help picking out a major?

[weflyhigh]

I am currently a sophomore at Penn State (university park) and it's about time that I pick out a major aka decide my future?
I have fulfilled nearly all general education credits and I really need a major now (since I need to make my next semester's schedule), although I have until the end of the year to declare (in the undecided program)

I am contracted in the ROTC program currently, which means after graduation, I will be serving in the army. After that, if I don't wish to pursue a military career, my life will go on as normal

Here's a list of PSU's majors: Text

Any help or ideas would be great...
- I really enjoy working with and on computers, but I have decided that there is no way I could major in anything specifically technology related
- My GPA was just below the minimum to enroll in the business college, so I can't do any business majors
- I think my GPA is below the minimum for the communications college, too

- I like math (and it is my best subject) and do enjoy working with numbers. My initial plan was to be an accounting major, but that is business, so I can't do that
- I am pretty good writer, but I do not like English classes (although I always do well in them)
- I have thought about being a lawyer, but I do not know what my major could be (was thinking accounting would be perfect for either an accountant or as a prerequisite to law school, but oh well)

- In my job, I would like either:
a. a job where I know exactly what I have to do, no matter how difficult, but with no subjectiveness
or
b. a job where I have to think creatively/problem solve/etc, but with an exciting environment that would be interesting
(for example, I would never be an engineer because you have to problem solve, but it's not "exiciting". But, I don't think I'd mind a job where I just crunch big numbers all day, if that makes sense)

- I like interacting with people a lot, but I don't like cheesy management stuff

- I think I am looking for something that is kind of general and broad. That way, if anything changes during my time in the army, I can have more options, and also the material from it will not be as specific

- A friend of mine from the ROTC is majoring in Security Risk Analysis and talks highly of it, anyone know anything about this (job with the nsa after service)

- I like dogs a LOT (no veterinary or anything, just saying. Speaking of which, anyone with military experience: what are the possible ways to work with a k9 in the military? I know it sounds kind of cheesy, but I really do love dogs)

- Things that I have thought I would not mind, but have not researched: education (teacher/professor), government (police and up), psychology (maybe some governmental involvement? or perhaps some kind of advertising/marketing connection?), finance (business, ugh), stock market (my dad was really involved in the market when he was younger), sociology
- Things that I DON'T want: med school, engineering, english, arts

- I also think I might want to do a military career. I really like everything about the military, but I am not quite sure yet

Anyone have any ideas? Even if you don't, maybe you could like say what your major was and real quick what you do now?
I really appreciate any helps. THANKS A LOT

ps: go phillies

 

[FleshLight]

Mechanical Engineering

 

[Terzo]

If you're going into the military I don't think your major will matter too much. If you want to get into business later then it may be helpful to go with math (like you were thinking) or physics. I would think the mathematical and analytical skills gained from either would serve you well in regards to business.
Of course, since I'm not in the business sector and haven't served in the military...grain of salt.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Your gpa was too low to get into business or communications? I think you need to reconsider your post-secondary education plans, unless you'll be career military. There probably aren't very many majors you could get that would be helpful in the real world.

 

[Farang]

I'd imagine whatever you do as an officer is going to be much more significant to what makes your career than does your major.

Also, you are obviously so confused as to what you want to do with your life that you will be unable to think through the answer. Most people just fall into something by chance and if they like it they stick with it and take that where it leads them. Nothing wrong with that, but you seem to think you get to pick out of a catalog and that isn't really the case. You can devote years to trying to logically think through the answer (many people do) and still be just as confused.

 

[sjwaste]

Get your grades up and get into the business school. A BBA is the best possible degree to have if you don't yet know what you want to do. Otherwise, where is economics taught? At my school it was in the college of business, but it might be different at PSU. That's a good major that will keep you thinking, give you the option to take and apply more math, and be marketable later on.

 

[todpod]

check this out
Text

Then once you get in the army and see what you want to do you can continue on.

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
Mechanical Engineering

I'm guessing that's a joke, if his GPA couldn't even get into Business (barely) he'd never make it in Engineering.

And no, I'm not an engineering major.

 

[brownzilla786]

Do economics/finance, then MBA

"According to Military MBA, an education and employment network for military officers, veterans with MBAs earned $109,720 in 2007, or about 18% more than the average."

 

[IronWing]

Geography with a GIS emphasis.

 

[Matthiasa]

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: FleshLight
Mechanical Engineering

I'm guessing that's a joke, if his GPA couldn't even get into Business (barely) he'd never make it in Engineering.

And no, I'm not an engineering major.

Funny thing is GPA requirements are often based on how many people apply verses how hard they are.
I know where I'm going many engineering programs require a lower GPA to get accepted and stay in then the business ones. Not that getting in means you'll actually do well enough to stay in... but that's another story.

 

[weflyhigh]

I was talking to a friend and he said that his old roommate appealed to the college of business here and they allowed him to enter the major with some requirements. I think I might try something like that... my GPA this semester is going to be around a 4 (actually spending time doing some reading/actually studying more than 1 hour for a test)... If this works out (kind of iffy if it will or not), anyone here an accounting major? How was that? Any advice? What are your career options?
Also, if it works out.. what's another kind of broad business major that could leave postgraduate options open if I so desire and everything else... ?
(note: this waiver thing is only a slight maybe, but I'm still interested)

BTW, economics is not considered business here, but finance is (the most competitive business major actually), so I could look more in to that. Any economics majors?

Thanks for the help guys so far

 

[sjwaste]

My undergraduate degree is a bachelor of business administration in economics. Econ can go many ways, but if you do it, I suggest placing an emphasis on math and the quantitative aspects of economics. Take as many econometrics courses as your school offers, become proficient in SAS, and learn how to research. That will open you up to graduate study if you want or to finance type work in the real world. Most finance majors out of a business program are actually not mathematically inclined at all, so many employers will take your math and let you learn the substance, plus there are econ/fin electives that always overlap.

Most business jobs usually state as the degree requirement, "Business, Finance, or Economics" because the latter two are often more rigorous if taught as a BS rather than a BBA. My school offered a BS, BA, or BBA in econ. I took the BBA route, but focused on quantitative coursework and also took a lot of pure math (in the math dept). It helped when I came out.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: Matthiasa

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: FleshLight
Mechanical Engineering

I'm guessing that's a joke, if his GPA couldn't even get into Business (barely) he'd never make it in Engineering.

And no, I'm not an engineering major.

Funny thing is GPA requirements are often based on how many people apply verses how hard they are.
I know where I'm going many engineering programs require a lower GPA to get accepted and stay in then the business ones. Not that getting in means you'll actually do well enough to stay in... but that's another story.

What school are you in? I'm not even an Engineer major and I seem to notice what the poster said.
Most people who either fail at engineering or just can't handle it transfer to School of Business. Half of those same people later find out they can't handle School of Business either, so they transfer to the School of Communications.

Anyone who fails Communications after that transfers to Liberal Arts.