Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: School related, am I making the right choices?

  1. #1
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default School related, am I making the right choices?

    So, I'm an applied sociology major, whcih my advisor says isn't any better than a general sociology major, it just has more work and an internship (whcih sounds like it could come in handy to me), but my advisor is awful, and not as helpful and knowledgeable as an advisor should be.

    Also, I'm a psych minor, with only a few more hours to go to complete that, and am thinking of switching it to buisness so that I can show I have some applicable skills should I not chose a career in sociology. However, I'd be starting from scratch in that minor, and I'd have 18 hrs to take. My advisor says minors don't matter and buisnesses don't really even care about those.

    I'm hoping to go to grad school for epidemiology and maybe work for the CDC or some other similar company. I just feel lost and confused by this advisor, as with most advisors. I've only EVER had 1 good advisor in my entire life, and it seems all the other ones must be smoking crack. Please tell me what you think.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  2. #2
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    8,031
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 143 Times in 42 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    I would be inclined to agree that your minor doesn't matter, though who knows.

    Of course I think you should find a secondary advisor. Is there anyone else in the department you can talk to, a professor or someone else, who might have more useful input for you?

  3. #3
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    All of the advisors, save one, have been about the same in their lack of skills and brains. I do have a prof that I get advice from, an dI do trust it to be good. I just feel in thi situation, the experiences and thoughts of many could be more useful than the advice of one man alone.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  4. #4
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    8,031
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 143 Times in 42 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Well, boo on that department; I'm sorry they aren't more helpful. What is it that you're seeking advice on? I was a little unclear from your post.

  5. #5
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    I was wondering if changing my minor from psych to buisness would help me get a better job later on if I decide not to go into a sociological field. If it'd even be worth it, or if, like the advisor said, employers even look at and consider things like a minor.

    I was alos wondering if taking the longer degree plan of applied sociology instead of jut regular sociology is worth it. The diff is basically a 6 mo internship, and several more classes, but after that, too my knowledge, they are pretty much the same course wise. I don't know how they'd differ to an employer though. So if anyone has any info on that I'd be thrilled to hear it as well.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  6. #6
    God/dess Zofia's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Durham, North Carolina
    Posts
    2,416
    Thanks
    2,964
    Thanked 2,370 Times in 934 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Minors don't seem to add much to your resume value, unless they are in something that is in high demand. For example, a minor in Spanish will definitely put you ahead of most people applying for jobs that require dealing with low paid employees or the general public. I would think a minor in Spanish would be a major positive if you were applying for some sort of government job too. That is a case where a minor testifies to a certain skill set you offer.

    Skill sets are what employers are looking at right now. Bring the right skills and you stand a much better chance of getting hired.

  7. #7
    God/dess Bella21's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2003
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    7,772
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 40 Times in 35 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    I would definately finish out your minor in psych if you're almost there. Why not do that in ADDITION to a minor in business? That way all those psych classes won't go to waste.
    If you think school is hard, try being stupid.

  8. #8
    Veteran Member kikidejavu's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2008
    Location
    chi town!
    Posts
    697
    Thanks
    86
    Thanked 226 Times in 106 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    i dont think you should switch to business. everyone and their mother has a degree in business, and it will in no way make you stand out from a crowd of applicants.
    you have a good program going, dont punk out, thinking that you may not get a job in your major. do the classes for exactly what it is that you want your profession to be.
    if you settle for general classes, you will end up in a general career. not the specific profession you want.
    i go to an art school, and the first thing they tell us, is to follow your passion, because if thats what you really want to do, you will make it work, make money, and be much happier than if you take the "safer" route.
    "We are the coolest mothafuckas on the planet....The sky is fallin ain't no need to panic"... -Outkast

  9. #9
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    8,031
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 143 Times in 42 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Is the applied sociology a BS instead of a BA? If so then it might benefit you to have that when/if applying to grad school. If they are both BAs then it's not as much of an edge.

  10. #10
    God/dess UtahMike's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    2,998
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 64 Times in 43 Posts
    My Mood
    Amused

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    The only time a minor might be useful is you wanted to teach that subject. Other than that, it just demonstrates that your expertise is a bit broader than your major subject.

    I once applied for a job as a manager for J.C. Penney's, and I asked them if my degree in drama would be a problem. They said they were only interested in knowing that I had a college education and had met all the requirements for some degree. If they hired me, they would provide the specific training for their company.

    I think you will find lots of companies like that today, and your training in applied sociology and psychology might make them very interested in you as a manager.

  11. #11
    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 24 Times in 16 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Quote Originally Posted by Susan Wayward View Post
    Is the applied sociology a BS instead of a BA? If so then it might benefit you to have that when/if applying to grad school. If they are both BAs then it's not as much of an edge.

    I believe it's just a BS, but if I take a 3rd spanish course I can get a BSAS, although I'm not even sure what that means.

    I forgot to add, I'd also need chem 2, and maybe anothe rmath, but I don't think so.
    Last edited by Fawn; 04-22-2008 at 03:51 PM.
    " Remember during each test there is some girl in Australia jealous of you who wants to do what you're doing."- Lilithmorrigan

    " If you're young and sexy, why not spend a few years
    Shopping and Fucking? Life is short, but youth is shorter. Ride the wheels off, I say." - FeministStripper

  12. #12
    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    6,699
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 22 Times in 20 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Switching your minor would be a lot of extra work for no return- rare would be the situation in which a minor in business (instead of psych) would make a difference. I wouldn't bother.

    Feature costumes for sale!

  13. #13
    Vivacious
    Guest

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    I think business classes are incredibly valuable. I had a situation where I got back into the workforce and my employer did note that I had a business minor. I put it on my resume on purpose. I don't think you can ever go wrong with taking business classes even if you don't use it to go towards a minor. It's about diversifying what you can bring to the table and letting your future employer know you have those additional skills. Good luck!

  14. #14
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Jan 2007
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    718
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Fawn, I used to have an assignment for my students where they made a future resume--a resume they would use to go for jobs when they left graduate school. Part of the assignment was that they were asked to get in touch with someone who might be a future employer, who might give them insight into just what they needed on the resume. The students were scared of this at first, then, when they got in the spirit of it, wound up interviewing more than one future employer--and made some good connections in the process. So in your case you might do something similar--ask someone in the field you're going into: if I come to you with a resume in a few years, what do you want to see on it? The professor you like might have some suggestions of people you could do this with--and you can then make some connections and stay in touch with those people as you work your way up.
    JK Jim

  15. #15
    Featured Member AmazingKat's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    855
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: School related, am I making the right choices?

    Advisors are either morons, press their specific agenda on you, or don't really care enough to give you accurate information imo.

    I was running around in circles my first two years trying to get facts straight and taking classes I didn't need to because of some erroneous information.

    Now I just religiously read anything on the departments I can, ask alumni, and try to ask anyone in your intended field what they would do. Sometimes if you find a persons resume or CV online who has your dream job you can see what academic paths they took to get there. I did this a lot when I was debating if my school or major were going to work for my grad school intentions.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 19
    Last Post: 10-18-2007, 12:49 PM
  2. Choices?
    By NatalieFRPhilly in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-08-2007, 06:15 PM
  3. choices
    By absolutbliss in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 10-25-2006, 12:57 PM
  4. Easy lunch choices..
    By Green Apple in forum Body Business
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 01-11-2006, 12:49 PM
  5. Need Opinions About Name Choices...Again!!
    By tmlsuperspice in forum Newbie Board
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 11-15-2004, 01:05 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •