Going to a liberal arts college where you don’t have to apply to join the departments can create a sense of opportunity paralysis. This problem can only feel exacerbated as you get to know the people around you — when it feels like you’re surrounded by geniuses, how could you avoid feeling excited, or alternatively, out of your depth? Of course, going to a liberal arts college is also often followed by the ominous query — what are you going to do with that major once you graduate?
Entering college, I knew that I was interested in the pre-med track. However, despite the intensity of this course load, there is no pre-med or pre-health major. I had planned so much of my life and schedule around going pre-med in college — I hadn’t taken the time to think about what subject I was going to focus on outside of that.
There were quite a few factors that were necessary to consider before making my decision. For one, the pre-med track has required courses equivalent to or greater than most majors. My flexibility is already limited by this — there are only so many credits per year, and only so many years that it was feasible for me to attend college! A major that has a great deal of overlap with the pre-med track seemed like a no-brainer. Chemistry, biology, neuroscience, psychology — any STEM related field — would definitely reduce the worry around having enough time to take all of my courses. Not only that, but I couldn’t help but think that a STEM major would definitely make my applications to science-related internships seem more justified. Besides, what med school would want a Humanities major?
Most of them, as it turns out. Humanities majors are some of the highest accepted majors into med school. I found this hard to believe, and even a little bit insulting. A math major or something along those lines just seemed so much more appropriate — more employable, as my family would so kindly describe it. Despite this, I kept that factoid tucked away when applying for classes.
My own passions weren’t something that I had thought of considering, but now it seemed like it might actually be important to my decision! I’ve been interested in Classics even longer than I’ve been interested in being a doctor — I was that kid that wouldn’t stop talking about Percy Jackson as a kid. I took Latin for four years in highschool and loved it. When I saw that there were courses on Greek and Roman mythology, I thought I was in paradise. Without telling anyone in my family, I quietly signed up for Greek Tragedy/Modern World, a course taught by Professor David Roselli.
I fell in love, a lot harder than I did in Introductory Chemistry. This spring, I will be declaring myself as a Classics major. At the end of the day, we all go to college, we all complete the requirements for our institutions. College is a chance to explore and learn about those lesser-known topics and develop passions, and majors are not an intelligence test — they are a passion!
Not to say that your major isn’t important at all! It is important because it shows what subject you couldn’t keep away from. When I applied for my internship I have set up for next summer, they didn’t ask me how I was enjoying chemistry and biology — they asked me why I was majoring in Classics. I believe my passion about the subject is how I was able to get that internship. Whatever that passion you have is, that is what will shine through.
You can’t always focus on what major is going to appear more employable, or what seems the best on paper — it’s incredibly difficult to tell what sort of major will appear employable. At Scripps, like many liberal art colleges, you have amazing opportunities to experience a large breadth of study. Those experiences cannot be undervalued!