<p>Tommyrose: I work in a teacher education program at a New England college. I would like to add a little reality to this discussion. First of all, your assumption about teaching being a profession in which you’ll be “freely drawing out lesson plans and also I won’t have to worry about any rigid structure governing every calculation I’m to make.” is inaccurate. Ever heard of No Child Left Behind? State standards? Federal guidelines? School policies? Teaching is an amazingly rewarding and challenging profession, but don’t go into it for those reasons. Become a teacher because you are passionate about sharing knowledge and skills, connecting with and aiding young people, and willing to work very, very hard. Good teachers have their hearts and minds in their jobs, not just one or the other.</p>
<p>Next, the choice of what to teach. This is not just about what interests you, and what you are good at, though those are two important factors. It’s also about meeting state guidelines for teacher certification. You have to complete a certain number of credits in the certification area (usually an undergrad major), with a minimum GPA (in my state it’s 3.0), and both breadth and depth in your studies. So if you want to be an art teacher, you would major in art, and be sure to both delve deeply into whatever art form most interests you, and also take a cross-section of various art forms.</p>
<p>The person who said most colleges want you to get teacher certification in more than one field is not correct. States have made this much more difficult than it used to be. Just like lots of other professions, teachers specialize. It is doable, but it will add time to your college years.</p>
<p>Lastly, I do not know how concerned you are about the job market after you graduate, but you may want to research this while you are making your decisions. There are “high need areas” in teaching laid out by both the feds and individual states. There are more jobs in these areas, as well as more financial aid.</p>
<p>Since you have a lot to decide, you may want to start out by volunteering or substitute teaching in a school to get a feel for what works for you and what doesn’t. This experience will also serve you well when applying for jobs later. Good luck!</p>