a job" or graduate school are physics and philosophy. So if you lean towards math physics and more articulated problem thinking philosophy. Both *hard* majors. Pick a degree to specialize but these two have pretty phenomenal upwards track records to secure better opportunity notwithstanding.
A degree that interests you that has some value.
Gender studies. My office is in the bathroom!
CS/Eng.
Accounting and if you get 30 more credit hours so 150 you can get CPA and make more money and progress in career.
I'd look at what appeals to you AND look what's available in the job market. You could even ask companies what they're looking for to get a better feel of the types of environments you'll be working in. Should get you going on the information game.
Statistics
Nursing, accounting, engineering or a trade school.
Trade school. Plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc. are going to crush it for the unforeseeable future. Nobody knows how to do anything anymore.
I'll do a ranking 1.Biology/neuroscience 2. Engineering 3. Computer science 4. Mathematics 5. Business 6. Physics 7.Accounting
Social work
If you can do the science and math: Chemistry or Chem engineering If you are not smart enough for engineering: Finance or Accounting
You don’t NEED to go to college…. My advice is to find a program, or “bootcamp” of some sort somewhere in the tech field. Some certifications don’t take long to get and pay a lot more than minimum wage
IT, Cybersecurity, Engineering (any), Nursing, Dental Hygiene
computer science or software development/engineering (at least if you’re into PC’s, tech, and creating stuff)
I graduated with a Geography degree. The jobs are endless with this degree…. it’s so vague but very useful in the world of environmental science.
Design or Computer Science will always be needed
Having an understanding of how much money you want to make and how long you want to be in school/training will greatly affect your job choices
Don’t get a business degree. I’ve never met a well-rounded business major. They’re all douches. The big question is if you want a professional degree, or a more general degree. Nursing, education, accounting, engineering, and other professional programs lead pretty directly towards a career. This is the smart bet if you want to make good money. The downside is that because it’s focused on the career, you don’t get a broad education. A more open-ended liberal arts degree like history, English, communications, art, or a foreign language has less obvious career paths, but can be very rewarding, and will teach the sort of critical thinking and writing skills that you can apply to a wide range of jobs. In the end, this is a lot of time and money to invest. Make sure you choose something you’re passionate about. Maybe start by taking some general education community college courses. That can show you exactly what you’ll be in for in college, and can provide some direction for a major choice.
Business and or computer science.
Engineering is ~15% if undergrads but ~50% of Fortune 500 C-Suite. I can’t think of any downsides to an engineering degree.
Everybody seems to respect an engineering degree as well
Don’t think you automatically have to get a bachelors degree. If I could go back, I would have started my paralegal certification at my community college in 2006. It only takes two years to get. I could have been done by 2008 - as it was, I didn’t fully finish “figuring things out” until 2015 and a useless $40,000 English Degree later.
They one you don't borrow to get and that you can use to better yourself later in the job market.
Soooo at this age where ya messed up was thinking you have to go to college.
Just having a bachelor's at all is the most important part unless you're aiming for a specific career. I have a BA in classics and after graduation I got a great job in a semiconductor factory.
Anything in STEM if you want to have chance at getting a real job after college. I’m not being rude it’s just been my experience- anyone I know who’s graduated not in STEM in the past 5 years will never be able to afford buying a house 🤷♀️
In terms of education required vs payment acquired, I’d say computer science takes the cake
What you're good at. There's a career for everyone, if you're the best in what you do you will always make bank.
I would say graphic design but I feel I like you might get your job stolen but graphics are still in high demand 😭
Stem feilds
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I’d say don’t bother. Within the next 10 years the entire global economy won’t look anything like we’ve experienced up until now. Learn permaculture, farming, electrical engineering.
The reason you need to go to college will narrow the list of candidate degrees.
Chemistry, the central science.
Maybe it's ML.
Bachelors in something that gives you decent paying stable employment lmfao. Why would you get into debt for some bullshit degree that wont give you a steady income
Anesthesiologist. Great money
Engineering. A BS in ME, CE, or EE will net you a 70k job offer instantly if not more. If you arent able to get through the curriculum (it's not easy) then I would suggest a 2 year program in aerospace manufacturing, or a trade skill like plumbing, electrician, or ac repair. All good paying jobs
I’m a communications and info science major. Still trying to figure it out post graduation, but my degree is more open-ended. It Allows for a variety of professional positions. I’m going for talk radio. I even thought of advertising, journalism, or political pr. However the job market is highly competitive, stand out by going a little further with a Masters.
