All Things Money
more than half (54.3 per cent) of people who majored in English said they were not satisfied with that choice of major, closely followed by a fine arts major (51.6 per cent) and a political science major (38.2 per cent).
The number one skill employers say they are looking for is good oral and written skills. So I found it interesting that, at a time when employers want graduates who can write, students regret pursuing a communications study path.
At the other end of the scale, accounting and computer science are the majors students say they are most satisfied with (85 per cent satisfaction), followed by information technology with 79 per cent.
Some regret may be due to the potential earnings graduates face, depending on their major. Over a lifetime, the difference in total earnings between an English major and a computer science major can be more than US$500,000, according to Georgetown’s Centre of Education
Grit and emotional resilience are better predictors of success than IQ. Bill Gates
and the Workforce.
The likelihood of getting a job may be another factor. In 2015 British graduates in computers, science and maths had an unemployment rate of under 4.3 per cent compared with those in humanities and arts, with unemployment at 5.8 per cent.
While it may be true that youth can survive mistakes better than adults, the halcyon days of following one’s dream and discovering oneself at university are over.
Finishing university with a student loan, a poor earnings outlook and declining job prospects is a regrettable outcome indeed.
What should students do to avoid post-university regret?
First, don’t just rely on the advice of job-holding adults, whose ideas of the best majors and universities may well be outdated.
According to the College Board, students should research, research, research. By monitoring trends, statistics and pay rates at the beginning and during their university career, a student may well minimise regrets.
Similarly, internships and work experience while studying allow students to change course early should they realise their major is not what they imagined.
Bill Gates never regretted dropping out of Harvard and recently advised students in a series of tweets: “Consider artificial intelligence, biosciences and energy for your career; grit and emotional resilience are better predictors of success than IQ; surround yourself with people who challenge you, teach you, and push you to be your best self.” No regrets.