Hey y'all! For today's post I've partnered up with a few other college bloggers to answer some common questions regarding specific majors. This advice will be great for any of you who are still in the process of choosing a major for this fall or for those of you who are still undecided after a year or two. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me via email or drop a comment below and we can continue answering your questions! All of the questions in this post are reader submitted, I love answering whatever questions y'all have about college!
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First up we have Laila from
Laila Anne Co.
College
Boston University: Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Major
Human Physiology
Favorite thing about your major? Least favorite?
I love that I specifically get to learn about all the science behind the human body! There's so much to learn and it's super rewarding when you can retain and process all of the information you're given. My least favorite thing about my major is the amount of time I have to spend studying, but I really can't complain because I still get to have a lot of fun!
How much time do you spend a week on homework/studying?
A whole lot! I would say I spend anywhere from 25-40 hours studying and doing homework each week.
How much free time do you have, if any? What do you do with it?
On days where I only have a few classes I can have up to six hours of free time, plus on the weekends my schedule is generally pretty open! In my free time I love putting a little extra effort into my makeup, shopping, watching TV and relaxing with friends.
If you could go back and start college all over again would you choose the same major?
I would totally stick with my major if I had the chance to start over again. Although it is very challenging, the many highlights and opportunities offered in my program make the struggle well worth it!
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I would love to attend medical school. I want to become an OB/GYN so I would look for schools with great women’s health curriculums. I don’t know where my journey will take me, but I also love the idea of pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. I know I would be so happy following either (or both) of these paths!
What has been your favorite class so far? Least favorite?
My favorite class has been an introductory writing class called “Women of the Non-West”. In this class, we studied feminist issues from the perspective of women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It was incredibly eye-opening and interactive. We watched a lot of Ted Talks and read so many fascinating articles.
My least favorite class was Chemistry 101. At Boston University, the CH 101 class has a reputation for crushing the dreams of all STEM freshmen. It is challenging, intensive and quite unforgiving. In order to succeed I had to spend a ton of time studying (hence the 40 hours). At the end of the day I survived, and I’m so glad I don’t have to suffer through it again.
Why did you choose this major?
I chose to major in Human Physiology because I love science and want to attend Med School. However, I don’t love learning about plant biology, ecology and E.coli. I really wanted to explore the inner workings of the human body, so naturally Human Phys called my name.
Advice for incoming freshman choosing this major?
I’ll put the harsh stuff first: Be prepared to study hard and be prepared to fail! It will be difficult. But also, be prepared to learn so much fascinating information and be super proud of yourself when you retain most of it. You’ll need to develop amazing time management skills and learn how to collaborate. If you stay dedicated you’ll impress everyone by killing the game in a super difficult program of study! And remember, a little bit of healthy fear of failure can be a great motivator. I know you’ve got this, get ready to slay your first year of college.
College
Texas A&M University
Major
Biochemistry & French Double Major
Favorite thing about your major? Least favorite?
My favorite thing about my biochemistry major was definitely my “Introduction to Biochemistry” class. In this class, we learned about future topics we’d be exploring later on in the major. My least favorite part of this major was all of the work!
My favorite thing about my French major is the opportunity it brings! It opens the door to studying abroad and meeting new people! I don’t dislike anything about this major.
How much time do you spend a week on homework/studying?
For biochemistry, I spent about 5-8 hours a day studying, which equated to around 25-40 hours a week. Taking on this major is like taking on a full-time job. I only spent about 3-5 hours a week on French.
How much free time do you have, if any? What do you do with it?
I didn’t have much free time, but I spent that time participating in the activities my organizations offered. These things included general meetings, leadership meetings and volunteering.
If you could go back and start college all over again would you choose the same major?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I actually changed my major from Biochemistry to International Studies with a concentration in Communication and Media.
What are your plans after graduation?
Originally, my plans were to go to medical school to become a pediatric oncologist. As of now, I would like to work for Estée Lauder in New York or possibly Paris in PR and Media.
