Declaring Concentrations-Help Please

[ArmoBarbi]

I am declaring my majors/minors in September, and need some help deciding. I know I want to double up, but what fields would be the best choices, and what should go where? I have more or less decided on Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish Studies (with focus on Armenian) as a major with a Eastern European Studies minor, and Russian Language and Lit as a major with French Language and Lit minor. These are all things that interest me, and I feel I can excell in, but...How much can I really do with these majors besides going to grad school and teaching/publishing...?

I want to choose things that interest me, but I feel like I will have no work prospects with a BA in these fields to even support myself while Im in grad school. Whats the good of having this knowledge if it isnt useful? Even United Nations has no reason to want me with just a BA.

What are some things you can think of that I could look into for work?? Should I choose another field like something in anthropology or sociology to have something more practical to work with?

[Siggie]

Psych!
anthro and psych would be good imo.

[ArmoBarbi]

Ok, I'm not just gonna copy your major. lol Did you even read what iii like?

[CatWoman]

I wanted to tell you this before when you mentioned majoring in Armenian studies, but didn't wanna dissapoint you . We all, to some extent, would love to just study about our culture and history, but the reality is there isn't money in it. Unless you go all the way, and make it as a university professor or something, but still... you don't have that many options and back ups. But if it really interests you, you can minor in lets say anthropology. I don't know what you like, so I can't really help you choose a major. But I think, from what I've seen, you would make a good lawyer . Find out if your college has a program that helps you choose a major.

[ArmoBarbi]

Well I can go to law school with any BA lol pretty much

My choices would let me speak four languages by graduation. That would be a great thing alone, dont you think?

I have not ruled out law school, cool that you notice that I have an aptitude for law, its like what I wanted to go into since 8th grade.

I guess I could do international law, or be an attorney with United Nations or something.

The things is...I really wanna teach.

[nairi]

Just do what you like and what you think you can handle. Never mind the future or job prospects. They will all come in time. I know many people who graduated in one thing and ended up working a whole different job. Think of it this way: you're not just learning your major; you're also learning how to learn and how to apply your knowlegde. This is much more important than knowing facts, and very often it's what employers will be looking for.

[nairi]

As for a BA, why don't you just go for an MA?

[winoman]

My choices would let me speak four languages by graduation. That would be a great thing alone, dont you think?

yes - very much so. With such you can practically write your own ticket. Plus think of all the nice travel you will be doing - perhaps living in some interesting places while your learning the languages (and after - working for some international corporation, agency or what have you...could be worse...) - etc - sounds like a plan to me!

[ArmoBarbi]

nairi, I WILL get an MA, but I have to have a BA to apply for an MA, and I need to work with my BA to pay for the MA. You're right about people not ending up doing what they studied, isnt that funny? Life is so weird.

wino, I plan to learn others once I have these down. My English will help me with the Germanics, my Russian will help me with the Slavics, and my French will help me with the Romances. Armenian is just a special case you could say. lol Do you think I would have good opportunities with a BA then? I dont mind living abroad to work, the languages I chose all have nice places. lol

One of my professors told me I should get certified to teach English as a second language abroad. She said there is a certification program I could do in Canada without majoring in English. A relative of hers does it and makes $50 USD living in whichever country she feels like. I could practice my languages, gain experience, and save up money for grad school at the same time. Maybe thats what I will do after all...what do you think??

[winoman]

Knowing one or more languages (besides [and including] English) really well is the ticket for lots of things. Doesn't matter if you just have a BA - they will train you to what they need you for - the language capability is ussually the biggest hurdle. You might find it useful to pretend that you already know a language or two and check around for available jobs. Go on some corporate or international organizational websites and see what is being offered. Oh I should caution you that its not necessarily so easy to learn all these languages (and I certainly know it - 4 years of French..yeah - I finally did make it to French 2! - true story...argh)