• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • College Loans
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • College Loans
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise

You are here: Home / Life / Surprise Careers for Your Major

Surprise Careers for Your Major

November 12, 2010 //  by College Magazine//  Leave a Comment

FacebookTweet

 By Hannah Park > Senior > Journalism > University of Maryland

On the cusp of entering the real world, students are often bombarded with anxious questions regarding their major and career plans. While your degree might not sound like a glitzy moneymaking machine, don’t fret. According to Dr. Katharine Brooks, author of You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career, your major is not indicative of your career—you are. With this in mind, College Magazine gives you five versatile majors, along with potential careers you might not have considered.
 

1. ECONOMICS
Sure, economics might be eligible for the top five yawn- inducing majors, but the degree can lead to a variety of jobs within journalism, business, government and nonprofit organizations. Not to mention, according to Brooks, “Economics degree-holders consistently receive the highest post-graduation wages of liberal arts students.”
 
SURPRISE CAREER: Did you know Mick Jagger was an economics major in college? So stop that yawning and add rock star to the list of possible career moves for eco- nomics majors.
 

2. ENGLISH
Contrary to popular belief, English majors aren’t confined within the limits of working as teachers or lawyers. In fact, scrutinizing complex literature for deeper meanings helps to develop writing and communication skills desired by many industries.
 
SURPRISE CAREER: The English degree can be applied to public relations firms (think press releases and social media), advertising agencies (marketing campaigns), nonprofits (grant writing) and even large consulting companies (drafting proposals). For creative writers, although the field is competitive, consider freelance writing opportunities or working your way up in screenwriting for TV or film.
 
3. BIOlOGY

We’ve heard it all before—major in biology, commit to pre-med and become a doctor. But what if you’re afraid of blood?
 
SURPRISE CAREER: Brooks says biology majors with excellent people skills could also consider the pharmaceutical and technical fields. “Their biology background and science knowledge would help them understand the product better so they could explain it to a less technical customer,” she says.

 
4. COMPUTER SCIENCE
Brooks says that along with engineering, computer science can be “the springboard to entrepreneurship, inventions, patents and potentially lots of money.”
 
SURPRISE CAREER: Not only is computer science an extremely marketable major, but it also opens the door for creative job opportunities including video game design, animation and robotics.
 
5. FINANCE
Forget the Wall Street stereotype.
SURPRISE CAREER: Consider the nonprofit sector. Pick a cause you believe in and see if you can work in the budget or fundraising areas of the organization.
No matter what you decide, Brooks recommends keeping an open mind.
“It’s just a matter of discovering what the strengths are from your major as well as your experiences and personal traits,” she says. “Always be flexible and look for a range of career opportunities—not just one specific job.” Nonetheless, whether you build analytical skills through archaeology or sharpen your visual creativity in art studio, chances are, these assets will make you marketable to employers.
 
Photo courtesy of students.hw.com

FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Life

About College Magazine

College Magazine Staff

You May Also Like

good books for college students

10 Inspiring Books All College Students Should Read

Your guide to the best backpacks for college

CM’s Top 10 Backpacks for College

What the FICO? Sorting Out Your Credit Score

10 Best Presents For Your Perfect Pup

30 Foolproof Gifts for Every Type of Boyfriend

christmas gifts for mom

35 Best Christmas Gifts for Mom that She’ll Actually Love

Top 10 Non-Materialistic Gift Ideas

20 Gifts for Parents That They Actually Want

10 Places in Philadelphia to Relax When You Need a Day Off

Social Media Stock Photo

Hi, I’m Niko. And I’m Addicted to Social Media.

10 Gifts Your Girlfriend Actually Wants

10 Gifts Your Girlfriend Actually Wants

Listen to the Experts: Maintaining Mental Health in the College Environment

Top 10 Freshman Rites of Passages at Cornell

The U.S. Education Connection: What’s Going On?

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Opt for a Random Double Freshman Year

10 Can’t Miss Music Conferences for Music Faculty

10 Movies to Get You Through the Rest of the Semester

must-watch k dramas

10 Must-Watch K Dramas for Every College Student

10 Majors to Tackle Climate Change as a College Student

10 Ways to Survive Juggling College Demands

city-hall

24 Things To Do in 24 Hours in Alachua, Florida

Top 10 DIY Gifts for your BFF

10 Ways to Get Turnt If You’re Under 21 at Penn State University

How to Write a LinkedIn Summary That Sounds Legit

Previous Post: « Suicide in College: Is There a Solution to the
Next Post: 2010 NCAA Basketball Rivalries »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

2203

10 Gifts Every Little Wants From Her Big

299

20 Gifts for Parents That They Actually Want

good books for college students
228

10 Inspiring Books All College Students Should Read

98

Top 10 Non-Materialistic Gift Ideas

Captured the beauty of New York City
46

24 Things to Do in New York City in 24 Hours

Featured Chapter: University of Florida

University of Florida Football Stadium

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2019 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.