Looking for Career/Major Advice

Hello, I have been accepted to the class of 2028 and will be attending USNA this summer. As I have secured my appointment, I have started to wonder more about the specifics behind different majors and jobs post-USNA. USNA commissions officers relatively straightforward with very clear career progression. I was hoping to get some career advice relating to me after I commission and for my major selection that happens at the end of plebe year: I am interested in history, first generation, and I speak another language at home. I read a lot of military history, public policy, classic literature, and about different cultures. I want to know about what kinds of jobs I can leverage after going to USNA with these interests in mind, I want to make the most out of going to USNA and not waste any opportunities available. I am terrified of the stereotypical history major who cannot get a job that isn't a librarian even after service.

I would say the worst-case scenario for me is that I go to USNA, serve time, and then do not have a job that I can fall back on using my degree. I really like the idea of being a pilot or Marine officer...

Please let me know what I can do to combine these interests that can also make me employable, and how USNA can help...

Nothing you need to even think about at this point. You will take pre selected course work your plebe year, so no funneling into a major for a long time.

And during your plebe year, you will be exposed to different majors choices. There is actually an event you are required to attend later in the year to help you with your major decision. You will also be exposed to your upperclass/professors/etc that will share information.

My suggestion is do something you feel energized about. That aligns with your interests. BC your major doesn’t matter for community assignment, and your major/community doesn’t matter (for the most part…ie commercial pilot does matter obviously) for post AD employment.

A nice discussion already happening here.

The BIG picture, is don’t concern yourself with this piece. Be open to the journey. And let your decision happen organically while attending USNA. You will be happier doing something that ‘feels like a good fit’.

@lenkmobile, you've now posted the same question twice, under different headlines. No need to do that. The answers you've received in the other question apply here also. The advice is the same.

Good advice above.

You will be exposed to briefs about all kinds of things, including majors. You’ll have an academic advisor. You’ll be in a company with upperclass mids in every major, with a front-row seat on their progress on majors and service assignment decisions. You will be getting a STEM-heavy B.S., no matter what, and a sound education to prepare you academically and professionally for a warfare specialty. History majors go to submarine warfare if they qualify! The general advice is to choose something you will enjoy putting the time in on.

Even down the road, a non-STEM major is not a barrier to a wide array of civilian careers. That combo of a service academy B.S. and at least 5 years as a junior officer, gaining experience and skills in team leadership, strategic thinking and planning, risk analysis, operations and project management, resource allocation, workforce development, critical thinking, complex problem solving, communications, etc., is a strong launch pad for a post-service career.

Whenever this topic comes up, I recall one of our USNA sponsor family mids, English Honors major, graduated in upper third of class, went Marine logistics, served honorably, was hired by a well-known name in the automotive industry. That alumna is now an executive heading up an engineering innovation lab at the company, using engineering management skills, leadership, out-of-box imagination thinking and well-honed verbal gifts to run teams of engineers working on innovation initiatives.

Right now, focus on finishing this year strong and being present and engaged with family and friends. Get yourself physically fit and mentally ready. In a few short months, you will leave home, and for years after that, visit only briefly. Your goal as a plebe is to be a good plebe, a reliable shipmate who helps others, who gets through Plebe Summer and works hard during the academic year to remain sat in all graded areas. Those are huge tasks. Everything else will fall into place. Most days will pass in a blur without you spending 5 seconds thinking about a major, but you will be soaking up knowledge. Thousands and thousands of mids have figured this out. You will too.