I’ve loved history all along and thought seriously about changing my major but I didn’t know what I could do with it. I stayed in journalism and it was the first big mistake I ever made. Now, I would major in linguistics with an eye toward joining the foreign service.
I majored in linguistics, and that’s been my career. I’m very, very happy with the way that’s gone.
However: If I’d known that geography included really interesting map-making rather than what my high school teachers called geography, that’s totally what I would have majored in. Fortunately, I’ve been able to incorporate some Geographic Information Systems stuff into my linguistics work, so there isn’t as much regret about the road not taken than there might have been.
Also, if I’d realized when I was an undergrad how much I actually enjoy chemistry, I could well have gone with food science. I’ve done a lot of self-education on the subject since college, enough to know I’d’ve probably been quite as happy in that, as well.
I love my job as an occupational therapist , but I would’ve become a PA and specialized in geriatrics . It’s a very underserved population with many needs.
American Studies, because the program was a more interdisciplinary mix of history, political science, geography, philosophy, literature, anthropology, sociology and popular culture than the cultural anthropology degree I got.
And then gone on to more schooling in either law, higher education administration or politics.
I would have gotten my masters in Higher Ed. Admin. instead of sociology.
The 19-year-old me (comparative literature major) didn’t know she’d become interested in landscape design/gardening in her late 30s. (At the time she was scandalously ignorant about the green stuff that grew around her. She thought dandelions were purty little yellow flowers. Not the nemesis they are today.) But she loved literature, did that as a major, and still reads voraciously. Doesn’t regret the major a bit.
However, if I were a couple of decades younger, I might have seriously considered going back for something along the lines of landscape design/ maybe working for the city maintaining parks, etc.
Maybe CS or accounting instead of biochemistry, but actually I was able to learn programming and systems analysis on my own and work in that field for a while, and I do quite a bit of accounting in my work as a probate and trust attorney. And I’m glad that I have the knowledge in biology and chemistry that I gained in undergrad. So I probably wouldn’t change a thing.
I would be interesting in healthcare consulting. (healthcare informatics)
The other area I would be interested in is a combination of mechanical engineering and interior design.
Imagine Ikea and help clients with decorating their small homes to maximize utilization of small space. (for example condominiums) I am amazed with the rooms they have set up at the store.
My dream job would be a travel critic where I am paid to stay in hotels and resorts in different countries and help them with suggestions with ways to improve customer experience at their resorts. (is there such a thing)
I am glad I majored in accounting but if I could do it over I would have picked up a minor in either English or computer programming.
Best move I think any accounting major can make is to work for one of the Big 4 firms for several years after getting your degree. Hard work but it really pays off in the long run.
^^I know several recent graduates who majored in accounting and computer science and they got some amazing job opportunities.
Interesting thread!! I often wish I had become a kindergarten teacher, but I am a pharmacist.
No doubt interests change as we gain life experiences! And for those of you who wish you had studied computers…lots of change in the world as well!
On a related topic, I am working my way through 2 of the “Great Courses” series - Civil Engineering and “Enhancing Brain Function.” These are DVDs I discovered through the Wall St. Journal, but our library has a great collection of them. I highly recommend this series if you wish to explore just about any topic.
I majored in political science but became a psychiatrist. I wish I had majored in art or at least taken more art and art history classes.
So I work in health care/pediatrics/education. For a long time, I wished that I had either pursued teaching (truthfully, for the benefit of being off with my kids) or nursing - I do love the hospital environment. More recently, I have realized that the perfect job to combine my interest in child development and health care would be to be a pediatric OT in a hospital setting. If I could/would go back to school today (I’m not!) that is what I would do.
@ksm has a great idea with exploring fields through the Great Courses series. We own some and get others from the library.
I’d always wished I knew more about geology/earth science. DH joined me in a Great Course series - he’s found an interest even greater than mine. I think I would have enjoyed the geology course work, tolerated the required chemistry, but could not have become interested in the physics coursework that I see listed for current Geology majors. I think I’ve found my level with Great Courses.
I also agree that as we age, it sometimes becomes clearer where our personal strengths lie. It’s too bad that so often we launch a life time direction at such a young age. Switching careers later is often more expensive and circumstance may preclude changes.
I would have gone and got an undergraduate degree. When I approached my parents in 1980 and said I thought I should go to college, they asked me “why”. What major. I didn’t know back then, the only thing that came to mind was a teacher and at that point in time teachers were out of jobs. When I said I didn’t know, their reply was “you’re going to go to school for years and become a secretary??” So I became a secretary right out of high school. Did get my associates degree in management and thought I would continue on with my education, but got married, had kids etc. If I could do it over, I would have gone back to school for my teaching degree. I loved children and would have been good at it. Now I wouldn’t…lost my patience. I expect kids to behave like I expected my kids to behave and they don’t.
Music…I would have majored in vocal performance as an undergrad.
Happy with my English degree. I loved reading and writing about literature.
I enjoy what I do and can’t see myself particularly in another major. But I do wish I could own a small local bookstore in a town like Stars Hollow 
theater, because life is too short to hate what you do
Horticulture- I love plants and working outside. @carachel2 - I wish our small town had a bookstore like Stars Hollow…actually I wish our small town was Stars Hollow. We don’t even have a coffee shop anymore 