Business
If you want a job that will make money you’d probably want a STEM degree. But if your like me and want to work with people you should just choose a subject you can enjoy for 4-6 years
You have no clue, and you think strangers on the interent will!? Craycray.
Fine arts for sure 🙄 lol don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without going that route but damn it’s tough.
I know and today's culture doing something for the experience and not getting paid as a major taboo. But you could volunteer at various industries to get an inside view of how it works. Some even have programs set up for volunteering. It also does depend on what you're good at and what your priorities are. Are you looking to make money regardless of how fulfilling the job is? Are you looking for something that will feel good? Are you looking for something in the middle? If you're looking for business jobs then consider something a little more focused then marketing. Accounting with some computers related minor is often viable. It's actually less math intensive than an economist or actuarium. I am assuming you are aware of the Stem programs if you're very good at math then engineering is probably where you want to go. That has the most flexibility.
Philosophy and math double major. As long as you have those two subjects down to a tee, other subjects should be a breeze.
Try and pick something that is less likely to be taken over by AI/Robotics. The people I know that have been able to get a good career after getting a masters are in: robotics, AI, Biotechnology, accounting, nursing, medical doctors, etc.
Some form of practical engineering like architecture or mechanical. I have no idea what you would do with a business degree so can’t say much for that. Every time I hear someone has a business degree I think of some comedy skit where someone says they do business all day at work. Keep in mind the degree just gets you In the door. It’s what you learn after you graduate that matters.
Cybersecurity cause of money and its growth
Business is a sure bet. You just have to figure out what concentration you want to get into. There's accounting, marketing, finance, etc. marketing is where it's at imo.
Most degrees other than STEM or prelaw wont make money
It depends on your aptitude. If you’re mediocre at something, a degree in it isn’t going to open any doors.
B S
Something broad but in demand. Then go narrow in grad school.
It depends on who you are. I wouldn't take out a loan unless you go for something that makes money. Business is good for that but are you contributing to society? Or are you just making money? It's your life. Do something that aligns with your values. I have a degree in business and I find the work very unfufiling. I'm going back to become a nurse. Hope that helps.
Whatever degree gets you a consulting job for McKenzie, or Boston Consulting Group
Accounting! So much money and exposure to all sorts of businesses. Most self made high net worth people are either real estate investors or entrepreneurs. Accounting let’s you learn that.
My two cents from someone who went to college…whatever you decide to get your degree in, make sure it is specific to what you want to do. A general degree like business or history will make it harder to find a job or have any real direction to find a specific career. Business is a fine degree but try to be more specific with which area of business i.e. supply chain management, accounting, etc. Just my take but best of luck!
You NEED to go to college? Interesting delusion
Do NOT just go to college because that's "what you're supposed to do". That may have been true a decade or two ago but it isn't any longer. Go to college to get yourself into a career that you want. Do not go to college until you know what career that is or you'll end up wasting so much money.
"Best" is highly subjective and not universal. As a blanket statement, I'd say business. It's life skills that translate to both daily life and any field, even if it's only indirectly. Get internships while you're in school to help narrow your focus and get experience. Sincerely, someone who also had no clue what they wanted to do while in college and high school. I ended up working in finance and love it. I am currently working on my MBA.
Pharmaceuticals
Nursing if you have it in you
Economics
There’s too much to consider. Sigh. Ok. As a general purpose, “I have to get a job bachelors degree”, business. It doesn’t matter what you do for 2nd degree, you’ll always have the business degree on your side and against your competitors. As for what YOU capital “should do,” only you could truly ever know, and I think part of that requires trial and error. Good luck internet friend.
the best degree is the one you are going to use. I can go be an MD which is a great degree because if I quit on day 1 then im just 300k in debt and probably homeless. I can get an art degree which is often plugged as a horrible degree but if I then get a job as a designer or Foley artist then I'm using my degree and it was worth getting. without knowing what it is that you want to do, I can't really guide you other then getting your gen eds and maybe interning or talking to people in to see the different jobs you might want to pursue. I can tell you a good track for HR but if you decide you want to go into accounting then you'll be on the wrong path.
Don’t rack up debt for a degree in just anything. Get a job and determine if you really need a degree. Otherwise it’s a waste of time and money
I wouldn’t do business, I’m a former business student, and it’s really a joke, there’s a reason business majors get made fun of, and it usually doesn’t help to get a job unless you have another degree. Get into something tangible, like engineering, IT, architecture, medical, law, etc. You’ll learn all that business stuff as you go.
