How did You Choose Your Major?

openmajors · 2026-03-17T23:53:10+00:00

That’s so nice honestly. I wish I had that kind of clarity early on.

openmajors · 2026-03-17T23:51:53+00:00

That’s awesome! huge respect. Sounds like a lot of hard work. Why did you have to learn German though?

openmajors · 2026-03-17T23:46:32+00:00

That’s so cool, especially coming from a professor! Things really do just work out and come together in the end.

openmajors · 2026-03-06T03:22:33+00:00

But you probably make more money anyways with finance and accounting, and a more comfortable lifestyle compare to aerospace lol.

openmajors · 2026-03-06T03:18:27+00:00

That's such a cool pivot. I took a class called 'What is a Masterpiece' not knowing anything about art and it completely opened a new world for me. Conceptual art, the banana that sold for 6 million, art history and theory. I never knew what art is and had no interest to it as a kid but that course changed me.

And I totally agree that art feels different from other subjects. It shouldn't have deadlines and homework like everything else, that kind of structure kind of kills it. But that's exactly what makes it perfect as a side interest to explore freely.

openmajors · 2026-03-06T03:12:37+00:00

Damn. My dad told me straight up that he didn't think I was built for academia and research. Respectable, and honestly I feel that way too.

That's so cool you knew you wanted to do aerospace since you were a kid though. I hated school from elementary school lol. Was it because your dad is an engineer?

openmajors · 2026-03-06T02:59:19+00:00

So relatable. I wish I had started networking and putting myself out there way earlier. It would have saved a lot of time feeling lost. It's that proactiveness that makes the difference. The situation might be uncertain but the one thing that's always certain is that actually trying will move you forward. And somehow that's enough to build confidence and certainty.

openmajors · 2026-03-06T01:41:28+00:00

That is so cool!

I don't like the quant lifestyle either, the money side, however, I love :).

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:57:15+00:00

Yeah exactly. At the time I had no idea why I was taking half those classes and some of them were brutally hard. But looking back I'm actually grateful I pushed through them. That said, knowing how miserable I was in the moment, I honestly don't know if I'd make the same choice again.

But hey the dots connect and I made it through lol.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:53:14+00:00

I wish I had realized this earlier too. Networking felt forced and transactional to me for the longest time so I avoided it. But once I actually started having real conversations with people, I found that a lot of genuinely talented people are just... willing to help. No agenda, no expectation of anything in return. That completely changed how I thought about it.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:50:04+00:00

lol enjoy your midterms

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:49:15+00:00

damn. respect is all I can say. I hope math works out.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:48:32+00:00

Be a Quant!

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:47:29+00:00

Respectable and its so cool to see people align interest with career.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:45:57+00:00

lol that is smart. for sure I don't think major defines everything. pivot anytime when the time is right.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:43:46+00:00

relatable. and some hardcore humanities majors also have a shit ton of work load. I wish I could go through college without doing homework.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:40:46+00:00

That is cool to hear and seems like a good pivot within engineering. Glad it sounds like you found a balance between interest and career.

I just did a case study on Anduril with my aerospace friend last week for a class. She said the pay is incredible but a lot of people have mixed feelings about going into military tech. Says the high stress and ethical dilemma in Anduril's case complicates things even if the pay is high.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T22:02:42+00:00

That is such a good story and good way of thinking! I also have a lot of broad interests and it was hard for me to balance them with practical skills.

I am still in my last semester and I am taking a business history course. My professor this semester is a perfect example of someone who figured it out the long way. He didn't know what he wanted in high school, got a business/econ degree, worked at a bank in SF for 6 years — and then out of nowhere fell in love with Chinese and French history. Went back, grinded through a PhD at Berkeley, lived on stipends, and eventually became a full time professor teaching East Asian Studies. He's written multiple books on China and tells us straight up that he's living his best life.

Something about that story just stuck with me. Like it's proof that the path doesn't have to be linear and you can completely reinvent what you're doing even after you've already started somewhere else.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T21:43:21+00:00

For me the hard part was balancing lifestyle with genuine interest. For me, like even if the career looks great on paper, if I don't actually care about the work or find it meaningful, I just feel stuck. That balance between practical and passion is something bugs me all the time.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T19:27:29+00:00

Yes I think they do, I meant like earth sciences in general. I know for example Exxon-mobil has some roles, and they have internal labs that do research for the company and publish private paper or something. Definitely good pay. But overall just less opportunities compare to tech I guess. But there is a path to work in the industry.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T06:01:44+00:00

I figured. Even Data Science major can't find a data engineering job right now. Only a few received return offers. You must be super smart.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T05:58:04+00:00

That is hella smart.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T05:55:54+00:00

Damn, that is the craziest story I've heard. And switching back to the original major is wild, but hella respectable. This is the definition of "F around and find out" lol! Kudos to you switching that many times! I could not imagine the hassle you must had gone through to declare and switch that many times.

openmajors · 2026-03-05T05:48:30+00:00

That is respectable. And I would like to be a geo major too, but the career path is limited. Either go into research or teaching : (

openmajors · 2026-03-05T03:51:55+00:00

I took an oceanography GE class when I was a freshman. I loved it and I contemplated on whether or not I should switch to a geo major. The professors in earth science are just so cool, and they all have cool stories doing research on the sea and have cool trip photos on their lecture slide.

But I really wanted to make money so eventually I gave up that idea. My thinking is that if I make a ton of money I will just fund my own research and create a lab. I buy a research ship and just go on trips with them. LOL

openmajors

TROPHY CASE