What has been your favorite class so far? Least favorite?
I have two favorite classes actually, “Prospective of Biochemistry and Genetics” and “Contemporary French.” Hopefully your college of choice offers an introductory class to your major because this class will give you a taste of what you’re in for and get you pumped about your future collegiate career!
Why did you choose this major?
I chose this major because I was told that it would give me the best shot of getting into medical school. I also found it to be pretty interesting and loved how it, quite literally, combined biology and chemistry into one.
Advice for incoming freshman choosing this major?
STUDY WHAT YOU LOVE. Do not be like me and spend an entire year studying something you don’t absolutely love. If you feel like you aren’t getting anything out of your current classes and begin to feel unmotivated, do not be afraid to step off of whatever path you set for yourself to explore other options. Ignore anyone who calls your major “useless.” If you love what you study, you will be successful no matter what.
College
Texas State University
Major
Elementary Education
Favorite thing about your major? Least favorite?
I love that we get to work with kids pretty early on. Of course freshman year was full of core classes, but by my sophomore year my classes built in time at elementary schools so we were able to get experience as early as possible. Also, the professors were all pretty great. As an education major, your professors are passionate about education which makes for very helpful and encouraging teachers. Sometimes I think they're more excited about teaching us than we are! My least favorite part was that everyone thought my major was super easy. They would always ask me if my classes were full of crafts and fun projects. I don't think a lot of people realize the research on child development and how big of a role it plays in the major. It's not all about the material we teach, it's about the child we're teaching.
How much time do you spend a week on homework/studying?
On an average, I spend between 10-15 hours a week doing homework or studying. I will admit that most of this time is spent reading articles and textbooks.
How much free time do you have, if any What do you do with it?
I didn't have much free time because I worked as an RA (resident advisor) on campus, but when I did I liked to hang out with friends and explore. Texas State is between San Antonio and Austin, so it was really easy to take day trips to the larger cities!
If you could go back and start college all over again would you choose the same major?
If I could go back, I would definitely choose the same major. It has taught me so much about children and their development which will not only help me as a teacher, but as a parent in the future. It also taught me a lot about different learning styles and how to cater to those, which helped me with my own work as a college student.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to have a job right out of school, but because I am an elementary education major graduating in December, I realize that teaching jobs are few and far between in January. So, I plan to substitute teach (hopefully a long-term sub position) throughout the remainder of the school year and find a full-time teacher position in August.
What has been your favorite class so far? Least favorite?
My favorite class so far has been my Family Relationships class. It basically went throughout all different types of families and lifestyles and the value to each of them. I loved this class because not only was my professor was super hilarious and witty, but the information was so interesting. It was one of those classes that's valuable for any major, because it's relevant to everyone. My least favorite class was definitely my ESL class. ESL stands for English as a Second Language, and while I understood the value and importance of the class for my future career, it was one of those classes that I dreaded going to. My professor was very passive aggressive with her students, and would talk in a condescending tone when answering questions. The material was also pretty boring for me because it was mostly the legal side of ESL so it was a lot of reading law and court case articles. My class actually bonded over how boring the class was.
Why did you choose this major?
I chose this major because I have always loved working with kids. I knew growing up that I never wanted to work a traditional "desk job" and teaching is far from it. My mother was also a teacher (she is currently a school counselor) when I was younger, and I remember wanting to be just like her. It's funny because after talking to a bunch of girls in my classes, we found out that most of us actually played "school" with our friends and siblings and demanded to be the teacher!
Advice for incoming freshman choosing this major?
My advice for this major would be to make sure that you're truly passionate about education. It is so much more than apples and rulers, and after working with kids during my internship I've found that teaching will definitely test you. Along with this, don't go into this field for the money. I'm not sure about other states, but in Texas, teachers don't get paid that much. But on the other hand, I have never seen a group of professors so passionate about what they're teaching. My friends complain about how their professors don't care about the students, but that has never happened in this major. Every professor is invested in you, and genuinely wants to see you succeed. My last piece of advice is to be careful what you put online. If you are wanting to become a teacher, I promise you the school you apply to after graduation will search through your social media and you DO NOT want them to find anything (especially a post you forgot about from your freshman year in college). Promote yourself in a positive light, because think about it, if your principal can find it then your student's parents can find it and you don't want that. Having said that, teaching is a highly respected profession, and one that breeds lifelong friendships which is an added bonus!
