What did you major in in college? And if you could do it again what would you major in?

Physics and math. I'm a researcher (I've switched to statistical/computational genetics) and I'm never going to make much money but I enjoy my work and think it's important.

If I had to do things again knowing the outcome, I wish I'd taken more statistics classes and might have majored in statistics or applied statistics or something, but I hated biology classes so I'm pretty happy that I switched fields from physics to genetics instead of slogging through a biology PhD along a more direct route.

If I had to do things again and couldn't be a researcher, I'd probably be a data scientist or statistician of some sort so again I might have taken more statistics or machine learning classes. On the other hand, I got good grades in the fields I majored in and they're respected analytical majors for data scientists, so that might have helped me get a job. I'm not sure.

Lie groupie wrote:

runforus wrote:

I am one of those people who is trying to balance the college running life and picking a major that I like and is decent financially. Any recommendations?

Mathematics is the best major for college runners.

I was a mathematics major, and, although I would not have changed my choice, I would have taken currently very useful probability & statistics & supporting courses instead of useless Pascal & Fortran

Majored in Environmental Engineering, would do Mechanical E or Chemical E if I could do it again.

I majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management.

If I could do it over again, I would have majored in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

The reason, I've come to find out, is that I was so lazy and short sighted (and fixated on having time to date), that I didn't realize the misery that comes with working in administration. Corporate try hards, the politics, the climbers, the people in general... You have to put up with some bull sh** to hit six figures. If you're an engineer, you can become an indispensable individual contributor and six figures easily. Yes, they have to deal with BS too, but even if they don't become managers and climb the ladder, their income makes that irrelevant.

Majored in Econ. I enjoyed a lot of the classes, but I kind of regret not majoring in Comp Sci.

Econ is a good choice if you want to do a mix of math and writing without going too deep into either.

Professionally it sets you up for a variety of analyst, finance, and data type roles.

I got a BS in MEch E and then latter a MS in ECE. I wish I would have gotten a BS in EE with computer emphasis (didn't have computer engineering BS degrees then when I started in 1979). Then I would have gotten an MBA, lived in China and become a player in computer hardware (I learned Mandarin back then as a missionary for my Church). Times have changed now. Starting now, I would probably do applied math and then go into quantitiative biology. If I could start in 1979 again, economics with an MBA would have been good also. I've like a lot of what I've been able to work on but think I could have done better.

Majored in : Economics.

If I could do it over again, I would double major in Computer Science, Finance.

If you can build and you know business, you will be ready for the future.

Went for 1 miserable year. Homeless, desperately trying to find showers and dodge the cops. Even then, it caused financial ruin. The biggest mistake I ever made. If I could go back I wouldn't so it or even consider it.

chemical engineering/genetics worked 17 years in research and sales- made a lot of money -hated every second of it.

been building timber frames and log homes for almost 20 years couldnt be happier

What university? Also balancing math and running, but feeling like I don't get to spend as much time delving more into the subject. Want to go into biostats/epidemiology as well

an actual answer wrote:

Pascal wrote:

If I could do it all over again, I would major in mathematics with a minor in finance, if possible. Or, major in mathematics with a minor in finance.

I feel I’m either drunker than I thought or missing something here.

:)

I majored in Biochemistry and Biophysics, but around my junior year I started taking more and more physics courses. By the time I graduated I had more credits and a higher GPA from the physics department than the biochemistry department. I didn't end up with a physics major because I skipped the intermediate E&M class, intro thermodynamics, and optics (which were all prereqs to classes I later took!).

If I were to do it again I'd do it the same way. Maybe I woulv've started taking physics classes a term earlier so I could've graduated with a double major (but who really cares)...

Bra-ket wrote:

I majored in Biochemistry and Biophysics, but around my junior year I started taking more and more physics courses. By the time I graduated I had more credits and a higher GPA from the physics department than the biochemistry department. I didn't end up with a physics major because I skipped the intermediate E&M class, intro thermodynamics, and optics (which were all prereqs to classes I later took!).

If I were to do it again I'd do it the same way. Maybe I woulv've started taking physics classes a term earlier so I could've graduated with a double major (but who really cares)...

What did you do after ? I'm considering majoring BioPhysics - I really enjoyed my intro classes in each subject (Intro Bio and Mechanics+EnM) and the career options (Biomed engineer/Dr/research seem super interesting)

This is my answer, too.

I doubled in economics and applied statistics. Econometrics is so cool.

Maybe I should have done comp sci; the money is fantastic and it’s a super stable career.

I still snagged an office job in an unrelated field. Only requirements is don’t be dumb, and being comfortable with basic excel programs and windows UI.

Math

Physics & Music

Engineering

Would do computer science.

Serious question:

I'm an ML-focused data scientist with a statistics degree, entering a genetic epidemiology program this fall. I had no genetics background before self-studying from "The Fundamentals Of Modern Statistical Genetics", by Lange (I am about 1/3 of the way through).

Is there any specific genetic epidemiology or statistical genetics knowledge you wish you had at the start of your career change? I'm learning the material quickly, but it's hard to know what's the most crucial points.

It's the equivalent of learning the linear regression model - you learn in a job that knowing when to use it, interpret the p-values of the coefficients, and how to validate it is a lot more important then knowing (say) the assumptions of the model perfectly, or the formula for Sxy. If you could outline key stuff you use all the time, what would it be?

evening wrote:

Bra-ket wrote:

I majored in Biochemistry and Biophysics, but around my junior year I started taking more and more physics courses. By the time I graduated I had more credits and a higher GPA from the physics department than the biochemistry department. I didn't end up with a physics major because I skipped the intermediate E&M class, intro thermodynamics, and optics (which were all prereqs to classes I later took!).

If I were to do it again I'd do it the same way. Maybe I woulv've started taking physics classes a term earlier so I could've graduated with a double major (but who really cares)...

What did you do after ? I'm considering majoring BioPhysics - I really enjoyed my intro classes in each subject (Intro Bio and Mechanics+EnM) and the career options (Biomed engineer/Dr/research seem super interesting)

I'm currently a grad student studying (you guessed it) biophysics. My research is along the lines of systems/synthetic bio - how are genes regulated, how can we build systems to probe gene regulation, and how do things self-replicate are bigger picture ways of looking at some of the topics I approach.

Physics is nice because it teaches you to think from first principles. Physics classes seem to teach you how to think more than they teach you what to think. Biology, on the other hand, has unparalleled diversity and many interesting (yet approachable!) questions. I'd recommend majoring in biophysics and taking physics courses at least until you finish stat mech.

tlm1959 wrote:

Math. Took very little time. No papers. Never once saw any of my teammates on campus as the math building was off in a corner. Most athletes took boutique majors at my school: Afro Studies, Sociology, Recreation, etc.

Got NSF grants for epidemiology, statistics, and economics.

Got an economics Ph.D. and wondered if I shouldn't have done episode or statistics.

I wish I had spent a lot less time running and more time getting to know the geniuses in my department (top research University).

Did you get the chance to take epidemiology, statistic, biostat courses with running??

In the same boat as you, would like to hear more. At a top research institution and wanting to hear your experience.