UCBChemEGrad

Potential starting salary should def be considered if you're going to finance your education with large student loans.

Coolbrezze

Life would be different. I plan on exploring the world when I get older and a jobs salary is very important.... that can make all the difference. Though I do know going into international relations, there are still vast oppurtunities open... and a selection of law school, graduate program or even buisness school is possible. So I'm not counting international relations major out. I mean I have high interest in international relations major, and with me knowing I plan to attend graduate school and there are jobs that pay 100K+ I'm still attracted to keeping it as my major.

applicannot

I have to say I completely agree. You are going to be spending at least forty hours per week at work; you mightaswell be doing something you enjoy. $60,000 per year for a single person is actually a GREAT salary. It's about the average salary for a family with two incomes, much less one single person. If you want to travel the world, keep in mind you only get two weeks of vacation per year. You'll accrue more over time, but how much? (As a side note, that's while I'll probably work for the government - you get a lot of vacation time after comparably fewer years). We've said it a thousand times. If making money is your only goal, do not major in social sciences. You'll enjoy your job more if you major in the social sciences (assuming that's where your true interest lies), but you won't make a lot of money. Call me crazy for thinking $60,000 per year is a great lifestyle! How much "stuff" do you really need?

$60,000 per year
$42,000 after deductions (I did 30%)
$3500 per month

These are my projected expenses:
$500 per month student loans ($60,000 debt after interest, hopefully this is actually lower)
$1000 per month for rent (either with a roommate or in a studio
$500 per month in savings (a must!)
$500 per month in utilities, phone, internet, incidentals, and other stuff I am forgetting

That leaves $1000 per month in spending money. That's $100 per WEEK in entertainment with $600 left over. Call me easy to please, but that sounds perfectly fine to me...

NeedHelpNow

I personally think Political Science or International Affairs would be most rewarding, because there will always be politics and foriegn policy! I am actually looking for which school has the best program from that out of UPenn, Brown, or Columbia.

Gordon_Gekko

You can't just generalize salaries. $50,000 in Georgia is a lot but it isn't much at all in CA or NY. No matter how you look at it though there is a big difference between $60,000 and $100,000; I mean, 100K is 67% more, thats a lot... The difference becomes especially profound if you compound the interest throughout the years.

Coolbrezze

^
Yeah, it really depends on where you live. Though usually if living price is higher so will salary. I actually though those in social science get around 31 vacation days.
I will look more into the social science jobs, and compare to finance, economics and buisness.

bdl108

Not that your major will directly influence your career choice, but if you choose a field that you have no interest in, yet pays well, going through life won't be as rewarding. Money can only buy so much, and if you hate going to work every day, is it really worth it? I'd much rather make $70,000/year doing something I love than $100,000 doing something I hate.

Coolbrezze

^

Wouldn't you say one who major in international relations ( have a specialization) and possibly a minor, have great chances of attending a graduate international relations program... or even law, buisness graduate etc....

Again as I mainly have been looking into James Madison College, I'm starting to have interest in Political Economy Specialization, which say it prepare students in graduate programs in business, economics, public administration, and labor and industrial relations.

http://jmc.msu.edu/programs/pe.asp

This is actually a specialization within international relations, which works out great....

Coolbrezze

After reading information given with link, and knowing its a specialization/ emphais within international relations... I'm starting to settel more on that major. Since oppurtunities are still vastly open to other graduate schools if I choose not to countinue international relations for graduate... but more so a different graduate school/ program.

flyingllama

I want to be an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a hollywood movie producer, or the US President. Which college major would overlap enough allow me to be involved with any of these things? Business? English? Economics? etc...

Coolbrezze

^
Liberal arts,


Pandem, a lot of things can be done without a college degree ( by that I mean one can learn what students learn in college without attending college)... most things. Though to know ones knowledge level, going to college will keep a good record/ reflection, let alone the teaching will increase ones knowledge and help go greater lengths.

pandem

You don't need a college degree to do anything.

flyingllama

But you need some sort of education to do everything

I agree though, that some people would probably do better by just studying in the library after high school, instead of walking into college and expecting the world. A college degree isn't the only way to educate yourself... but it can usually do a damn well job if you want it to. We could probably draw some sort of Venn diagram, outlining those who go to college vs don't, and those who get themselves educated vs those who don't. There's definitely some overlap; college isn't the only path to education.

trojanman10101

Wait a second who said the following majors I listed before that I don't like those degrees. I mean if I am a money-hungry, I would just major in medicine or engineering, however, neither of those I have interest in. I personally don't like math. Therefore, I am listing majors that I have interest in and/or like. For ex., a vet degree, I have always loved animals. Anything related to criminology, I love, such as sociology w/ an emphasis on law and society. Ultimately, I am trying to find a degree I love that is worth my while. Why would I become a vet if I love criminal justice as much, however, criminal justice pays twice as well.

LogicWarrior

Hey, let's write 10 pages on the most rewarding major, it's not like different things are rewarding to different peopel.