Last but not least is me!
College
Coe College, transferring to University of Iowa
Major
Biology & Neuroscience Double Major
Favorite thing about your major? Least favorite?
I'd have to say my favorite thing about this major is how much it makes me excited for my future career in Medicine. It is fun to me to learn things about the human body and science and see how they all work together, it's very rewarding.
My least favorite thing would have to be the immense time commitment. Honestly, if you're going to major in any science be prepared to work harder than you ever thought possible.
How much time do you spend a week on homework/studying?
The typical rule is 3 hours per class of homework/studying and that seems to be pretty true. In total I'd say I spend about 30-40 hours a week doing homework or studying. This involves a ton of reading and for me personally lots of practice problems and online homework.
How much free time do you have, if any? What do you do with it?
I won't lie I don't have tons of free time, but that's my own fault. I like to be involved and I also work part time while I'm in school to try to save money for medical school. In my free time I like to read (for fun), shop, work on my blog, and binge watch Netflix or hang out with my dog!
If you could go back and start college all over again would you choose the same major?
That's a funny story actually. I have changed my major twice before landing in science. If I could start over I would choose it first. As a kid I always wanted to pursue Medicine but I was always told I wasn't good enough. So I started in Visual Arts, changed to Business Administration and was just miserable and bored. I finally decided I didn't care what anyone said and decided to pursue what I really felt was calling me and I've never been happier. It's so much hard work but it's so worth it.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on going to medical school. I don't know exactly what specialty I want to pursue but I am so fascinated by Ophthalmology. I also love the idea of pediatrics and a couple of others.
What has been your favorite class so far? Least favorite?
My favorite class so far has probably been Anatomy & Physiology. I just love learning about the body and how everything works, it's so satisfying.
For my least favorite it's a tie between Biopsychology and Chemistry. My Biopsychology professor was actually super nice but the class itself was just very dry and so so detailed. It was kind of an overwhelming amount of information. Chemistry is hard for it's own reasons. The professor I had for Chem 101 was not great so I felt like I didn't get the basic knowledge I needed from that class which is only making it harder as the classes progress and get more difficult. It's also a lot of math, which I'm not great at.
Why did you choose this major?
Like I mentioned earlier, I have always wanted to pursue Medicine. I have such a thirst for knowledge and I really feel like the field is always evolving and there is always something new to learn. I've always wanted to combine my love for science with helping people and Medicine is the perfect way to combine the two. Biology is the first stepping stone to getting where I want to be. The Neuroscience major is actually a collateral major. It's just a handful of extra classes. These classes are mainly in psychology which is something else I really enjoy, so it felt like a smart decision to incorporate that as well. I would also say some of the things covered in the Neuroscience classes (like Biopsychology) break down the larger concepts from Biology classes and make them easier to understand while also giving you a deeper, more thorough, understanding of the concept as a whole.
Advice for incoming freshman choosing this major?
If you're doing this to pursue something like Medicine for the money, don't bother. Unless you are truly passionate about what you're learning you will get burnt out and bored. This major isn't for someone who wants an easy college experience. There is so much to learn and so much studying to do, it's a huge time commitment but if it's what you want and love it's worth every minute.
My other advice is not to take your advisor's words as absolute truth. While my advisor is nice and sometimes helpful, he has tried to discourage me from pursuing my goals on multiple occasions. From talking to more students in the same major at different colleges it seems like this is the norm, which is so unfortunate. Being told you're not good enough, especially by someone in a place of leadership is awful. If this is what you really want and you're willing to put your heart and soul into it and work harder than you ever thought possible, do it. If you want something enough you can achieve it.