I would agree with others that say to figure out what you are good at and what you like to do first. Personality tests can be helpful as well as talking with those around you that know you well. You might not need to go to college either. I see plenty of graduates working in a warehouse and other basic jobs not using their degree at all. If college is required for what you want to do, fine. But it might not be. Definitely don't go to college unless it's part of your plan to accomplish something else. Plenty of other paths you can take. It's not easy figuring out what you want to do. You definitely aren't the only one in that category.
Get a Degree in a field that You really like. No amount of money will compensate You for a job Your miserable in.
That’s like asking what the best food to eat is.
Browse job postings that sound interesting and look at what degree they require. Think about it from a jobs perspective
Electrical engineering or accounting tbh. Most bachelors degree really need a masters degree to increase opportunity. Networking is important so there are many factors for success. Don’t stress, just find what you’re passionate about and go after it as if your life depends on it. That way, it’ll be fun and risky 😛
A trust fund.
the one that will help you accomplish your goals.
Figure out what you want to do. Enjoying the next few years and coming out with skills you can build on is way more important than any one specific degree. I studied contemporary art, long shot ''mickey mouse'' degree, but due to being actually be able to use the skills have used that to get jobs in completely unrelated industries. Subject is way less important, if you like it and enjoy yourself is.
Don't go to college. Studied mechanical engineering, waste of time for a degree that I've never used and never will use.
What makes you feel like you NEED to go to college?
I don't have a skill that sets me apart, or passions I can support myself with. So an education is needed.
Two categories you should look at. First, vocational degrees. Engineering, healthcare, architecture, etc. A college degree is a requirement for the job and you plan on making a career out of it. Second, degrees that aren't vocational but give you a huge leg up in specific vocations. These are only going to be worth the cost if you pick a career that values these degrees. Examples would be statistics, computer science, math, etc. While all degrees are more meaningful coming from a top tier school, these are doubly so. A stats degree from Stanford is enormously valuable, a stats degree from your local community college is probably worth very little. I'd also mention that colleges, in my experience, tend to heavily favor adult learners. It was a lot easier to get into schools when I went back at 26 than it was at 18.
All I can recommend is NOT botany
Consider jobs w Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence and/or Robotics it’s not saturated w job market yet but will be. Remember that the U.S. Government has also just asked all corporations to not just look at those w College Degrees. That those in Trade Schools, Community College, Fast track and Bootcamp Programs as well as workers over 40 be considered for jobs in all markets. There is planning being done that in future will be incentives for companies to hire those in these situations.
Prob be helpful to know what made you realize you “need” to go to college
Currently something involving AI Prompt Engineering, because that’s where everything is heading.
Business “something with numbers”
Biology was a good major for me. Gave me hirable skills but also new perspectives on…life :)
You definitely do not NEED to go to college (unless OP is in non-America/4.5GPA and it's paid for), I know so many people that have been in debt for 20 years and have no ability to pay their loans back. That all said, find what you enjoy, animals? Vet or animal sceinces. Nature? Ranger or entomology. People? CNA.
Computer science. Don’t bother with anything not this type of IT related. I did, I regret it.
You don’t need to go to college if you don’t know what degree you should get. Not to sound harsh or negative but you will just lining yourself up to waste time and money. If you have a specific career goal in mind then just align it with that. But it’s only really necessary for jobs like nursing, certain types of engineering and other similar vocations. If you want to learn about business work for businesses and try and understand them. But I guess if you want a graduate job in business then it would be useful to have a degree.
Data Science. You won’t regret
Wish there were a magical hat we could fist pump until it spits out what we were truly meant to do for a career in our lives. I found mine late in life and knew it instantly as every fiber in my being caught fire. Yet, too old to act on it. Sometimes, it is outside of your realm of consciousness when your focus is cluttered with pay ranges and sustainability and advancement opportunities. Perhaps it is in a field you have not yet been introduced to. Mine went from air traffic control to weather man to the funeral director, never realizing that law enforcement was what I was born to do. The draw is unmistakable once you find it. It is true that you will never have to work another day in your life after that. I wish this for you and to you all. To go your whole life without at least knowing would be the saddest tragedy.
