<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I was wondering, does it even matter what you take during the first year. I’ve heard people say that it really doesn’t matter what marks you get (assuming you don’t do horrible) in the grand scheme of getting your degree, but just out of curiosity, do the actual courses you take matter? Like right now I applied into Anthropology, but if I decide that it’s not for me and take Sciences during the second year, is it really going to matter, assuming I get the 30 credits from first year? Would I be able to do that or not because I didn’t take sciences in the first year? Would I still be able to get a Science degree after four years?</p>
<p>Of course the first year matters. This isn’t the UK.</p>
<p>It’s common for students entering grad schools for example to be stymied by a GPA that is dragged down by a poor first year. Even if you’re planning to enter the work force directly out of undergrad your GPA is still going to be looked at by your potential employers. </p>
<p>In terms of content, it’s important to choose courses in your first year that opens up advanced courses in the subfields in which you want to study. Depending on your department, many advanced-level courses will have intro-level prereqs, and it’s a good idea to make sure you complete them as early as possible. You don’t want to be in your last year only to find that you have’t completed a prereq for a course you need to graduate. </p>
<p>A completely different issue that you’ve brought up is faculty transfers. In that case, answers will vary depending on the school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, very much appreciated!</p>
<p>But damn now I’m stressing out even more than before! You mean to tell me that I may have screwed myself by applying into the wrong program? I don’t even know if I’ll like Anthro, I mean I’ve always been good at English/Arts/Literature/History and stuff, and studying about different cultures seems interesting, but if I go into it and feel it isn’t for me then I’m screwed?</p>
<p>What if instead of applying into Sciences I apply to another program in the Arts department after the first year. Is that generally easier?</p>
<p>Even if I leave Arts altogether after Year 1 and move into something like Business or Engineering (I have the prereqs from High School), would I still be able to finish with a major from there after 4 years?</p>
<p>My dad’s been on my case a lot lately, hounding me and telling me to go into Business or Engineering, pretty much saying that Arts (and even Science)= waste of time because he thinks you need a Masters/PHD to make any decent money in those fields.</p>
<p>Tell me, if I get a degree in Anthro or another Arts degree, after 4 years what are my prospects of getting a job?</p>
<p>All help very much appreciated! Thank You!!</p>
<p>Yes, generally switching majors within a faculty is significantly easier than switching faculties entirely, and it should not be too difficult to do after your first year if you find it necessary. Just keep in mind credit/course requirements for both Anthro and the program(s?) to which you are potentially switching.</p>
<p>If you insist on leaving Arts altogether, then assuming that your faculty transfer is approved, the amount of credits that you will be allowed to transfer over (and, as a consequence, the length of time it will take you to complete your new degree) will be determined ad hoc. </p>
<p>Your father is somewhat correct. If salaries are the only criterion by which one measures careers, then yes, the mean earnings for engineering graduates and to a lesser extent, BComm graduates are higher than those with a BA or BSc. But engineers in particular experience high variance in salaries. You can tell your father that if you’re not interested in either engineering or business, or if you suck at either, you’re not going to be raking in the dough.</p>
<p>You also need to stop copy-pasting your responses over from Studentawards, or vice versa 
I took the time to write you a response instead of copying one from an old thread; it should not be too much to ask for the same courtesy, particularly since you’re the one soliciting advice.</p>
<p>Oh lol sorry about that buddy, it’s just that I wanted to get the maximum amount of responses possible, and since it’s July I have very little time to make up my mind.</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily suck at engineering/business. I’m very good at math, chem, bio and pulled decent grades in physics and calculus (although part of the reason they weren’t extraordinary was because I slacked off somewhat in the 2nd semester) in High School. I know I could do better if I tried harder.</p>
<p>I just really don’t know how I feel about being an engineer/business man because it just seems very boring. Arts is, I don’t know, intriguing, it makes you think because of the philosophical elements, the literature and poetry is breathtaking and I think that it really is “the heartbeat” of the world. This planet is amazing not because we’ve figured out how to operate multi-billionaire companies or figured out how to build spaceships that can go to Mars, but all the rich cultures and religions and traditions and foods and diversity etc… that make life worth living.</p>
<p>My biggest concern is that after 4 years I won’t be able to do anything with an Arts degree. I’m not dead set on Anthro, I have no problem doing English or something else instead, but is there anything in Arts that, after 4 years, I can start raking in at leasta decent amount of cash while possibly being able to simultaneously pursue a higher (Masters/PhD) education?</p>
<p>If you could help me out and point me in the right direction I would be forever grateful :)</p>