Choosing a major is a big deal. Choosing an undergraduate major is not a decision that can be made in a day or two. Students must actively consider and discuss with family and friends.Recommendations for choosing a major for undergraduate study in the United StatesWhat major is good for studying in the United States?, ,Studying Art in the United States, ,Majors for Studying in the United States, ,Insurance major in the United StatesThe problem.
1. Suggestions for choosing a major for undergraduate study in the United States
1. Early understanding and early planning
Many students only start to consider this issue when they are about to graduate from high school and start to submit applications to American universities. Faced with hundreds of majors, they are instantly lost. Therefore, students may wish to start considering and discussing the topic of choosing a major early. You can learn about the core courses and professional training directions of different majors by browsing the majors and course settings of various schools. In other words, by browsing these contents, it can help students understand what content they will learn in the future during college, what industries these contents will be applied to, and what ability these contents require, etc.
2. Find a professional orientation
Usually, there are three aspects to consider when deciding on a major: ability, interest, and employability. Of course, it depends on what the student is better at. Students with outstanding math scores can choose majors that are more related to math, such as applied mathematics, economics, finance, information and computing science, etc.
Students who are more interested in physics can choose majors such as mechanics, electrical information, and aerospace; students who are good at chemistry can choose majors such as materials science, chemical engineering and technology, and food science; students who like literature and foreign languages can choose majors such as literature, journalism, and foreign language education, etc. In general, you can study what you are good at in the future.
If you are interested in something, then you should study what you like. "Interest is a great teacher" is a good summary of the relationship between interest and major. If you love shopping, matching, and learning, you will be more interested in fashion design, art, and other majors than engineering majors, and you will also be more likely to pay attention to related topics and things in life and study. Therefore, the love and curiosity for a certain field will become an innate driving force for students to immerse themselves in learning better.
Employment can be regarded as a guide for choosing a major, especially when parents give their children advice on choosing a major. After graduating from college, finding a suitable job can not only put the knowledge learned in college into practice, but also help you adapt to the workplace more quickly. Therefore, you can refer to the employment situation of graduates from authoritative institutions or school data and the current development trends of various industries to choose a major.
However, it is worth noting for students and parents when choosing a major that the content of a job is often different from the content of a major. Liking the content of a major does not mean liking the content of the job, and vice versa. Many students who blindly pursue majors with high employment rates and ignore other factors are not "talented" in this area. If they insist on studying popular majors, they will not only fail to get good grades, but will also be unable to recover. Therefore, it is responsible to consider the above points comprehensively.
3. Open your horizons and don’t be limited by professional “stereotypes”
According to a report published by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University in the United States, "when choosing a major, girls tend to limit themselves to lower-paying fields, such as education and social services." Looking at today's income fields and the proportion of women studying these majors, we can see the problem:
Business Economics (31%), Chemical Engineering (28%), Computer Science (20%), Electrical Engineering (10%), Mechanical Engineering (8%). Some students and parents may think that "this is a major only for boys (girls), and people who work in this field are of a certain gender..." etc. It is undeniable that gender sometimes has certain advantages, but it must not become a shackle that restricts you from choosing a major.
In addition, many students want to learn coding in the era of big data, thinking that programmers have a promising future and a good salary. Of course, computer science and engineering majors do top the salary list today, but the salary gap between different majors is still very large. Choosing a major does not equal finding a job, and it does not equal making a lot of money. If you only consider market demand when choosing a major, you may ignore your real internal needs. There are many professions, and improving your professional ability is definitely more useful than blindly sticking to popular majors.
4. Don’t be afraid of making difficult or wrong choices
American universities are very open and inclusive in terms of majors. If students find that their majors are not suitable for them after choosing them, they can change their majors according to the school's policies. And there is no need to worry about being interested in multiple majors and not being able to make a decision. Capable students can solve this problem by choosing a second major or a double degree. In addition, many courses in American universities are not only open to students in the major, but also to students who are interested.
2. Cities in the United States suitable for studying abroad
1. Boston
If you want to compete with the world's intellectual elites, Boston is definitely your choice. Located in Cambridge, near Boston, there are two of the most famous universities in the United States: Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In addition, Boston also has top 50 schools in the United States, such as Tufts University, Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis University, and Northeastern University. In terms of educational resources, Boston is definitely a winner among North American cities. Of course, the broad employment prospects are also one of the favorable factors that make Boston on the list.
In addition, Boston is very active in the field of culture and art, and has a well-developed entertainment industry. It is definitely not a "nerd" city that only focuses on academics.
2. New York
When talking about American cities, how can we miss New York, the city that never sleeps standing in the center of the world? Wall Street, Broadway, Fashion Week, after years of changes, New York's appeal has only increased. In terms of educational resources, New York has two world-renowned top schools, Columbia University and New York University, as well as Fordham University and Yeshiva University, which are among the top 100 universities in the United States. In terms of the attractiveness to students, New York ranks first in the United States, and high-quality life has become the most important thing for students.
3. San Francisco
Silicon Valley is definitely a major contributor to San Francisco's inclusion on the list. As one of the world's top ten financial centers, the San Francisco Bay Area has fostered hundreds of innovative companies, especially in the field of technological innovation. In addition, San Francisco is also an important global center of science, education and culture, with the world-renowned private university Stanford University and the public university University of California, Berkeley.
