For today’s prospective college students, the pressure is high to choose a STEM major, and set themselves up for a high-paying, in-demand occupation. There’s just one problem: what if science and technology — outside of the scope of speculative fiction — genuinely don’t excite you?
(Photo Credit: Tim Geers/Flickr)
“It’s great to pick a career that has a great job outlook or pays well,” writes Dawn Rosenberg McKay at About.com’s Career Planning site. “If it’s not suitable for you, in terms of your personality type, interests, values and aptitudes, however, you do not have a good chance of succeeding in it or being satisfied with it. Before you commit to pursuing any career, it is essential to make sure it’s a good match for you.”
In other words, if math doesn’t appeal to you, you probably shouldn’t try to force yourself to learn to love it. You’d be better off doing an honest assessment of your skills and interests, and applying that information to narrowing down potential majors.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you’re doomed to be a starving artist if you love art, education, social sciences, or humanities. Even English majors — who hear the dreaded questions, “What do you expect to do with that?” more often than perhaps any other concentration — can find high-paying jobs that require your keen analytical skills and right-brain thinking.
Here’s a few from PayScale’s College Salary Report including:
Workers With Major: 16 percent
Median Mid-Career Salary: $85,100
High Job Meaning: 49 percent
Workers With Major: 8 percent
Median Mid-Career Salary: $84,300
High Job Meaning: 70 percent
Workers With Major: 17 percent
Median Mid-Career Salary: $75,500
High Job Meaning: 28 percent
Workers With Major: 8 percent
Median Mid-Career Salary: $73,400
High Job Meaning: 52 percent
Workers With Major: 18 percent
Median Mid-Career Salary: $68,500
High Job Meaning: 45 percent
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