College is an interesting place. It is an environment where a community of diverse students come together for two reasons: to learn and eventually be successful. To an outsider, this sounds picture-perfect. What could be wrong with an atmosphere where young adults work with their peers and simultaneously accomplish concrete goals? Well, here’s the catch: the structure of majors. The subject you are passionate about should not make a difference to your fellow undergrads; however and unfortunately, it does.
It is true that some majors can be more difficult than others, but that does not give anyone the right to put down the so-called “easier” majors. First of all, no major is easy. Every single student on campus puts in an incredible amount of time and effort in their classes. College is hard, and you will not get a passing grade by simply looking over your notes the night before an exam. There is a reason why majors exist, and that is because individuals have different strengths and weaknesses. An English major could never be a chemistry major, and a chemistry major could never be an English major.
If that previous statement is true, then why do the more humanities-based majors receive more criticism? Around campus, there are some math, science, and engineering majors who believe they are better than others. Just because your unit of study involves intense mathematical equations and life-threatening chemicals does not mean you are smarter than your friend who is a philosophy major. Try to spend hours reading a novel from the 1800s, and then have to write a 10 page essay analyzing the theme and overall message to society. It may change your mindset.
Business and communication majors are slammed as well. People say these majors only exist for those who do not know what to do with their lives. This is 100 percent inaccurate. Without the jobs that stem from these units of study, the world would fall apart. A science major struggling with her class once said, “I should just be a comm major.” If you have ever said this, please take a good look at yourself. Communication studies is very difficult, and there is no reason to put it down. The same goes for business majors. It requires the understanding of tough concepts, and the confidence to obtain internships in order to have a career in the future.
False stereotypes exist for each major around campus too. English majors are expected to be teachers. Chemistry majors are thought to be chemists. Philosophy majors are figured to be professors because “what else can you do with that?” Majors are not binding for life, and your job opportunities can not even be counted. If you love to write and decide to major in english, you can be an editor for an established magazine or newspaper. If you are passionate about finding a cure for cancer, you can major in chemistry and work as an oncologist. If your dream job is an attorney, but find philosophy incredibly interesting, make that your emphasis of study. You are never “stuck,” for you have the control over your life.
The moral of this is not that all science majors are stuck up because not all of them are. It is to educate people on the equality of majors. If you walk into a library with students studying for finals, you will find an abundance of subjects being absorbed. Understand that each person struggles with school. Combine your strengths, and help out your friends from other majors. The world will be a less competitive and happier place.