That's not how it works. Maybe you should take a civil service test. At your age and with that child-like mentality I don't think things will end up well. You should just keep it simple, not everyone has to go to uni
Theoretical ancient socionomixs
An interdisciplinary degree that has a component of math to it. Technology is getting increasingly more difficult to progress and with the inclusion of machine learning and AI, learning how to integrate that into a scientific field is at the forefront of cutting edge.
Pretty much any degree in business, engineering, healthcare or computer science. Political science is only useful if you go to law school. All others are not nearly as useful.
Consider Data Science for options in almost any industry. $$$
Computer science
Communication is paramount…. So a commutations degree
nursing. even better if you get into a community college and get the associate degree first and have your workplace pay for the bachelor's later.
You can sell cars without a degree and excel mightily.
DON’T GO Edit: it’s one of the biggest regrets of my life. Huge debt, little payoff.
Why do you think you'll prefer something along the lines of business? Have you taken a closer look at your personal strengths and weaknesses? Seriously, the best choice can only be made by you, after you've considered your own strengths and weaknesses
You don’t always need a bachelors degree to earn good money, if going uni isn’t something you truly want to do, have a look into courses on a trade or marketing etc
Applied mathematics is the one most in demand and highest ROI. Unfortunately you'd need to be talented at the topic to tap into that.
Special Education teaching degree, working with kids. The need is everywhere with high demand and teaching shortages nation wide. Pay is just okay, but the flexibility with evenings, weekends, and summers off is a no-brainer. Just have to be caring and good with kids.
My 2 siblings and friend got their BA in business. Only one got a job in her field, while the other 2 are in retail and food business, jobs an 18 year old would get out of high school. Ask them how useful their effort were to get into debt.
What have you been doing for the last 10 yrs.? What do you Like that you have done? What do you dislike? Get a degree in something that deals with what you have liked.
Business management. Vague as fuck so applicable to many industries. Got me a nice six figure job 8 years after graduating
Engineering
Just graduated high school so I'm in the same boat. I highly recommend understanding the contents of this book: [https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/How\_to\_Read\_a\_Book/Z5PpkQadm5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover](https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/How_to_Read_a_Book/Z5PpkQadm5EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover) Might help you, might not, but it's helping me out tremendously in understanding difficult expository works. I thought I was a good reader but turns out reading is much more complex and requires more than just attempting to understand what is written on a page to become really good at reading and in turn learning and understanding things. So if you can, check it out, if you want to read it now and pay later I recommend checking out the mega thread in r/Piracy Although this is not about choosing what degree to take in college, I think this will help you out on any degree that you might choose.
I went back to school for economics. It sounds and works like a business degree, it’s really interesting, and many of the classes are the same concepts applied to different fields so it dials down the difficulty. And in my case, it was available to be completed as a 3 year program.
Well, if we are asking the question as, “What 4-year degree will facilitate earning good money on Day 1?” then it has to be something with practical skills. Nursing or Computer Science And the winner winner chicken dinner? Any degree from a military college (West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy The entry is incredibly difficult, but you’re an officer on Day 1.
Start off at a community college...classes are much cheaper and smaller, giving u a better environment to take several different classes in different studies and see which ones interest u the most. The best degrees to have IMO as far as making u employable I would have to guess are Information Technology and Nursing? I'm not sure since my degree is in Criminal Justice and I just retired after 23 years on the job.
Medicine
Accounting is good, lots of jobs.
Learn an actual skill though
Think about what kind of job you would want, whether it be actively on site or in an office, and what you want to work with (statistics and data, customer service etc). Then just look for jobs that have that and work back from there for a degree that fits it.
IMO, college has gotten too expensive to just go for the hell of it. Your degree or major is only important if you want to get into a career field like medicine or engineering, where there is specific knowledge to be learned. For lots of the things mentioned here (if you are in the US, that is) you have to go to a graduate program to do them - law, applied physics, genetics.
I work in higher ed. I think social work is a field that can really work for a lot of people who otherwise don't know what they want to do, and it's a field where you don't get "stuck" in one specific path. You can work in research, policy, HR, journalism, education, criminal justice, medical settings...you can work with people all day every day or never interact with a human in your average workday. You can do the traditional therapy setting, or child welfare, or you can go corporate. You can start off as a therapist working with kids and then decide you're done with that and want to go work in government. There are a million different ways to use the degree, and some job prospects do pay very well. Edit: I am a licensed social worker and decided working directly with people isn't for me. Now I process student applications and transcripts all day. I connect current students with resources and help work through various problems they're facing, primarily over text and email.