Many students assume they must complete a particular major to have a chance of being gainfully employed. The truth, however, is that very few occupations require a particular undergraduate major. Below, we debunk some common myths and give you a link to more detailed information about the connection between majors and careers.
MYTH: My major must have a direct connection to my career.
With very few exceptions, this is false. At the undergraduate level, students across the ages have majored in one thing, and then held a career in something totally different. To test this, talk with your parents or any person your parents' age out in the career world. If you want to do one thing to get in line for a certain career, choose an internship in that field.
Don Lubach, Career Counselor, Counseling and Career Services
MYTH: I need a major in psychology to go into counseling.
The selection of a specific major is much less important than the overall quality of the education that a student receives. Graduate schools (including those training students to be counseling psychologists, MFAs, school counselors, and the like) look for people with undergraduate degrees from good institutions (like UCSB) who have performed well in their major of choice. Therefore, the precise major is far less important than the demonstration of commitment and excellence -- good grades, good graduate test scores (GREs), and some relevant nonclassroom experiences like volunteer work or research experience with a faculty member. Graduate counseling programs do generally expect their applicants to have completed some course work in psychology -- but this can easily be accomplished without majoring in the subject! Indeed, many students from nonpsychology disciplines (communication, sociology, biology, English) find their way into counseling programs and have very successful careers.
Aaron Ettenberg, Professor of Psychology and former Provost of the College of Letters and Science
MYTH: It’s best for me to major in political science or law and society if I want to go to law school.
Not necessarily. There are two constants in the world of law school admissions. One, admission is competitive…. right now, very, very competitive. Two, law schools are very fond of saying that bright men and women capable of doing well in law school come from all academic walks of life. Put those two points together and perceptive students should come to the conclusion that their “personal best” major to take them to the doorstep of law school is simply one that they find challenging and usually fascinating. And, perhaps most importantly, one where they earn their best grades.
For a fair number of undergraduates, the major that meets the aforementioned goals actually is political science or law and society. The critical thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be one of these. Each year, students from various science majors, engineering and the humanities/fine arts successfully apply to the nation’s finest law schools.
So, find the major that you find enriching, engaging and relevant; work diligently and soon you will be on your way to professional school. Remember, you will never have another chance to be an undergraduate student at a liberal arts university, so make its benefits last a lifetime.
Britt Johnson, Pre-Law Advisor, College of Letters and Science
MYTH: I need a major in biological sciences to go to medical school.
In order to be admissible to medical school, a student must take specific courses from the basic sciences (general chemistry, biology, physics, organic chemistry and calculus), as well as a year of English composition and literature. However, it is not required that students major in science to enter the health professions. Still, majoring in biological sciences does allow students to prepare simultaneously for medical school and work towards completing their major requirements. As it is not always in students’ best interest to choose a major in the sciences, it is important to keep in mind that: 1) medical schools are looking for students with a well-rounded education, excelling in both science and non-science coursework; 2) GPA plays an important role in admission, therefore, a student that majors in English and completes pre-med courses with a 3.8 GPA as compared to a Bio student with a 3.0 GPA will be more competitive; and 3) The undergraduate degree is an opportunity for students to choose a major that they truly enjoy. Remember, once a student begins medical school that freedom no longer exists.
All students, especially those who do not choose a science, major are encouraged to meet with the pre-health advisor at the beginning of their academic career. Most BA majors provide the flexibility needed to complete the core sciences, as well as at least three upper-division MCDB/EEMB courses. And, no, it should not take students more than four years to complete pre-med and major courses if they begin general chemistry their freshman year.
Maria Elena Bouregy, Pre-Health Advisor, College of Letters and Science
MYTH: I need a major in business economics to go into an MBA program.
What you need for an MBA program (and indeed for a career in business) is a good undergraduate degree, an ability to think and analyze problems, and relevant post-baccalaureate business experience (on which any MBA program that is worth doing will insist.) If you want to have a successful career in business, you should do two things as an undergraduate. First, choose a major that you can do well in. A mediocre degree in Business Economics is not nearly so impressive to employers or business schools as straight A's in a major you love. Secondly, while you are an undergraduate, you should use internships to get business experience and learn useful business skills. UCSB's Counseling and Career Service can help you find internships and also a job when you graduate.
Mary Nisbet, SLSOE in the Department of Economics and Acting Dean,
College of Letters and Science
MYTH: I should choose a career before I choose a major
This will not be true for most UCSB students. The overwhelming majority of careers do not require a specific college major. Most students at UCSB find a subject that they 1) enjoy and 2) do well in, and choose that for their major. Then in their junior year, they start doing internships and taking part time or summer jobs that help them choose a career and connect their major to that career. By the end of their senior year, they can offer hiring employers just what they most want: a college degree and work (or internship) experience.
Micael Kemp, Career Advisor, Career Services
MYTH: I should choose a major before I choose a career
This is may be true, actually, but only if 1) you expect to limit your college attendance to just four years and 2) you are interested in one of the few career that require a specific major. For example, if you want to become an electrical engineer or a nurse or an accountant, you need to declare the corresponding major and/or go to the appropriate school. However, if you realize you are interested in these occupations later in life, you can still go for them, but it would require returning to school to get the corresponding prerequisite education.
Micael Kemp, Career Advisor, Career Services
Click here for additional insights into the career-major connection.