With its strong technological innovation background and rich educational resources, San Francisco has become a city favored by employers on the QS rankings, and its employment prospects are predictable. In terms of living costs, San Francisco is relatively lower than cities such as New York, making it more cost-effective for studying.
4. Chicago
Chicago is known as the "Windy City". Your hair will be flying. Selfie lovers should not miss it. This fast-growing city is one of the world's financial centers and the second largest business center in the United States. In addition to its rapid economic development, Chicago is also unique in the field of music, with blues and jazz being quite popular. Of course, the cities on the list of study abroad are indispensable for resources, and the University of Chicago and Northwestern University are typical representatives. In terms of employment prospects, Chicago should not be underestimated either, with a high employment rate for its students.
3. List of materials for applying to study in the United States
In addition to standardized test scores, applicants are also required to submit the following:
- 1. Application form provided by the school: Log in to the school you are applying to and fill out the school application form. (The application fee for American universities is about $50 to $200. Students need to pay online. The other party will give you a receipt after receiving the payment.)
- 2. School grades (GPA): You are required to provide two official sealed transcripts issued by your alma mater, one in Chinese and one in English. (Generally, the minimum requirement for applicants in American schools is a GPA of 3.0, and higher is recommended)
- 3. Resume: A brief introduction to the applicant’s background, which allows the professor to understand the applicant’s situation more clearly and quickly. The resume should highlight the key points, professional abilities, and highlights.
- 4. Personal Statement: The personal statement is an opportunity to express yourself to the professor. It should attract the professor's attention and reflect both your motivation for applying and your professional strengths and potential. The personal statement should not be too long and should be concise and original.
- 5. Recommendation Letter: Generally, American universities require three recommendation letters. Recommendation letters are materials that reflect the applicant's profile. They should be written by professors of professional courses, laboratory teachers, deans, or leaders of internship units who are familiar with the applicant. They should recommend the applicant from the perspectives of academic ability and comprehensive ability. American universities attach great importance to recommendation letters. If the recommendation letter is from a well-known professor in the field of application, it will play a big role.
- 6. Proof of financial resources: American colleges and universities require applicants to provide proof of family financial resources to determine whether the applicants have sufficient financial resources to complete their study in the United States. Proof of financial resources can be in the form of bank deposit certificates, real estate certificates, sponsor guarantees, etc. Please note: the deposits on the property certificates are long-term deposits. If they are short-term huge deposits, the other party will question whether the source of your property is legal.
- 7. Passport: Please provide a scanned copy of the first page of your passport as soon as possible after signing the contract. If you do not have a passport yet, please take the time to apply for a passport that is less than six months from the expiration date. Be sure to replace it with a new one before applying for a visa.
- 8. Credit card: Visa or Master Card, dual currency credit card that supports online payment.
- 9. Other supporting materials: such as documents that can fully prove one's talents, especially if the applicant has won awards in competitions.
Supplement: Students applying to business school need to provide GMAT scores, those applying for a JD degree in law school need to provide LSAT scores, those applying to medical school need to provide MCAT scores, and those applying to other colleges and majors need to provide GRE scores. TOEFL scores are only required for students from non-English speaking countries when applying to study in the United States. Some students may prepare IELTS scores, which is also acceptable. Most schools in the United States accept them, but some schools will have restrictions on school selection.
4. Introduction to the American Study Abroad System
1. Semester system
This is the same as the academic system of domestic universities. Each academic year is divided into two semesters. Each semester has 14-20 weeks of courses. The study time is about nine months. One week will be arranged as an examination week in each semester for everyone to complete the course assessment.
With this arrangement, students will have more time to arrange their own course studies and prepare for exams. They will have sufficient time for both theoretical learning and project research. However, this will also bring the disadvantage of low efficiency and resources will not be fully utilized.
2. Quarter System
One academic year's study is divided into ten semesters. Each semester has about 9-11 weeks of courses, and also includes summer courses. The goals of each quarter will be arranged according to the four seasons, so that everyone's study will be more compact. The summer courses are elective courses, and you can report not to attend classes.
The arrangement shortens the teaching time and increases the number of semesters so that students can remain in a more active and sensitive learning stage. There will also be fewer courses per semester so that students can be more focused. However, due to the tight schedule, everyone faces greater pressure.
3. Three-semester system
This academic system is more common in European countries and has been introduced in the United States. It divides the twelve months of a year into three semesters. Students must complete the fall and winter semesters, and can take the spring and summer classes as electives. There are four admission opportunities each year, and students can apply for graduation after completing their studies.
The first semester is the fall class, which will start in late August or early September and end before Christmas; the second semester is the winter class, which starts in January and ends in October; the third semester will be divided into two small semesters, and you can choose any semester to enroll and take elective courses.
4. 4-1-4 or 4-4-1
As the name suggests, the study time of one academic year is divided into three stages, including two four-month semesters and one one-month semester. Mini semesters can be arranged between semesters or after semesters.
The ten-month semester is the formal period of professional course study. Everyone needs to complete their professional studies in school. The mini semester will arrange students to conduct study exchanges or internships outside the school.
Summary of suggestions for choosing a major for undergraduate study in the United States
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